Rory walked with a little skip in her step wiping the remnant tears in the corners of her eyes. There was a long line of people waiting, and some were asking about the flight she is traveling and she started to worry if she would be able to get the tickets.
The queue moved at the pace of a snail making Rory's patience dwindle and her anxiousness rise. On top of that, one of the travelers picked up a fight with the employee causing a commotion.
Rory let out a deep breath. The fight got intensified and the security guards in the area interfered and a lot happened. Her head started to throb in pain.
But she endured everything solely thinking of the beautiful scene she saw some time ago.
For Ellie… And for Fizzy…
She told in her heart to gather patience.
The line started to move and Rory let out a sigh of relief. As there was just one person left before she could reach the counter, she received a call. It was from Liam, and her heart skipped a beat as she answered the call.
"Fizzy?"
"Come back, Cherry," his voice sounded distressed.
"Liam?" her voice shook. "Liam, what is it?"
In just a fraction of a second, she imagined a thousand negative circumstances. The happiness vanished and fear filled her heart.
"Come back, immediately," he said and with a small beep, the call ended.
Rory's hands started to tremble. She turned and ran back. She wondered if Ellie is crying or worse—if she is hurt.
When she reached the waiting area, the seat she was sitting at looked like a war happened there. Her diaper bag was wide open and messy inside, the cooler bag was out on the floor, She couldn't see her luggage anywhere around, and the worst of all, Ellie was playing with his sunglasses and the temple tip almost poked her eyes as she tried to put it in her mouth.
Ellie is at the phase of putting anything and everything in her mouth. Her coordination is not great yet and she needs constant monitoring when she is awake.
She looked at the adult she left in charge of looking after the baby.
Liam was talking to someone on the phone oblivious to what was happening around him. Her head throbbed with pain.
Lord grant me patience!
She ran to her baby.
Liam was yet to finish his phone call and Rory got the sunglasses from Ellie's hand just before she hurt her eyes. She picked up the baby from Liam's lap and arranged her diaper bag.
Liam was still talking. It appeared to be a business call and Rory took in a deep breath.
It's not a problem, Rory… Think of the sweet moment Ellie shared with her father. That's right… It was cute, right? Take deep breaths… Deep breaths… He did not neglect Ellie; he is taking care of his business.
Although I take care of my business having an eye on Ellie all the time…
Rory gritted her teeth. But seeing the little puffiness in his eyes, she took another deep breath.
Yeah… It is fine… I am here… Ellie is not hurt and everything is fine…
Just when she finished repacking the diaper bag, Liam ended the call.
"I looked for diapers," he said and his eyebrows were raised and he looked like a student who didn't finish his homework when the teacher was checking.
Liam was stressed. He knew Rory does not like it if he doesn't replace the stuff he took immediately. She would start screaming.
"Oh?" Rory checked the baby thinking that she needed a diaper change and that's why he called her. But Ellie was wearing clean diapers. "You changed her?" she asked him.
"Yes, there is a changing station there…" he pointed. "I was going to put these stuff back but I got a phone call and-"
And just by his words, the anger Rory held in her heart went away. She knew he knows how to change diapers. When they used to babysit his little brother, almost always he would be the one doing diaper duties.
"Did you wipe well? You did not forget the anti-rash cream and-"
"Yes," Liam nodded. "She cooperated really well. Look at her face! Doesn't she look happy?" he slightly tapped Ellie's round cheek.
Rory pouted to stop him from seeing her smile. She was truly happy. She felt like she shared a normal relationship with him as a family.
"Don't give your sunglasses for her to play," Rory didn't forget to remind him. "She would poke her eyes. I keep her toys here," she showed him where she keeps the toys. "She loves this bird toy more..."
"Yes!" Liam answered standing to attention like a soldier waiting for his superior's orders.
She is right. It was wrong on his part. He was answering the call when Ellie got the sunglasses. He let her when he should have stopped her.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
He looked at her as if she was an alien. "You called?" she added. "And where is my carryon? I left it-"
"Ah, right!" he relaxed and got the diaper bag from her hand, and picked up the carrycot. "You didn't buy the ticket, did you?"
Rory was confused by his actions. "No. I was about to when you called…"
"Right," Liam let out a deep breath. He then looked at her. "Let's go," he grabbed her wrist and walked to the front.
"What? Where? Fizzy, stop!" Rory had no idea what he is doing and she struggled.
"To the VVIP gate. We are leaving in our private jet. It's ready to take off," he said and gestured for her to walk in the front.
"What?" Rory felt a pulsating pain in her forehead. Holding Ellie to her chest, she rubbed her forehead. Her throat suddenly felt dry and scratchy.
She didn't know if she is hearing wrong because of her headache or if she has turned crazy. Because certainly a for a jet to be ready to take off now, it would have taken some time to be prepared for the journey. And Liam certainly would have known about the jet being prepared for the journey.
And yet he sent her to buy him a ticket.
He even wanted me to buy a first-class ticket. What the hell was he thinking?
Her head started to hurt like someone was hammering the crown of her head and she glared at him.
"What?" he asked as if he is some innocent little baby who does not know what he did wrong.
Liam tried to keep a straight face, but he knew Rory is mad. And she is mad for the right reason. He should not have provoked her by asking her to buy him a first-class ticket. He should have asked for a coach ticket.
"Cherry…" he held her shoulders but she shirked his hands off. Her face went red and he knew she is enraged.
"I just…" Liam looked for reasons.
He did not want to tell her that he wanted to have some time with the baby. She will get angrier if he says that. He did ignore her throughout the pregnancy until now.
"It was a prank!" He raised his hands in a surrendering motion. "I was just pranking you… you know… like in the old days..?" he raised his brows.
But her expression was not changing to his dread. In fact, she got redder.