“Holy shit.”
“So do you think you have a few minutes for me, Captain Thomas?”
I sat in one of the Adirondack chairs Kaitlyn had repainted. Her touch was all over the cottage. But right now I felt as if I were having an out of body experience. I couldn’t ground myself.
I nodded. “Go ahead, sir.”
3
Kaitlyn
“Kaitlyn! Kaitlyn!” my parents called out from the other side of the baggage carousel. I had barely enough time to close the cap on my water bottle before they both embraced me in a bear hug.
“Hi Mom, Dad.” I squeezed them tightly.
“How was your flight?” My father looked me up and down. I tried to rearrange my scarf so he couldn’t see how different my body was.
“Good.” How was I supposed to say the entire time I wanted to beg the pilot to turn the plane around and take me back to Texas?
“Where are Grayson and Cole?” Mom looked around for either of them.
I explained Grayson’s sudden fever and how Cole stayed behind just until he was better.
“That’s terrible.” She frowned. “But, honey, we are so glad you’re home.” My mother gave me an extra squeeze. “Where’s your coat? You need a coat. It’s going to snow tomorrow.”
“I packed it. It’s not exactly cold on the island, and I didn’t want to worry about keeping up with it on the plane.”
“I’ll get your luggage.” My father walked over to the rotating luggage, wedging himself between passengers.
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Mom slung an arm around my shoulder.
I had purchased a large scarf in the Dallas airport. It helped cover my massive boobs and the small swell of my belly. I didn’t know how long I could hide my body from my mom.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” I leaned into her carefully.
“I know you’re disappointed Cole’s not with you. I can tell. And you must be worried about Grayson.”
We walked under a sparkling set of candy canes hanging from one of the airport pillars.
“I am, but we’ll FaceTime as soon as I get to the house. I want to check on them.”
“Does he know to give him plenty of Tylenol?” she asked.
“Yes, Mom. He knows what he’s doing.”
She shook her head. “I still can’t believe you two are together. And even harder to believe Cole is someone’s dad.”
I sighed. It wasn’t the time to battle any of this. I knew my parents thought of Cole as Ryan’s best friend. The guy he used to party with and go on spring break with. His closest friend who joined the Marine Corps with him. Cole was the orphaned stray they had taken in because he didn’t have a compass. He didn’t have what they considered family.
They’d never met his grandfather. They’d never seen the side of him I saw in South Padre. Instinctively I pressed one hand to my stomach. This was going to take time. Time, I hoped we had before they found out they were going to be grandparents.
My father appeared triumphantly with my suitcase in hand. “Here it is, pumpkin. You girls ready?”
We both nodded and followed him out of the airport.
I hadn’t been home since I drove out of my parents’ driveway in September for my move to Texas. I smiled when I saw the candles in the windows and the light-up Santa Clause my father always attached to the front porch. When I was a little girl I thought that Santa was the most beautiful Christmas decoration on the street. All the neighbors’ houses were decorated with white and colored lights. I felt slightly guilty, but I couldn’t deny it. It finally felt like Christmas. The beach just didn’t’ have the same feeling.
“Come on, come on. I have to show you the tree. I’m dying for you to see what I did with it this year.” My mother slid out of the passenger side and jogged up the steps.