Page 15 of Keeping Penny

“Mommy, do you think Kylo-Pyro will come see us today?”

Hearing her name for the man made Penny smile. It was a silly name, but she didn’t correct the girl. If she saw Pyro again, she’d tell the man in private that if he wanted Bowie to call him something else, all he had to do was ask. And Penny shouldn’t have been surprised her daughter was thinking the same thing she was. Pyro had made an impression on them both. A good one.

“I don’t know, honey. I’m sure he’s incredibly busy.”

“He’s nice. And I want to thank him for the presents.”

Penny wanted to do that too.

“I saved a chocolate bar for him. I want to see him, Mommy.”

Bowie was getting a little whiny, and Penny needed a distraction, otherwise she might have to deal with a meltdown. Bowie didn’t have tantrums very often anymore, but she was still only six, and it simply wasn’t feasible to expect her to go days on end being quiet, respectful, and bored.

Thankfully, there was a loud banging noise from somewhere on the flight deck. It made them both jump, and Bowie immediately wanted to know what it was and what was happening.

Grateful for the distraction, Penny did her best to answer all of Bowie’s questions when a hatch opened and a plane was lifted from below deck to the flight deck.

The next hour was exciting, as it was obvious the plane was getting ready to take off. Men and women hurried here and there, preparing the aircraft. The pilots were easy to spot when they walked onto the flight deck and began walking around the plane, inspecting it before they climbed aboard.

“Is it Kylo-Pyro?”

“No, honey. He flies helicopters. This is an airplane.” Actually, Penny had no idea if Pyro only flew choppers, or if he could fly other aircraft as well. But the men walking around the plane weren’t Pyro or the other pilots they’d met the other day. They were taller, for one. Though Penny was glad Pyro wasn’t any taller than he was. At five-two, people always towered over her, and it got old.

Thoughts of Colvin entered her mind unbidden. She didn’t like to think about the man who’d terrorized her since John’s death. She’d felt so guilty about being relieved that John wouldn’t be around to abuse her and Bowie…until the next day. When Colvin had come, demanding money, using his much taller six-two height and bigger size to intimidate her. It worked. She’d handed over the money he’d asked for without hesitation, anything to get him to leave. To get him away from her daughter.

So Pyro only being five or six inches taller than her, instead of a foot or more, felt just about perfect.

“The plane is about to take off. I suggest you both cover your ears. It’s going to be loud,” a young-looking sailor said from next to them in the small outdoor area.

“Cover your ears, honey,” Penny told Bowie.

She frowned and said, “I heard him. I’m blind, not deaf.”

Yup, her daughter was definitely getting cranky. Penny usually wouldn’t put up with the disrespect in Bowie’s tone, but the engines fired up, making talking almost impossible. Besides, her daughter had done exceptionally well in the uncertain situation they’d found themselves in. She was more than willing to give her a pass this once.

She watched as the plane vibrated violently on the flight deck, the engines loud even with her hands over her ears. Then all of a sudden, whatever was holding the plane back was released, and it shot forward with a loud whoosh.

Penny felt the vibrations go through her as it passed, then it glided into the air like a bird taking flight. It was scary, impressive, and beautiful to watch as it disappeared into the sky.

“I felt it in my chest!” Bowie exclaimed after lowering her hands. Then asked in a pleading tone, “Can we go find Kylo-Pyro now? I want to give him the chocolate. Why hasn’t he come to see me? I thought we were friends. Mommy, can we go? I’m hungry.”

Penny sighed. Being a mom was exhausting sometimes. All she wanted was to close her eyes and relax for a moment, but relaxing wasn’t something a six-year-old did very well.

“All right, sweetheart. We’ll go grab something to eat, but I have no idea where Pyro is, and he’s probably very busy anyway. He has an important job onboard the ship.”

“But he flies helicopters. And that was a plane that took off. So he should be here.”

He should, but again, Penny had no idea if the helicopter pilots had already left or not. Instead of arguing with her daughter, Penny simply picked up their duffel bag and took Bowie’s hand before heading back toward the interior of the ship.

The evacuees were fed three times a day from a buffet of sorts that was brought into the hangar. The food was okay—at least it was hot, and not always the sandwiches from a box they’d had the day they’d arrived. Thankfully, neither Bowie nor Penny was very picky. Out of necessity, they ate what they had because they literally couldn’t afford not to.

They were about to enter the hangar when someone called out her name.

Turning, Penny blushed. It was an involuntary reaction to seeing Pyro coming her way, his intense gaze locked on her.

“Kylo-Pyro!” Bowie exclaimed excitedly. “You came!” She held up her arms, clearly expecting to be picked up.

Pyro looked from her to Penny and raised a brow, as if asking permission.