Page 30 of Home For Christmas

We were lucky that the kids were seasoned travelers, but watching us get through the airport was probably quite a sight. There was always a sigh of relief by the time we made it to the gate, and especially that night as they started the boarding process early.

I should have known that taking off early was because they were trying to beat the weather moving into Oklahoma, but by the time they started giving seating assignments out, I was just happy that we were getting on the plane. The kids were exhausted and my arms were getting tired from holding Mason so he didn’t run off. My little man had grown and was no longer little or easy to hold.

When we got an hour outside of Oklahoma, the first bumps began, and the last twenty minutes turned into a roller coaster ride that even I didn’t like being on. I’d managed to keep calm for Ty and the kids, but I had never been so thankful to land. I’d been through more turbulent flights in my life, but not with my kids and Ty at my side and not in a passenger aircraft. We bounced and bumped to the point I heard people getting sick. Not the ideal way to start our vacation, and I couldn’t help but hope that it wasn’t a sign of things to come.

Chapter 5

Ty

December 18th

I’d never been so fucking glad to be on the ground. I could hear the wind whipping around as we made our way from the plane to the airport. “Jesus Christ,” I muttered as I helped a very annoyed Meadow up the ramp and into the terminal.

I hadn’t felt so bad about the death grip I’d had on the arm of my seat when I’d glanced over and seen Declan was pale. Of course, it hadn’t helped my nerves to see him like that, but at least I’d known I wasn’t overreacting. I could have seriously kissed the ground by the time the wheels made contact with the tarmac. “That was a blast,” Declan complained as he stretched his back. “I’ve flown through worse but not on a passenger jet. Damn.” He squeezed at a sore muscle in his neck with the hand that wasn’t holding a very pissed-off Mason.

It was the first flight I’d ever been on that people hadn’t been annoyed by a screaming toddler.

We made our way to baggage claim as an announcement came over the loudspeaker that all flights in and out of Ada had been canceled until the weather cleared up. We’d been the last flight to arrive, and I wasn’t entirely certain how I felt about that. Relief was winning over, both because we’d made it to the ground and we were finally here instead of in some hotel with two kids.

As though he could read my mind, Declan stepped closer and grabbed my hand. “We’re good. That sucked, but we’re on the ground and safe.” Then he kissed my cheek. “And you didn’t flip out. I’m really proud of you.”

I wanted to roll my eyes, but his words calmed me. “I swear to God, if this is some fucked-up sign that the next two weeks are going to be like this, I’m driving home tonight.”

As we reached baggage claim, we turned on our phones to a flood of messages from my family.

Greg: Jesus, this storm is intense. I hope you all are okay.

Derek: I’m guessing you all will be rerouted. The kids are asleep in my room, we’re staying at Jas’s tonight. Let us know what time you’ll be in.

Dad: According to this, they are still landing in ten minutes.

Harrison: In this weather?????

Dad: They’re on the ground. It’s a shit-show out here. There’s lightning and snow.

Declan: We’re in baggage claim. That was a bumpy ride.

Me: It was like a roller coaster ride the last 20 minutes.

Declan: They announced that all flights in and out were canceled right after we got into the airport.

I’d been making a concerted effort to not look out the window. I’d carefully avoided looking out the windows of the plane too, afraid of what I’d see. “Snow?” My eyebrows nearly met my hairline. “It’s not even Christmas. We don’t get snow before late January here.”

Declan lifted his shoulder, appearing as perplexed as I was. “Surreal.”

I settled down with the kids along the far wall, expecting a long wait at baggage claim, but we’d barely taken a seat when the alarm sounded and bags began coming around. “Whoa.” I marveled at the sight. “They must not have wanted to get cold and wet. I’ve never seen bags come out that fast.”

Mason wiped his nose on my pants and pointed toward the conveyor belt. “Mine.” Sure enough, his suitcase came out first, followed by Meadow’s. Three bags later, Declan’s bag popped out and a few after that, mine. I’d known there was a reason I’d bought the most obnoxiously colored luggage I could find.

Cold air whipped inside as the doors opened and I wished I hadn’t packed my coat. Declan had just wrangled all four suitcases when a shadow fell over us, causing me to look up. It took a moment for me to realize the person standing in front of us was my dad, holding two tiny coats in his hands. “Your mom would have my head if I let you guys bring the kids to the car without coats on,” he said by way of greeting.

Through the last of his tears, Mason blinked up, then beamed a brilliant smile. “PapPap!” He squealed in delight. His excitement caused Meadow to look up from her tablet, and before I could think to hold either back, they’d launched themselves at my dad, screaming his name.

Within minutes, we had the kids in their new winter coats and ready to brave the storm. “Sorry the flight wasn’t pleasant,” my dad mentioned as we headed toward the parking garage.

“It was the last twenty minutes or so, but they will be etched in my brain forever,” I complained.

Thankfully, the roads weren’t nearly as bad as the plane ride in had led me to believe they’d be. Snow was swirling in the sky and he hadn’t been kidding about the lightning, but the kids were out minutes into the ride and Declan and I took the time to relax.

---