Ch. 18

The next few days consisted of me avoiding Rico with my fake "business ventures" and spending time with Julian and his family. I had grown so close to his cousin and his grandmother I almost felt like a real part of the family. Today wasn't any different from the days that preceded. I was laid out across Julian's bed waiting for him to get out of practice. I tried to force myself to sleep to keep from watching the clock but it only made me focus even more on the hours that stood in between us being together. Just as I was going to swing my legs to the side of the bed and head into the bathroom to take a shower the sound of my ringtone filled the dead air in the room. I looked at the screen and picture of my mother flashed which made a smile appear on my face.

"Hi mom, How are you?" I asked upon answering her call.

"I'm good mija just missing you"

"I know I'll be home soon. How is my Naenae"

"She's actually why I'm calling you this early"

Panic began to fill my body when my mothers words hit me.

"What's wrong with her?" I tried to say in the most possible calm voice I could muster up.

"Relax Heaven, nothing is wrong."

"Okay so why did you say she was the reason you called?" I asked calming down a little.

"Well because she is, I need you to either come home or I need to have her sent to you"

I was confused. My mom never had trouble keeping Janae.

"Is she acting up or something?"

"No she's not, Peyton was invited to attend a little mini camp and I have to take him because he's a minor. Janae wont be able to come with me. I could just see if we can decline the invitation but Peyton will be devastated."

"No mom, don't cancel. I'll get up and go to the airport now to buy her a ticket and fill out the unaccompanied minor form."

"I'm sorry Heaven, I know you're working"

"No need to be sorry mom, It'll be a good thing. I'll get to spend the Holiday with my baby"

With that we hung up the phone and I got in the shower. All I could focus on was that in a few hours my daughter would be with me meeting her dad for the first time. It was almost like I floated to the airport. I was on cloud 9 thinking about how things were going to go. As I approached the teller my stomach was in knots, seven years ago I never thought that this would happen or even could happen.

"Good Morning ma'am how may I help you"

"Hi I need to purchase a ticket for my daughter."

"Flying out of where Ma'am"

"Flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta to here"

"For when ma'am?"

"For this evening if possible"

"We have a one way flight leaving Hartsfield-Atlanta at 3:35 pm to arrive at JFK at 5:56. This is a direct flight and minor will have to board early. Is this sufficient ?"

"Its perfect, I'll take it."

I paid the teller and forwarded all the information over to my mom. Considering that the flight was only a few hours away I figured I would kill some time in the area and wait for Janae to land. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and answered without looking.

"Hey Ma did you get it ?" I said assuming it was my mother calling to confirm all the information I sent her

I heard his laugh boom through my speaker and my cheeks instantly flushed red.

"Oh baby I thought you were my mom"

"Yeah I see" He said in between laughs.

I rolled my eyes and stayed quiet, he needed to get all his giggles out before I even tried to speak again. As if he knew what I was doing he cleared his throat and said "Stop pouting baby"

My mouth dropped open, he never ceased to amaze me.

"How did you know I was pouting?"

"Because you always pout whenever I tease you"

I rolled my eyes. He really thought he knew me.

"But what's up how's practice?" I asked

"It's good just missing you, what you doing?"

"Nothing, I left the hotel just hanging out. I have an early Christmas gift for you too/"

"Oh yeah what is it?"

"It's a surprise"

"I hate surprises Heaven"

"Well Julian too bad. I'll give you a hint though, It's too big to fight under a tree"

He grew silent and I knew it was because he was trying to figure out exactly what it was.

A few more silent seconds followed before he grew frustrated and said " can you just tell me"

"nope but i'll let you have it today"

I could feel his smile through the phone.

"Alright bet baby, but aye I gotta go I'll see you soon. Love you"

"I love you too" I smiled and hung up the phone. I could never get tired of telling him just how much I loved him. These past few weeks have been nothing but joy and I cant wait for this to be forever. I took a seat in Janae's terminal and instantly dozed off. I was feeling so drained and winded probably from all of the excitement and nervousness I felt about tonight and these few hours before Janae got here would be perfect for me to rest and gain my composure. I felt someone sit in the seat next to me and my eyes popped open. I looked around in a daze trying to remember where I was and what I was doing there. This nap had thrown me completely out of whack. After a minute or two I had completely woken up and realized I was still at the airport, I looked down at my watch and realized it was a few minutes til 6. I frantically grabbed my purse and tried to find out which gate Janae was coming out of. After find the big electric directory screen I scanned over it like a mad woman and my eyes landed right on the flight Janae was on, they had just landed at Gate 32. I hit a 4-flat all the way there. I really had never ran so fast in my life. I made it to Janae's gate completely out of breath and nauseated from all that running. I made a mental note to find a good trainer because today had definitely shown me just how out of shape I was. The first passenger out of the plane was Janae, I saw her curls bouncing from what felt like a mile away. She locked eyes with me and ran all the way over to me.

"Mommy, Mommy!!!" she shouted

I squatted and held my arms out for her to jump right into. She leaped into my arms and I stood and spun her around. I left kisses all over her face as she giggled and tried to break free.

"Mommy missed you baby"

"I missed you more mama"

I smiled and set her down on her feet. "How was the ride baby"

"It was good mama, I had chips and apple Juice and mama they let me watch a princess movie"

"Wow!!! They treated you good baby"

"Yup" she said while nodding her head up and down."

We waited at baggage claim for her bags and I couldn't help but giggle thinking back to what had happened in this exact spot a few weeks ago when Julian and I had landed. Janae nudged my leg and snapped me out of my day dream.

"Mommy I'm hungry"

"Ok baby what do you want"

"Hmm..." she said while tapping her little chin. "Lasagna!" she shouted

"Ok" I chuckled.

I grabbed her luggage and with that we were off to the grocery store. I picked up everything I needed for the three of us and headed to the hotel. On the ride home I filled Janae in on the big surprised and she could barely hold her composure.

"I get to see Daddy finally Mommy" She said while bouncing up and down in her seat

"Yes baby you do you're his big surprise"

"Does Daddy want to see my mommy"

"Of course! he think you don't want to see him though baby"

She placed her hand over her chest like she was taken aback by what I said. I couldn't stop laughing because this little girl was so dramatic.

"Of course I want to see daddy mommy, I'm his princess" she said with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes you are" I reassured her. As the time got closer for them to meet the more upset my stomach became, my nerves were really getting the best of me.

We arrived at the hotel shortly after, I looked down at my watch and realized I probably had a hour or less to get everything in place.

"c'mon Janae we have to hurry up Daddy will be here soon"

With that she put some pep into her step and we were off. I got the food started and placed under the oven, set the table, got Janae and myself showered and changed all in the nick of time. Just as I got Janae placed in her hiding place I heard the hotel door push open.

"Baby!" I heard Julian shout

"I'll be right there" I placed my finger over my lip to tell Janae to be quiet, I closed the door and headed out to meet Julian.

He smiled and rushed over to embrace me.

"It smells good in here baby" he said into my neck before placing a soft kiss there. I shuddered from the chill it sent down my spine then stepped out of his embrace.

"I missed you babe, how was practice?" I questioned

"It was alright, you know your boy Rico had to go back to Atlanta and this trainer they got to replace him is really riding us"

"well babe, it'll be alright I made your favorite so sit"

I motioned for him to take his place at the table but his face scrunched up out of confusion.

"Whats wrong?"

" Why are there three places set at the table?"

"We have a guest coming to spend some time with us."

"Who?"

"Sit and I'll go get them"

He looked at me skeptically for a while but he eventually reluctantly sat down. I headed back to get Janae and I could feel his eyes following my every move. I opened the door and Janae was sitting right at the door like she was about to burst from the excitement. She was impatient just like her dad I thought. I took her hand in mine and we headed out towards Julian. He saw our figures in the hall way and stood up from his seat. As we got closer it was like time slowed down, I could see his eyes start to get glassy and a visible lump had formed in his throat. By the time Janae and I stood directly in front of him I wasn't sure if he was breathing. Janae and Julian stared at each other silently for a while before a tear rolled down his eye and he said "Do you know who I am?" He stuttered as the words came out so I knew it was taking everything in him to choke back those tears. Janae nodded and let go of my hand and stepped closer to her father.

"You're my daddy and I'm your princess" Julian ran and picked her up and spun her around never loosening his grip. He held on to her for dear life as tears poured from his eyes. "I love you so much princess, daddy loves you so much" he said as she rested her head in the crook of his neck. He swayed back and forth with Janae in his arms, his eyes met mine and he mouthed the words thank you. I couldn't take my eyes off of them, watching them made my heart so warm, my family was finally together, life was finally starting to come full circle.