Page 4

Chapter

Three

SEASON OF SURPRISES

Willow

“I never believed in anything quite like I

believe that you, Wild One, were born for me.” – M

A lmost eleven hours in the air I sink into the plush seat of my parent’s jet, the hum of the engines a constant, soothing background to my swirling thoughts and anxiety.

It’s just one trip, Willow, be a big girl and get over it. I try to tell myself yet the anxiety won’t leave my system.

We’re almost there.

Our flight is a direct one to S?o Paulo which means we’ve been flying for a long time. I try to calm my nerves by either watching a crime documentary of two sisters who murder their parents on my laptop or going through some of my notes for work while Uncle Cianne lays back chugging down drinks. All my uncles drink like alcohol is going to run out or something and yet I’ve never seen them hungover.

I’m starting to believe alcohol has no effect on them.

I love all my uncles with my entire heart, yet uncle Cianne is the one who has always gone out of his way to make me smile, his charm and fun personality makes him the least intimidating of them all. That doesn't mean he isn't to be feared.

He’s as scary as my others, but I think he’s one of the most dangerous since his dark side isn’t as easily spotted.

Uncle sits with a relaxed air, a margarita in hand, savoring the tangy drink with a contented sigh as he looks out the jet’s window.

“Thank you for coming with me, Uncle,” I say out of nowhere. I don’t speak a lot. Not really. I either use sign language or use a note and pad I always carry with me just in case. But with my family I do use my voice. I know they love me for me and they’ve never made me feel like there’s something different about me. From the moment I was born, sign language and reading lips was their new normal and they all did it for me.

Just like I know my big, loud and scary uncles try their best to always make Mom feel comfortable and never out of place due to her own disability.

They love us dearly and of that I don’t have a doubt.

My uncle looks over at me, his eyes twinkling with tenderness and love, a total contrast to his rough exterior. The tattoos and piercings make him look like a bad boy and he is at times bad, but not when it comes to his family. “You never have to thank me. Besides, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, Orla ,” he says, his voice warm and reassuring. “Besides, a Christmas away from your sour as fuck father feels like a holiday dream to me,” he jokes, making me roll my eyes.

My uncle loves my father as much as Dad loves him, even if they try each other’s nerves daily.

I watch with a smile as he takes a sip of his margarita, the ice clinking softly against the glass. “Have I told you how proud of you I am, little one?”

I smile wider and nod. “You remind me every day of it.”

He laughs. “And I’ll remind you of it until there isn't any air left in my lungs.” Warm spreads through my chest at my uncle’s words. “I’m really proud of you, Willow,” His words wash over me, settling my nerves just a little. “I know leaving home is not easy for you but you’re doing it. Your parents are proud as fuck too.”

Most people might see my nerves about leaving home a bit childish, but they wouldn’t understand how frightening and heartless the world felt to me at one point.

I let that fear rule me for a long time, but I’m trying to not let it happen again.

I want to see the world and experience all it has to offer. Good or bad. I want it all.

And this trip is a start yet I’m still human and the nerves are still there.

I smile fondly at Uncle Cianne and then put my laptop down on the table next to me. My uncle, noticing my nerves, sets his margarita aside and turns his full attention to me. “You’ll be alright. I’ll be there to make sure you’re always safe and no one fucks with you. I’ll give you room to breathe and do you but I’ll be there. Like always, yeah?” he says and when I nod, he then adds. “Now… tell me what’s this research you’re doing on those ugly little fuckers you love so much? Why Brazil out of all places?”

I know what he just did. He reassured me that I would be okay because I have him and then changed the topic to something light and that I’m passionate about to distract me.

As always… It works.

Smiling wide, I pull out my pastel green with all my notes and show them to him. “We’ve been studying various types of fungi and their unique properties at the lab. We’ve also been collecting data on mushrooms on the verge of extinction.” I say with sadness swirling in my chest at the thought of losing such fundamental organisms because of people’s complete disregard for our planet. “And some fungi in the rainforest in Brazil have rare compounds that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. This research means a lot. Fungi are important for understanding ecological balance and they also have applications in medicine and biotechnology.” I explain and show him one of the doodles I made of the various fungi that have been fundamental in the medicine field.

Uncle Cianne nods, his eyes reflecting genuine interest although I know at times he doesn’t understand half the things I say. “The rainforest, huh. That’s incredible, Willow.”

I beam at him. “The Amazon rainforest is incredibly biodiverse, Uncle,” I say, my excitement building. “It’s a hotspot for unique fungi species. I believe that studying them in their natural habitat will allow us to collect accurate data on their growth and ecosystem interactions, which is vital for our research.”

“Sounds like quite an adventure, Orla . You do love yourself some mushrooms. You always have.” he laughs joyfully.

Feeling a burst of enthusiasm at my uncle’s words, I add. “I do love them very much. In fact, aside from proving they’re fundamental to our ecosystem, one of the things I’m most excited about is proving just how alike humans are to fungi. A lot of people don’t really understand just how rare and incredible they are. Some think they’re just the flower’s ugly cousin. If they only knew just how fascinating some of their processes are and how their behaviors are so similar to ours.” I turn a page of my notebook and show it to my uncle pointing to a paragraph. “For instance, fungi and humans share metabolic pathways, and their growth patterns can reflect our own.”

Uncle Cianne raises an eyebrow. “Huh. That shit wasn’t taught to me in school.” I put my notebook down on top of my computer.

“Really?” I narrow my eyes suspiciously. “Or were you just not paying attention?”

“You got me there, kid.” He laughs, his face lighting up as he does.

I laugh as well, the anxiety slowly fading with each second that I spend with my uncle.

And as I continue talking about my research, my phone buzzes softly on the armrest beside me. I glance at the screen and see an incoming three-way video call from my cousins, Ella and Raiza. I quickly pick up the call, a smile spreading across my face.

“Hi, guys!” I greet as their pretty faces appear on the screen, their radiant smiles instantly help with the nerves. Little by little the nerves of flying and being away from home start to fade.

“Low!” Ella chimes in, excitement written all over her lovely face. My cousin has always been beautiful with her slightly tan skin, big doe blue eyes and long curls with pink stripes but age and motherhood has made her even more stunning. Her husband Shaw is obsessed with her and rightfully so. “We just wanted to make sure you were doing okay and wish you the pinkest trip ever. We’re so proud of you!” Ella uses sign language at the same time using her words. “Oh, and Jax wanted to say hi too!”

I smile wider and melt when I see Ella’s baby boy, Jaxon, making adorable faces at me through the screen. Jaxon Banning’s chubby cheeks and bright brown eyes are irresistible. He’s a mini version of his father.

“Hi there, cowboy!” I greet, my voice full of warmth.

Jaxon, just like his Dad, has a love for horses and the cowboy life already.

“Low! Low!” Jax babbles back happily, his tiny hands reaching towards the screen as if he could touch me. I love that he’s dressed in cowboy print jammies with a small cowboy hat on.

I grin, watching his cute antics with amusement. He melts the heart of everyone he meets. That’s the Jax effect. “You’ve gotten even more handsome since the last time I saw you! Look at those squishy cheeks!”

God, he’s so adorable that even my grumpy cousin Raiza can’t help but gush over him.

Jax responds by blowing kisses, his little pink lips pouting cutely as he sends virtual smooches my way. I catch each and every single one of them making him giggle.

Ella, watching with a smile of her own from the background, chuckles softly. “He’s growing up so fast. Beautiful man and I were just talking about how quickly he’s outgrowing his clothes. I don’t like it.”

Raiza’s voice cuts in, breaking the light-hearted moment. “I think it’s time for us to get Jaxon boy, his first pet.”

Ella raises an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. “He already has horses and Poppy.”

Ella’s kids have countless horses. The main ones are Geraldine, Peppermint and Peanut. Poppy is their pet goat.

Raiza shakes her head, dismissing the mention of the horses and the cute goat. “Those don’t count. He needs something fierce, like a cheetah or perhaps a Python. Would you like to have your own venomous snake, pretty boy?”

At the mention of a snake, I can’t help but shiver. As much as I love nature and all its wonders, snakes are my personal nightmare. The idea of a snake, let alone a cheetah, as a pet makes me feel uneasy.

My cousin Raiza, her brother, Azariel and my aunt Kadra and Uncle Vitali love everything with sharp teeth and venom. Especially Azariel.

“I don’t think those are appropriate pets for a toddler, Rai,” I say, forcing a laugh. “I think he should stick with less... slithery or dangerous options.”

Ella laughs, clearly enjoying our banter. “My baby boy is happy with his Poppy girl and his horses. Aren’t you, my supernova?” Ella pepper kisses Jax’s small and angelic face, making him giggle.

My face breaks into a giant smile as I watch the tender moment between them and even Raiza visibly melts at the sight of them.

Our family keeps growing and there’s so much love and magical moments. I’m glad. Our parents deserve it. They went through hell to give us our beautiful heaven.

Out of nowhere the flight attendant’s voice crackles over the intercom, announcing that we’d be landing soon, and then Ella and Raiza begin to say their goodbyes. “Oh, you made it to Brazil, Low. We’ll catch up soon, okay? Send pictures and share everything and I mean everything!”

“I will,” I reply, feeling a pang of reluctance as I said goodbye. “Give Halley and Shaw a hug for me.” Then I wave at Jax. “Talk to you later, sweet boy.”

He blows me one last kiss.

Raiza chimes in, “Stay safe, Low. We love you and if you need me just call and I’ll be there!”

“I will,” I tell her, smiling. “I love you both.”

With final waves and smiles, the video call ends. I tuck my phone away. As the jet begins its descent, the anticipation of landing in Brazil takes over me and the nerves that were there before completely fade away.

“We’re here, baby girl.” Uncle Cianne’s grin is infectious as he looks ahead, clearly eager to land.

As I gaze out the window of the jet, I couldn’t help but feel in awe of all the green that surrounds us. The contrast between this stunning and vivid green expanse and the familiar cityscape of Philadelphia was striking. I couldn’t help but compare it to the Philadelphia I knew during Christmas time—the city draped in a blanket of snow, twinkling lights adorning every building, and a crisp chill in the air that made the holiday season feel magical but stark. I was going to miss a white Christmas but this place held a magic of its own.

I was eager to land as I took in the vast canopy of trees stretching endlessly, a sea of green under a bright, tropical sun. The colors were so intense, so different from what we’re used to back home. Brazil is beautiful and so colorful that I was already in love with the country and I hadn’t even landed.

“Wow,” I whisper at the same time uncle Cianne takes a picture of the sight outside his window.

As we make our descent I can almost feel the magic in the air, and I can already imagine all the adventures waiting for me down below. A feeling of Deja vu takes over me as if the land itself was calling out to my soul, inviting me to uncover this country’s hidden treasures and immerse myself in its unique beauty and culture.

Something deep in my bones told me that something monumental was bound to happen. Something that would change the course of my existence forever.

And it did.

That something was… him.