The worst part of leaving had been saying goodbye to Annie. As expected, we both cried buckets and while she threatened Fin with bodily harm if he failed to look after me, I sought assurances from Emma and Josh that they would look after Annie in return. Me and my friend agreed to video call at least once a month to update each other on wedding plans and grandchild news. To say I was going to miss that woman was an understatement.
Sitting with Fin in the airport café, I couldn’t believe how quickly the time to leave had come around. I was about to start a whole new chapter in life, a step that felt both exciting and challenging at the same time.
“Are you okay?” Fin asked. Reaching over to take my hand, he obviously saw I was nervous.
I looked at my watch. “I’m just wondering where they’ve all got to,” I said, checking the doors for the gazillionth time.
“They’ll be here,” Fin said, demonstrating a tad more confidence than me.
“It would be just like them to miss a turning and end up at the wrong terminal,” I said, wondering why Mum, Dad, Vee and Mitch hadn’t arrived yet. The thought of boarding the plane without seeing them was enough to bring a lump to my throat. “I knew we should have said our goodbyes last night.”
Fin gazed at me, concerned. “I know you’re going to miss them. You have a wonderful family and if I were in your shoes I’d feel the same.” He chuckled. “In fact, strike that. I do feel the same. I might have only met them a week ago, but they’ve certainly made an impression.”
I let out a laugh, thinking about how eccentric we all were. “We Noelles have a habit of doing that.”
“But you are looking forward to this, aren’t you? You don’t have any regrets about coming with me?”
I looked back at Fin, mortified that he might think such a thing. “Of course I don’t have any regrets. The fact that you wanted me to come might have been a shock to the system, but now… I love you, Fin. It’s as simple as that. And where you go, I go.”
Fin smiled at me, his eyes full of the intensity I’d grown used to. He squeezed my fingers. “I love you too.”
“There they are!” I heard Dad’s voice say. “I hope we haven’t cut it too fine.”
I jumped to my feet and turned, relieved to see not just him, but the rest of the Noelles in tow. Mum and Dad, wearing matching jumpers. Her with a box of tissues at the ready. Him, with a great big smile on his face. Vee and Mitch, looking very much the proud parents of baby Angelica who lay fast asleep in her carrier.
They hadn’t even reached our table and I could see Mum was already crying. “Don’t worry,” she said, between snivels. “These are tears of joy.”
“Really?” I asked.
Mum threw her arms around me. “I’m sad for myself, but so, so happy for you.”
I hugged her tight, a part of me never wanting to let the woman go.
“You can blame this little one for us being late,” Vee said, gesturing to baby Angelica as me and Mum finally released each other. “Halfway along the motorway she decided to bring her breakfast up.”
I peered into her carrier. Fast asleep, the little one certainly lived up to her name, looking like the little angel she was. I smiled, unable to help but wonder why Vee would carry on the tradition of giving Christmassy names to the Noelle offspring. When explaining, my sister simply said she couldn’t help herself. Although she’d been adamant that if she’d given birth to a boy, no way would she have called her sonJesuslike our mother had hoped. I reached into the carrier and stroked Angelica’s perfect pudding face, knowing that the next time I saw her I might not recognise her.
“We had to stop off at the services to sort her out,” Vee said, looking down at her daughter with me.
“My turn now,” Dad said. He stepped forward to embrace me, while Mum moved on to Fin. “Promise me one thing,” Dad said, squeezing me with all his might.
“Anything,” I replied.
He pulled back. “While you’re off on this adventure, you make time to follow that dream of yours and write that novel.”
“I will,” I said. “I promise.”
“And you, lad,” Dad said to Fin, turning to hug him with the same sincerity. “Make sure you take care of this daughter of mine.”
“You can count on it,” Fin replied.
“I’m really going to miss you,” Vee said.
“And vice versa,” I replied. “If we’re still in the US when Angelica is big enough to travel all that way, I expect you to come and stay.”
Vee laughed. “Just you try to stop us.”
My emotions started to get the better of me. “And please send lots of photos.” I looked at my niece again, still fast asleep, and completely unaware of the blubbing farewells going on around her. “And videos,” I added. “She might not be doing much now, but that won’t last long and I don’t want to miss anything.”
