Page 60 of Hold You Close
Ian ended up taking the kids to the club Friday night, which I am still not even a little bit okay with, but they left before the doors opened. Yesterday, he had his manager come stay at the house for a few hours when he went in. He didn’t tell me this, but Morgan sure did.
I plan to talk to him about that.
The drive to the airport is long, and I end up taking a nap. Once I get to the airport, check in, and arrive at my gate, the flight is boarding. I pull out my phone, remembering that he sent me a text I never responded to.
Ian:What time do you land?
Me: I get in around two. I’ll be there to watch the kids tonight, don’t worry. I took off the next few days since I need to work on a proposal.
Then I shoota message to Morgan.
Me:Did you get your project done or do we need to work on it when I get home?
Morgan: It’s done, Uncle Ian helped. Well, kind of.
Oh,God. I was good up until the ‘kind of.’
Ian:I’m not worried, but thanks. What airline are you flying?
I sendhim the screenshot of my flight info so he knows what time to expect me. I’ll have plenty of time to get home, showered, and ready before he needs to leave. The flight attendant comes over the speaker, informing us we have to power down.
Me:Flight is taking off now. I’ll see you later.
Ian: See you soon.
Yeah,you will, and I pray to God you and I haven’t lost our minds.
“Thank you for flying with us.”The flight attendant smiles as I deplane.
“Sure.” I smile back but don’t mean it.
The flight was awful.
Turbulence was out of control, some kid was kicking my seat, even though I was in first class, and I couldn’t get the Wi-Fi to work.
Seriously, worst flight ever. Well, maybe not the worst flight, because it actually landed. But it still sucked.
I start the long walk down the terminal to head to the car service that’s waiting. I’m ready for a bath.
Two soldiers are practically running toward people holding signs with balloons, and I smile. My father served in the Army before he and my mother had me. There used to be a large photograph in our hallway of him returning from deployment. In the picture, my mother has her arms wrapped around his neck, holding his hat in her hands, and my father’s smile is blinding. He didn’t take it down even after she left us, and I always loved looking at it.
You could see in that moment how they both were just able to breathe again.
I’ve longed for that. The way he looked at her. The way she needed him. I want to feel that as well.
Even if it doesn’t last.
“Aunt London!” I hear a voice I recognize yelling my name.
I shade my eyes, look for the source, and find Ruby waving frantically on the sidewalk coming toward me.
There, behind her, is Ian with a bouquet of roses, and Morgan and Christopher too.
“You guys.” I make my way over, smiling. “What are you doing here?”
Morgan nudges her uncle. “Well, someone wanted to surprise you . . . because he likes you.”
“You’re grounded.” Ian nudges her back.
