not The Perfect Life

Welcome Home

Chapter 7

Friday, 9th of November 2018

Welcome Home

I didn't get an email from the school. It doesn't seem to be school free today. But it doesn't really matter to me. Mom took me off for today and took another day off. This day is only for my family. Heavily pregnant and damn happy, my mom is finishing the whole house. She cleans, decorates, cooks and bakes before I even notice she's doing it. Of course I would have helped her then.

I then put my focus on myself. In the morning I could take a nice long shower and make myself completely pretty. My mood is better than it has been in ages. It's been seven months since I last saw my dad. I could cry every time I think about seeing him again.

I come out of the bathroom and go to Mom in the kitchen. She looks so wonderful again and for the first time I have the feeling that she is proud of her baby bump too. Usually she wears very baggy clothes and tends to ignore her stomach and now she has an ultra-beautiful, figure-hugging dress, which she found somewhere deep in her closet. Suddenly life feels perfect. Where has Olivia gone, who cries in the school toilet because life is getting too much for her? I don't know, but it should never appear again.

My mom looks at me happily and asks, "Are you ready? Do you want to go to the airport?" I just nod. We are going. We leave the house together and get in the car. Do I find it worrying that my mother drives pregnant? A little, but what should we do? I never had the money to buy a car, and Mom thinks it is unnecessary for me to even learn to drive. So of course she has to go to the airport.

It takes about an hour to get there. All I can do is think about my dad all the time. Even though he wasn't gone that long, it felt like forever. Mom is so happy too that it warms my heart. I look out the window dreamily. What does dad think of me? Is he as happy as I am? I'm so nervous about the meeting. Something is going to explode inside of me. I know that. I close my eyes and imagine what Dad looks like. My father is a strong man, but you don't really look at it that way. He has dark, short hair and usually wears a stubbled beard. I'm so excited that no words can describe my feelings. Then after a few minutes I fall asleep.

"Liv. Liv, wake up.", My mother gently wakes me. I open my eyes and look at her. For a moment I forget where I am. Then it springs back to my mind. I sit up quickly.

"A.. are we there?" I ask excitedly.

"Yes, Liv. Are you ready?"

"Totally Mom."

We get out of the car and go to the airport. This year was the first time my dad had been transferred to another country. It's a very different feeling than when he is in the same country or continent. Mom and I stand here and wait. Out of excitement, I grip her hand very tightly. My eyes don't turn away from the door my dad is about to come out of. I hold my breath. A couple of soldiers come out, but Dad's not there yet. Some people stand around us. Some of them can be happy and some still tremble like us. The whole group seems to be coming back.

Then I feel him entering the room. I see his uniform. Mom lets go of my hand and walks right up to him to fall into his arms. I'm somehow still totally perplexed. There is my dad. He's hugging my mom. But he only looks at me. I slowly take a few steps towards the two of them. I feel like I'm exaggerating completely. It was only a few months after all. But for my feelings I can't do anything and for me this moment is absolutely violent. Mom releases herself from his arms and turns to me.

"Come on, Liv.", She beckons me. My dad is still the same person. He looks the same as he did when he left.

"Livi, what's the matter with you, my little mouse?" Dad asks carefully. Suddenly it is very special to hear his voice. Suddenly I am a completely different person. I expected every reaction, but not the one I got. My dad comes towards me and takes me very gently in his arms. Now the time has come. I'm in my father's arms again. I close my eyes and hug him back as tightly as I can. Mom is happy. Dad is happy. I am too.