Victorious(3)

Tears roll down my cheeks, and I immediately wipe them away. Though I trust the security personnel Flynn has hired, I’m wary now of what even the most consummate professionals will do for a buck. I can’t afford to be seen crying such a short time after I married Flynn. I can’t do that to him, so I struggle to maintain my composure.

I try not to think about the last time I was on an airplane with Flynn and how we made love in the private plane’s bedroom. This time, I’m sitting alone with only Fluff on my lap to keep me company.

The flight to Colorado is turbulent, and the flight attendant isn’t allowed to get up to tend to us. I can’t help but think about holding hands with Flynn on bumpy approaches into Teterboro and LAX, his nearness calming my anxiety. I have no such comfort now, so in addition to being heartbroken, I’m also petrified.

By the time we land at Fort Collins-Loveland Airport two and a half hours later, I’m a certified disaster area and in absolutely no condition to see my sister for the first time in eight years. But nothing will keep me from her now that we are finally in the same place at the same time.

Josh and Seth position themselves in front and in back of me, which makes me feel ridiculous. No one will recognize me in the airport, because they aren’t expecting to see me here. Why would they? My life with Flynn has taken place in New York and LA, not Colorado.

I’m nauseated from the rocky flight and the fact that I haven’t eaten anything since last night, not that I could have eaten even if I tried. The thought of food makes me feel worse.

Fluff is losing her mind with excitement as we get off the plane, and she pees right on the tarmac.

We walk up a flight of stairs and into the quiet airport, my heart beating faster with every step. Any moment now, I’ll see Candace, who promised to be waiting for me at the airport when I arrive. This whole thing was thrown together via a series of texts while I sobbed my way to LAX after leaving Flynn’s.

I plan to return to New York tomorrow to rejoin my life already in progress, but I can’t wait any longer to see my sister, thus the stop in Colorado. An escalator delivers us to baggage claim, and there she is. My baby sister is all grown up and gorgeous at nineteen. I forget about my heartbreak and the mess my new marriage has become and run for my sister.

She throws her arms around me, and we hold each other for a long time, both of us sobbing. My very first thought is she still wears the same perfume she favored at thirteen, and the familiar scent only enriches this long-overdue moment. By the time we pull apart, her face is blotchy and red. I can only imagine what mine must look like after weeping for hours. She’s got hazel eyes and long auburn hair, the same color mine used to be before I changed my appearance. The chubby cheeks she had the last time I saw her are long gone, replaced by the well-defined cheekbones of a grown woman. She’s stunning, and I’ve never been so happy to see anyone in my life.

Fluff is spazzing out, demanding my attention. I pick her up so she can see her Aunt Candace, whom she seems to remember. “I hope your place allows dogs.”

“It doesn’t, but we’ll sneak her in.”

“Um.” The rumble of a deep voice reminds me I’m not alone. “You’re not going to her place,” Seth says. “We’ve got reservations at a Marriott in town.”

“I’ll be staying with my sister.”

“No, you won’t.”

I want to snap back at him that he can’t tell me what to do, but he’s only doing his job. My anger needs to stay focused on Flynn and not on his messenger. To Candace, I say, “How do you feel about a night at the Marriott?”

“Sounds good to me! Let’s go.”

Candace doesn’t own a car and has taken a cab to meet me, so she comes with me as the security guys lead us to a pair of black SUVs. They must order them in bulk, as they seem to be everywhere I am lately.

“What’s up with all this?” Candace whispers, gesturing to the security guys and the SUVs.

“My husband. He’s paranoid about security.”

“I sort of hoped he might be with you,” she says with a silly grin that lets me know she’s a fan of his work. Who isn’t?

“He couldn’t make it this time.” I have no intention of ruining my reunion with Candace by airing out my marital troubles.

“Bummer. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Because I’m not sure now that’ll ever happen, I don’t say anything. The thought of never seeing him again makes my whole body ache.

“What’s wrong, April?” Candace asks when we’re settled in the back of an SUV and heading for the hotel.

I force a smile for her benefit. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m thrilled to see you.”

“Even though we haven’t seen each other in a long time, you’re still my sister. I took one look at you and knew something is very wrong.” She takes hold of my hand. “Let me help.”

“My baby sister isn’t a baby anymore, is she?” I’m saddened to have missed so many years with her and Livvy.

“I haven’t been since a monster attacked my big sister and ruined all our lives.”

It has never once, in all the years since I last saw them, occurred to me that what happened to me ruined their lives, too. “I pictured you guys going on like nothing happened.”

“That’s not how it was. We were heartbroken. Nothing was ever the same without you.” She covers our joined hands with her other hand. “I’d like nothing more than to be close to you again.”