| Subject: Full Circle C4/6 |
Author:
fananicfan
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 10:21:17 08/18/07 Sat
In reply to:
fananicfan
's message, "Full Circle...Next in the series" on 17:55:08 08/16/07 Thu
Chapter Four – It's my Birthday
SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2006
VIRGINIA
On the drive over to the Potter home, I'm surprised by how rested I feel for as busy as my week has been. The envelope that the general had left with me on Monday afternoon contained two sets of documents, both very interesting. It took at least ten minutes before the words that I'd read started to sink in and for me to truly gather the meaning and recognize the impact that it will have on our lives. After the ‘true meaning’ had registered in my mind, I had a ton of things to do to prepare. Preparing for the upcoming few weeks made the time fly by and, before I knew it, I was on a plane.
I’d flown in yesterday and was surprised when my mother and Frank had picked me up at Dulles instead of Harriet. They’d flown in earlier in the day and had rented a mini van for their trip to Blacksburg. During the ride with them to the storage facility to pick up my car, they filled me in on the birthday party for Tyler.
It would seem that my parents have hired a party planning place to throw a birthday party for Tyler. With Frank supplying funds and with my mother’s highbrow tastes, I was glad to hear that Mac had recruited Harriet to make sure that the party was something that a child Tyler’s age would like. As they tell me what they have planned, I start to wonder if this party isn’t too much.
By the time we’d gotten to Blacksburg last night, it was too late to see Tyler and, from the sound of things, he and I were both going to need our rest for his party.
It's almost twenty minutes to eight when I knock on the front door of the Potter home. I'm excited to see Tyler, and the day will get even better because it won't be long now before I'll see Mac and Mattie as well.
After dinner last night, Frank asked me if I wanted to use the mini van to pick up Mac and Mattie at the airport. I told him that I'd thought that Mac was going to rent a car and drive to the hotel, so I'd made arrangements to pick up Tyler early. I'd planned to take him to breakfast and then bring him back to the hotel to meet them while we were waiting for Mac and Mattie to arrive. Frank explained that he'd volunteered to pick up Mac and Mattie because there was no reason to have two rental cars for one night. Frank then suggested that I go pick up Tyler and take him to breakfast as planned and then the two of us could go to the airport to pick up Mac and Mattie. After I'd collected everyone, I could bring them back to the hotel where Tyler could meet Trish and him, and everyone could relax for a little while before the party.
Mrs. Potter went back to tell Tyler that I've arrived and has returned to the living room. I'm not surprised when she whispers that she and two of the younger children who live here will be at the surprise party this afternoon. We both hear Tyler running down the hall, and she cautions him, "Tyler, don't run."
My knee is feeling much better, and I've abandonned the wrap. I even thought about running the other morning, but Tyler impacting my right leg lets me know that it's a good thing that I didn't. I still need a little more healing time. I suffer a twinge of pain from the ten day old injury, but I'm able to stay upright as my right leg takes a direct hit from Tyler when he rushes over to me. He's standing on his tip toes to reach my waist and he has his arms wrapped so tightly around me that I'm a little scared to move, but I manage to carefully pry him off of me and lift him up to my level. Tyler wraps his arms around my neck in a hug, and the backpack that he's carrying by one strap thumps me in the back. I hope that I'm not going to be bruised from head to toe by Sunday when we have to bring Tyler back.
Tyler's more than ready to go, and it doesn't take long for us to get in the car and be off to breakfast. I use the GPS in Frank's rental to find a place for breakfast between Blacksburg and the airport in Roanoke. I don't want to make the trip seem too long for Tyler.
Before we stopped for breakfast, Tyler talked about being glad to see me, thanked me for the postcards I'd sent, and told me all about school. He ate a good breakfast, and the conversation on the way to the airport has been about Mac and Mattie visiting him last month and how he wants to see them again, too. I know that we've been together for only an hour or so, but things seem to be going well.
When we get into the terminal, we search for the monitor that lists flight arrivals. I show Tyler the line on the monitor that indicates that their plane is on time and should be landing in a few minutes, but I think I'm more excited than he is.
I take Tyler's hand and we begin to walk to find the area in this airport where they have incoming passengers come out from the secured area. I think back to a time as a boy when I went with my mother to pick up grandma.
Tyler will never know what it was like before 9/11 when you could stand at the gate and watch the plane roll into place, your excitement building, knowing that it would be only a few more minutes before they were here. Now you wait for passengers to come out of a hall into the main part of the terminal to a mass of people waiting on planes from all over, and it can be hard to find who you're looking for when the deplaning people come out in bunches. This is one of the simple things that we don't think about everyday, but should anger us in our fight against terrorism. It's a necessary thing and a small thing to give up, but in giving it up, haven't we lost a part of our freedom? Tyler's voice stops my thoughts.
"Harm, how much longer until the plane gets here?"
I look at my watch. "The plane should be landing any minute, but it'll take a few minutes for Mac and Mattie to get out here to us."
Tyler and I wait until ten minutes past the scheduled arrival time to check the monitor again. The status of their flight is listed as 'Landed.'
The plane has been on the ground for about twenty minutes, and Tyler and I are seaching through a mass of people coming through the doors from the gates. How he manages to see them from his lower vantage point before I do is beyond me, but he's sure that he sees them and bolts from me to them. I'm behind him at a jog, something that my knee is revolting against.
"Mac, Mattie, we're here! Mac! Mattie!"
I'm not that far behind Tyler, but Mac is sidetracked by Tyler and she scoops him up and hugs him tightly. Before I can say a word, I'm close enough, and Mattie hugs me. Tyler pulls back and looks at Mac. "Are you surprised? Harm brought me."
It's then that Mac really notices me. She puts down Tyler, and he and Mattie greet each other with a hug. Mac and I have each taken a step towards each other, and her arms go up around my neck and her lips briefly touch mine before she leans into me and sighs. My arms wrap around her and I hold her close to me for a few minutes. Mac and I are merely in an embrace, but we've apparently been holding it longer than a seven year old thinks is necessary.
"Harm, you said that I was going to meet my grandparents today after Mac and Mattie got here. Can we go now?"
Mac and I move out of our embrace, but I take her hand. "Do you ladies have any luggage at baggage claim?"
Mattie shakes her head no, but Mac responds, "No, for one night, we managed to get everything for both of us into Mattie's backpack, and she carried it on."
"Then, Tyler, we're ready to go."
Mac and I walk out holding hands, and Mac has her head resting on my shoulder part of the way. Tyler is holding Mattie's hand, and they're walking a few feet in front of us as we leave the terminal.
We get to the hotel and put their things into our rooms. Mattie and Tyler each have their own bed, but they're in a room connected to ours. Mattie is eager to explore the pool. Volleyball used to be her sport, but now it's swimming. She's talking about joining the school swim team next year. She challenges me to a few laps, but Mac cautions that there may not be time before we have to leave for lunch, so Mattie and I agree to a 'swim off' this evening. It's from this conversation that we find out that Tyler doesn't know how to swim and has never been in a pool. He has no swimsuit, so now there's a reason to go shopping before lunch.
During a call to my parents room to let them know that we're here, we decide to meet downstairs so they can finally meet Tyler.
I don't know about my mother, but Frank is settling into his grandpa role. Tyler is sitting on Frank's knee after only a few minutes, and they're talking up a storm. With Tyler in good hands, Mac calls Harriet to check on 'lunch.'
It isn't too long before we're loading into the mini van to go to the mall before we go to lunch. Everyone in the car except Tyler is aware that 'lunch' is really his birthday party.
We're apparently at the mall for more reasons than I'm aware because Mac has us go through three different stores' linen departments. She's been hoping to set up Tyler's bedroom, but wasn't sure what he'd like, so she's getting an idea of what he'd like while we're out. I think it's between Cars, the movie, and Pirates of the Caribbean for a room theme, but they lost my full attention during the second store, so I'm not sure. My concentration is hindered by the dull ache in my knee. I think it would be okay if I could sit down for a while, but with a birthday party at the park next on the list, I don't see much sitting down in my future. We spend just over an hour at the mall before it's time for lunch.
Tyler's eyes light up when we get out of the mini van at the park. Tyler is between Mac and me and holding onto our hands as he did at the mall. We take a few steps and see that they've put 'Happy Birthday' ribbons around a few trees. One of those air chambers that the kids get in to jump and bounce around in is between two trees. The air smells like someone's grilling, and it isn't too long before we see the grill. Tyler's been eyeing the area since we arrived, but it's taken him a handful of steps before he says anything. "Today's my birthday, too! Did you know that?"
Mac and I stop and look down at Tyler. "Yes, we did," we say in unison.
"Do you think that you'd like a party like that for your birthday?" Mac asks.
"I've never had a birthday party, so it wouldn't have to be that fancy, but I'd like to have a party some day."
Mac bends down and gives Tyler a big hug. "Well, if you've never had one before, I think your first party ought to be fancy enough to make up for the other birthday parties that you didn't have."
"I think we should read the sign," I suggest. Mac and Tyler turn to see a sign that two event planner employees have just put in front of two picnic tables.
The sign reads, 'Happy 7th birthday, Tyler.’ Still not making the connection, Tyler says, "That birthday party is for a boy with the same name as me."
I shake my head. "The party isn’t for someone else named Tyler. It’s your birthday party."
He looks up at me, and his eyes are as big around as saucers. "Really?"
This time, the entire group, Mattie, my parents, Mac and I say in unison, "Really!"
The Roberts' family arrival makes the noise level go up, and the gathering seems more like a party. Miss Nancy and two of the children show up, too. Tyler is proudly inviting children from nearby tables to come over to 'jump' with him. Everyone seems to be having such a good time. Tyler and AJ Roberts are inseparable until lunch is served. AJ sits with his parents to eat, and Tyler sits between Mac and me. After lunch, it's time for cake and, with a little help from Mattie standing beside him, Tyler blows out the seven candles on top of his cake. Ms. LeMoine has been invited, and she drops by to check on Tyler in time for cake. Once the cake is served and presents are unwrapped, the party begins to wind down and guests begin to leave.
Once we're back at the hotel, it's time to change and head to the pool. Mac says that she isn't in the mood to swim and doesn't change, but goes to the pool with us to keep an eye on Tyler and call the race between Mattie and me.
Mattie gets me to give her a half a lap head start. Her reason is, ‘When you dive into the pool, you're almost half a lap in.’ It turns out that Mattie's a very strong swimmer and beats me by half a lap, the lead I gave her. I think I’ve been conned. I'd blame my defeat on my knee, except that I didn't tell anyone about my running incident, so it might be seen as a story used to save face in the wake of my loss.
To shore my wounded ego, I ask, “Wasn’t it the best two out of three? I’m an old man. If you get half a lap head start for being short, I should get one lap as a warm up before the real race.” Mac is smirking and Mattie's laughing.
“Harm, I’ll give you a rematch in the morning when you’re fresh, if you can get your old bones up in time to squeeze in a swim before we have to go to the airport,” Mattie states.
“You’re on.”
Tyler asks, “Will I get to watch Mattie beat Harm again or will I be at Miss Nancy’s house by then?”
“You think she’s going to beat me again?” Tyler nods. Why do I think that I’ve just lost part of my credibility as a ‘can do anything dad’ with him? Before I can decide if I should push to see how much ground I’ve lost, Mattie asks Tyler if he wants to get in the pool.
Mac stands and takes Tyler’s hand, walking him closer to the pool’s edge. Tyler doesn’t seem to be afraid of the water, but Mac has him sit on the edge and put his feet in the pool. “The water's cold,” he says.
Mattie has swum over to the edge where he is. “That’s why, when you learn how to swim, you just jump in. If you get wet all at once, you don’t notice how cold the water is.”
I'd beg to differ aloud, but then I’d have to explain that most of my body feels the way she describes, but one part of me always knows when I hit cold water.
Tyler doesn’t get to have a swim lesson before it's dinner time, but he manages to get down to the second step, which, for his height, has water to his waist. He wants to try to get in ‘all the way’ in the morning.
We have dinner at the hotel restaurant with my parents. Tyler wants to sit between Mac and me at first, but then he wants to sit next to grandpa and Mattie, so the hardest thing about dinner is sitting down. Tyler finally settles on sitting between grandpa and Mac.
After dinner, it’s up to the rooms for bath time. After Tyler has a bath, he’s in our room on the bed with us, watching the ‘Finding Nemo’ movie that Mac bought for him today at the mall for his birthday. She actually bought two copies, one for him to take back to the foster home that he can leave there and one for her to take back to California for him, thinking postively that he's going to be allowed to live with her.
The movie is about half over when Tyler starts dozing off, but he wakes himself up, fighting sleep every step of the way. By the end of the movie, Tyler's lost his fight with the sandman and is fast asleep.
I think Mac's wiping tears away at the ending of the movie, but I’m not absolutely sure. I check to make sure that Mattie doesn’t have the TV turned up too loudly before I scoop Tyler up and move him from our bed to his in the other room.
Mac walks in front of me and turns down the covers and then pulls them up over the sleeping boy once I lie him down on the bed. Mac kisses his forehead and whispers goodnight to him before we leave the room.
Mac comes into the room after me because she's stopped at Mattie’s backpack and is getting something out. I know that the night isn’t going to go how I'd hoped when I see that she has a pair of pajamas in her hand and leaves the connecting door open and, as she moves towards the bed, she says, “I want to hear him if he has a bad dream or needs something. I’m going to get ready for bed.”
She’s in the bathroom in a matter of moments and, a few minutes later, she emerges in her pajamas. I’m thankful that they're the silky red ones, but we haven’t seen each other in two months, and she’s wearing pajamas!
I’m still dressed and sitting on top of the covers, and she says, “I’m sorry. I should have asked if you wanted to change first. With the door open, you certainly couldn’t change out here. You did bring something to sleep in, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I have something to sleep in.” We haven’t had time to even have a ‘real’ kiss all day, and she’s climbing into bed like there's no spark left in our marriage. She and I obviously had two different ideas about how this evening was going to go. I think I might need another dunk in the pool or a cold shower before sleeping tonight.
I get up, rummage through the bag that I brought and, after a few moments, come up with a pair of sweat pants. I’m slightly agitated, and decide that they’re close enough and disappear into the bathroom.
I’ve been able to clear some irrational thoughts from my mind in the bathroom like 'she’s tired of me already,' and think with a little more compassion. This situation has to be very hard for Mac. She has a little boy whom she loves and doesn’t know if or when she’ll get to see him again, but, at the same time, she has her husband of six months that, though she doesn’t know when she’ll see him again, she knows that she will.
I leave the bathroom, feeling a little bit like a jerk, but hoping that she didn’t notice. I think she’s asleep when I get close to the bed, but when I lay down, she speaks. “I thought you were trying to get out of kissing me goodnight.”
“I never want out of that,” I say as our lips find their way to each other for the kiss that I’ve waited for all day. The kiss is soft at first and then more firm, mouths closed at first, but, as the kiss intensifies, mouths open and tongues come together to explore. When she pulls back, I’m not sure that it would count as one kiss or more than one kiss, but it's more like what I had in mind to do in bed tonight. As my mind races for a way to continue down this path, her voice penetrates the silence, and the words I hear crush my growing excitement.
“I know that it’s a lot to ask, but will you just hold me tonight?”
“If that’s what you need, of course, I will.” I get comfortable, and she moves close to snuggle at my side the way she’s done before.
I’ve missed her so much and I can’t say that I’m not disappointed that we didn’t make love tonight, but if this is what she needs, then I’m going to do as she asks because...I love her.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 