Double Deception

Chapter 1: Flight

“Nadia! Let's go!”

Nadia heard her mother call to her from downstairs. She was upstairs in her bathroom, humming “Today I Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything” by Bruno Mars while packing up some last-minute things: bath bombs, her favorite hand soap, and hair ties. She finishes putting them in a makeup bag and looks at herself one last time in the mirror.

Let’s do this, she thinks.

“I’m coming!” Nadia shouted down to her parents. She adjusted her auburn hair and took in her appearance: brown hair, hazel eyes, a narrow nose, and medium lips. This will be her last time in this bathroom for a while. This was her childhood bedroom and bathroom. She grew up in this house, and she was leaving it to pursue her career in New York City. Nadia grabbed her makeup bag and shoved it into her suitcase; she would throw it in her suitcase later, as her father had already loaded her luggage into the car. She headed downstairs.

Nadia made it downstairs to hear her father speaking to her mother in the foyer.

“Does she want to miss her flight?” she heard her mother say to her father in an irritated tone. Her parents were Jessica and Mark Fenske. Jessica was a woman in her late thirties, and her father was a man in his late forties.

“Sorry mom, this beauty takes time to get ready,” Nadia joked as she gripped her bag on her shoulder. Her father gave her an encouraging smile while her mother rolled her eyes.

“I just don’t want you to miss your flight,” Jessica said in her defense.

“Your things are all loaded up, sweetheart,” Mark informed her .

Nadia gave her father a one-armed hug in appreciation. “Thanks, Dad.”

For a moment, they just looked at each other till Jessica spoke.

“So this is it, huh?” her mother said sadly.

Nadia nodded. “Goodbye, California.”

Jessica pulled Nadia into a tight hug. Soon, their father joined in on the hug. Her father was the only one taking her to the airport to see her off. Her mom and Nora couldn’t make it. Sadly, Nora was her little sister.

“Please be safe, baby girl,” Jessica whispered while squeezing Nadia tightly. “You are my baby.”

“What am I, chopped liver?”

Nadia, Jessica, and Mark chuckled as Nora walked in from the living room. She resembled their mom, Jessica, the most with her long dark hair, brown eyes, and facial features. Nadia took after their father’s features. Nora was Nadia’s little sister by two years. Their parents like to refer to both of them as their miracle babies. After Jessica had Nadia, she and Mark weren’t sure they could have any more children, yet somehow, by a miracle, they had Nora. Nora and Nadia were like any other sisters, had their ups and downs, but loved each other nonetheless, and Nora was Nadia’s only sibling.

"I’ll miss you too,” Nadia replied with a laugh and pulled her little sister into a hug.

“Don’t forget-” Nora started.

“I know, I know, I will be back here in time for the wedding preparations and whatnot.” Nadia reminded her gently. Her sister was already having pre-wedding jitters. She was marrying a man named Jorge, who was a nice gentleman, a young aspiring surgeon. He met Nora a long time ago.

Nora smiled." And don’t forget you’re singing at the reception.”

“I will do my best,” Nadia replied.

“Alright, let's get going before you miss your flight, pumpkin,” Mark said with his hands on his hips, gathering everyone’s attention.

Nadia hugged her mom and sister one last time before leaving for the airport with her father. Her mother and sister would’ve come, but they both had to work. Nora followed her mother’s footsteps and became a dermatologist, while Nadia followed her father’s footsteps and became a detective for the LAPD. But as she grew older, she wanted to experience New York, one of the highest crime-rate cities in the country. She felt she could help make it a better place. One day, she decided to apply for a job there, and legend has it, she got in. Maybe because her father used to work for the NYPD as well back in the day, but whatever reason it was, she got in.

She was told she was similar to her father in many ways, definitely a daddy’s girl. As Nadia rode to the airport with her father, she stared out the window and took one last look at the California sun and scenery. New York would be her new home now.

They made it to the airport in time, and Nadia turned to face her father, who had tears in his eyes. Mark took a deep breath.

“I’ll miss you, pumpkin.” He sniffled and hugged Nadia.

“I’ll miss you too, Daddy,” Nadia said through teeth. Her throat got all thick, and she fought back tears as well.

“Tell your boss I said hello,” Mark said softly. He crossed his arms.” She and I worked on the force together back when we lived in New York before moving here to LA.”

“I will, Dad,” Nadia nodded.

“Be safe, don’t forget to always lock your door at night and pay attention when you're walking in the dark streets-” her father began.

“Daddy, I’ll be alright, it’s me, remember?” Nadia pointed out cockily.

Her father smiled and sighed. “You may know how to use a gun, but you are still one of my little girls.”

“I know, Dad.” She sighed. People were moving around them to get to where they needed to be. The airport was busy. She guessed everyone was moving this time of year or going on vacation; every person here had their own story to tell of where they were going. And Nadia’s was just beginning.

She hugged Mark one last time, and they kissed each other’s cheeks. Then she was off to New York.

“Goodbye, California, Hello, New York,” she thought to herself as the plane took off.