Portia breathed a sigh of relief when she arrived home to see little Penny. She hugged her little niece as tight as she could and covered her face with tiny butterfly kisses. Penny just laughed and laughed.
Penny was nearly three, which mean she wasn’t necessarily little Penny anymore.
Time had flown by fast – too fast to catch and hold. It made Portia think. With everything else that she’d faced in the last year, maybe the next year wouldn’t be so bad at all. Then again, anything could happen.
She continued building Wendy’s home before starting on her own. She enlisted a fresh new set of volunteers, including Bill and her sister and some new friends from community college, too.
They struck the first nail in April, which meant there would be no chilly days crowded around an oil-drum fire or a warm coffee pot. Instead, there would be delightful moments to enjoy the good life – no matter how meek it might be.
Portia also made sure to plant as many flowering shrubs and trees in the back yard as the building contractor could afford to allow. There were also donations, of course, as Portia filled her volunteers’ heads with stories of exquisite Victorian gardens filled with songbirds and woodland creatures, not unlike some Disney-crafted fable.
“Even in Pittsburgh,” she’d always say, “there’s room for private wilderness.”
That, alone, was enough to make everyone want to create Portia’s own brand of Utopia. While the volunteers toiled away, Portia continued to balance the remainder of her time between school and Alex and Penny and Bill’s.
Yes, Bill’s. After Bill decided to retire for good, Portia set the wheels in motion to change the name of the old Pet Store from Jack’s to Bill’s. None of the regular customers were fazed by the change. In fact, they also thought it was long overdue. Bill thanked Portia for all her hard work – at her one year anniversary, he made her an offer she simply could not refuse.
“Hey Darren, do you think you get a week off work?”
“Sure, why?”
Bill wants me to take a vacation. Let’s go on a little escapade.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“You choose…wherever the road takes us…”
“Alright,” said Darren, but where do you want to go?”
“Somewhere different. Something different.”
“Give me a couple of days to make plans.”
“Someplace special again?”
“Yeah. Someplace special.”
When the ‘special day’ finally arrived, Portia’s bags were packed as she waited for Darren to come home from work. When he arrived, Mr. Gatteau got up out of his usual spot on the couch and took Portia’s bags to the car.
Darren’s car was packed with everything he needed, except for Portia and her stuff.
“Portia, you get in the back,” said her father.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m driving.”
“What?”
“P, just be quiet for once and get in the back.”
Portia did as her father instructed. As they drove through Pittsburgh and jet liners flew back and forth overhead, it was clear, at least, where they were going. However, it was unclear where they were headed.
“A plane trip? Where to?”
Darren handed her the ticket.
“PIT TO MDW. Where is that?”
“Chicago,” said Darren.
“I hear it’s the Paris of Illinois,” said her father with a laugh.
Darren gave Portia a wink.
“We can’t afford this.”
“It’s a present from me,” said her father.
“Daddy…”
“Don’t tell your mom. She thinks you’re going to Erie.”
As they boarded the plane, sweat accumulated on Portia’s palms.
“I’m really nervous. This is my first plane trip.”
“Folks, welcome to Flight 314 – Pittsburgh to Chicago. We’ll be getting ready to taxi. Please fasten your seat belts….”
The rest faded into the background as Portia reached across the armrest and grabbed Darren’s hand. He held it until the plane left the runway, when he gave it a gentle squeeze. Her hand was wet. Her breath was heavy.
As the plane turned westward, Portia bent towards the window and looked out. Lights glowed, the brightest gold against the darkest black. Bridges stood out in the darkness, connecting the city to all points beyond.
“It is a beautiful city, isn’t it?”
“Darren, it’s no Paris.”
“No, I suppose not, but it’s good enough for me.”
“Me, too.”
Portia leaned over and kissed Darren on the lips. As she released her tight-as-talons grip on his hand, she realized that no matter what, everything was going to be all right.
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