Alicia couldn’t see Liam’s face, but she could sense his smile when he saw and heard his sister’s joy at flying. She was grinning herself when he nodded and leaned forward just the slightest. Alicia still had a firm around him, though slowly she eased it off so she could steer the broom with both of her hands.
“Do you remember the song Unca Sam sings about flying?” she asked him, her mouth by his ear, though she was still keeping an eye and ear out for Isla and Adrian. Again Liam nodded, and Alicia began humming. “Here I am. I’m on my own. For the first time really on my own. And everything beneath me seems to fade. Without a trace, without a shade.” Slowly as the song picked up speed she began flying in big swerves, steadily ascending, though never going too high or too fast. “Oo-ooh,” she continued, “Oo-ooh,” and soon Liam joined in; “Oo-ooh, I am… fly-iing. Oo-ooh, oo-ooh. Oo-ooh in open space.” She couldn’t help the happy grin when she heard him laughing. No, he would probably never be crazy about flying the way she had always been and Isla already was, but at least she knew that with a little inspiration he could at least enjoy it, rather than fear it.
As Liam continued the song, Alicia steered the broom in a wide circle, following the edge of the Pitch, looking up to was her daughter and Adrian. She waved when a happily giggling Isla waved to her, and raising her eyes just a little, she met Adrian’s with a warm smile. How she hoped he knew how much this meant to her, how much he meant to her and the kids.