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Sophia’s nod answers for all of them.
“We’re going to see my friends Mimi and Stan, who were my wife’s mom and dad and my girls’ grandparents. They’re so excited to meet you guys. Mimi has made all kinds of plans for swimming in the pool and going to the beach. We’ll have so much fun.”
The kids are so excited about the trip, they barely give their new toys another look as we make final preparations to depart. My parents are going to drive us to the airport in the minivan and are due to arrive at four.
“You ready for this?” I ask Gage after he’s showered and changed into shorts and a long-sleeved T-shirt. He told me he always wears shorts when heading to Florida, regardless of the temperature in Virginia.
“I think so.”
“They’re apt to be a lot to manage on the trip.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll take Tyler and Sophia. You focus on Laney.”
While I have the chance, I give him a tight hug. “Thank you so much for this. It’s just what I need right now.”
“I always want to be just what you need.”
“So far, you’re doing a brilliant job of that.”
“Did I tell you Mimi asked if we wanted one bedroom or two?”
“What did you tell her?”
“One was fine.”
I wince. “Maybe we should sleep separately when we’re there. They were Nat’s parents, after all.”
“It’s fine. You’ll see. Mimi is the best. You’ll love her.”
“This is just another one of those crazy widow things that no one can prepare you for, isn’t it? Spending time with the parents of your boyfriend’s late wife.”
“Life is crazy, strange, devastating and wonderful all at the same time.”
“It certainly is.”
“Mimi and Stan will always be family to me, and I promise you they’ll love you and the kids because I do. That’s all they need to know.”
I take him at his word, because I want so badly for this trip to be a huge success for his sake. It’ll be the most time he’s ever spent with my kids, and we’ll be with Nat’s parents, too. I’m trying not to feel stress about that, because Gage has assured me that I’ll love them and vice versa. I sure hope so, or this is going to be a very long week.
Three hours later, we have the kids buckled into seats on the airplane. Gage is across the aisle with Tyler, and I’m between the girls. He gives me a thumbs-up and that big grin that comes with the dimples I love so much. He looks so happy that I can’t help but note the change in him over the last few months. When I first knew him, he rarely smiled, and now he does it so often that it’s become routine. I like knowing I had something to do with that.
It’s been so long since we traveled that Tyler and Sophia have no memory of trips to Arizona to see Mike’s parents, who winter there. The flight is a source of endless questions and excitement and a tiny bit of fear when we hit a few bumps of turbulence. Gage patiently explains that it’s just like hitting a pothole on the road.
“But we’re in the sky,” Tyler says. “There’s nowhere to pull over.”
Gage laughs. “Right you are, my friend, but the plane is built to withstand much worse than a few little bumps. Don’t worry.”
The direct flight to Fort Lauderdale is just over two hours, and we land at seven o’clock, which is perfect to get the kids fed and to bed at a decent hour since they were up at the crack of dawn this morning.
Mimi and Stan are waiting for us at baggage claim. She’s petite, with short gray hair and blue eyes. He’s tall and thin with white hair and a tanned face. They’re both smiling widely as they welcome us. After they both hug Gage, they greet me and the kids like we’ve always known them.
Mimi hugs me tightly. “We’re so thrilled to have you visit and to see our dear Gage smiling like he used to.”
“Thank you for having us.”
“We couldn’t wait for you to get here.”
Gage introduces us to them, and Mimi tells the kids to call them Mimi and Stan.
