Reformation

11: Apologies

"Do you mind if I crash the party?" She smiled weakly, and shifted uncomfortably on her cruthces.

"Yeah," my mouth was dry. "Yeah, sure."

Everyone in the plane went silent as Zoey hobbled over to a chair.

"Um, how is your leg?"

She looked down at her left thigh which was wrapped in a white bandage. "It's healing. I think these stupids crutches are the worst part."

"I'm sorry about that. He thought I was in trouble and-"

"It's not your fault. I probably shouldn't have held that gun up to your head either."

Mom's eyes filled with rage as she stared at Zoey, her mouth pressed into a hard line. Everyone else shifted awkwardly in their seats.

"I won't stay long. I just thought I should give you this." She handed me a paper bag.

I opened it and found a few small, plush stuffed animals, a plastic ring that I assumed was a teething toy, and a few other baby toys.

"I should go," she stood back up and made her way to the door.

"No, stay." I felt like Zoey and I should reconcile, it wouldn't do any good if we didn't.

"I should get back to Beatrice." Her voice sounded dry and I could see in her eyes that she looked scared. Why was she scared?

"Ok, feel free to stop by anytime if you want to talk."

She smiled and walked out.

Mom raised her eyebrows at me. "Would you like to tell me what happened to Zoey's leg?"

"Ask your boyfriend." Then I plucked a grape from the food tray and kept chatting with Rachel and Whitney about my baby kicking.

We all sat for another half an hour, just relaxing. My mom seemed off kilter the entire time. Carly had to leave early to go home to Crystal. I was beat from the day and didn't have my wheelchair, so I had to walk home.

It had started to get cooler so at least I wasn't walking home with the sun beating down on my back. It was dusk and a sliver of light still peeked over the horizon.

I finally made it to my plane (breathing heavily) and found Ryan reading my book. He was shirtless, his bare, muscled chest exposed, making my stomach flutter.

"How was it?"

"You knew?" I flopped down next to him on our bed. I tried to keep my eyes on his face.

"Of course I knew. Where are the presents?"

"Wow. Way to jump right into it." I giggled. "Our moms are bringing them over for us."

He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.

Clara and I's conversation earlier nagged at the back of my mind. It was better to bring it up now than let it cause more problems later.

"Ry, our fight last week-"

"I thought we were done with that,"

"I still feel that you are mad at me or something, if you're not then tell me why you are acting so weird."

He dog-eared the book page and looked at me.

"Is it Jack?"

"No, it's not Jack. I thought you were still mad at me for calling you a.... You know...."

I put my hand on his cheek. "I'm not still mad at you,"

He pulled me close and kissed me, I was pressed up against his warm chest. All of those little things didn't matter anymore, this was what mattered, that we still loved each other after everything we bickered about.