Page 63 of Hold You Close
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.
“Why? Because I’m telling you the truth? You like her.”
“You don’t need to tell her that!”
Morgan rolls her eyes like the teenager she almost is. “No, it’s much better to lie. And you’re our role model?”
“This is why Ruby is my favorite,” Ian says as he hoists the little peanut in his arms.
God, I’ve missed them.
“You did this?” I ask him, trying to save him from Morgan’s pestering.
“I did. Are you surprised?”
I nod. “This is a great surprise.”
I have the greatest urge right now to kiss him. He did something so sweet, knocking me on my ass again.
“Good. There’s more.”
“More what?”
Ruby smiles. “More fun!”
Well, this is interesting.
“Don’t get too excited, Aunt London.” Christopher shakes his head. “I wanted to go skydiving, but they had other ideas.”
I laugh. “Well, I’m glad for that because you know I hate heights.”
Ian sets Ruby down. “Let’s get going so we can show her our plan. I have a feeling she’s going to like it.”
Ruby takes my hand. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. Were you a good girl for Uncle Ian?”
She nods.
