Chapter 10
In the spring, I arrived at the private terminal carrying one suitcase and a bag of Noah’s favorite candy.
Michael met me inside.
He took my suitcase only after asking.
Emma came running from the seating area and wrapped both arms around me. Noah followed, already reaching toward my handbag.
“After breakfast,” I told him.
“I ate breakfast.”
“Then after we board.”
He groaned, but he was smiling.
Lauren walked over with the itinerary in her hand. We had planned the trip together over several evenings. She had booked the house. Michael had arranged time away from work. I had approved the flight after everyone knew who was coming.
“All set?” she asked.
“I am.”
Captain Hayes greeted us by the door to the runway. He gave me the same calm smile I remembered from the year before.
I had wondered how I would feel when I saw him. Grateful, I realized. He had done his job on a day when it mattered to me.
The children hurried ahead with Lauren. Michael stayed beside me.
“I thought this might be hard,” he said.
“It is a little.”
“We can go somewhere else.”
I looked through the glass at the aircraft.
“I want to go with you.”
He nodded.
Outside, a breeze caught the brim of my hat. At the foot of the stairs, Michael stopped. He left space for me to pass.
I rested a hand briefly on his arm.
Then I went up to join Emma.
She had saved me the seat beside her. Noah sat across the aisle with Lauren, guarding the candy bag between his knees as though it might escape.
When the plane lifted into the sky, Emma slipped her hand into mine.
“We really made it,” she said.
“We did.”
She leaned against me and opened her book.
In Hilton Head, the house was a short walk from the beach. The children ran straight to the water while the four of us carried bags inside.
For three days, nothing terrible happened.
Noah lost a sandal and found it beside the porch. Emma taught me a card game and caught me letting her win. Michael cooked breakfast badly, then let Lauren show him how to make pancakes without burning the edges.
We talked about ordinary things.
We also talked about the harder ones when they came up.
One afternoon, Michael received a difficult call from a client. He told Lauren before dinner and asked her what she thought. I listened while they made a plan together.
Later, he asked for my opinion too.
I gave it. He thanked me, and the decision stayed his.
On our last evening, Emma and Noah asked to watch the sunset. We carried blankets down to the beach. The air had cooled, and the sand still held warmth from the day.
Noah settled against Michael’s side. Lauren wrapped a blanket around them both.
Emma sat with me a little farther up the shore.
“Are you happy?” she asked.
“I am.”
“Do you feel safe with us?”
I turned to look at her. She was old enough to remember the airport. She might always remember it.
“Yes,” I said. “I feel safe telling you when something hurts. I feel safe listening when you tell me.”
She nodded as though that was the answer she had hoped for.
“I feel safe too.”
We stayed until the sun touched the water.
As we walked back, Michael fell into step beside me. Noah ran ahead to show Lauren a shell, and Emma followed to inspect it.
“I made a mess of things,” Michael said.
“You did.”
“I’m glad you came.”
“So am I.”
He held out his hand, palm up, giving me the choice. I took it.
When we reached the porch, Emma turned and called for a family picture. She balanced the camera on a chair, set the timer, and hurried into the space between us.
In the photograph, Noah was laughing with his mouth wide open. Lauren’s hair blew across her face. Michael was looking at Emma, and Emma had one arm around me.
I was laughing too.
The next morning, Emma sent the picture to my phone. I made it the first thing I saw whenever the screen lit up.
On the flight home, Noah fell asleep against me with a sour candy still tucked in his pocket. Emma rested her feet across mine. Across the aisle, Lauren leaned her head on Michael’s shoulder, and he reached over to squeeze my hand.
I looked at the people beside me.
We had needed time, truth, and more than one apology to get here. We would keep needing to speak honestly to one another.
May you like
I could do that.
I held Noah close as the plane carried us home, certain he would wake to find all of us there.
