Chapter 12

Airport Surprise

“You’re nervous” Richard said taking Billie’s hand.
“No, I’m not” she said not looking at him.
“Yes you are. Stop being nervous. Your sisters like me. They’ve seen me before, remember? At our graduation party. They love me” Richard said with a grin.
“So sure of yourself” she said “I hate you”, but she was smiling.
“You love me” he said back and pulled her in a tight embrace oblivious at the sudden change in her features. She allowed herself to enjoy being in his arms. Of course she loved him. But he didn’t love her. He was marrying her the next day. Although she knew he was doing it for his son, their son, she thought proudly, she also believed he cared about her, too. At least she wanted to believe that … So she leaned closer in his embrace for a little longer.
“As much as I enjoy holding you” Richard’s voice pulled her out of her reverie “we’re in the freaking airport and the flight from L.A. just landed”.
Billie flinched as nervousness seemed to be coming back as she whispered “Kath and Abby”.
And soon she heard Abby squealing with delight as she saw her sister and ran to her.
“Billie! I’ve missed you! And I have a great dress. The nice Russian lady said so, too, but Alex thinks Kathy’s prettier because is red. And I told mommy about it an she said she can’t wait to see it. And me. And you. And they’re …” but she was interrupted by Kathy who pushed her aside gently to hug her sister.
“You pulled out quite a stun, didn’t you?” she whispered in Billie’s ear.
“You twisted your ankle and you have that hottie tagging along as a result, we’re way above me” Billie whispered back.
“Twisting an ankle is way easier than getting anemia” Kathy said out loud this time letting go and pointing to the two people walking towards them and both she and Billie started laughing.
“Hi, there, shrinkie” she said to Lynn and pulled her in a quick hug, no whispers this time.
“Hey, Kath” Lynn said. “Abby!” she shrieked and wanted to lift her in her arms, but stopped when she felt Denny’s hand on her shoulder, resuming to only hug her tight. “And … you” she said turning to Billie with a wide smile “Congratulations!”.
“Thanks Lynn” Billie said hugging her. “You remember Richard” she said taking his hand.
“Oooh, yeah” Kathy smiled knowingly.
“Hello girls” Richard greeted them. “Hello little lady” he said to Abby.
“This is Denny, my boyfriend” Lynn said.
“And this is Alex, my partner” Kathy continued.
They kept making small talk for a few minutes until Abby squealed again “Mommy!” and she let go of Billie’s hand running towards someone.
“What the …” Kathy started but when she turned to see where Abby ran she gasped “Mom?!”
“And … dad?!” Lynn continued.
Both Richard and Denny felt their respective girlfriends tense.
“Mom and dad as in Mr. and Mrs. Winston mom and dad?” Richard asked Billie. She nodded leaning into him.
Ellen and James Winston made their way through the crowd Abby tucked safely in James arms.
“Hello everyone” James said putting Abby down and hugging each of his daughters “good thing we managed to switch flights other wise we would have missed the big wedding”. Then he turned to Richard “James Winston. And you must be the guy that will marry my eldest princess.” He said.
“Yes sir. Richard Zeller, Dr. Winston. Very nice to meet you, sir” Richard said shaking his hand.
“Maybe we should be going home …” Billie said still finding it hard to believe that her parents were there. There, for her wedding.
“Yes. That is a good idea. Lynn is kind of tired” Denny said looking worriedly at Lynn who was indeed a little pale. He was afraid that the flight and seeing her sisters and her parents might have been too much for one day.
“Kathy should rest her ankle” Alexander added. Although his partner shot him an angry look, he knew he was right because it wasn’t like her to lean against his chest like that shifting her weight from the injured foot.
“Ok” Ellen said “but I want to hear more about the ankle, the anemia and, of course, the wedding”, she smiled looking at each of her girls while she spoke.
“And my new pink dress” Abby said.
“And your pink dress, baby angel”.