Falling

Chapter Nineteen

When Owen got through to arrivals Vanessa practically launched an air assault.

"Oh you big idiot." She said into his ear as he wrapped his arms around her. He hugged his mother and father before ruffling the hair of his younger brothers, now too cool for hugs. He smirked at that idea, they were like two years old yesterday.

Despite his mental pleas, he looked around for her and felt bitter disappointment smash into his chest a few times before he could stop it. It was to be expected, it didn't make any sense for her to be there.

Vanessa caught his glance and smirked at him. He raised an eyebrow at her and she just tilted her chin. He turned around and saw Vic and Amelia. That disappointment returned like a wave but he ignored it, heading over to give both women hugs. Vic teasingly pinched his cheeks and he growled in response.

After eye rolls and collecting baggage, Jolie came through and jumped onto his back, catching him by surprise.

"Hi guys I'm Jolie." She announced from her position and Owen just shook his head. Vanessa pushed the trolley loaded with bags and Owen piggybacked Jolie.

He caught sight of her leaning against her car. He could see Mica through the window. The moment she saw him she looked on edge. She opened the door and before he could call out, she'd driven away.

Vic and Amelia looked after her in horror.

"There goes our ride." Amelia huffed.

#

Twelve Months Earlier

Owen, Sarah, Ana and Vic all medalled in their divisions. Ana and Vic with silvers in the target event, Sarah and Owen with golds.

Sarah jumped into Owen's arms as soon as she came off the podium and he swung her around before kissing the top of her head. They were at the top of their game.

Amelia took the four of them out for ice cream that night and Owen followed Sarah around the back of the restaurant.

"I'll fly home now if she's being too fussy." He heard Sarah say and immediately had to bite back laughter.

"Oh my God woman get a grip. It's a week, she's surviving quite nicely with her godmother, I only left her under the sink twice."

"What?" He heard Sarah exclaim in horror, missing Nola's sarcasm. Owen reached Sarah and leant his head on her shoulder.

"Hi Nola." He waved and Nola began to smirk at them.

"I called this so long ago, so I'm going to say again, you guys are married." Sarah rolled her eyes while Owen just grinned. He lifted Sarah's ice cream and smashed it against her nose.

She shuddered then turned to glare at him while Nola cracked up all the way back in Albuquerque.

"I hate you both." Sarah stated, wiping the ice cream from her nose onto Owen's face, before taking the cup from his hand and sulkily beginning to eat it.

Nola just shook her head at the pair of them.

"Can I please see my daughter?" Sarah pleaded at Nola through her phone. Nola seemed to contemplate it for a long time before shaking her head, then smirking, then obviously getting up to go show Mica to Sarah.

Nola was glad she wasn't Mica's mother and that wasn't a bad thing. At this time in her life she was just glad that she was such a fantastic auntie, at sixteen she intended to be nothing else for a good long while.

Nola loved Mica, a lot. She'd loved Bubs since Sarah had first let her hold her four months ago. She had never been a fan of babies. The poo. The vomit. The various other weird sounds and noises. The crying. The crying. The crying.