"Papa, where are we going?" Abby asked me as I clicked her seatbelt in. I smiled at her and put her pink backpack on the seat beside her.
"Charlie invited you to have a sleepover with Alexis. You remember how much fun you had when Alexis stayed with us a few weeks ago?" I asked and she nodded, her eyes going wide with excitement. somehow, I'd managed to not tell her that Imogen was coming home today and she was totally clueless.
"But you'll be lonely, papa."
"I'll be okay. I've got some work to do so that I don't have to do it when mummy comes home next week." It was only partly a lie; I did have work to finish but, unbeknownst to her, I'd done it last night after she was asleep.
"Oh. Okay."
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah!" I grinned and shut the door, hurrying to the driver's seat, and climbing in. I only had fifteen minutes to drop her off at Charlie's if I wanted to get to the airport before Imogen got through customs, so I put my foot down on the accelerator a little more than normal as we took off.
The whole ride, Abby hummed along to the radio, singing her own version of the lyrics where she could. I watched her through the rear-view mirror with a smile. I was feeling a little guilty for not telling her about Imogen but I knew she wouldn't really notice.
"Thanks so much for watching her," I said quietly to Charlie, standing on his front porch and impatiently shifting from foot to foot. Charlie grinned and hugged me, taking Abby's bag that my daughter had forgotten to pick up in her rush to get inside.
"You're welcome. Enjoy the time with her. I'll text you in the morning when Abby wakes up."
"Okay. Thanks." He laughed and gave me a gentle push.
"Go. You'll be late otherwise."
"I'm going," I replied, already turning away.
"Papa! You didn't give me a kiss!" Abby appeared from within the house, throwing her arms around my legs.
"Sorry, princess." I kissed the top of her head and hugged her. "Be a good girl for Charlie, okay?"
"I will. Bye, papa."
"Bye, Abby." She stood on the porch with Charlie, watching me as I walked to the car and I waved to her before turning onto the road. I put my foot down even more than I had on my way here, risking a couple speeding tickets.
Finally, I made it to the airport with five minutes to spare. I was lucky enough to find a parking spot quickly and I jumped out of the car, speed walking to the arrivals area. I managed to find a spot in clear view of the door but open enough that I could run to Imogen when I saw her.
Frustratingly, it seemed as though about seven flights had just landed and hundreds of people poured through the door, sometimes obscuring my view. I craned my neck to look around them, wanting nothing more than to see those beautiful blue eyes that I loved so much.
"Nick!" At the sound of my name, I looked to find the source of the voice, my eyes almost instantly locking with Imogen's. I couldn't help the huge grin that spread across my face as I ran towards her.
"Imogen!" I sighed when I finally got to her, throwing my arms around her and feeling her arms tight around me. "I missed you so much, Imogen."
"I missed you, too, Nick." She whispered in my ear before pressing her lips to mine in a kiss filled with enough love to make up for the last three weeks of no kisses. "God, it feels so good to be back in your arms again. You have no idea."
"I think I have some." I disagreed with a laugh.
"Where's Abby?" It hit me, in that moment, that with all my determination to keep her coming home a secret from our daughter, I'd forgotten to tell her about my plan.
"She's at Charlie's for the night. So we can have some time together."
"That's a bit mean, isn't it?"
"She doesn't even know you're here. I didn't tell her. I wanted to, you know, be with you tonight and I know we couldn't if Abby was at home."
"Oh, Nick. You're so sweet..." With the way she trailed off, I knew she wanted to say more so I prompted her a little.
"But?"
"But I missed her too. I was looking forward to seeing her again tonight."
"I'm sorry. I didn't even think of it that way. Oh god, I'm so selfish." The smile fell from my face and I buried my face against her shoulder in embarrassment. I could feel her laughing quietly as she weaved her fingers into my hair affectionately.
"It's okay. I understand how you were thinking. And I can wait a few more hours to see her. Especially if those hours are spent with my gorgeous husband."
"Really?" I looked at her hopefully as she nodded.
"Of course. Now are we going to keep standing here like a couple of idiots or are we going home?"
"Let's go home," I replied, letting go of her for a moment, only to grab her suitcase with one hand and her hand with the other so I could lead her out to the car. I loved how, every few steps, she'd lean over to kiss my cheek and squeeze my hand lovingly. It was amazing to have her back.
The drive home felt a lot faster than the drive to the airport with Imogen telling me all about her trip and I listened intently, actually interested in what she was saying.
"Home, sweet, home," I announced, pulling into our driveway and turning off the car. We both got out and headed straight to the house, an unspoken decision between us to leave her suitcase in the car for now. At the front door, I quickly unlocked the door before bending a little to pull her up into my arms, bridal style.
"This is what you're supposed to do on a honeymoon, Nick. Not just any random night." She laughed.
"I don't care. Who says I can't carry the love of my life into our house if I want to?" I replied, silencing her with a kiss as I carried her into the house, kicking the door shut behind me. I laughed, carrying her all the way to our room. Only then did I set her on the floor, only to push her against the wall, connecting our lips in a passionate kiss. "Mm. I missed this." I mumbled when she moved to kiss my neck. "God, that feels amazing."
"You want more?" She asked, her voice low and sexy. I nearly trembled then and my breath caught in my throat, leaving me unable to speak. She instantly understood and pushed me away from the wall, guiding us both to the bed.
"N-no." I stuttered, stumbling a little.
"Huh?" She was confused and pulled back to look me in the eye. I was finally able to breathe and think properly for a moment with her lips away from my skin.
"Not there."
"Oh. Where?" With what I hoped was a seductive smirk, I grabbed her hand and led her to our bathroom where I let go of her for just long enough to turn on the shower. "Ooh." She realised where I was going and grinned, pulling me close by the waist and fiddling with the buckle of my belt.
"Good?" I asked and she responded by finally tugging my pants down and connecting our lips together in a hot, open-mouthed kiss.
"The best." She whispered just seconds before she shoved me back into the spray of water, ignoring the fact that I was still wearing my shirt. Oh well, it would come off soon enough anyway, judging from the look in her eye that I loved so much.
