My grandmother walked up with open arms, hugged me, and told me to behave. “And if you change your mind…”
“I know, I know,” I said, “there will always be a cup of hot chocolate for me here.” All my nerves eased as I held her and told her, “Love you, Grandma.”
She smiled. “I love you, too. And you’ll always have a home with me.”
“Don’t get all sentimental,” Spencer interrupted us. “We can go visit her anytime.”
It was hard, staring through the car window and watching her wave goodbye. I was leaving my comfort zone. I was scared. But I also knew I was finally taking hold of my life.
My brother, my sister, and my nephew accompanied me to security atthe airport. When it was time for me to go in, Owen was the first to hug me. He could still barely reach my knees. “I liked having you here, auntie!”
“I’ll be back before you know it, buddy.” I mussed his hair. “When summer comes, we’ll make up for lost time.”
He didn’t seem convinced. “Not if you find a boyfriend.”
My brother and sister looked panicky, but not because of him—it was because of me, because I always freaked out whenever Jack was mentioned, and I wasn’t good at covering up my feelings.
Shannon reprimanded him: “Don’t bother your aunt.” Then, turning to me, she said, “Sorry. I told him not to say anything.”
Owen started whining, wiped his nose, and said, “I don’t want Jenny to go…”
Spencer asked if he wanted to go to the arcade later, and Owen stopped crying instantly, nodding his head. He was easy to bribe. Shannon gave me a bear hug and, as she was resting her chin on my shoulders, reassured me: “I’m so proud of you. Even if you’re unbearable and your fashion sense blows.”
I laughed. “I’ll miss you, too.”
Spencer stepped in, squeezed me tight, and planted a noisy kiss on my forehead. “Call me for anything you need.”
“I know, Spencer, you’ve been telling me that all week,” I replied.
“Anything,” he repeated. “And do me a favor. Don’t come home pregnant. This family doesn’t need another surprise.”
Shannon nudged him with her elbow. Owen didn’t catch the reference. He had taken out his little stuffed horse with its brown spots and was busy playing.
“I doubt that’s a worry,” I murmured.
“Still, it’s good advice,” Spencer said. “Now have fun. I know it’s not been easy here, but this is a new stage in your life, and I want you to enjoy it.”
“Yeah,” Shannon said. “It’s just a few months, and we’ll come see you whenever you want.”
It was time to go. I picked up my suitcase, looked back, and got in line. Just before I passed through the detector, Owen tugged at my hand and said, “Auntie, take Spot.”
That was the name of his stuffed horse. Surprised, I kneeled down and asked, “Are you sure, buddy? You’re not going to miss him?”
He shook his head and shoved the horse into my hands. It was so soft! When he told me to keep the toy so I wouldn’t forget him, that almost pushed me over the edge. Spencer smiled at us, Shannon’s brows wrinkled with sorrow, and I assured him, “Owen, I could never forget you. But I’ll take Spot along anyway. He’ll be my perfect companion at bedtime.”
Owen loved that, and then he turned quickly to his mother and said, “Mommy, we need to go buy another Spot, so Jenny and I can both have one to take to bed!”
Spencer laughed when he saw the frustration on my sister’s face—Owen was spoiled, there was no denying that—and then I had to leave before I missed boarding.
2
Back Home
It felt like a lifetime since I’d last seen them.
I crossed through the arrival doors, my stomach feeling tight as I stared out into the groups of people waiting for their friends and family, and there they were, Naya and Lana, stretching out their necks to find me.
Wait a minute. Lana. Lana had come to pick me up? Lana? The same Lana as last year?
