Blog-a-thon ’08: Welcome Home [10]

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This an ongoing story that I’m posting over the next few hours. I’m not sure how I’m going to end this, any suggestions? I’m writing this on the fly, so this story is rough, really rough, but I thrive on this impromptu stuff so … there you go. 🙂 Just two more installments to go! Thanks for reading!

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All three women fell silent. The sounds of the airport surrounded them and wrapped them in a tight glove of introspection.

Finally, Margie glanced at the man standing next to Jessie. “He’s not staying.”

This wasn’t a question.

“Now Margie,” Jessie began.

“I will NOT allow you to ruin this homecoming, Jessie. You’re more than welcome to stay, but he HAS to go.”

“Yeah, who’s gonna stop me grandma? You?” The man snickered in Margie’s face.

Jessie placed a gentle hand on Margie’s arm. “I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”

Alecia watched the three of them in disbelief. Was this happening? Had she fallen asleep? It was like watching a bad play with no direction. What now?

Margie sniffed, turned on her heel and walked over to sit next to Alecia. Though her mother-in-law was tough and could stand her own ground, it was all Alecia could do to hold back her tears when she noticed Margie’s hands shaking. Without saying a word, she placed a hand over Margie’s and offered a tender smile of encouragement.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if that girl spoils this for Pierce,” Margie said with a teary voice. “He’s worked so hard. He’s been through so much …”

“Jessie’s not all bad, Margie,” Alecia said quietly, her eyes remaining on the couple now openly fighting in the middle of the airport. “She’s just been so hurt. And there hasn’t been anyone around to help her get through it. She misses Pierce, more than she allows herself to admit.”

Margie nodded and took an unsteady breath. “I see Lisa finally conked out.”

Alecia smiled down at the sleeping infant. She slowly lifted a hand and very carefully swept a tendril of hair off to one side of her forehead. “I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her, Margie. It was so, so …” her voice broke and she forced herself to take a moment or two to gain her composure. “It was so hard when Carter left. I have never prayed so hard … in my entire … life. I’ve never been more terrified, yet more proud, of another human being as much as I am for Carter. He’s my everything.”

Her mother-in-law nodded sympathetically and placed an arm around her for a quick hug.

“Lisa was a God-send,” she said. “I probably would have ended up like Jessie – bitter, scared and alone. At least this little girl has kept me busy for the past few months. Jessie didn’t even have that.”

Margie glanced at her other daughter-in-law and sighed. “I should have been there for her.”

Alecia stared down at her daughter. “I’ve never thanked you for being there for me.”

Margie watched Jessie and the man leave the airport before turning to Alecia. “Have you heard from your mother?”

“No. And I don’t expect to.”

Margie sighed. “Don’t take it personally, Alecia. She’s sick. It’s not your fault.”

She shrugged. “I’ve stopped caring, quite frankly. I’ve accepted her illness for years now, even if she hasn’t.”

“Has she been to any more AA meetings?”

“The last time I talked to her, which was just after Lisa was born, she swore to me that she had been going every week. But who knows. I haven’t been able to trust anything my mom has said for years.”

“I don’t suppose your father …”

“Still MIA.” She gently shifted her baby daughter from one arm to the next.

“Do you think she would sleep if you put her in her stroller?”

“Maybe,” but Alecia didn’t make a move to put her there. Her thoughts were still focused on her parents. “Margie, can I tell you something?”

“Of course, dear.”

“I wish … I wish I had had a mom like you. Carter is always telling me what a great childhood he had, what a happy kid he was –”

“Really?” she interrupted. “He said that?”

Alecia nodded. “Yes. He’s always telling me stories about when you guys traveled to Florida every summer, or the fishing trips him, his dad and Pierce went on …”

Margie smiled. “That is really good to hear, Alecia. I never knew the boys looked back on their childhood like that before. It’s … satisfying to hear we did a good job.”

Alecia returned her smile and then laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. Us. If my girlfriends could see how well we get along, they’d be horrified. You know, being the monster-in-law and everything.”

Margie laughed. “Well, that’s good to hear, too. I think.”

They were both still laughing when Jessie reappeared.

“Well, he’s gone,” she said as she sat down next to the other women.

“For good? Or just for now?” Margie asked.

Jessie sighed and tucked her blonde hair behind an ear. “For good.”

“Oh? What happened?” Alecia asked.

Jessie leaned back against her seat, defeated. “I can’t do this anymore,” she sobbed quietly.

“Do what, Jessie?” Margie asked quietly.

“I can’t stay angry anymore. I’m so TIRED of being angry. I just want my life back. I want my baby back. I want …” she hiccupped and sniffed, “I want Pierce back.”

Margie reached into her bag and retrieved two tissues, one for Jessie, and one for herself. “You never really lost him, honey.”

Alecia jumped as her cell phone went off. She hurriedly reached into her pocket and pulled it out. Her movements caused Lisa to stir in her arms.

“Oh my God,” she said quietly, both Jessie and Margie looked at her. “It’s Carter.” She flipped the phone open with one hand. “Hello?” She listened for a few seconds and looking at the women, smiled. “They’re here.”

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