Chapter 31 - Life

The plane touched down an hour later than expected. There had been a delay due to a traffic incident that had held up the pilot. But right now, Cam cared not as she watched the small aircraft taxi down the runway and finally come to a halt.

She turned in her seat and looked at her wife. “Are you ready to see our babies?”

Michelle looked a little scared. “I am, but I am nervous. Your mother isn’t mad at me, is she?”

“God, no. No, absolutely not, babe.” Cam took her hands into her own, raising them to her lips and kissing them gently. “She is just worried about you, and she wants us to be a family, and to be happy, as do I.”

“I want that too,” Michelle assured her. “I do, I just…I can feel my head clearing, but there are still moments where the blackness seems to take over again.”

“I know, it’s going to take some time for the pills to kick in properly, but...” Cam looked back towards the plane and noticed the steps were in place. “We’re in this together sweetheart, alright?”

Michelle nodded. “Yes. Together.”

“Right, come on, they’re coming.” Cam grinned as the door pushed open and the steward stepped out. Michelle breathed deeply, and by the time she had exhaled, Cam was at her side opening the door for her. They held hands as they walked towards the plane. There was no rush. Even though Cam wanted to run towards it, she wouldn’t put that pressure on her wife. Slow, steady steps took them closer, and they watched as her mother appeared, carrying a diaper bag over each shoulder. She descended the steps carefully, waving as she noticed her daughter and daughter-in-law coming towards them. Both women waved back.

“Where are the kids?” Michelle said to Cam.

“I don’t…” She didn’t finish the sentence because the question was answered when Gavin stepped out carrying a baby car seat in each hand, and behind him, Kate followed.

“You said it was only your mother coming,” Michelle hissed out of the side of her mouth while maintaining a smile for their guests.

“I thought it was,” Cam answered, scratching her head but smiling along too.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this, Cam,” she said, her grip tightening. “What will they all think of me?”

Cam stopped walking, turned Michelle to her, and took her face in her palms. “They won’t think anything of you other than what they always have. They love you; they want you well. If they’re here, then it’s because they want to show you that you have support. I promise, and if not, then I’ll send them straight back,” she promised.

“Michelle.” Pippa dropped the bags to the tarmac and pulled her second daughter into her arms. “I’m so glad to see you, how are you?”

“I…I feel better. Thank you,” Michelle replied, still held tightly in her grip. Her eyes locked with Kate’s over her mother-in-law’s shoulder and a feeling of relief washed over her as she realised just how much love there was for her at this moment.

“Hey guys, hope you don’t mind us tagging along,” Gavin said as he stepped up, lifting the two babies up. “They said they didn’t miss you, but I think they’re just attention-seeking.” He grinned as Cam came up and poked her head into both carriers. For once, Darcy was asleep; it was Noah whose eyes were wide.

“Hey there little man,” she said. “Was it your idea that the plane got hijacked by two uninvited passengers?”

“Aw shit, we didn’t think you’d mind. You want us to get going?” Gavin said, suddenly aware of the fact that maybe they really should have asked, but Pippa had been so certain that it wouldn’t be a problem, and it made sense to have extra hands for the journey.

“No, of course not.” Cam grinned. ”You’re so easy to wind up…give me one of them.” She laughed watching as Kate reached them and Michelle hung back a little. Gavin handed Noah over, and turned, smiling as Kate joined them.

“Hi Kate, good flight?” Cam asked.

“Yes, not bad. We got delayed, but hardly a chore being stuck onboard one of those.” She laughed, thumbing back at the plane. “Michelle, how are you?”

“I’m doing better, thank you.”

Michelle stepped an inch forward and reached out tentatively to take Noah from Gavin. He wriggled a little and Cam held her breath, but Michelle didn’t back away. Instead, she lifted him from his carrier, kissed his nose, and began to weep. “I’m so sorry. Mommy is never leaving you again, I promise.”

Cam’s mother reached her arm around Michelle and they clung together, a little threesome, while Gavin and Kate headed over to where the car was parked and where their baggage was being left as it was brought down from the plane.

“I guess I’d better call up a cab,” Cam muttered to herself, suddenly aware that they were never going to fit everyone into her car now. “Just how much stuff did you bring?” she said, turning to her mother.

“Camryn, I only brought what was needed. And I didn’t know how long we were staying, so I had to bring more, just in case. And then Gavin and Kate suggested tagging along, but I am not responsible for their bags,” her mum argued, pushing a bag into the car.

“Hey Cam, don’t worry. I already called an Uber. We got this,” Gavin said, pulling his and Kate’s bags to the side.

Michelle squeezed into the space between the infant seats while they sorted it all out. She hadn’t felt nervous like this since her first audition, and even then, she hadn’t been that bothered. This was something new. She glanced from one to the other. Noah was now asleep, Darcy too. She breathed deeply; she could do this.

The radio played gently in the background once Cam and her mum got in and turned the engine on. Cam kept one eye on the rear-view mirror, and more importantly, on her wife and the children.

Glancing back now and then, she could see Michelle clearly. She looked pensive and constantly moved her attention from one and then to the other baby. Noah, as usual in the car, was asleep. He liked driving; something about the motion lulled him into a calmer state, not that he wasn’t relaxed already. But Darcy, she was wide awake now, and Cam pleaded with the universe that she wouldn’t start yelling. Not just yet.

“You okay, babe?” Cam called back, her eyes locking with Michelle in the mirror as her wife nodded.

“Yeah, just…Darcy is…she’s staring at me.” Her eyes flicked away from Cam and back to Darcy before returning once more to Cam.

“I guess she missed you then,” Cam tried, keeping it as light-hearted as she could.

She smiled when she heard Michelle say, “I hope so.”