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When Tamsin Fowler stepped off the plane in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, she had expected to see her grandpa. What she didn't expect was practically a whole landing party - if a group of three could be considered a 'party', that is.
Her grandpa was there, as was expected. For him not to be there would be a folly on his part. What type of person would allow someone to live in their home and not even greet them at the airport? He looked older than she remembered, with grey stubble dotting his cheeks and his hair looking like he'd just been electrocuted. He was wearing the same old brown bomber jacket he'd worn practically her entire life, but with the added accessory of a cane that he leaned heavily on. He looked a little worse for wear, if Tamsin was being honest, but at eighty years old, who would blame him?
The other two figures were a surprise. Both were familiar faces. Beside Byron stood the summer-fresh face of her childhood best friend, Elinor Luci. Last she had heard, Elinor was off in North Carolina, attending Duke University's nursing program. But now, here she was, allowing Byron to practically lean on her as she tried her best to hold up a messily-done paper that said 'Welcome Back Tamsin' with cheap stickers scattered around it.
Next to Byron, opposite of Elinor, stood Charlie Swan. He wasn't doing much besides standing with his hands on his hips and holding a set of keys in his hand. But that wasn't much of a surprise. Charlie wasn't known for his enthusiasm in most things, and if she were to guess, she would say he was roped into driving Byron and Elinor to Seattle so as the nurse didn't get nervous driving in the city and Byron could be with the company of a friend, rather than his employee and granddaughter's friend.
"We're happy to have you back, kid," Charlie said. He had avoided giving her a hug, but had entrusted the woman with a strong handshake. Elinor had been more than enthusiastic, squealing and dropping the paper and hugging Tamsin and swinging her friend around like she had gained superhuman strength overnight. Tamsin returned the energy, and though she felt like a teenage girl watching an NSYNC concert again, she happily embraced it. Byron had been significantly less dramatic, but when he hugged his granddaughter again, they had both felt a piece within them shift back into place. Byron had always been one of Tamsin's favorite people.
"It feels good to be back," Tamsin said. She began to gather her luggage again, but with one look from Byron to Charlie, the Chief of Police whisked away Tamsin's suitcase and backpack, insisting she keep her arms open to 'keep the elderly from toppling over', at which time Byron pat the man roughly on the back.
"If anyone's elderly here, Swan, it's you."
"You're the one who qualifies for a senior discount."
"It's a good deal! And I still could run circles around you. All you do is sit in that car of yours or behind a desk all day."
"At least I don't need to hire a live-in caregiver to make sure I wash my ass properly."
