Page 60 of Dawn Skies (Stormcloud Station)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

KEE SHIFTED HER weight from one foot to the other. She might’ve turned away and run back up to the lodge if Wazza didn’t have his strong arm around her shoulders, steadying her. She’d thought she was ready for this, but all of a sudden, she was having doubts. What was she going to say to them? Would they even recognize her after all this time? Perhaps she should’ve chosen a dress for today, instead of her usual casual denim shorts and tank top.

The downdraft of the helicopter coming in to land shook the branches in the trees surrounding the helipad, so that leaves rained down on them like confetti. Kee held Benni’s hand tighter and pulled her face into her thighs to protect her from the dust and other flying debris, remembering to grab Benni’s blue hat before it was swept off her head. She shielded her own face in Wazza’s shoulder, her loose hair whipping around both of them like flailing tentacles. He grabbed his hat with his other hand to stop it from flying off.

Daniella and Steve stood behind them, but the rest of the Stormcloud crew had diplomatically decided to wait up at the lodge; give Kee a chance to reunite with her parents in relative peace.

Then the helicopter was on the ground, the blades already slowing as Aaron opened his door and hopped out, going around to the rear door to help the passengers disembark. Kee straightened her back and plastered on a smile. Two weeks staying at Stormcloud had worked wonders for her cracked ribs and compromised lungs. She was almost back to normal now, thanks to Daniella and Steve’s kindness, insisting that she come to the station to recuperate.

“They’re here, they’re here,” Benni squeaked excitedly, putting her hat back on her head. She’d practically lived in that hat since they’d returned to Stormcloud. Steve had rescued it from the vehicle after Wazza had abandoned it at Lefty’s and kept it safe for her.

God, Kee hoped her parents didn’t disappoint her daughter, she was so looking forward to meeting them. Kee had explained to Benni that she had more grandparents that she’d never met before. Kee had meant to tell her earlier, she really had. She’d made the decision while they’d been in Karumba, but things had gone so terribly wrong, so quickly, she’d never had the chance. But in the past two weeks, as Kee recovered, she’d told Benni about her Indian heritage and how nani and dadi and Aunty Pooja couldn’t wait to meet her.

Then her mother was ducking beneath the blades, shuffling to meet the small group arranged around the helipad. She was dressed in a bright-orange sari that sparkled in the sunlight, long hair pulled back into a braid that ran down her back. There were gray hairs that hadn’t been there before and her face was softer, slumped somehow. Her mother was old. The idea hit Kee like a sledgehammer. She could see her father exiting behind her mother, his cream linen robes flapping in the wind, and Pooja waving to her even while she was still in the helicopter. Her family was here.

Kee ran to her mother, arms outstretched. The look of confusion cleared from her mother’s face. “Keiyona, my beautiful one,” she said, welcoming her embrace, and it was as if the last six years had never existed. She was back in her mother’s arms. The familiar smell of cloves and spice and the faintest whiff of mothballs encased Kee, taking her back to her childhood. Kee suddenly, stupidly, felt like crying.

Pooja cannonballed into them, embracing Kee from the other side, so she was cocooned by her sister and mother, and Kee didn’t even mind that they were crushing her sore ribs. Unexpectedly, they were all crying, sobbing on each other’s shoulders. Kee was the first one to pull herself together.

Her father stood awkwardly a few feet away. “Keiyona.” He nodded formally, his long mustache swaying. “Nice to see you again.” That stubborn pride was still his greatest flaw. Still holding him apart from them all.

“Come here, you silly old man,” her mother said through her tears. After a moment’s hesitation, when Kee thought he might refuse, his face seemed to collapse in on itself and he moved toward them, taking Kee’s hand in his and stroking the back of it gently. No words were needed as he stared into her eyes. Just like that, they were all forgiven.

Kee lifted her head and saw Wazza staring at them uncomfortably, Benni holding his hand. She beckoned them over.

Wazza removed his hat, wonder of all wonders, but hung back and let her introduce Benni to her new family first. Benni was suddenly shy and needed to be coaxed out from behind Kee’s legs.

But her mother got down on her knees, disregarding the fact that the dust and prickles might ruin her beautiful sari, and held out her hand. “I dreamed about you, my little granddaughter,” she whispered softly. “I dreamed about meeting you. You are so much taller than I thought.” Her mother gave a joyful smile that lit up her face. “You’re going to be much taller than your mother, yes? And I dreamed about how much fun we would have together.”

Benni left the safety of Kee’s legs and drifted toward her nani, as if mesmerized by her words. “I’m going to be taller than mummy?” she asked, glancing up at Kee.

“Of course, you are.” Nani opened her arms and Benni slipped into them as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do.

Kee’s tears started anew as she listened to her mother crooning all her soft endearments to Benni. All this time she’d thought they’d forgotten about her, shut her out of their lives. But all it took was one phone call.

Pooja also got down onto her knees—thankfully, she was dressed in more modern, appropriate clothes of jeans and a dark tank top—and added, “And I’m your auntie, and I’ve been waiting such a long time to meet you.”

“You’re Aunty Pooja,” Benni said delightedly. “Mummy told me about you.”

“Yes, I am.” Pooja clapped her hands with pleasure. “And I hope she said nice things about me.”

“Oh, yes, she did,” Benni replied, serious now. Then she glanced up and saw her grandfather looking down at the little group clustered on the ground. “And you must be my dadi,” she said with a little frown. Kee held her breath, wondering how her father would respond.

For the second time that day, her father did something shocking. He got down on one knee in the red dirt and looked at Benni earnestly. “I am your dadi,” he replied. “And I am very, very happy to meet you.”

“That’s good,” Benni said simply. Then she took a step toward her grandfather and tugged on his mustache. “You must’ve been growing this for a very long time,” she said, awestruck. They all erupted into gales of laughter.

Kee wanted to introduce them to Wazza, but they were so enraptured by Benni that she didn’t have the heart to break into their little cluster of family bliss. She glanced bemusedly between him and her family. He shook his head and indicated it was okay, mouthing at her to leave them be. But she wanted them to meet the man who’d saved her and Benni. The man she was in love with. The man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Without him, there would be no family reunion. Hat still in one hand, he moved up and draped an arm around Kee’s shoulders. She snuggled into his solid warmth, soaking in his dependable presence, and watching her small family reunion with a feeling of great contentment.

It was Benni who finally broke the bubble, by glancing up and spotting Wazza and Kee together. “Oh, you have to meet Wazza, too. He’s a real live cowboy.” She said the last part with such pride, Kee felt like her heart would burst.

Kee’s dad was the first to get to his feet. Holding out his hand, he asked, “You’re the young man who helped Kee and Benni? Who rescued them out of that river?”

“Yes, sir.” Wazza returned her father’s handshake, meeting his gaze with his own steady, blue one.

“Well, you deserve my absolute debt of gratitude. Thank you.” Vijay squared his shoulders, but he was still no match for Wazza’s height. “I wish…” Her father stopped and cleared his throat. Today was just full of surprises. “But no, that is in the past now. All we can do is move on. And I’m very glad you helped make his happen.” Vijay waved his arm at Benni, still snugged up to her grandmother’s knee, giggling at something she’d said. “This is the worst and the best thing that has happened to this family.”

Wazza seemed stumped for how to reply, but Kee’s sister stood and moved closer to Wazza.

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