Page 165 of That First Flight

“No, thank you for inviting us,” she says too quickly. “Can I talk to you for a second on the side?”

I look at Oliver and the minute my eyes land on his, they are already glued to me. Like the protective Golden Retriever he is, he doesn’t stray far when he knows I’ll need him most. He gives me a small nod as if he’s overheard her question.

I look back at them. “Sure.”

“Listen,” Mom starts when we’re out of ear reach from everyone. “I meant what I said just a second ago. Thank you for inviting us. With that being said, I think I owe you a major apology.”

My eyes widen in… shock? That’s what that is. It has to be.

“Mackenzie is really happy, isn’t she?” she asks me.

I swallow to try and fight off the dryness forming in my throat and simply nod.

“I can tell. I wish I could take back everything I’ve ever said to you. I wish I could take back the pain I’ve caused you that made you run to here. But I can’t. It’s something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life. For what it’s worth, I’m going to be sorry I said any of it for the rest of my life too.”

“Th-thank you,” I stutter.

“You are a good,goodmother, Macey.” My mom brings a hand to place on my shoulder, keeping her eyes locked on mine to tell me she means what she says. “I wish I had seen how good of a mother you were long before today. Seeing the people you’ve surrounded her with, the friends she’s made, how Oliver looks at both of you like you two hung the moon together. It’s everything I ever could have dreamed of for you and her.”

I can’t hold back the tears anymore. The dam releases and I quickly swipe the tear that escapes. As if Oliver can sense it, he clears his throat to interrupt us.

“Everything okay?” he asks me, not paying any attention to my parents standing there.

“I’m…” I look from him to my mother. “I’m good, babe.”

“I was just offering my apologies for how I’ve treated her all of these years,” my mom cuts in. “You’re a good man, Oliver. Thank you for taking care of my daughter and granddaughter.”

He nods. “I’d do anything for them.”

“I can tell.” She offers him a soft smile. “I have to head out. We have a red eye to catch. Thank you again for inviting us. Today was the greatest day of my life just being able to see the joy on my granddaughter's face.”

With those words, she turns on her heel and finds my dad in the kitchen and is out the door. I can’t believe that just happened.

“That was good, right?” Oliver asks with my face in his hands.

“It was…unexpected.”

He presses a kiss to my lips. “Come on, babe. It’s getting late and it’s time for Mackenzie to open her presents. I want you to be there when you see what I got her.”

“Oh god, what did you do?”

He runs his finger and thumb across his lips as if he’s zipping them shut.

We both fall into a fit of laughter as we make our way into the living room.

This should be good.

I watch intently as Mackenzie opens up her presents from everyone.

My knee bounces where I sit on the armrest of the chair, nervous for how she might react when she sees.

There is a very teeny tiny chance I went way overboard with her. But I wanted her first birthday that I get to celebrate with my girl to be the best one ever.

My nerves spike as she picks up the box with sage green wrapping paper. The last gift in the pile. She opens the card first and reads it out loud.

Dear, Mackenzie.

You’re a little difficult to shop for. What do you get a nine year old that you want to give the entire universe to? It’s an impossible task if you ask me. After thinking long and hard over what the perfect gift would be, I settled on this.

---