Page 28 of Unexpectingly Happily Ever After

My face breaks into a smile. “I think I maybe do. Now that my heart’s started beating again.”

″Not a nice thing to do; joke about heart attacks with a couple who are on the danger list.”

I feel my face fall. “Uh…sorry.”

She looks up with a twinkle in her eye. “Just joking. We’ve got at least twenty minutes before the flight boards and you can tell us all about your kids and husband who is letting you jet off all by yourself.”

J.B. I pull out my phone. “I just need to…” I mutter, my thumbs tapping furiously.

I know it’s early and you’ve gone back to bed but

PLEASE text me that kids are ok. Fell asleep in airport and dreamed I lost them.

Either he hasn’t gone back to sleep or the chime of the phone wakes him up because he replies right away.

Kids are still where you left them last night.

Checking now…1,2, and 3. All good. Going back to sleep.

Thank you. Love you.

He sends me a kissy face emoji in return.

″Kids are fine,” I report to Harold as I put my phone away. “It’s just me I have to worry about.”

Chapter Ten

Automobiles are not an advisable mode of transportation for children.

A Young Woman’s Guide to Raising Obedient Children

Dr. Francine Pascal Reid, (1943)

Ihaven’t been on a plane since last year when we took the kids to Disneyland. That had been a bit of an adventure. J.B. got pulled out of line and searched for drugs, Sophie threw up while we were waiting in line to check in and Lucy and Ben both threw up during the flight–several times–with Sophie cryingforthem, because neither of them could keep their heads out of the air sickness bags.

I remember how the rest of the passengers had let us off the plane first. I heard the collective sigh of relief as we carried the kids off. I didn’t let myself cry then, even though I really wanted to.

But as the plane levels off, leaving the early morning lights of Toronto behind, I have to admit I shed a few tears. A few days awaywillbe a good thing for me. The kidswillbe all right with J.B. They’ll have a great time with him. And a few days away fromallmy kids–not only my own but my kindergarten class–will help. I love being a teacher, but a couple of days to recharge my batteries is exactly what the doctor ordered.

I see the back of Harold’s head a few rows ahead of me and smile at the memory of the shock on his face. That gets rid of the tears.

*

The five-hour flight literally flies by. I catch a quick nap, the movie is one I haven’t seen and my seatmates are just the right amount of chatty, telling me about their previous trips to Las Vegas and things to do. The flight attendants keep the coffee coming. By the time I step out of the airport, I’m full of excitement and caffeine.

In the taxi, my eyes practically bug out of my head when I catch sight of the legendary Strip. Las Vegas–I’d seen pictures but never imagined it would be likethis. Barely eight am on a Thursday morning and already the sidewalks are as congested as the streets of Toronto during the Friday afternoon exodus to cottage country.

″Oh my god,” I breathe, loud enough for the cab driver to hear.

″First time here?” he asks.

″How can you tell?” I laugh, unable to stop gazing out the window. The morning sun dims the lights from the hotels, but it’s still dazzling to my eyes.

I pull out my phone again, taking a video of the people, the cars,everythingand send it to J.B. to show the kids. I take in as much as I can before the taxi drops me in front of the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Resort.

Slowly the heavy weight of leaving the kids is disappearing.

″Have fun!” the driver calls before I slam the door behind me.

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