A Hand To Hold | Cglre |

Chapter 18: Airplane Ride

Ian's POV

I stood in Sophie's room, watching Evelyn frantically pack the last of Sophie's things. The worry etched on her face was unmistakable, and I felt a pang of guilt for having to leave her, neither of us knowing how hard it was going to be for both of them. Eventhough I'm already here much of her anxiety hasn't surpassed but I hope seeing her family and some friends helps her relax.

"Evelyn," I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Sophie's going to be okay. I promise."

She turned to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know, I know. It's just... after these past few days, I can't help but worry. What if she has another panic attack?"

I pulled her into a gentle embrace, feeling her relax slightly against me. "She was distressed because she thought I had abandoned her. But we'll show her that's not the case. We may leave for a few days sometimes, but we'll always come back. We're her caregivers now, and that means we're here for the long haul, at least as long as she lets us."

Evelyn nodded against my chest, her voice muffled. "You're right. It's just hard seeing her like that. She's been through so much already."

"I understand," I said, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "But it's not healthy for her to be so attached that it endangers her health. We need to help her understand that short separations are normal and okay. It's part of her healing process. Granted, we didn't make the best choice by doing it so drasticly but we are learning as we go."

"But her past traumas..." Evelyn started, her voice trailing off as she glanced at Sophie's favorite stuffed animal.

I nodded, understanding her concern. "I know. We have to be patient and understanding. It'll take time, but she'll learn. We're in this together, remember?"

Evelyn managed a small smile. "Together. You're right. We can do this."

"I know you haven't had time to sleep either, love. But as soon as we land you can take all the time you need for yourself and I will take care of Sophie."

"I just need some love from my little family, that's all I need." She said giving me a quick kiss.

We finished packing in companionable silence, double-checking everything we needed for the trip. As we loaded the car, Sophie clung to my leg, her big eyes watching our every move.

"Ready for an adventure, princess?" I asked, scooping her up.

She nodded hesitantly, burying her face in my neck. "Where we going, Dada?"

"We're going on a big airplane," I explained, trying to sound excited. "And then we're going to visit some very nice people who want to meet you."

Sophie's eyes widened. "Big airplane? Like in the sky?"

I chuckled, kissing her forehead. "Exactly like that. You'll be able to see everything from up there. It'll be like you're a little bird."