I love you so much,” I whispered. “I know.” She smiled through her tears. “The house will be waiting for us.
I just wanted you to leave for yourself. For once.”
After the haircut and facial (both of which Lily paid for before I could even reach for my wallet), I called my boss from the salon parking lot. “I need two weeks off.
Starting tomorrow.”
There was a pause. “Everything okay?”
“It is now,” I said, looking at Lily through the window. “It really is.”
He granted it without question.
Lily and I arrived at the airport together. She’d packed my suitcase with clothes I’d forgotten I owned. Sundresses.
Sandals. A book I’d bought two years ago and never opened. “How long have you been planning this?”
“Since my birthday last year.” She glanced at me.
“I wanted to wait until I was 18 so you couldn’t say no.”
“I would’ve said no.”
“I know.” She grinned. “That’s why I locked you out!”
We checked in at the counter. The woman smiled at us like we were just another mother and daughter taking a trip.
And maybe we were. As we walked toward security, Lily squeezed my hand the way she used to when crossing busy streets. I stopped walking and turned to face her fully.
“And you’re mine.”
She hugged me one more time as we stepped into the security line together. “No rushing,” she said, grinning. “We’re ordering dessert first, and you’re not allowed to check your work email.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.
Now come on… our flight’s not gonna wait!”
We walked through security side by side, her hand brushing mine, my heart still catching up. And for the first time in over a decade, I let myself believe that maybe, I’d done something right. Did this story remind you of something from your own life?
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