“Can you please tell him that I will be taking the days without pay?”
“Ashley, that won’t be necessary. You’re entitled to sick days.”
“I’m not sick,” I reply. “I’m just unable to help it that’s all, but I want him to know that I am not sick.”
“Okay,” she answers. I know what she’s thinking: This chick is wacko.
“Just… tell him that I will definitely be in on Monday.”
“Okay. Good luck. I hope everything works out well.”
“Thank you.”
I let out a sigh of relief. I did it.
We’ve parked the car at the airport and are walking across the parking lot towards the terminal. Jenna and Owen are in front of me holding hands and I’m dragging the suitcase on wheels. “Look at that big plane, Owie,” I call from behind.
A plane takes off over us and we all stand still as we watch it zoom past.
“Awesome!” he yells, and we all laugh.
My phone rings. It’s Mom. “Hey.” I smile as I struggle with the heavy suitcase.
“Hello, love. We have a problem.”
I freeze. “We do?”
“My bloods came back, and remember how I stopped taking the blood thinners for the thrombosis I had last year?”
“Yes.” I frown.
“The doctor said I am unable to fly for a month.”
“What?” Shit.
“He said I can’t fly until I take another course and it will take a month until my blood is safe enough for me to travel.”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. Fuck’s sake.
“But that’s okay. Why don’t you fly Owen here and he can stay with me for a week or two, and then you can fly back and get him?”
“Oh no. That’s okay. I’ve never been away from him before. I couldn’t do that.”
“Ashley, he will be fine.”
“No, Mom. It’s too long. We’ve never been apart for more than one night. Never mind, I will try and think of something else.”
Jenna has overheard our conversation and is standing watching me with a frown on her face. “What?” she mouths.
I shake my head. This is just my luck.
“Can I speak to Owen for a moment, please?” Mom asks.
“Sure.” I hand the phone to Owen. “Say hello to Grandma.”
He jumps excitedly on the spot and takes the phone from me. “Hello, Grandma.”
“What’s going on?” Jenna frowns.
“Mom can’t fly for a month because of her thrombosis.”
“Shit.”
“I know, bloody hell. She offered for me to fly him there, but that’s impossible.”
Jenna frowns. “Why?”
“I can’t be without him for that long.”
“He’ll be fine.”
“I won’t.”
“Like you have another choice. Do it.”
I shake my head. “Nope, not happening. I would rather lose my job than be without him. I can work it out.”
“It’s his grandmother. He will be safe.”
“I can’t do it.”
Owen holds the phone down. “I want to go to Grandma’s for a vacation.” He beams.
I look at him, deadpan. “We will go later. Give me the phone.”
He gets back on the phone. “I’m coming, Grandma. Mom said it’s okay,” he tells her excitedly, his eyes flickering to mine. “Yes, tomorrow.” He smiles cheekily and nods. “Yes, I will bring my swimming things.”
I roll my eyes and Jenna smiles. I snatch the phone from him. “Hi, Mom.”
“So I will see you tomorrow?” she asks hopefully.
“Mom, I love you, but no. Thanks for the offer, though.”
“Ashley.” She sighs.
“Bye.” I hang up.
Jenna puts her hands on her hips in disgust. “Ashley!”
“What?” I snap as I start to pull the heavy suitcase across the parking lot again.
“You don’t have a choice, Ash, and it will do the two of them good to spend some quality time together.”
I shake my head. “I can’t be away from him for two weeks, Jen. I would die not seeing him for that long.”
She smiles sadly and takes the suitcase from me. “Fine. We will work something else out then.”
Tears fill my eyes as I hold my little boy in my arms at the airport. It’s Friday morning and I am about to fly home to LA without him for the first time. After agonizing over it for a whole eight hours, I had to concede that I had no other choice but to fly Owen to my mom’s. Yesterday we made the trek here, and today I fly home without him. This is my worst nightmare.
“You be a good boy for mommy,” I whisper.
He smiles excitedly and I turn to Mom. “Please ring me the instant he needs anything.”