"I got it,” I say, and he waits for me to put the bag in the trunk. He holds the door open for me, and I get in. We don’t chitchat as he drives to the airfield where the private plane is waiting for me. My heartbeat speeds up as I get closer, and I want to tell the driver to take me back. Maybe going to visit right now isn’t a good idea.
I get out and meet the driver at the trunk, but someone is already there to grab my bag. “Welcome, Mr. Barnes,” he says, and not hearing my rank of staff sergeant in front is weird.
I walk up the five little stairs and duck down to get into the plane, and the flight attendant is there smiling at me. “Welcome aboard,” she says. “We’ll get off the ground as soon as you’re seated."
I walk to the chair with a nod, then sit down and look out the little window. The plane prepares for takeoff, and I see the car drive away. I look out the window as we take off, and when she comes back with a tray of fruit, I just smile at her and ask for water.
My whole body is tight with nerves. I roll my neck, but my stomach gets tighter. As we get closer and closer to landing, my whole body trembles. My leg bounces, and when the wheels touch down, I feel like I’m going to vomit. "It’s just for a month," I remind myself, mentally preparing for the guilt and the questions on why I haven’t come back. Because the only answer I have will make me feel like an asshole.
I wait for the door to open before I get up. After thanking her, I walk out of the plane, and the humidity hits me right away. I walk down the five steps and see a black Range Rover waiting off to the side.
When the driver's side opens, and I see dirty cowboy boots, I smile. Only my father can pull this shit off. His jeans are even worse than his boots. His whole fucking face lights up when he sees me. He walks over to me with tears in his eyes. Grabbing my shoulder in his hand, he pulls me to him, giving me the biggest hug he’s ever given me in my life. He puts his hand on the back of my head, letting me go from the hug. Gazing into his blue eyes is like looking in a mirror. “Welcome home, son."
Chapter 2
Hazel
The soft alarm wakes me, and I stick out my arm to grab my phone. I bring the phone with me under the covers and debate if I should get up and work out or just get the extra hour of sleep. I close my eyes, and when the second alarm wakes me, I throw the covers off me and get up.
It’s still dark outside, but the sun is slowly starting to rise. I walk over to the chair in my room, slipping out of my shorts and tank top and replacing it with my yoga pants and sports bra. I grab my water bottle out of the fridge and walk to the exercise bike in the corner of the living room. Turning the television on low, I start riding the bike, and forty-five minutes later, I’m heaving while I walk down the hallway.
Stopping in front of the closed door and opening it, I see it’s still a bit dark in the room. My daughter, Sofia, sleeps in the middle of the bed with the covers kicked off. I pull the door just a bit even though she should be getting up any second now. She has her own alarm clock, and every day at six thirty, she is out of bed. Even when she was born five years ago, six thirty was her time. No matter what time she goes to bed, it’s her inner clock.
I step into the shower, and like clockwork, I hear her walking in right when I’m drying myself off. “Momma." She rubs her eyes as she comes to me.
I look up at my twin and smile. “Morning, baby,” I say, softly kissing her neck. "How did you sleep?"
"Good," she grumbles. “I had a dream of clowns and horses."
I laugh. “Did the clowns ride the horses?" I ask, and she giggles. “Why don’t you go get dressed, and I’ll start breakfast."
"Okay, Momma." She stops in front of me again so I can kiss her. "I want pancakes."
"Okay," I say, kissing her on the lips now and watching her bounce off to get dressed.
I slip on my robe and walk to the kitchen of my condo, opening the shades to allow the sunlight to pour in.
I never thought I’d be a single mom. Not me. I had a plan, and none of that was me being a teenage mom. I could have given up then and there, but instead, it pushed me harder. Not only did I want to achieve big things but I also wanted to do it for Sofia. I never ever wanted her to miss anything, never wanted her to have that thought in her head that because I had her, my dreams were crushed.