I squat until I’m level with my daughter. Her blue eyes are sparkling while I can only assume mine are dull as slate.
“Baby girl, I know you’re excited, but Daddy needs help this morning. I promise I will get you Minnie ears when we get to Disney, but only if you go upstairs and make sure I packed your blue tennis shoes.”
I know the shoes are in her pink suitcase—I put them there myself—but I’m in desperate need of some quiet, if only for a few minutes.
“Yay! Thank you, Daddy,” she squeals, and the percussion in my head morphs into a symphony of untuned violins. But luckily, my distraction technique works, and she scoops up Honey and dashes upstairs, chattering to the cat about the plane ride.
After washing my hands, I stare at my phone on the counter like it’s an explosive device. I expect a text from Jordie at any moment telling me I’m an overstepping bastard and she wants nothing more to do with me.
I check the time. She should be on a plane right now on the way home from Chicago, but I’m sure a scathing message is forthcoming. I don’t remember everything I said last night, but I remember enough to make myself cringe.
God, I really fucked this up.Bolstering my resolve, I make a preemptive move and open my text app.
Me: Hi, Jordie. Hope you’re having a good flight. I just wanted to apologize for last night. I know it’s no excuse, but I had been drinking. Is it possible you have a concussion and don’t remember anything I said?
I hit send and then read it again, massaging my temples with my thumb and fingers.Great job, Hale. You basically said you hope she has a head injury to spare you a bit of embarrassment.
Sighing, I send a follow-up text.
Me: Totally kidding about the concussion thing, BTW.
Me: Even though I’m aware that’s a serious topic and not a laughing matter, especially for athletes. So I sincerely hope you DON’T have a concussion.
Me: Also, I’m an idiot and I’m going to try to skydive from the plane today. Without a parachute.
A knock sounds at my side door, and I open it to let my mother inside. “Hey, Mom. You ready for the big trip?”
Instead of answering, she puts her hand against my forehead. “Are you sick, honey? You look a bit peaked.” Leave it to my mom to notice my less-than-stellar appearance.
“I’m fine,” I fib. “I was up late last night.” I kiss her cheek. “Would you mind looking after Reece for a couple minutes while I shower?”
“Of course. Is she excited?”
I chuckle. “That’s the understatement of the century.”
Before I can head up for a few minutes of quiet and foot washing, Mom grips my forearm, lowering her voice. “Did you see a tropical storm is heading toward Florida?”
“I did. It’s not supposed to hit till Sunday, and we’re flying back Saturday.” I give her a hug. “But I’ll keep an eye on it. Gotta keep my girls safe.”
Mom pulls back and eyes my disheveled appearance. “Did your late night include copious amounts of whiskey? Because you smell like a distillery.”
Grinning, I bop her nose. “Back to your liquor-sniffing ways like when we were teenagers?”
She gives my shoulder a gentle shove. “Go shower, stinky. I’ll get Reecie dressed andready to go.”
For some reason, my mother wanted to fly commercial instead of taking the Hale family jet. Something about wanting Reece to get the whole airport experience. Crowds, noise, tiny airplane bathrooms… yeah, super fun experience.
But Reece is undeterred and brimming with energy when we reach the Orlando airport. After grabbing our suitcases and getting us settled into the back of the car service I’d arranged, I check my phone to find a message from Jordie.
Jordie: Just got to your house. I hope you didn’t go through with your skydiving attempt because Honey will miss her daddy. And I thought you were cute last night.
She’s attached a photo of her holding the kitten beside her face, and I stare at it for longer than necessary. Jordie isn’t wearing makeup, and the close-up view shows off a few freckles across her nose. She looks stunning.
A little voice interrupts my creepy staring. “Is that Jordie?”
I tilt the phone so my daughter can inspect the picture. “She said she just got to our house for cat-sitting duty.”
Reece looks up at me, blue eyes earnest. “Will you ask her if she’ll send pictures of Honey every day so I can see her? I already miss her. And tell Jordie I miss her too.”
