"Mom hurry up! We're going to be late!" Addie screamed up the staircase. She tapped her fingers against the banister impatiently.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Carrie shouted back. She glanced at herself in the mirror one last time, grabbed her purse, and jotted down the stairs.
"Finally! Come on let's go!" She practically dragged her mom out the front door.
"Why are you so eager? We're just meeting your sister for dinner Addie." Carrie asked, hopping into the car and pulling out of the driveway.
"I don't know, just hungry." The thirteen year old said, turning the radio up.
"Turn that down a little, I have a splitting headache." Carrie turned it down a notch, squeezing her eyes shut for a few seconds when she came to a stop at the red light.
"Still?" Addie asked, looking at her mom. Carrie had been having off and on horrible headaches for the past week.
"Yeah, it's fine though. Probably just stress or something." Carrie sighed.
"Did Hadley say she was here yet?" Carrie asked as they pulled into the restaurant. "I don't see her car."
"I don't know, I'll text her. Let's just go get a table." Addie said, hoping out of the car. She knew they were already inside, but kept quiet and played along.
The blonde grabbed her purse and turned the car off, following her daughter into the restaurant.
"There's Hads." Carrie pointed towards a booth in the back where her oldest daughter was sitting.
Addie winked at her sister and they headed towards the table. When they reached it, Carrie realized Hadley wasn't the only one at the table.
"Oh my gosh." Carrie gasped, her husband of twenty years standing up with a large smile on his face. Tears filled her eyes as he embraced her.
"What are you-? How are-? You're supposed to still be in Africa, how are you here?" Carrie couldn't even form sentences she was so speechless.
Mike had been traveling around Africa for the past three months with a program that taught underprivileged children different sports while teaching them about God. They hadn't seen him since he left, and they only got to talk on the phone once or twice a week. He wasn't due home for another week.
"I missed you guys too much, I decided to come home instead of stay and hike Kilimanjaro with the guys." Mike gave Addie a big hug while Carrie still stood there in shock.
"You okay there Care?" Mike laughed, waving his hand over her face while she stared ahead into space.
"I just can't believe you're here." She laughed, shaking her head out of the trance. "I've missed you so much."
She hugged him again, locking lips with him in a passionate kiss.
"Okay okay, that's enough." The sixteen year old laughed. "You can have your little reunion at home later."
"Sorry" they both mumbled with a laugh, pulling away from each other.
Hadley and Addie sat down on one side while Carrie and Mike sat on the other.
"So you knew about this? That's why you were so excited to get here huh?" Carrie said to the young brunette across from her.
"Maybe." Addie cooed with a smirky smile on her face.
"You little rascals, how long have you been planning this?"
"Dad told me he was coming home when I talked to him last Tuesday and that he wanted to surprise you, so we set it all up. I went to pick him up at the airport earlier, I wasn't with Emily." Hadley explained.
"So now you've turned our children into liars huh?" Carrie laughed, looking at her husband.
He shrugged his shoulders and laughed. He put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head. "I love you."
"I'm so glad we're all together again, I've missed my girls so much." Mike squeezed Carrie's shoulders and pulled her in for a side hug. He smiled widely at both his daughters.
"We've missed you too dad, it's not the same without you around." Hadley said, Addie and Carrie nodding in agreement.
The family of four reminisced and caught up as they waited on their food to arrive.
"I'll pray today." Mike smiled as they all took hands.
"Dear Lord, Thank you for my two beautiful girls, my beautiful wife, and this beautiful day you've given us to share together. Thank you for getting me home safely and for bringing us all back together as a family. Bless this food we are about to eat and the hands that have prepared it. In your name we pray, amen." Mike squeezed Carrie and Hadley's hands.
Carrie had tears in her eyes which she tried to hide but failed.
"Mom!" Addie rolled her eyes and laughed. "Stop crying!"
"I'm sorry I'm sorry." Carrie fanned her face off to get rid of the tears. "I'm just happy."
The Fisher family was finally reunited and there was absolutely nothing that could ruin the happiness in their hearts.
