This Kiss

Chapter 132

With a heavy sigh, Rafe downed the rest of his Gatorade zero, tossed his laptop bag over his shoulder, and picked up the trash from his snack. It was two minutes to five and his grandmother hadn't showed yet. Pulling out his phone, he sent a quick text to Olivia that he was getting back on the jet and turned toward the terminal.

Just as he reached the door, someone called behind him. "Mr. Spencer-Rivera?"

Rafe spun on his heel and came face to face with a young blond woman. "Yes."

"There is a Clara Rivera at the service counter asking for you. She said you had told her where to go when she got here but she'd forgotten."

"Oh, yeah. Is she still up there?"

"Yes. Would you like me have someone bring her back?"

"Yeah. That'd be great. Thanks."

"No problem sir. I've been informed that Mr. Spaulding's jet is fueled and ready to go. Would you like to board and I'll bring her to you?"

"No. That's okay. I'll wait here for her."

"Alright. Have a good evening Mr. Spencer-Rivera." As she walked away, Rafe could hear her asking for someone to bring his grandmother and her luggage to gate 5A where Rafe was waiting. He sat down and smiled as he waited. Glad he had decided to give the woman time and not just left when she didn't come with him earlier.

Less than five minutes later Mrs. Rivera slowly made her way to Rafe. A young man following behind with a cart full of two suitcases and a very old and warn looking box. Rafe stood to greet her. "I'm glad you decided to come." He said sincerely. Even if he was a little upset it took her the entire three hours to make the decision, he knew both of his moms and his aunt would be happy she came.

"Me too." Was all she said. Looking around quite nervously. She had never flown before and this was all just a little overwhelming. Not only was she about to board her first flight, but she was also standing in front of the grandchild she never dreamed she'd meet about to be reunited with her eldest daughter.

She had sat on a bench outside the airport where a taxi had dropped her off for close to an hour. She had made the decision to walk away from her husband, her home, and the only life she had ever known without so much as a goodbye. She left the cell phone Louis insisted she carry with her on the bed side table along with the last family picture ever taken. Natalia had been fifteen. In the photo, they looked to be just your average Latino family. Louis and Clara stood side by side behind their three children who were seated on stools, Natalia, and Isabel on either side of Javier, both with their hands placed on his shoulders and smiling at the camera.

As Clara sat there thinking, it all overwhelmed her. What if Natalia didn't wish to see her? Rafe said she didn't know he had come. She hadn't seen or spoken to her middle child in twenty years. Perhaps this was a mistake. What if she went to Springfield only to be turned away and then where would she be? Louis would refuse to allow her back home just to spite her. With her mother's recent death and father long since gone, she would have nowhere to go. She had no siblings and few friends to speak of. The longer she sat there the more worried she became.

Just when she was about to head home, tell Louis she had merely gone shopping, a tan skinned girl, no more than eighteen, with a toddler at her side walked past. Clara knew in that moment that it was a sign from God. He was leading her where she needed to go. First with the box from her closet, and now with this young girl and her son who reminded her of what Natalia and Rafe might have looked like back then.

It was ten to five when she finally made her way inside, having forgotten where Rafe said to go, she went straight to the service desk, knowing Rafe was probably preparing to leave and not wanting to miss her chance. She told them who she was but they had no recognition of the name. The second she mentioned Rafael Spencer-Rivera however, they jumped into action. She could only figure that he or his family had dealt with the airline often and didn't want to upset him.