Secret Blessing

Chapter 12: Half-way

"Will it be your first time riding a plane?" Winter asked Eira.

"Yes!" Eira answered. "We only ride trains."

"Are you excited?"

"Yes!"

"It's a little uncomfortable at first. You think you'll be okay with that?"

"I think so!"

Winter smiled. "Did she sleep last night?" she asked Demetria.

Demetria shook her head. "She kept me up all night," she said, massaging her head, implicating a headache.

"You can handle the flight?" Winter asked. Demetria just stared at her. She raised her hands up in surrender, remembering she's a flight attendant. She's used to boarding planes.

They boarded the private plane they used and settled in the seats. Eira sat by the window because she wanted to look outside with Demetria beside her and Winter sat by the aisle. Across them are Victoria and Summer.

"You can sleep in the bedroom later if you want," Winter told Demetria as she opened a book for her to read.

"Can I sleep in the other room?" Demetria asked.

Winter shook her head. "Vic and Sum are using it," she said.

Demetria sighed.

"The bed's clean, don't worry," Winter reassured.

"I didn't say it's dirty," Demetria said.

"I haven't used the plane in years, but I have it cleaned every month," Winter said.

"You haven't?"

Winter nodded.

"Why not?"

Winter looked up from the book she was reading. "Because you're not with me."

Demetria didn't reply.

"By the way, we'll be stopping in Dubai, so if Eira wants to have a tour around, we can do so," Winter said.

"Can we go with you?" Victoria asked as she heard what Winter said.

Winter nodded. "Why not? I think it's good for Summer to walk."

Victoria turned to her wife. "Should we buy some baby clothes?"

Summer hesitated. "We can buy them at home, can't we?"

"But I want to do some shopping!" Victoria exclaimed, excited about the trip.

"Then buy something else," Summer suggested.

Victoria pouted. "Can't we at least check them out?"

Summer playfully rolled her eyes. "Fine."

Winter just chuckled at the interaction.

"Mom, I feel sleepy," Eira said.

Winter put down her book. "I can tuck her in."

"No, it's alright," Demetria said. "I'll be keeping an eye on her and maybe get some sleep, too."

Winter nodded. "Okay." She stood up after removing her seat belt to give them way.

Eira yawned. "See you later, Dada," she said.

"Dada?" Winter asked, confused.

"I feel like calling you Dada now."

Winter smiled. "Alright, see you later, baby," she leaned down to kiss the top of her head. She and Demetria shared a look before they went to the bedroom.

"Aw. Now, I'm more excited about meeting our baby," Victoria told Summer.

Summer chuckled. "You'll have to wait for another eight months."

"You have an advantage, you'll get to see the baby grow up," Winter said as she sat back down.

"You can still do that, bro," Victoria said.

"Yeah, but I wish I was there for her firsts," Winter said.

"You still can," Summer said. "She's still a toddler, you can witness her going to school, having her first crush, being a teenager, transitioning to adulthood," she said. "There's still a lot of time you can be with her, and it's not your fault that you didn't get to see her when she was born. Don't beat yourself up."

"I guess so," Winter said.

"I say so," Summer said, certain.

"Yeah, you should listen to your sister," Victoria said. "Because she's right. Though, I wouldn't forgive Demetria for not telling me if I was you."

"We've been over this," Winter said.

"I know, just reminding you that the next time she leaves with your daughter, I'll help you get custody," Victoria said. "I'm not joking."

Winter sighed and nodded. "Fine."

"You two have been through so much already, leaving again won't help."

Winter looked at Summer. "You got a keeper here."

Summer showed off her ring finger. "That's why I said 'yes' and 'I do'."

"And that's why she's my best woman."

*

They arrived at Dubai's airport and Winter had already booked a room in a nearby hotel. They went there to leave their things, since Eira was already pumped up after taking her nap, they'll be walking around town. It was late afternoon, so the sun wasn't as bright.

"Where do you want to go?" Winter asked Eira.

"I feel hungry, can we eat?"

"Of course, should we try their food, or do you want some fast food?"

"I want to try their food!" Eira immediately answered.

Winter grinned. "Alright!"

They walked a few minutes and went inside a nearby restaurant. They were asked how many would eat and said that they were only three of them. Victoria and Summer decided to stay at the hotel right now as Summer would get easily tired now and then. They said they will just order room service for the night and join them for breakfast the next day.

They were led to a four-seater table and Winter helped Eira onto her seat while Demetria sat across and she sat beside her daughter. They were given a couple of menus and they scanned them.

Demetria put it down. "I think you should order for us," she said.

Winter looked up. "You sure?"

Demetria nodded. "We're not familiar with the dishes, Eira and I will trust your judgment."

Winter smiled and nodded. "Okay."

A few minutes has passed before she called for somebody to take their order. "We'll have a Majboos Samak, Thereed, and some Luqaimat."

"What about drinks, Ma'am?"

"We'll just have some water," Winter said.

"Will that be all?" the crew asked.

"Yes, that'll be all, thank you," Winter said as she returned the menus.

"Have you tried that?" Demetria asked.

"I did. You know I have business deals abroad, so I get to try different cuisines."

"Right." Demetria looked at her. "You've been dodging work for weeks, then?"

"Not necessarily. I still do some work when I'm at the hotel. Apparently, I can't be away that long without having to leave the work to my employees. They still need me." Winter sighed. "Money's supposed to be working for me at this point, but I guess, my brain's too good to be wasted."

Demetria scoffed, amused by what Winter said.

Winter cracked a smile. "What? It's true."

Demetria nodded as she smiled, too. "Yes, I know."

"Are you smart, Dada?" Eira asked.

Winter turned to her daughter. "Well, I believe I am, and so are you~," she said as she lightly pinched Eira's cheeks. "I know you inherited my being smart."

"Mom has been teaching me back home and she said I'll be starting school this year!"

"Are you excited?"

"Yeah!"

Meanwhile, the Luqaimat was being served on their table. "Do you want to try, honey?"

Eira nodded, excitedly.

Winter cut a piece into two and used a fork to pick it up before giving it to Eira. She can tell from her child's reaction that she liked the sweet food. "So, where do you plan to enroll her?" she asked Demetria.

"Well, it's difficult for her to learn French, I think she got that from me. I have trouble learning the language, so I've been thinking about making her study in the Philippines. She knows the Filipino language better."

"She's still young, I think she can do anything she put her mind to," Winter said. "C'est une fille brillante."

Eira's ears seemed to perk up. "That's French!"

Winter chuckled. "It is."

Demetria shook her head in amusement. "You're just showing off."

Winter grinned. "I can teach her the language."

Demetria furrowed her eyebrows. "Don't you want her to study here?"

"It's better for her to study in France, but that's up to you. I can always fly there. I have the means," Winter said.

"Don't you want to be closer to her?"

"I want to, but the decision falls on you... and Eira," Winter said.

"I want to be close to you, Dada!" Eira exclaimed.

"Is that so?"

Eira nodded.

Winter looked at Demetria who seemed decided.

"That settles it, then. She'll study there."