AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I'd insist on not letting Rita take the luggage upstairs and do it myself but I have to leave or I'll be late if there's any traffic, and Miguel is inside if they need help.
"I'll see you later," I tell Rita.
"Thanks for the ride," Brynn says, grabbing for her bags to read inside. "I can't find my necklace. The clasp is old and I think it fell off somewhere in the house. If you find it, will you let me know?"
"Sure, I'll look for it."
I can't stay any longer if I want to make sure that I pick up everything and get to Cammy before she deboards the aircraft,
I jump in my jeep and pull out of the parking lot and head towards the airport.
I stand outside of the jeep, leaning against it when my phone buzzes in my hand.
Cammy: On my way out, but brace yourself. I didn't tell her she could come. She was waiting for me in the airport outside of security when I arrived.
The second I saw Cammy's text, I had a good idea of what was coming.
I watch the glass double doors, anticipating my niece and my ex to walk through the airport exit.
And then I see Cammy come through first. Her bright smile and brown hair were up in a ponytail with her backpack slung over one shoulder.
Next, Josslin pushes through the door, trying to shove a tube of lip gloss or lipstick back in her bag as if she just reapplied it before coming out here. I watch through my sunglasses as she pulls a designer bag behind her as her full-length beach dress swirls around her wedge heels. It's low cut in the front, which doesn't shock me, and her hair is perfectly styled with a thick mask of makeup on in typical Josslin fashion.
I head straight for my niece, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and bringing her in for a squeeze. I'm grateful she looks more like a Wrenley every day and nothing like Josslin, except for those deep green eyes and that tall, slender ballerina figure.
I take her bags and turn back from the Jeep before Josslin has a chance to catch up.
"How was your flight kiddo?" I ask.
"Long but good. I'm starving, though. My connecting flights were too close together so all I ate today were some crackers and a couple of fruit juices. Can we go to Scallywag's for dinner?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever you want—"
"Hello," I hear Josslin's voice behind us. "Are you two just going to ignore me?"
"That was the plan, yes," I say, turning around to face the woman I had already warned not to come.
"Well, I'm here now. So we might as well make the best of it," she says, glancing from Cammy to me with a smile as if she didn't just intentionally force her way into Cammy's vacation.
I sneeze twice in a row the moment Josslin's heavy perfume wafts past my nostrils.
"Are you getting sick?" Josslin asks.
"No, I'm just allergic to you."
I hear Cammy try to stop the giggle that bubbles out from my response.
Though I agree that was funny… sometimes I wonder what happened between Cammy and Josslin to make Cammy despise her mom and move all the way to Seattle to get some space from her.
"I hope you secured a rental car and a hotel for yourself. You're not staying with us," I tell Josslin.
"Can I at least have dinner with you two? My car rental won't be ready until tomorrow."
I know better than to give in to Josslin, and if Cammy weren't here, I'd happily leave her stranded in the terminal.
Cammy leans in closer to me. "We could just leave her here," she whispers.
"She's your mom, Cammy."
