Person Of Interest

The flight back to New York was smoother than her departure had been five years ago, Liora thought.

“Over here, ma’am, I need to see your passport.” An officer said as they approached the exit door.

“Here,” Lily said, handing it over to him.

Ian and Liora carried one of the twins, as they had both dozed off before landing.

While waiting to sort their luggage, Adrian shifted uncomfortably in Ian’s hands.

"Are you up, big boy?” Ian whispered, putting him down.

The airport was packed full, with people travelling for the holidays. It was winter, and Christmas was a few weeks away.

"Potty," Adrian mumbled, still sleepy.

“I think he needs to use the restroom." Liora muttered.

“Okay, you guys should go; I’ll take him, and we will meet you outside.” Ian offered.

“Thank you.” Liora said, sighing in relief, wondering what she would have done without him and Lily.

Ian held onto Adrian’s hand as they walked through the crowd. Adrian rubbed his eyes with his left hand, now fully awake.

They walked a few meters away in the direction of the airport with the most crowd.

“Hold on tightly, okay?" Lily said as they navigated through the crowd.

Adrian nodded his head, more concerned with relieving himself than the crowd around.

Then suddenly a large group of college students wearing their sweatshirts rushed towards them. Their excitement was too strong for them to give heed to anything around them.

“Adrian!” Lily shouted as his hands slipped from hers.

Before she knew it, another group walked in, pushing them further apart. By the time Lily got to the other side, Adrian was nowhere to be found.

“Oh no, Liora is going to kill me.” Lily muttered under her breath.

At the other end of the airport, Adrian had a huge grin on his face as he stared into the face of the handsome stranger who carried him.

“Kid, you’re staring.” He says.

“Hmm, hmm, you’re handsome just like me,” Adrian responds with a grin.

The man’s brow went up in surprise at the kid's confidence as he asked, “Who told you so?”

“My mummy.” Adrian replied, still staring as he asked, “What's your name? Do you have a wife?”

The man turned slightly shocked eyes to the boy in his hand.

“So many questions. Well, no, I don’t have a wife, and my name is Travis.” The man mumbled.

“Okay. "I'm Adrian," Adrian responded, satisfied.

“Here we are. Go in and let me know when you’re done.” The man said as they got to the restroom.

“But my button,” Adrian pouted.

“for F*…” The man muttered, trailing off as he realized he shouldn’t say the F word in front of a kid.

“Okay, let’s go.” He agreed.

When he was done, Adrian walked over to the washhand, which was slightly above him.

“I need to watch my hand," Adrian said.

"Yes, of course.” The man muttered, shaking his head, his lips curling up at the side at the kids' cuteness.

Once done, they both stood in front of the mirror as if they were in sync. They raised their left hand and patted the back of their neck.

Instantly the man’s phone rang, and he turned to the kid. "Wait here; I’ll get someone to help locate your family."

“Okay,” Adrian nodded, still patting his neck.

After about five minutes, Adrian walked out the door right into the arms of a screaming Liora.

“Oh my god! Adrian!” Liora shouted.

Adrian extended his lower lip, pouting as he almost teared up.

Passersby cast a glance their way at the scream, wondering what was going on.

“I’m sorry, Mummy." Adrian said, folding his small hand in front of him.

Ian and Lily stood behind them, holding Amelia in between them.

“Who brought you here?” Lily asked.

“A very handsome man like me, Mummy. He carried me because the other kids were laughing at me.” Adrian said.

“Because you did the dance again!” Amelia shouted, her little chest rising in anger.

“Stop that; don’t start, please.” Liora cautioned the both of them.

“What’s the dance?” Ian asked in curiosity.

Lily grinned and whispered, “He holds his pee-pee and shakes his leg when he can’t hold his urine.”

Ian laughed out, earning him a glare from Liora, who was trying to keep Adrian from crying.

“Don’t you cry! Don’t be a baby!” Amelia pouted, her left hand on her waist and her right hand pointing at her brother.

Adrian’s lower lip shivered as he shouted, “I’m not crying."

"Yes, you are!” Amelia insisted in her baby voice, shaking her head at her brother.

Ian tried not to laugh as Liora picked up Adrian, turned, and glared at Amelia as she said, “Stop taunting your brother.”

"Mummy, that is why I am the older twin; I am his big sister.” Amelia responded with a grin.

Instantly Adrian went rigid in Liora’s hand as he shouted, "No, you’re not!”

For a split second everyone around them stopped to look over at them before moving on.

“Okay, I’ve had it with both of you. Ian, pick her up, or we are going to spend the rest of our time settling this argument.” Liora said, shaking her head.

On the other side of the airport, the man who had helped Adrian turned at the shout and saw the boy in the hand of a woman.

He couldn’t quite see her face, but he shrugged and muttered, “Probably his mother.”

Behind him, someone called, “Mr. Ashford, your ride is here.”

“Thank you.” Travis Ashford responded as he turned and walked towards the exit.

“Took you long enough to return; was starting to think you were avoiding New York.” Felix Lawson grinned.

Travis’s brow went up in surprise at the sight of him, his lips curling up in a smile.

“What are you doing here?” Travis asked as they exchanged a one-armed hug.

“Offering you a ride since you wanted your return kept secret.” Felix responded.

“Thanks, man. I thought you were just going to send a driver to pick me up.” Travis stated.

“We can use that time to catch up on important things, like the many medical review sessions you missed in the last few months.” Felix said.

“I see you got a new ride.” Travis said, raising his chin at the red spot car in front of them.

"Yes, I did, and no, don’t try to change the topic. Travis, it’s important you take this seriously. I’m talking as your doctor now and not just your friend.” "Felix said," his tone turning serious as they got into the car.

“Okay, okay, can we go?" Travis asked, settling into the car.

His luggage had already been sent to the hotel ahead of him, so he didn’t worry much about it.

Felix put on the car, its soft purr vibrating through the air and drawing attention.

“Here we go.” Felix muttered as Travis closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

He sped past some of the cars waiting to pick up people.

“Huh,” Felix muttered.

“What again?” Travis asked.

“Hmm, I thought I saw a familiar face," he said, his brows squeezed in confusion.

“Maybe you did.” Travis shrugged.

At that, Felix’s face lighted up as he said, “Ahh ahh, that reminds me.”

“Of what?” Travis asked, not sounding interested.

“I heard a person of interest is coming to town," Felix said.

Travis's eyes snapped open and narrowed instantly at Felix. There was only one person he had been desperate to find in the last two years.