explain all of that right now. “I’m just glad it’s all going to work out in the end.”
Everyone is getting a little tearful now, I feel like I might be getting a bit emotional myself. But I can’t cry right now, at least one of us needs to hold it together until we get the hell out of here...
Taking everyone out to dinner was the best idea. We all need this time, to celebrate and reconnect. I was sure that it would be a little awkward to go back to our house, I figured neutral territory would be preferable and looking around at everyone, I know that I was right.
It’s Travis who I’m watching the most. Travis who has clearly been through a difficult time, but who is so glad to be back with his mother, and who is also trying to adjust to the fact that he now has his grandparents he didn’t know about before.
The boy is surprisingly resilient. He’s really taking it well. He seems to enjoy having grandparents. But then again, since he probably thought he had lost his family forever, any additional family members are probably really exciting for him.
Every so often I just lean back and watch everyone with a grin on my face. After how bad everything has been, sharing this wonderful positive moment feels incredible. It makes everything feel right with the world.
“I can’t believe we are here.” Aisha has said that a few times now. It’s like she thinks she’s still dreaming, and she’s scared to wake up. She also keeps hugging Travis and I actually think even he might be starting to get a bit fed up of it. “I am never going to let anything like that happen again.”
“You won’t,” her mother agrees. “Because we are going to be around now. A lot more often. It’s only an hour and a half of traveling by car, so we can come and see you all the time.”
“And we will come and see you too,” I pipe up, getting involved when maybe I shouldn’t. “Whenever you want to, Aisha. It will be nice.”
She gives me a look, one filled with a whole range of emotions, I can almost feel her expressing all kinds of things that she doesn’t know how to say aloud yet. Even if we weren’t at dinner with the rest of her family, I wouldn’t push her to tell me anything until she’s ready. I figure now that we have all the time in the world. If we have been through all that together and survived, I honestly can’t imagine anything else tearing us apart. Especially if we’re honest with each other from here on out, and I’m sure that’s a lesson we have both learned along the way. Keeping secrets, even if we think it’s for the best of the other person, never works out.
“I am so happy,” Aisha declares with the biggest smile ever. “And I’m really glad that you have agreed to stay a little bit longer, Mom and Dad. I think we need the time.”
I don’t really have the room, perhaps I should have bought that mansion after all, but no one seems to mind cramping in when we get back. We all just want to be together...
“It is so quiet at last,” Aisha giggles once we are finally alone. “I can’t believe how loud everyone has been today.”
“Well, we have all been celebrating, so it’s completely understandable,” I remind her. The roller coaster has definitely been on the up today. I think it might have reached its highest point, and I can’t see any way that it will sink down again. “But I am glad to get just a quiet moment with you.”
She grabs both of my cheeks and pulls herself up to kiss me lightly on the lips. “Thank you so much for everything you have done. I can’t believe how much you have saved me. I know it has cost you a lot of money as well and I feel really horrible for that... but, before you yell at me, I know you wanted to help and it’s silly of me to let my pride get in the way. I can’t be mad anyway since I wouldn’t have Travis back if it wasn’t for you, nor would I have that signature from Ronnie meaning he will never be a problem again.” I can’t stop myself from smiling. “So, I will find a way to pay you back somehow, but for now