Sam giggling let my secret slip, “Daddy can feel Mommy’s emotions, and if he gets a worried look Mommy is not happy. All I got to do is make sure Mommy isn’t mad at me.”
Chuckling along with everyone else, I scooped Sam up. Looking her in the face I say, “You been doing really good at keeping Mommy happy my green eyed Princess. You follow the rules, and you are great at helping. You’re going to be a great example for your little sisters to follow.”
The flight attendant comes to the door in a bright voice she says, “Everything is ready you can board now.”
We are lucky it does not take very long before we taxi into position and liftoff. Ron, Marshall and Mitch are nervous, but Mitch is new to our group. Maybe I am getting a little more used to it, but Charles is cool as a cucumber. Sam and Jim on the other hand are excited. Jane holds to her husband’s hand, she seems to be a little nervous too.
We are going home, I could not feel more fortunate, and I find myself sharing Sam’s excitement. There is the same amount of phone calls today, but they feel more cheerful. The closer we get to home the easier it is for me to feel my wife’s happiness.
Kathryn and I share our last phone call from the airplane at just over an hour out. She giggles at Crystal as she dances around, because she is so happy. Crystal is singing, “Daddies coming home and he is bringing me a bike.”
Kathryn says, “Trust me she’s more excited about you coming home. The bicycle is just the cherry on top.”
Smiling as I realize it, “Crystal is just like you Kathryn, of course she’s happy about me coming home, but she knows I want to spoil her.”
Giggling Kathryn says, “In that case what are you bringing home for me?”
Chuckling I say, “A lot of love, a green eyed Princess, four new friends, six new bicycles and a surprise if you don’t read my mind.” I quickly picture the jewelry store in the airport to mislead her. What I got was a new quilt from the restaurant this morning, one perfect for Amanda and her to cuddle under together.
Kathryn laughs for a moment and says, “Nice try, but the quilt will be perfect. Mom picked up a rocking chair yesterday. We forgot to get underwear for Cindy and Crystal, so we went shopping again.”
Laughing I say, “Oh, I’m glad you didn’t go to Victoria’s Secret’s trying to pick up underwear for the girls. What we have works both ways Love.”
Kathryn says, “Like I would have any secrets from you anyway. Maybe that’s why we are like this, we want to share everything with each other.”
Realizing she is absolutely correct I say, “That’s true, the first thing I want to do when I get back is…”
Interrupting me Kathryn says, “Take me to bed, we both didn’t sleep any last night.” That was true; Kathryn and I did not sleep. Sam slept on my chest, but I could not. Maybe the only reason I slept that afternoon was that Kathryn slept with Crystal on her shoulder. Last night we felt the separation, just like the night before our wedding. The retirement party happened before the effects of our separation hit us the hardest at bedtime.
Maybe that is the thing, Kathryn and I need to sleep together. We can be a part during the day, like when I go to school in the morning. Kathryn normally joins me in the afternoon when she brings Sam. We share lunchtime and Sam stays to take part in the self-defense classes. We were apart much longer than normal, but we did not feel the effects until bedtime. We are addicted to sleeping with each other, and like with any addiction you do suffer withdrawals when you do not have it.
That last hour seems to pass the slowest. We actually get a very good look at the lake as we fly over. Sam points out our house to the Simpsons, the glass enclosed pool and patio shine in the sunlight. Ten minutes later we are on final approach, the pilot brings us in with only a mild bump as we touched down. Jane only gave her husband a quick squeeze on his hand as we landed. The pilot begins breaking hard due to the short runway, and Jane again squeezes Charles’ hand tightly. Charles is as cool as a cucumber, not phased at all.
Once the pilot had stopped the plane Charles looked at his wife and says, “That was a very good landing, although I think the pilot may have braked a little harder than he needed, but better safe than sorry.”
The pilot begins to move the aircraft again this time we are taxing up to the largest gate of our airport. The terminal here is not large, with only four gates, we normally only have two to four flights a week in here. Our airport has just opened the terminal, and we take flights in mostly on the weekends, some people preferring to fly and use a rental car locally. This is one of the largest aircraft to land at our airport, and I had to double check to verify we could land here.
Because this is a charter flight, the flight crew stored our carry-on for us, along with the bicycles they will bring them to the gate for us. We stopped at the gate, which extends to the aircraft. Our hatch is open Sam is the first off follow by me, just past the security gate Sam is wrapped by Kathryn who has tears of joy at her daughter’s return. I wrapped the two in a hug. Misty practically knocks Marshall over with her greeting. George and Alyssa giggle at them. Mom gets my attention and I give her a hug after giving Kathryn a long kiss. Poor Sam squeezed between us, when I moved I heard her breathing hard. Sam complaints, “Mommy, Daddy, you nearly suffocated me.”
Charles is laughing hard, as I introduced him to Kathryn. “If you haven’t guessed this is Kathryn my wife. Sam made the mistake of getting between us.”
Sam giggling says, “I don’t mind, but you got to let me come up for air. Daddy, remember I missed Mommy too.”
Daniel passes me Crystal who has been trying to get into my arms since seeing me. Crystal says, “Daddy I missed you. I’m glad you took care of the bad man.”
I begin giving Crystal kisses to her cheeks and she giggles at my affection. After about twenty or so I say, “I missed you my beautiful Princess.”
I turned to Cindy who is in Kara’s arms and I reach for her. She comes into my embrace and I hold her close. I give her a few kisses on her cheek not wanting to overdo it. I smile at her face and say, “How is my niece, because I missed you too.”
Cindy giggles, “I’m great Uncle JJ, and I missed you too.”
The flight attendants wheel off the bikes and Cindy can see hers over my shoulder. She lights up, “Uncle JJ I love you, and you really did bring me a bike all the way from Texas.” I set the girls down so they can look over their bikes. They run to them, thank the flight attendants. Their bikes surprise my other two nieces and my nephew. The kids push the bikes to us, with the biggest smiles on their young faces.
Jimmy, who is gotten a job at the airport, comes up to me he smiles and says, “JJ, your cargo can be delivered in about two hours. We need to move it to a flatbed after finishing offloading it.”
I returned a smile and say, “That will be great, Jimmy. Thank you.”
Jane says, “Young man no need to rush, just handle it with care.”
Jimmy always polite says, “Yes mam we will, just like it was my own mother’s household belongings.”
Jane smiles and says, “Think you Jimmy.”
I take Crystal back into my arms she squeezes me tight and slides up to give me a kiss. I cannot help but notice that Cindy is in Daniel’s arms, Kathryn and Sam holds each other, Misty and Marshall still have not stopped kissing. Ron and Reese still are each other’s arms too, but they now talk to Charles, Jane, Jim, and Mitch.
We began introductions after a few more moments. With the return of our carry-on luggage, we begin walking out the airport. It is not very long before we are heading home. It is only two in the afternoon nearly time for Sam and Crystal’s nap. We give the Sampsons and Mitch a quick tour of our house, inviting them to use the pool or any other facility they want. We walk them over to the 1924 home, and I hand Charles the keys.
Cindy asks if she could spend some time with Kara instead of taking a nap because she is too old for that. I smile and pull her into a long hug before telling her, “I really did miss you, but I understand how you feel about Kara and Daniel.”
I ask Kara, “You do not mind watching Cindy? Your baby sister and I really need a nap.” Kara somewhat confused but shakes her head no and opens her arms for Cindy. Kathryn and I take Sam and Crystal back to our room for a nap.
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