Page 13 of Embracing Us

The announcement blares over the speakers. I’m not sure where the time went, but it bloody disappeared. Airports seem to have that effect on time; one minute you have plenty, the next you’re grabbing everything and running for the boarding gate. It was at this point Jackson decided to have a stinking nappy and needed changing. Max sprinted for the gate whilst I’d detoured via the baby changing room. We rendezvous on the plane in our seats, both sinking down simultaneously.

“I’ll hold him,” he says. “We can swap during the flight if you want. But you read the book you brought with you.” I pass him Jackson and settle myself down. The flight attendant arrives with a baby seatbelt. I watch as Max gets the two of them secured and ensures his son is safe in his arms. He removes the bottle of prepared baby milk from his pocket as the plane starts to move. Jackson guzzles greedily, completely unaware of the tin can he’s sitting in and the fact it’s rising into the air. Before he finishes the bottle, his eyes close and he drifts off, not long after his father does too. My journey to Spain is blissful. I sit and read my book in complete peace and quiet.

Our arrival, unfortunately, spells the end of the calm. The plane crashes down onto the tarmac with a bump. A shriek goes up in the cabin. The final twenty minutes of our flight have been hell. Turbulence threw us around the skies as if we’d been stuck in a tornado. Max had woken up with a start.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Just a bit rough,” I told him, whilst holding onto the armrests for grim death. He placed a hand over mine. Jackson continued to sleep, oblivious. The landing, however, jolted him awake, and he filled the cabin with a loud enough scream to match every adult in the room.

Finally, we’re allowed to vacate our seats, and we head for the baggage collection zone. Much to my relief, all our bags appear, looking exactly as we left them. After loading everything onto a trolley, it’s time to find a taxi. Luckily, the line isn’t too long, and we only have to wait a few minutes to get one. I’m relieved to be on the final leg of our journey.

The recognisable row of buildings comes into view. A huge smile spreads across Max’s face when he sees the hotel. He’s delighted to be back here. My eyes widen as I take in the scene. Familiar faces stand on the pavement waiting for us. A large banner hangs across the front of the building.

Welcome to the world, Jackson.

My heart swells, and tears fill my eyes. Max takes my hand, lifting my knuckles to his lips. He knew about this. As I climb out of the car, his aunt, Susan, runs towards me and wraps her arms around my shoulders. She pulls back then looks me directly in the eye.

“Welcome back, Linda,” she says, “I’m so pleased you came. I can’t wait to meet my nephew.” Crystal appears behind her, waddling in her usual manner with her crazy greying red hair. She embraces me as Susan did. At this moment, I’m so happy to be here. Back in a place that feels safe, surrounded by people I can genuinely call friends.

Max takes Jackson from the car. There is a crowd of women surrounding him, wanting to see his son. Most of them have known him since he was a teenager. They can’t wait to meet the new edition to the family at Decisiones De Vida.

“Out the way! All of you,” Susan snaps as she makes her way into the group. “This is my nephew, and I get first hold. You can all form an orderly queue.” There’s lots of oohing and aahing as she takes Jackson from his father’s arms and starts to show him off.

“Can we at least get inside?” he says, looking at his aunt.

“You know where to go,” she replies. He walks over and takes my hand, then leads me into the hotel.

“What about our bags?” I ask.

“The driver will put them in the hall. Come on, I want to show you something.” He tugs at my fingers.

The bar in the hotel is decorated, ready for a baby shower. My jaw falls open as we walk in. Handmade bunting hangs on every wall. Each table is laid with blue linen and holds a stand with cakes and sandwiches. In the centre of the room on a smaller circular table is a four-tiered cake decorated with white icing. I walk towards it. On top is an ornament of a baby boy. He looks identical to Jackson, with dark hair and green eyes. He’s lying in his pram, swaddled in blue blankets.

“Do you like it?” Max whispers from behind me. I turn to face him. He’s looking down at me; he looks nervous. “You hadn’t had the chance to celebrate becoming a mum again. We’re surrounded by friends here. I thought it would be the best place.”

“It’s perfect,” I say then rise up on tiptoe to kiss his lips. “There would be nowhere better than to celebrate than here.”

---