Alberta

Chapter Thirty Four: Arrivals

The flight from St. George to Manchester was long. Harper and I watched a few new movies. We made two stops, one in Denver and then Newark. I forgot how travelling by plane made me so nauseous, like the early days of pregnancy when waves of it make you feel entirely green.

"Mama" Harper says, pointing to her suitcase that is travelling the baggage claim.

"I see it" I say reaching out "on three... grab the opposite end... one...two....three" I call and we lift it and place it down, slightly struggling with its weight before we dropped it at our feet.

"What did you pack in here.." I ask her taken aback by its weight.

She looks at me with her big hazel eyes. A fly away red hair tickles her nose as she stands back up from dropping the suitcase. "everything" she returns. She says it as if of course it is everything. What else would a teenage girl back for a summer spent away from home.

"Well that explains it... you packed up your entire life and your father for good measure"

She raises an eyebrow at me. "mama" she pleads "you've never been funny"

"Ouch" I return " a mamas heart can be broken by such observations Harps"

"And I am funny..." I protest.

Harper grabs the handle of her suitcase and hauls it through the airport, an arduous journey from baggage to pick up. As we exit onto the tarmac, my eyes scan the waiting cars before finding the hand waving in the air, and the beaming smile to match it. "Willa" I observe with a sense of elation.

"Aunty Willa" Harper waves back

We make our way down the queue to her. She stands with her back against her Toyota RAV4. It's sleek black exterior shines as if it is newly waxed and polished.

"Little bird" she announces as she pulls Harper into her arms "you ready to kill it on the court" she asks.

Harper let's out a laugh as Willa releases her. "I can try" she retorts.

I watch them together and my heart is happy. Harper loves Willa, and that means so much, to know she has her own bond with her forged entirely from the small time we have gotten to see her. That means something. It is hard to bond with a teenager, they don't have time for anyone, but Harper always seemed to have time for aunty Willa. Her absence perhaps added to her mystery which made her want to know her more. I know it made me want her more... but that was a different want entirely.

Willa opened the back door and Harper threw her backpack inside haphazardly, baring her teeth with the way it hit the far window "sorry" she squeaked, stepping in and closing the door.

Willa's gaze went from Harper who amused her, to me, and her lips softened. She inhaled a little deeper, visible through the white t shirt, "Hi" she offered holding out her hand.

I felt my lips twitch at the corners with the way a simple word could lift me. I glance down to her hand outstretched and reached for it. My fingers slip between hers "hi" I returned softly.

She jerks my arm, hand in hers, until I am in her arms with one fluid movement. She releases my hand and wraps her arms around my body instead, her chest is warm, her embrace inviting, she smells like citrus, perhaps her shampoo, and I close my eyes briefly and inhale the scent of her. I wanted to imprint this memory somewhere I could visit with it, to remember her smell, the way her firm torso felt against mine, and her petite yet strong arms from all of the basketball. Gosh the way they held me. I wanted to remember the way her heart beat against mine, a thrilling thump that welcomed me home.

"Come on then" she whispered "let me take you home" she added releasing me with a smile. She rounded the car and slid into the drivers seat. I looked to Harper through the back window and she raised her eye brows and smirked at me, an observation she made that she would discuss with me later. I threw back the same look and she looked back to her phone in hand.