Don't Let Us Go

Missing Home

They'd been in Greece for nearly seven weeks, occupying their time with all the adventures things to do around the island. From snorkeling and swimming with the dolphins, down to cave diving and jetskiing. While making memories together was the highlight of their trip, Spencer and Olivia couldn't fight the inkling of missing home. Despite their reservations, they both kept the thought to themselves, not wanting to ruin their honeymoon by mentioning their personal desire to go home.

This led to awkward dinners, where they'd be eating in one of the many five-star restaurants at the resort, dining on gourmet food, but having little to discuss. Often nights, Olivia found herself scrapping at her plate, unable to recall the best moments of their day, without thinking about how she wondered if Gracianna would've loved to join them. Spencer would begin a conversation with his wife about a scenery they saw earlier, but somehow, his thoughts would drift to how little Javion might've reacted. He could almost picture his little boy crawling on the shoreline of the beach, following behind his big sister, chasing after the menacing seagulls after the pesky birds stole a snack from them. Although it would be a fake thought, Spencer could vividly see it playing out in his head.

It didn't help when their scheduled calls with Gigi back in Tennessee started to end with their little girl questioning if they were coming home. She'd done well the first four weeks, not missing her parents too much. She'd adapted to life on the ranch with her grandmother and step-granddad, learning about the animals and performing silly chores like collecting eggs from the coop or raking up the piles of hay from the stables with her uncle dillion. Her granddad taught her how to mount a horse during her third week on the ranch after she finally gotten over her fear of large mares. She learned about fresh vegetables and gardening from Grandma Gracie, too. Yep, Cici's time was filled and kept her busy those first four weeks after her parents left for their honeymoon.

She called her parents twice a day to say good morning and good night at bedtime. At first, it was easy because she looked forward to her days on the ranch. However, six weeks into her stay, the novelty was wearing thin. Her quick "I love yous" to her parents during their FaceTime were slowly shifting into, "I miss you," and "Are you guys going home?" Day after day, it was becoming harder for her to hang up with her mom and dad. And it didn't help that her brother was back in California with her Grandma Lolo and Papa B.

The plan seemed perfect to keep the grandparents from keeping both kids at once for an entire eight weeks. But even little Javion was starting to realize his parents' absence, and he was no longer making it easy on Laura and Billy. From late night tantrums to refusing his drink bottle after hanging with Olivia and Spencer's daily FaceTimes, it was clear the little boy missed his mommy and daddy.

They reached the end of week seven when Spencer and Olivia found themselves cuddling on the pool side chair outside of their suite, unable to ignore the elephant in the room.

"Baby, I don't want you to be mad, alright." Spencer mumbled, rubbing Olivia's back as she laid with her cheek pressed to top of his chest with a small throw blanket covering the both of them.

"Mad about what?" Olivia inquired curiously.

"I wasn't going to say anything because we have like a week left, and I know you're enjoying our alone time." Spencer started to explain.

"But what?" Olivia eased him to continue, doodling on his six pack with her french chrome painted, almond nails.

"But I've been feeling a little homesick," Spencer declared softly, "Well, not so much as missing home, but rather missing Cici and Jay."

"Why would I be mad at you for missing our kids, baby?" Olivia retorted with a light chuckle, "Honestly, I've been ready to fly back to the States for the last few days," Olivia admitted, sitting up to look at her husband.

"I loved the time we've spent here together, but this is the longest I've been away from the kids since Javie was born," Olivia vented with a heavy heart, yearning to smell the top of her little boy's strawberry scented oiled head. "And I wasn't going to say anything, but ever since that year, Gigi secretly left Portland to meet you, I've hated being away from her for long periods at a time. Like, I know she's safely with your folks, but ever since that day, I have had this scary emotion in the back of my mind that makes my heart stop for a second, whenever Gracianna isn't in my sight." Olivia disclosed, gaining her husband's sympathy.

"I didn't know you felt like that, Liv," Spencer immediately comforted his wife, pulling her into his arms. "I only booked this trip because I figured you deserved to be pampered and spoilt after everything you've given me," Spencer highlighted. "You and our babies made my life whole again, Liv. You know that." He soothed her as she snuggled into his embrace. "And you don't have to worry about our kids or me vanishing on you again. Wherever you and our little mini-mes go, I will follow."

"So can we go home, baby?" Olivia inquired softly, nuzzling Spencer.

"I will call my assistant and have him book us the next flight route back home." Spencer promised, kissing Olivia's temple, hugging his wife tighter as she giggled under his caress.
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Spending two hours on a flight out of Santorini to Munich, then transferring for their eleven hour flight from Munich to LAX, Olivia and Spencer were worn out, prepared to never take another plane trip for another three to five years.

However, once they arrived back in L.A.X and retrieved their luggage, their stuffy time on the two flights seemed worth it end. Because waiting with a huge sign spelling out, "Welcome Home, Mommy and Daddy", was their daughter with Olivia's parents. Javion sat on Laura's hip, clapping happily when his parents came into his peripheral vision.

Releasing her Grandpa B's hand, and tossing her sign to the ground, Gracianna took off, sprinting through the busy crowd of airporters to reach her parents. Spencer quickly sat his luggage down, already sensing the bombrush that was coming. On cue, Gigi lept into his waiting arms, squealing, "Daddy!"

Olivia smiled largely, watching her daughter and husband without envy. She knew their relationship of something special and wouldn't have it any other way.

"Hi, mommy!" Gigi waved to her mom, now being carried on Spencer's hip.

"Hi, baby," Olivia greeted hugging and kissing her daughter as Spencer held Gracianna tightly.

Her parents made their way over to them, welcoming the newly weds with hugs. Once separated, Olivia's attention immediately went to her infant son who was wiggling until he got in her arms.

"Oh, my heart." Olivia mewled, hugging her little boy close, and whiffing his hair, a calming feeling finally settling over mother of two.

Spencer rubbed the top of his son's head that was now filled with brown curls that matched his mother and sister's strands. "We missed you, bud," Spencer declared, leaning down to kiss his son's head, as Olivia cuddled Javion closer. Relief settled into the parents, who depsite enjoying their time away, were overjoyed to finally be home.