MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Landing
---
The private jet cut through the clouds like a silver bird.
The cabin was quiet. The seats were leather. The lights were soft. The family was scattered across the space, some sleeping, some reading, some watching the sky. Percy was in the front, his head on Honey's shoulder, his mouth open, his breathing slow. Aries and Ella were curled together under a blanket. Lyra was by the window, her face blank, her eyes on the clouds. Alex was beside her, his hand in hers, his head on her shoulder.
Care and Cole were in the back, Care's head on Cole's chest, his arm around her. Rakki and Ci N were arguing about something in whispers. Mica and Calix were looking at a screen. Grace and Denzel were sleeping. Freya and Erdix were watching the clouds. Kuya Angelo and Ion were reading. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand.
Jay sat by the window. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. Her stomach was flat. The twins were hidden. The sky was blue. The clouds were white. India was below.
"You're thinking," Keifer said.
She looked at him. "I'm always thinking."
He kissed her hand. "What are you thinking about?"
She looked at the window. At the land below. At the fields and rivers and mountains. "I'm thinking about my mother. About Jeena. About how she gave Care away. About how she found her again. About how we're all here. Together. In a plane. Going to India."
He pulled her close. "We're going to India."
She leaned against him. "We're going to India."
---
The pilot's voice came through the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our descent into Karnataka. Please fasten your seatbelts. The local time is 7:23 AM. The temperature is 24 degrees. Welcome to India."
Percy woke up. His face split into a grin. "INDIA!"
Honey grabbed his arm. "Sit down."
He sat. He was still grinning. "We're in India. We're actually in India."
Aries smiled. Ella smiled. Lyra's face was blank. Her eyes were not. Alex kissed her hand.
"We're in India," Alex said.
She looked at him. "We're in India."
He pulled her close. "We're getting married."
She almost smiled. Almost. "We're getting married."
---
The jet descended through the clouds.
The land rose up to meet them. Green fields. Red soil. Blue rivers. White buildings. Temples with gold roofs. Hills covered in trees. The sun was rising. The light was gold. The air was warm.
Jay looked out the window. Her hand was on the glass. Her face was soft.
"It's beautiful," she said.
Keifer looked at her. "You're beautiful."
She laughed. "You're cheesy."
He kissed her. "I'm honest."
She kissed him back. "You're honest."
---
The jet touched down. The wheels hit the runway. The cabin shook. The engines roared. The plane slowed. The sun was bright through the windows. The land was red. The sky was blue. The air was warm.
Percy was out of his seat before the plane stopped. Honey pulled him back. "Wait."
He bounced. "I can't wait. We're in India. We're in India. We're in—"
The plane stopped. The door opened. The stairs descended. The air rushed in. Warm. Spicy. Sweet. The smell of flowers and earth and something else. Something ancient. Something new.
Percy ran down the stairs. His arms were spread wide. His voice was loud. "INDIA!"
Honey followed. Aries and Ella followed. Lyra and Alex followed. Care and Cole followed. Rakki and Ci N followed. Mica and Calix followed. Freya and Erdix followed. Grace and Denzel followed. Kuya Angelo and Ion followed. Tita Gemma and Tita Rachel followed.
Jay stood at the top of the stairs. Keifer was behind her. His hand was in hers. The sun was warm on her face. The air was sweet in her lungs. The land was red below her feet.
"India," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her neck. "India."
She walked down the stairs. Her feet touched the ground. The soil was warm. The air was thick. The light was gold.
She turned. Keifer was behind her. His face was close. His eyes were bright.
"We're here," she said.
He pulled her close. "We're here."
---
The cars were waiting.
Black SUVs. Drivers in white. Flowers on the seats. Garlands around the mirrors. The family piled in. Percy in the first car, Honey beside him. Aries and Ella in the second. Lyra and Alex in the third. Care and Cole in the fourth. Rakki and Ci N in the fifth. Mica and Calix in the sixth. Freya and Erdix in the seventh. Grace and Denzel in the eighth. Kuya Angelo and Ion in the ninth. Tita Gemma and Tita Rachel in the tenth.
Jay and Keifer were in the last car. The seats were leather. The air was cool. The windows were open. The wind was warm. The land was red. The sky was blue. The sun was bright.
Jay leaned against Keifer. Her head was on his shoulder. His arm was around her.
"It's beautiful," she said.
He kissed her hair. "It's beautiful."
She looked at the fields. At the rivers. At the mountains. At the temples with gold roofs. "I never thought I would see this place."
He pulled her close. "We're here now."
She held him. "We're here now."
---
The road wound through the hills. The trees were green. The flowers were bright. The air was sweet. The sun was warm. The cars moved slowly. The family was quiet. The land was waiting.
Percy was in the front car. His face was pressed against the window. His voice was low. "Look at the elephants."
Honey looked. Elephants were standing by the side of the road. Gray. Huge. Ancient. Their trunks were raised. Their ears were flapping. Their eyes were wise.
"Elephants," Honey said.
Percy grinned. "Elephants."
---
Lyra was in the third car. Her face was blank. Her eyes were on the elephants. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"Elephants," Alex said.
Lyra looked at him. "Elephants."
He pulled her close. "We're getting married. In India. With elephants."
She leaned against him. "With elephants."
---
Care was in the fourth car. Her face was soft. Her eyes were on the hills. Cole was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"We're here," Care said.
Cole kissed her hand. "We're here."
She looked at him. "I never thought I would be here."
He pulled her close. "I never thought I would be with you."
She held him. "You're with me."
He kissed her. "I'm with you."
---
The cars stopped at the top of a hill.
The valley spread out below. Green fields. Blue rivers. White buildings. Temples with gold roofs. Elephants walking through the trees. The sun was high. The light was gold. The air was warm.
The family got out. Percy ran to the edge of the hill. His arms were spread wide. His voice was loud. "THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!"
Honey walked to him. Her face was calm. Her eyes were bright. "This is where we're getting married."
He pulled her close. "We're already married."
She kissed him. "We're getting married again."
He kissed her back. "Again."
---
Aries and Ella stood at the edge of the hill. Their hands were intertwined. Their faces were soft.
"December 12th," Aries said.
Ella smiled. "December 12th."
Aries pulled her close. "Lyra and Alex."
Ella held them. "Lyra and Alex."
---
Lyra stood at the edge of the hill. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers. Her face was blank. Her eyes were not.
"December 12th," Lyra said.
Alex looked at her. "December 12th."
She turned to face him. "I'm going to be your wife."
He pulled her close. "You're going to be my wife."
She touched his face. "I never thought I would be anyone's wife."
He kissed her hand. "You're going to be mine."
She almost smiled. Almost. "I'm going to be yours."
---
Care and Cole stood at the edge of the hill. Her hand was in his. Her face was soft.
"December 13th," Care said.
Cole kissed her hand. "December 13th."
She leaned against him. "I never thought I would get married."
He pulled her close. "You never thought you would have a sister. You never thought you would have a family. You never thought—"
She kissed him. "I never thought I would have you."
He kissed her back. "You have me. Always."
---
Jay stood at the edge of the hill. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. Her stomach was flat. The twins were hidden. The valley was below. The sky was blue. The sun was warm.
"You're thinking," Keifer said.
She looked at him. "I'm always thinking."
He pulled her close. "What are you thinking about?"
She looked at the valley. At the fields. At the rivers. At the temples. At the elephants. At the family scattered across the hill. At her sister. At her brother. At her friends. At her husband. At the twins growing inside her.
"I'm thinking about the garden," she said. "About the mud. About the Ferris wheel. About the contract. About the day you put the ring back on my finger."
He kissed her forehead. "I'm thinking about the day you took a bullet for me."
She touched his face. "I would do it again."
He kissed her hand. "I wouldn't let you."
She smiled. "You don't have a choice."
He knelt. His face was level with her stomach. His hands were on her flat belly. The twins were hidden. The twins were there. The twins were theirs.
"Hello," he said. "We're in India. We're on a hill. The sun is warm. The sky is blue. The elephants are here. Your aunts and uncles are getting married. And then we're going home. You're going to be born. You're going to be loved. You're going to be everything."
Jay's hands were in his hair. Her face was wet. Her heart was full.
The twins moved. Two small flutters. Two small lives. Two small hearts.
Keifer looked up. His face was wet. "They know."
Jay laughed. She was crying. She was laughing. She was everything. "They know."
He stood up. His arms were around her. "I love you."
She held him. "I love you too."
---
The sun was setting when they left the hill.
The cars were waiting. The drivers were ready. The family was tired. The family was happy. The family was home.
Percy was in the first car. His head was on Honey's shoulder. His eyes were closed. His mouth was open. Honey was awake. Her hand was in his. Her face was soft.
Aries and Ella were in the second car. Their hands were intertwined. Their eyes were closed. Their breathing was slow.
Lyra and Alex were in the third car. Lyra's head was on Alex's shoulder. Her face was blank. Her eyes were closed. Alex was awake. His hand was in hers. His face was soft.
Care and Cole were in the fourth car. Care's head was on Cole's chest. His arm was around her. They were both asleep.
Rakki and Ci N were in the fifth car. Ci N was asleep. Rakki was awake. Her hand was in his. Her face was soft.
Mica and Calix were in the sixth car. Calix was asleep. Mica was awake. Her head was on his shoulder. Her laptop was closed.
Freya and Erdix were in the seventh car. Both awake. Both watching. Both silent.
Grace and Denzel were in the eighth car. Both asleep. Hands intertwined.
Kuya Angelo and Ion were in the ninth car. Both reading. Both quiet. Both peaceful.
Tita Gemma and Tita Rachel were in the tenth car. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand.
Jay and Keifer were in the last car. The seats were leather. The air was cool. The windows were open. The wind was warm. The land was red. The sky was purple. The stars were coming out.
Jay leaned against Keifer. Her head was on his shoulder. His arm was around her.
"We're in India," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "We're in India."
She closed her eyes. "I'm tired."
He pulled her close. "Sleep."
She smiled. "You sleep."
He laughed. "I'm watching you."
She opened her eyes. They were bright. "Then watch."
He watched. The stars came out. The moon rose. The land was dark. The sky was bright. The car moved through the hills. The family was asleep. The family was home.
Jay closed her eyes. Her hand was on her stomach. The twins were quiet. The twins were safe. The twins were hers.
"India," she whispered.
Keifer kissed her forehead. "India."
She slept. He watched. The stars were bright. The moon was full. The land was red. The sky was blue. India was waiting. The weddings were waiting. The future was waiting.
---
END OF CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT