Page 33 of Prairie Nights

The dry desert heat assaulted them as they came off the plane at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

“Not in Manitoba anymore,” he commented, taking Whitney’s hand.

Whitney laughed and nodded her head in agreement as they made their way through the arrival gate and Whitney spotted her parents, her mother waving her arms to get their attention. Dan and Betty Faris were both in their early 60s, her father just under six feet tall, was broad and stocky in stature and wore a light blue golf shirt and khaki shorts. He had grey hair cut short to his head in a brush cut, hazel eyes and a full bushy Tom Selleck style mustache. Whitney’s mother was an older version of Whitney. She had blonde hair cut into a bob, deep brown eyes just like Whitney’s and a broad inviting smile. She was a beautiful older woman, and he couldn’t help but think of what Whitney would look like when they were older. She wore a long flowing skirt and flower print tank top over her slim, svelte figure.

“Are you ready for this?” Whitney whispered, leaning into Hayden.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he answered as her parents approached them, emerging through a crowd of passengers.

“Dan and Betty! Nice to meet you.” Hayden said, putting his hand out to shake Dan’s. He took Hayden’s hand in a death grip and gave it a good solid shake. Hayden couldn’t help but laugh internally at his first attempt at intimidation. But he understood and respected it all the same.

“Well, this is Hayden!” Betty Farris chimed as she reached up to cup his face in her hands. “Look at those gorgeous blue eyes. Video chat does not do them justice!”

Whitney glanced at Hayden, and he caught her gaze. Amusement dancing across his face. Her mother wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. No awkward pretense, just full-on affection.

“Oh, and all those muscles. My goodness.” she commented, running her hands over his back.

Whitney rolled her eyes as her mother released Hayden from her hold, who was trying desperately not to burst into laughter.

“Hi Mom. Hi Dad.” Whitney greeted, drawing their attention to her and giving both of her parents a big hug. “I’ve missed you both.”

“Oh, honey, we are just so thrilled you two could spend the week with us!” Her mother cooed.

“We’re happy to be here, too.” Whitney replied.

Dan cleared his throat, fixed his eyes on Hayden, and gestured to the luggage claim, asking in a gruff tone. “Hayden, why don’t we get the luggage?”

Hayden nodded, gave Whitney a quick wink and followed Dan to the carousel, leaving Whitney and her mother to hang back.

* * *

Watching them go, her mother hooked her arm in Whitney’s, and whistled under her breath, “Oh, my goodness, Whitney, Hayden sure is a handsome one.”

“Mom, are you going to flirt with my boyfriend all week?” she teased, squeezing her mother’s arm tighter.

“Perhaps, a lady is never too old to look at a handsome specimen like that.” she winked, making Whitney laugh and shake her head.

Her mother was notoriously flirtatious, which, at times during her younger years, was a huge source of embarrassment. Now, as an adult, she couldn’t help but appreciate her mother’s boldness. She knew her parents, after 39 years of marriage, were still head over heels in love with each other and that her mother had no malicious intent behind any of her flirtations.

After a few minutes, Hayden and her father appeared through the crowd, rolling their two suitcases.

“Ready to go, sweet girl?” Her father asked, putting his arm around his daughter. Whitney reached up and kissed her father on the cheek, and gave him a nod.

* * *

They pulled up to a modern townhome style condominium in a gated community. The yards were immaculately manicured and picturesque, and a golf cart was parked in front of their house.

“Welcome!” Betty announced, her arms spread wide, a huge smile on her face.

“Hayden, do you golf?” Dan asked, pointing over to his golf cart.

“Daddy, please don’t drag Hayden around to every golf course in the area this week. We’re here on a vacation together.” She said with a roll of her eyes.

Dan let out a big huff making his bushy mustache puff out as he grabbed a suitcase. Hayden grabbed the other and answered. “I don’t golf regularly, but I have always enjoyed it.”

“Good!” Dan replied gruffly. “I will book us a tee time.”

Whitney flashed Hayden a look of thanks as they followed her parents to the front door. Walking in, he was greeted by a spacious front entrance painted boldly in southwestern colors, the bright colors making it look more like a hacienda than a modern town home. Everything being on the main floor, Betty led them down a hallway into a large guest bedroom with a queen size bed, large dresser and a window looking out onto the back patio.

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