“Yeah,thanks, Dad. I’m not blind,” my son muttered, as I got out of the car andapproached my ex-husband.
AsI came to stand beside him, he kissed my cheek. “How’s it going, Rosie?”
“Ishould be asking you that,” I said, bumping my hip against his. “Are we dealingwith Jekyll or Hyde today?”
“Oh,definitely Hyde,” he replied with sarcastic cheer. “I don’t envy you, drivingto the airport with him right now …” Tom blew out a whistle, shaking his head.“You’re a Saint, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.”
“Well,I’m just hoping that he’ll perk up when we get Gracie. He’s never in a bad moodfor her,” I muttered, completely unashamed of the envy toward my little sister.
“She’salways had a way with him,” Tom offered gently.
“Yeah,I really can’t be too mad about it. They’re cute together,” I said, beforewrapping an arm around his waist in a quick side hug. “I’ll see you in a fewdays.”
“Okay.Give Grace a hug for me.”
TJwas already in the car as I headed back down the driveway to the curb. His big,noise cancelling headphones were already fixed over his ears, and while Ishould’ve been hurt that he would rather listen to his music than spend timewith me, I wasn’t. Not even in the slightest.
“Well,at least we won’t be fighting,” I muttered, and got in.
***
“TJ,it’s not my fault you didn’t charge your phone before we left.”
“It’syour fault that you don’t keep a charger in your car,” he fired back angrily.“Like a normal person.”
“Itdoesn’t make me abnormal to not keep one in the car,” I retorted, whilewondering if maybe he was right.
AsI pulled up to a red light, I glanced at my phone for the fiftieth time sinceembarking on our journey. Still no text from Gracie. Throwing it back into thecenter console, I thrust a hand into my hair and sighed, turning my head tolook out the window.
“Ican’t believe she hasn’t texted me yet,” I muttered mostly to myself.
“AuntGiGican handle herself,” TJ replied, without even ahint of sass. He was completely sincere, and completely right. But while mylittle sister was very capable of handling herself, she was also not the typeto leave you hanging when she said she’d be in touch.
“Shetold me last night she’d call in the morning,” I said to him, before quicklydoing the math in my head. “That should’ve been like, six and a half hoursago.”
“She’sa big girl, Mom,” he groaned, rolling hiseyesandleaning his head against the window. “Stop being such a fucking psycho.”
“Don’tyou—” I caught myself before I engaged. He had thrown that bait out into thewater, wanting me to bite, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
So,we drove the rest of the way without another word spoken, while my musicplayedand my son scowled out the window. He would neveradmit to it, but as Vampire Weekend’s “Harmony Hall” played loudly through thespeakers, he tapped his fingers soundlessly against the window ledge. It mademe smile a little, to know he didn’t completely despise something I loved, andthat feeling felt wonderfully close to hope.
Afterpaying for a spot in the airport’s parking lot, we entered the terminal. I hadhoped to see Gracie there, waiting for us with an explanation for her lack ofcommunication. But the place was nearlyemptyand myheart sank, weighed down by another bout of worry.
“Excuseme?” I asked the first person I spotted who looked like they might know whatthey were talking about.
“Yes?”the security guard replied, regarding both my son and me with a nod.
“Hasthe flight from Scotland arrived yet?” I asked, pulling out my phone to findthe exact number of my sister’s flight, only to discover it wasn’t necessary.
Hepointed to a sign listing the flights and arrival times. “The next incomingflight from Scotland was delayed. I heard they had someprettynastystorms over there earlier. But the plane should be arriving inabout an hour or so.”
Breathinga sigh of relief, I nodded and tucked my phone away. “Thank you so much.”
“Anythingelse I can do for you?”
“No,”I replied, smiling gratefully. “We’re fine, thank you.”
Ireached up to place a hand against TJ’s shoulder and steered him toward a rowof seats. He huffed an aggravated sigh, as he dropped heavily into one of theplastic chairs and crossed his arms.
