Keeping Love

Chapter 8

Olivia's flight arrived at noon. My aunt had agreed with Olivia's parents that she would drive to the airport and pick her up. Both Joanne and I were going with her.

We arrived at the airport at quarter to 12 and we stood in the arrivals sections. My eyes were glued to the gate she would walk through.

"Would you calm down?" Joanne asked me, "you're making me nervous."

"Leave him alone." Carol said, "it's cute. Look at the boy." She reach up and pinched me cheeks.

I blushed and pushed her hand away.

"I'm not nervous. I'm excited." I said to Joanne.

"Whatever you are can you calm down? You're making me feel sick." Her hand went over her stomach. I rolled my eyes at her dramatics and turned my eyes back waiting for Olivia.

Eventually people started to trickle through.

I saw her. She saw me at the same time. I ran towards her and she ran towards me.

I picked her up in my arms when we met and held her tightly against me. Her arms and legs wrapped around me. I don't think she cared that we were in an airport. She buried her head against me to get as close to me as possible.

"I missed you so much." I said holding her tightly.

"I missed you too." She said. It was only when she spoke that I noticed she was crying.

"Hey," I said placing her gently on her feet, "don't cry." I wiped her tears away and looked into her face. Her beautiful face. I couldn't wait any longer I bent down and kissed her.

She kissed me back. A short sweet kiss that held all our love for each other.

When I pulled away I said, "I missed you." Then reached around her and took her bag from her back putting it on mine, "come on." I took her hand, "let's go." I led her over to where my aunt and my cousin were still standing.

She held my hand tightly walking close to me as we walked over to them. She only dropped my hand to give each of them a hug and say hi to them.

"Not going to cry when you see us?" Joanne teased hugging her friend.

"Maybe later." Olivia said hugging Joanne back, "I've missed you Joanne!"

"I've missed you too!" Joanne said letting Olivia go so she could repeat the process with Carol.

"It's so good to see you again dear!" Carol said.

"You too!" Olivia hugged her.

Once we were walking towards the car Olivia came back to my side and picked up my hand leaning against me as we walked. I was glad for the contact.

I sat in the back seat with her on the short drive back letting Joanne sit in the front.

"That's so weird!" Olivia said when we got out of the car looking over at her old house, "there's new people in our house! What are they like?" She turned on Joanne who lived next door and would know.

"Quiet." Joanne answered, "I know they've got two kids because I see them riding their bikes sometimes but that's all I know."

"So weird." Olivia repeated giving the house a final look before we all went inside Joanne and Carol's house.

"How about some lunch?" Carol suggested, "you must be hungry from all that travelling love." She said to Olivia.

"Yeah. That sounds lovely." Olivia smiled at her.

I smiled at Olivia. I loved her smile.

"Where should I put this?" I still had her bag.

"My room." Joanne said.