“Okay, okay,” he said to himself, “that’s better.”
“For better or worse,” smartass Jobe raised his glass to me. “Good luck, Crispin.” I nearly flipped him off, then remembered we had an audience.
The stewardess handed me another, and gestured toward Beck, who had his face glued to the window. “No, thank you, let’s see how those hit first.” She winked and continued around the first-class cabin handing out glasses.
Lordy, lordy, lordy, what fresh hell was I possibly in for?
In true Karlie fashion, she was the last one to board. I swear that girl will be late for her own funeral. “I’m here, let the fun begin,” she announced to the plane before she took her seat.
“Karlie,” Mom tsked. “I swear sometimes you’re an alien child who was raised in a barn.”
“Hey, I’m on the flight to some hot Aruba females. Christmas all wrapped inside a bikini clad bow. Don’t harsh my mellow, old woman.” That had every abled body in earshot laughing their asses off, including Beck who’d mentally rejoined us.
“How are you feeling, Bunny?”
“I’m okay, Daddy.”
“The death grip you have on my hand says otherwise. I promise you that it’ll all be alright. All of our family is here and are excited for this trip.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” he loosened his grip. “I’ll be good.”
“My love, you are always good, and it’s okay to be nervous. You have nothing to apologize for. But do you really think Daddy would ever put you in harm’s way?”
He paused, far too long for my liking. “No, you’re right. Is it weird that I feel all tingly inside.”
Jobe cackled. “That’s because you slammed down the champagne like a champ.”
That boy was not helping.
“Daddy, what about Christmas?”
“Bunny, we already celebrated with Mom and Dad. Remember, you and Mom turned the house into a giant Christmas store,” Beck giggled.
“We had fun and had cocoa, and I got lots of prezzies. I hope Goldie has fun with the twins and isn’t sad we’re not there to spend it with her.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
“Can we have a tree in our hotel room?”
“Not sure, let’s see what they say when we get there.” Of course, being the Daddy that I am, I’d already handled that and managed to sneak a few prezzies and a stocking into my luggage for my sweet Bunny.
Just then, the captain’s voice came over the speaker and Beck damn near came out of his seat. He ended his announcement by alerting the plane that some of the passengers in first class were on their way to get married and asked that they give us a round of applause. Stanley and I waved our hands in thanks and that message seemed to brighten my boy a bit.
“That’s us, Daddy.”
“Yes, my love, it is. Wasn’t that nice of him?”
“Yes, it was. Okay, I’m ready.”
Good to know, I think…
By the time we made it onto our connecting flight we only had enough time to grab fast food to take onto the plane with us. I found an in-flight movie for Beck to watch and got him set up with headphones before getting myself situated. This was the longest of our flights and I was glad he’d calmed down after the first one. Mid-way through the movie though, he finally nodded off.
“Poor thing,” Mom whispered from across the aisle. “He was a nervous little bug.”
“Yes, looks like he’s gotten past that at least.”
It wasn’t long after that the rest of us napped. By the time we landed in Aruba, the sun had set, but as we stepped off the plane the stress of the day had disappeared. Vacation mode engaged.
