The Guy Named Harrison: Book Three

22

"We're going to be there on time, right mommy?"

Carrie slung her bag full of camera gear onto her shoulder before digging into her pockets to find the car keys. Feeling the lanyard in her pocket, she pulled it out and clicked the lock button.

"Yeah we will Riley. It's not a very long flight."

She stuffed her keys back into her pocket and took Riley's hand. "Stay close."

"Why did we have to park so far away?" Riley asked, not a moment after they started walking.

Carrie tugged Riley's arm a bit to tell her to stop as a car passed by in front of them. "Your daddy doesn't like the car getting scratched," she answered.

"Why do people scratch the car?"

"When you get older you're going to see a lot of people that just don't care. They'll pull out in front of you when you're driving or they'll get out of their car and hit their door off yours and leave a dent or a scratch. Your daddy and I try our best to avoid those people."

"Does it work mommy?"

Carrie looked down at her. "No."

"Oh."

"Daddy and I don't want you to be one of those people either, okay?"

"Don't worry, I'll be careful mommy."

After about a five minute walk, the girls made it to the entrance of the airport. "There's going to be a lot of people in here so I want you to stay close to me okay?"

Riley nodded. "It's okay, this place always has a lot of people."

Carrie smiled before grabbing the door and letting Riley in first. She took her daughters hand and let Riley lead her all the way to the terminal they would be flying out from.

As she was handing over their tickets for their flight, Riley poked her in the side. "Riley not now."

She slid her card over to the lady behind the desk as Riley poked her again. "Sweetheart not now."

Carrie got her card back and as she went to sign the receipt for their two plane tickets she heard Riley mutter, "but mommy, look."

This time, Carrie finally looked. And she wished she would've looked immediately when Riley called her name. Not ten feet behind them stood Alex.

Her heart began to beat out of her chest as she reached down for Riley's hand. It was obvious Riley could sense her discomfort by the way she looked up at her. Riley didn't know about Alex. She didn't know who he was, and what he'd done to her mom.

Carrie instantly noticed that his attention was more turned towards Riley than it was to her. It was a given that he'd recognized Riley as hers and Harrison's daughter. After all, Riley was becoming very popular at her daddy's interviews.

"Carrie."

Once again Carrie swore at herself that Harrison wasn't here. This would be the second time she'd run into Alex without Harrison around.

She grabbed Riley's hand and started to lead her away when Alex put a hand on her shoulder and tried to turn her around.

"Excuse me?" Riley asked him.

Alex drew his hand away and looked down at her. "I don't think you should touch my mommy like that," she explained to him. "My daddy doesn't get happy when people do that. You better watch out before my daddy comes and kicks your ass."

Carrie snorted as Riley began to laugh herself. "Let's go sweetie."

As Carrie led her away, Riley quickly spun around and stuck her tongue out at Alex. "Daddy will be proud of me."