The Sire

Chapter 51

Iris was still inside the jet, it had just touched ground, and she could swear she could already feel that humid earth scent so distinctive of the Washington State. As she leaned over to peek at the small window, the classic green scenario of the state greeted her. Washington State was green the entire year, due to the rain of course that could bother sometimes, but it kept the landscapes fresh the whole year or most part of it. The verdant landscape around her was breath taking. The trees shone as the sunlight bathed them that day. The sky was blue with a few thick white clouds scattered here and there and it was late in the afternoon already. Iris smiled, knowing she missed that cooler air and that special green. Nothing was greener than the Pacific Northwest. Nothing smelled of nature as Washington State.

"Mommy..." Zane whimpered, making her look at him. He was contorting on his leather seat by her side, trying to get free from the seatbelt that was still buckled though the jet was stopped.

"We need to wait, sweetheart." Iris caught his hand in an attempt to make him stop.

"But we stopped!" He argued with a huge frown which caused her to smile. Iris ran a hand over his hair and then placed a kiss on top of his head, looking in his questioning blue eyes after.

"But we need to wait for the sir to come back and tell us it's alright to go." She tried to explain.

"We stopped!" He insisted.

"Be patient." Iris pressed her lips on his forehead and he just crossed his arms around his chest, pouting, as he always did when he was unhappy about something.

Iris shook her head and looked outside again, happy to be back. A man was maneuvering a small stroller that contained her bags on it and she knew they'd be allowed to go soon. Then, her heart accelerated. Her pulse became wild in mere seconds and she felt her eyes goggling and her legs trembled. Even her lips trembled at the sight of a tall, thin man with his hands in the pockets of the ragged blue jeans he was wearing. A soft smile then crossed her lips and inside her everything was bubbling. He didn't tell her he was going to be there, though they had talked a few times after he left San Francisco. Iris then turned to Zane, and unbuckled him, pulling him to her lap.

"Look who's there." She pointed at the window and Zane peeked. A gasp escaped his throat and he looked at her with his lips opened in a O and his eyes wide opened, shining bright.

"Daddy!" He then told her with such enthusiasm that she kissed his cheek giggling. She was probably as enthusiastic as he was. "It's daddy, mommy."

"It's daddy, sweetheart." She kissed him again.

"Mrs. Gossard?" A male voice caught her attention and she looked up at the flight attendant in a blue suit. "You can get out of the plane." He softly smiled. "Everything's ready."

"Thank you." She smiled back and then looked at Zane. "Let's go, little monkey?" She asked, wanting to get out as soon as possible.

"Yes!" Zane got down from her lap but couldn't get away because Iris held his hand.

Iris adjusted her denim dress and then let her little boy guide her outside, pulling her by the hand which caused her to smile. When she got to the door, she held her breath and she saw Stone tensing so much, he looked like a military waiting for a superior to arrive. She saw him bit his lower lip. His eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. She knew it would be awkward to be near him. It had been awkward somehow the times they spoke on the phone. It had all to do with the pending situation between them, she knew it, and also it had all to do with how much they were hankering for each other.

"Daddy!" Zane yelled and waved and Iris took a deep breath and started descending the small stairs that led them to the asphalted carpet. When there, Zane pulled away from her hand and took off running. "Daddy." He called, giggling and Stone crouched, as usual, so he could hold onto his neck.