"What's with all the airplanes?" I ask looking around Nayel's childhood room.
"I wanted to be a pilot as a kid" I hear Nayel behind me.
"What changed your mind?" I ask touching some of the posters on the wall, thinking about a young Nayel putting them on.
"Well" Nayel wraps his arms on my waist, hugging me from behind, he rests his chin on my shoulder, "For a while it was the perfect job, not too much social interaction, getting to travel, in a way being your own boss but then the pressure of having to make sure hundreds of people are safe within every flight was draining. Couldn't do it" Nayel says.
"When did you decide you wanted to be a lawyer?" I ask.
"Probably sophomore year of college. I thought after college I was going to get a loan and buy the house next to my parent's and maybe start my own construction company"
I chuckle turning around to face him, wrapping my arms around his neck, "You wanted to be a construction worker?" I ask in disbelief turning around to face him.
"Yeah, I love building things and I'm damn good at it as well. You don't need to be too friendly or nice to people and just do your own thing. I was set on it" Nayel shrugs.
"What changed?" I ask genuinely curious.
"So I had this one class in sophomore year, it was a business law course. I just took it because I was one course short and this seemed boring but all the other ones were booked so I had no other choice. Anyways, somewhere mid-semester I was in class when we were discussing the importance of lawyers especially for the underprivileged because we are their voices. They need us to fight for them. That got me thinking that I want to do good with my life, I want to help people. I remember when I told my family and friends I'm going to apply to law school after undergrad they were all flabbergasted. They couldn't see me as a lawyer, someone who is shy and keeps to himself. My parents have been supportive my whole life but this was one thing they tried to get me to not do. They were worried I would regret and drowning in student loans for an impulsive decision. However, I didn't back down" Nayel smiles to himself, "Even before graduating I picked up a few law courses, learned more about the law and I had the interest to go to court and sit in cases just watching lawyers do what they do. That's when I met Ryan Surva, he's only of the top humanitarian lawyers in the country. He used to see me sitting in most of his cases, I would travel hours to Toronto or Cinicitti to see his work and he just became my mentor. I started working for him my senior year of college and an unpaid internship led to a paid part-time job. He told me I should broaden my horizon and aim for the sky so I did. I applied to Harvard Law, got in and then you know soon Jefferson Legal came into place" Nayel shrugs casually as if he isn't the founder of one of the biggest law firms in the country.
"You're pretty awesome you know that?" I smiled wrapping my arms around his neck.
Nayel grins leaning in to press our lips together. I was about to deepen the kiss when my phone buzzed in my back pocket, I pull away to see a text from Olivia telling me she was outside.
"I offered to help Olivia with some wedding prep so she's outside," I say moving away from Nayel.
"You're going to leave me all high and dry?" Nayel pouts making me roll my eyes.
"High and Dry? We barely kissed." I laugh.
"That's all it takes for me" Nayel shrugs.
"Why don't you entertain yourself like you probably spent all those years doing in this room?" I tease him pulling my hair back in a pony.
"I'll have you know, I had several women in here to keep me entertained" Nayel scoffs.
"Sure, probably on your computer" I quirk an eyebrow picking up my bag, "I'll see you soon. I love you" I blow Nayel a kiss.
He stupidly catches the kiss and brings it to his heart making me smile, "I love you" Nayel grins.
....
I quickly hug Olivia goodbye and head inside Nayel's parent's house. Nayel was in the living room watching something with Ben while Lily was napping. I wave at the boys as I head upstairs to Nayel's bedroom.
My feet were killing me. I didn't bring many shoes to the trip because we aren't here for too long but damn I wish I would've picked some comfortable ones. I slip them off and flop on the bed letting out a huge sigh. Why is it so hard to find shoes that look good and are comfortable?
I start scrolling through my phone when I get an incoming call from my dad, instantly putting a smile on my face.
"Hi, dad" I smile bringing the phone to my ear.
"Hey hon, I know you're probably busy with Nayel's family and the wedding stuff but I just wanted to check-in and see how you're doing." My dad's voice rings in my ear.
"I'm good, I'm having a great time. How are you? Are you taking your medication? Are you overworking yourself?" I ask growing worried.
My dad lets out a laugh, "Maria, I'm fine. Yes, I've been taking my medication and you know I only work from 10-4 now. I'm fine. Just missing you and Jay that's all" I could hear the loneliness in his voice making me feel guilty.
"I miss you too dad, maybe I could come home next weekend. Take a few days off work." I say.
"I would love that but you're probably already taking time off for the wedding maybe wait a bit," Dad says.
"I can always make time for you dad, no job is more important," I say.
"Always so melodramatic," Dad says making me smile, "How's Nayel's family? Any troubles?" Dad inquires.
"Oh, they're amazing. The nicest people. His family is quite large so it's comforting and adorable. Almost as if I'm a guest star on modern family or something." I joke.
"That sounds nice," Dad says softly and then he goes silent.
"Dad?" I ask growing worried.
"I'm sorry you and Jay never got that. All you got was me and I wasn't the greatest father most of the time" I could hear the sadness in his voice.
"Dad no, you were all we needed. You did so much for us. Please don't feel guilty about anything." I say honestly, "We turned out pretty alright, didn't we? And it's all on you!" I try to cheer him up.
"I love you kiddo," Dad says.
"Love you too dad" I smile, "I'm really going to try to make it back home next weekend," I say.
"Looking forward to it and if you can bring Nayel with you too. I need to meet this bloke who made my daughter's life a living hell and now treats her like a queen" Dad says.
I chuckle, "Will do" I smile to myself. We say our goodbyes hanging up and I set my phone aside.
Maybe it's because of what my dad said but I start to think about my childhood. I remember us being a happy normal family. Dad and Mom watching tv while Jay and I chase each other around the house like maniacs. I smile appears on my lips thinking of how normal our lives were and then suddenly mom moving out and us essentially never seeing each other again.
I hate dwelling on the past, I've moved on from being the girl who didn't have a mother and had a drunk dad. I'm so over it and I'm so proud of what I've accomplished but when I think of how much normacly Jay and I were deprived of us children, how our own mother just chose her other children over us. Before I could stop myself a single tear was sliding down my cheek.
As I was lost in my pity party, the bedroom door opened and walked in a smiling Nayel.
"Hey pretty girl" Nayel grins closing the door behind him.
"Hi" I smile weakily.
A look of worry appears on Nayel's face as he rushes to me, sitting in front of me, "What's wrong?" Nayel asks squeezing my hand.
"Nothing" I shake my head forcing a smile, "I'm fine, how was your day?" I ask.
"Ria, why are you crying? Did something happen with Olivia?" Nayel asks growing concerned.
I shake my head, "No, I just got off the phone with my dad"
"Shit, is he okay? What happened?"
I chuckle, the tears falling down my face, "He's fine no it's so stupid" I sob bring my hands to my face.
Nayel sits next to me wrapping his arms around my shoulders pulling me to him, "Baby, what's going on?" Nayel whispers caressing my hair.
I sigh, "I'm not that girl anymore" I say turning to Nayel, "I'm not that little girl who's mom walked out on her. I don't care about her. I had a good life, I turned out fine. I don't let my mind drift to the past but sometimes it just gets so unbelievably hard to forget" I sob as Nayel caresses my back letting me continue, "Looking at your family, your dad and Katerine got divorced but look at them. They co-parented and raised all three of you with Lily. Not to mention Lily and Katerine are so close. Your family is all one big unit because they stuck around, they fought through the hard times for the sake of their family. That's what family does. They don't walk out on one family and start another because it's more convenient" I cry harder as Nayel holds, "I'm sorry, I'm just being so bitter. I'm just jealous" I rest my head on Nayel's chest wiping my tears.
"Jealous of what?" Nayel asks softly.
"That you have 2 moms and I didn't even get one who wanted me" I sob into his shirt not being able to control myself. I don't remember the last time I cried so much or cried about my mom to think of it. Probably years since I even thought about her and what she did to us.
Nayel simply holds me letting me cry onto him. He doesn't say anything to me, he doesn't say bullshit things like it happened for the best or that his family isn't perfect either. He just let me bawl in his arms. Which is exactly what I needed.
We laid down on the bed in the same position as I cried and cried in Nayel's arms until no tears were left anymore. After what felt like hours, I felt myself growing slightly numb as I move away from Nayel, "I think I'm gonna take a shower" I say.
"Okay" Nayel smiles grabbing my face and kissing my tear strained cheeks.
"My dad also mentioned that he would really like to meet you, I know you're not fond of meeting new people but I would really-"
Nayel cuts me off, "I would love to meet him Ria, the sooner the better" Nayel smiles.
I quickly wrap my arms around Nayel's neck hugging him tightly, "Thank you for being my family" I whisper in his ear as another tear runs down my cheek.