Chapter 640
ALAMAINIA “INTERNATIONAL” AIRPORT
Cassie and Nicholas disembarked from the jet, their bags in hand. As they walked into the airport, they saw along the walls several flags. The flags were red and black, with a big picture of Vivian smiling broadly in the center.
CASSIE (under her breath): Oh my god. You’ve gotta be kidding me.
NICHOLAS: Marvellous, isn’t it?
Nicholas and Cassie went through customs, which took much longer than it had any reason to, seeing as they were the only two at the airport, aside from the security guards and TSA officials. After filling out all of the necessary forms, they continued walking through the airport.
NICHOLAS: Of course they call it an international airport, because of the obvious that it accepts international flights, but it is the smallest international airport in Europe.
CASSIE: I thought that title belonged to the airport in Aremid.
Nicholas chuckled slightly.
NICHOLAS: No. Aremid has at least two terminals. Alamainia only has the one.
CASSIE: Oh.
NICHOLAS: Regardless, we do get a remarkable amount of air traffic through here.
CASSIE: Hm. So, obviously Vivian founded this place. What is it, a dictatorship, or something?
NICHOLAS: Aunt Viv prefers to think of it as more of a monarchy, but I could see the argument one could make for calling it a benign dictatorship.
CASSIE (under her breath): Figures. No question of who the dictator is.
NICHOLAS: So, once we get the car from the parking garage, I’ll be giving you a tour of the country.
CASSIE: The whole country?
NICHOLAS: It’s a micronation. It’ll take the better part of an hour, two tops. Maybe longer, since we’ll be making a few stops to stretch our legs.
CASSIE: Oh, great…
Cassie followed Nicholas into the parking garage.
TOMMY’S HOUSE
Lily came down the stairs and was greeted by the smell of bacon frying in a pan. She walked into the kitchen.
TOMMY: Good morning.
LILY: Morning.
TOMMY: How’d you sleep?
LILY: Pretty good, thanks. You?
TOMMY: Very well. Are you hungry? I’ve got some bacon and eggs going, and coffee brewing.
LILY: Starving! Thanks, Grandpa. Anything I can help with?
TOMMY: That’s not necessary.
LILY: I know, but I want to, since I’m staying here for the time being.
TOMMY: All right. Well, you could get some plates out. They’re in the upper cabinet to the left of the sink.
LILY: You got it.
Lily pulled some plates out of the cabinet Tommy had mentioned.
LILY: How are things in the surgery wing of the hospital?
TOMMY: Going very well. How’s the new therapy wing?
LILY: Great! I love it!
TOMMY: Excellent.
LILY: So, since I have the day off, I was thinking about meeting some more of my family. Any ideas about where would be a good place to start?
TOMMY: Well, believe it or not, you’ve met one of your cousins already.
LILY: Have I?
Tommy nodded, and began putting eggs and bacon onto the two plates Lily had put out.
TOMMY: Ciara Brady. She is the granddaughter of my sister, your Great-Aunt Addie.
LILY: Really? She’s the first patient I met when I got here! That’s so cool!
TOMMY: It is, yes. A lot of your other relatives work at the hospital, so the more time you spend there, the more people you’ll meet. A few others work at the police station.
LILY: Makes sense.
Tommy and Lily took their plates to the table and began eating.
TOMMY: The other two that spring to mind are your Great-Aunt Maggie, she is retired by still helps out at the hospital or the Horton Center frequently, and your Great-Aunt Marie, who works at St. Luke’s Catholic Church.
LILY: Sweet. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Aunt Marie again! Thanks, Grandpa!
TOMMY: Of course, you’ll get to meet even more of them at the Horton Family Reunion over Fourth of July weekend.
LILY: Oh, we’re having a family reunion?
TOMMY: Yes. Your Great-Aunt Marie and Great-Uncle Bill and I started discussing it around Christmas.
LILY: Well, that sounds really cool!
Lily’s phone buzzed. She looked at it, groaned and turned it back over.
TOMMY: Everything okay?
LILY: I guess. It’s just Mom.
TOMMY: Sandy still doesn’t approve of your living situation?
LILY: Nope. But, that’s her problem. Like I said, I’m making my own decisions.
Tommy nodded.
LILY: So, what about Uncle Bill? Where does he live around here?
TOMMY: He doesn’t, he lives in Africa. He, and your cousin Mike, have a medical practice out there. However, they will both be coming home this July, possibly earlier, since Bill will want to help with setup for the party.
LILY: Cool.
Lily’s phone buzzed again. She picked it up.
LILY: Guess I should take this before Mom has a cow.
TOMMY: That might be advisable, yes.
Lily sighed.
LILY: Sorry, I’ll be back in a minute.
Lily picked up the phone and walked out of the room.
HUDSON ST. DINER
Jennifer and Carly had met up for breakfast.
JENNIFER: I’m so glad you called me to have breakfast.
CARLY: Me too. Even though we live in the same town, it’s like we never see each other.
JENNIFER: i know the feeling. So, how are things? How’s Nicholas and Trix?
CARLY: Trix is fine. She’s been worried about Ciara, but glad that she seems to be okay.
JENNIFER: We all are. Especially Hope. I’m just hoping she gets out of the hospital soon so she can go and see Ciara.
CARLY: So am I, though I’m not sure Ciara’s entirely ready.
JENNIFER: Well, it must be really hard for her, even though she knows it wasn’t really Hope, it certainly looked like her.
CARLY: I can’t imagine how she feels. Anyway, as for Nicholas...I’m worried, Jen. Really worried.
JENNIFER: About what?
CARLY: I think Nicholas is turning into his father.
HORTON CENTER
Julie was organizing her desk when her phone rang.
JULIE: Hello? Yes, this is Julie Williams, who am I speaking with? I see. From where? All right. Well, I can’t see what we...Ah, right. I see. What? Oh my god! You cannot be serious!
