Who's Your Paddy?

Chapter 23

I hadn't expected to be separated from Michelle and her family so soon off the plane. A representative from the airline met them on the gangway and took them to a private immigration checkpoint so they could be with the casket when it was off loaded.

My Immigration line took longer than she led me to believe it would. With several morning arrivals happening simultaneously, the lines were very long. The moment I came out of the international area, I searched for an arrivals monitor and saw that Liam's flight had just landed. It was supposed to be about an hour behind ours, but between having to circle before landing and the long lines, that gap narrowed considerably.

My heart skipped a beat at the very idea of seeing him in the flesh. A week may as well have been a year. It sure felt that way. I claimed my luggage, made my way through Customs and found a bench in the arrivals hall where I could sit and wait.

I tried to read the in flight magazine I stole from the plane, but the sights and sounds of the people all around me held far greater interest. The accents were thick and varied as people hustled through the terminal.

There was a family sitting on the bench next to me, talking non-stop about what they'd do when their son arrived. The mother figure caught me listening in and offered to share whatever it was she was holding. I had trouble understanding her, but finally figured out she was asking if I wanted a piece of candy.

Another larger family by the international arrivals door went through a teary hug fest with a tired looking teenage girl. A couple of them wandered close enough for me to listen in while the men in the family grabbed her bags. She'd been in America and the younger of the two was pumping her for information.

I glanced at my watch and realized almost an hour had passed since getting off the plane. I shuffled myself and my luggage to the end of the row of seats nearest the door and continued waiting.

A doe eyed look must have prompted an airline employee to take pity on me, because he stopped to ask if I was lost or needed assistance. Reassuring him that I was waiting for my party, I dug the magazine back out of my purse and tried to look less impressionable.

When a second airline employee stopped in front of me, I did a half turn on my seat and tried to ignore him.

"Ye lost little lady?"

"No, I'm fine thank you," I said without looking up.

He made me a little uncomfortable when he didn't move off as quickly as the other.

"Ye sure?" He asked again. I turned to face him and the expression of shock on my face must have been hilarious to see. Liam's bright smile turned into a laugh.

"Oh my God!" I jumped up to hug him. "I didn't recognize you! What's with the hat?" He had all his hair tucked up under a woolen cap.

"It's bleedin' cold," he said, pulling me into a tight embrace.

Never in my life did a kiss feel as good or as satisfying as his did. The warmth spread from my lips to most parts of my body in seconds. I didn't register until that very moment, when the familiarity of his touch and his unique scent enveloped me; it was very much like coming home on foreign soil.

"Where's yer mates?" he said, breaking the embrace.

"Escorting the casket. I expect them out any time."

"Need ta get me guitars from the special handlin' office. Don't run off."

I watched as he maneuvered around people with an unfamiliar looking swagger. He had an air of unmistakable confidence. While he was waiting in line, Michelle and Brian came through the immigration hall door and I stood to wave at them.