Chapter 30 – Phoenix
CHAPTER THIRTY
Change of plans
Phoenix
My. Head. Is. Pounding.
I guzzle down an entire bottle of water with three ibuprofen, doing my best to quiet the entire percussion section that’s holding a marathon drum rehearsal inside my brain.
It doesn’t help matters that my daughter is hyped up like a rabid squirrel this morning. In Reece-World, excitement translates to maximum loudness.
Speak of the boisterous little devil, she skids into the kitchen on her socked feet, ramming into my knees and almost taking me down.
“Daddy! I can get Minnie ears, right? You said I could, and I really, really want some. And we’re eating at Cinderella’s castle tomorrow, aren’t we?
That’s gonna be soooo much fun. Nana said I can even get my picture made with Cinderella.
I love her dress. It’s the prettiest one of all the princesses.
I wonder if Prince Charming is going to be there. ”
Before I can answer, the kitten ambles over and pees on my bare foot because the goddamn universe hates me.
As I’m cleaning up the mess with paper towels, Reece smacks my thigh with a tiny palm. “You didn’t answer me. Can I, Daddy?”
“Can you what, Reecie?” I ask wearily, tossing the paper towels into the trash and trying valiantly to cope with all this chaos.
“Can I get Minnie Mouse ears? You know, the ones with the cute bow?”
I squat until I’m level with my daughter. Her blue eyes are sparkling while I can only assume mine are dull as slate.
“Baby girl, I know you’re excited, but Daddy needs help this morning. I promise I will get you Minnie ears when we get to Disney, but only if you go upstairs and make sure I packed your blue tennis shoes.”
I know the shoes are in her pink suitcase—I put them there myself—but I’m in desperate need of some quiet, if only for a few minutes.
“Yay! Thank you, Daddy,” she squeals, and the percussion in my head morphs into a symphony of untuned violins. But luckily, my distraction technique works, and she scoops up Honey and dashes upstairs, chattering to the cat about the plane ride.
After washing my hands, I stare at my phone on the counter like it’s an explosive device. I expect a text from Jordie at any moment telling me I’m an overstepping bastard and she wants nothing more to do with me.
I check the time. She should be on a plane right now on the way home from Chicago, but I’m sure a scathing message is forthcoming. I don’t remember everything I said last night, but I remember enough to make myself cringe.
God, I really fucked this up. Bolstering my resolve, I make a preemptive move and open my text app.
Me: Hi, Jordie. Hope you’re having a good flight. I just wanted to apologize for last night. I know it’s no excuse, but I had been drinking. Is it possible you have a concussion and don’t remember anything I said?
I hit send and then read it again, massaging my temples with my thumb and fingers. Great job, Hale. You basically said you hope she has a head injury to spare you a bit of embarrassment.
Sighing, I send a follow-up text.
Me: Totally kidding about the concussion thing, BTW.
Me: Even though I’m aware that’s a serious topic and not a laughing matter, especially for athletes. So I sincerely hope you DON’T have a concussion.
Me: Also, I’m an idiot and I’m going to try to skydive from the plane today. Without a parachute.
A knock sounds at my side door, and I open it to let my mother inside. “Hey, Mom. You ready for the big trip?”
Instead of answering, she puts her hand against my forehead. “Are you sick, honey? You look a bit peaked.” Leave it to my mom to notice my less-than-stellar appearance.
“I’m fine,” I fib. “I was up late last night.” I kiss her cheek. “Would you mind looking after Reece for a couple minutes while I shower?”
“Of course. Is she excited?”
I chuckle. “That’s the understatement of the century.”
Before I can head up for a few minutes of quiet and foot washing, Mom grips my forearm, lowering her voice. “Did you see a tropical storm is heading toward Florida?”
“I did. It’s not supposed to hit till Sunday, and we’re flying back Saturday.” I give her a hug. “But I’ll keep an eye on it. Gotta keep my girls safe.”
Mom pulls back and eyes my disheveled appearance. “Did your late night include copious amounts of whiskey? Because you smell like a distillery.”
Grinning, I bop her nose. “Back to your liquor-sniffing ways like when we were teenagers?”
She gives my shoulder a gentle shove. “Go shower, stinky. I’ll get Reecie dressed and ready to go.”
For some reason, my mother wanted to fly commercial instead of taking the Hale family jet. Something about wanting Reece to get the whole airport experience. Crowds, noise, tiny airplane bathrooms… yeah, super fun experience.
But Reece is undeterred and brimming with energy when we reach the Orlando airport. After grabbing our suitcases and getting us settled into the back of the car service I’d arranged, I check my phone to find a message from Jordie.
Jordie: Just got to your house. I hope you didn’t go through with your skydiving attempt because Honey will miss her daddy. And I thought you were cute last night.
She’s attached a photo of her holding the kitten beside her face, and I stare at it for longer than necessary. Jordie isn’t wearing makeup, and the close-up view shows off a few freckles across her nose. She looks stunning.
A little voice interrupts my creepy staring. “Is that Jordie?”
I tilt the phone so my daughter can inspect the picture. “She said she just got to our house for cat-sitting duty.”
Reece looks up at me, blue eyes earnest. “Will you ask her if she’ll send pictures of Honey every day so I can see her? I already miss her. And tell Jordie I miss her too.”
“Of course,” I answer, tapping out a message.
Over the next five days I immerse myself in the Disney experience with my mom and daughter.
Mom seems more energized than I’ve ever seen her as she walks around with the signature ears on her perfectly coiffed hair.
Reecie is a ball of energy, but she falls asleep beside me every night and sleeps like she’s in a coma.
And that’s when I lie on my back and stare at the pictures and videos Jordie’s sent that day.
Honey perched on her shoulder. Honey curled up in her lap.
And an adorable video where she’s seated on the floor, rolling a small purple football so the kitten can chase and pounce on it.
That night, I turned the volume up a little and held it to my ear, listening to the sound of Jordie’s laughter. Over and over.
Yep, I’m a little obsessed with the woman currently staying in my house, and I can’t help but wish she would stay there forever.
We’re at the Magic Kingdom on Friday morning when my phone rings. It’s the call I’ve been waiting for.
“Mom, this is the travel agent,” I tell her, and she waves me off, letting me know she will ride the teacups with Reece for the thousandth time. I can’t say I’m not relieved. That damn ride makes me nauseous.
I step out of line and answer, “Hey, Leigh. Whatcha got?”
The tropical storm has picked up speed, and it’s now scheduled to hit Florida tomorrow, the day we were supposed to fly out. I asked her to try and arrange flights for us to get out today.
“It seems everyone has the same idea as you, so most of the flights are completely booked,” Leigh replies, and my nerves ramp up to the max.
She soothes them with her next words. “But I was able to find three seats. The only problem is two seats are late this afternoon, and the third is on a separate flight that leaves a couple hours later.”
I nod even though she can’t see me. “That will be fine. Book Mom and Reece on the first flight, and I’ll catch the later one.”
“Will do, Mr. Hale.”
I hang up and wait for the girls to get done with the ride. As we’re heading to the next attraction, I whisper the plan to my mother.
“I’m worried Reece will be upset by leaving a day early,” I fret, and she pats my arm in that mom way she has.
“Let me handle it.” Then she calls, “Reece, honey! Nana needs to talk to you about something.”
Reece turns and looks up expectantly. Mom lifts my daughter and nestles her on her hip as we step out of the crowd.
“I have something so exciting to tell you,” my mother says. “You remember my friend Marjorie?”
“Yes, ma’am. The lady with the orange hair?”
Mom laughs. “That’s her. Well, she has a house near the beach on Galveston Island, and she said we can use it any time. I thought you and I could go this evening and stay the whole weekend together for some special Nana-Reecie time. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
Reece’s brow creases, obviously deep in her thoughts. “But… that’s in Texas, and we’re in Florida.”
“Right, but it’s supposed to start raining here in Florida this afternoon, and we would just be stuck in our hotel room.” Mom puts on a fake sad face. “That doesn’t sound like as much fun as going to the beach, does it?”
“No, I guess not,” Reece says a little unsurely.
My mother, the genius, sweetens the deal.
“In Galveston, we can go to this little shop I know of on the Strand. They have every kind of caramel apple you could imagine. And then we can spend the rest of the day at Moody Gardens and feed the penguins. Oh, and they have a theater that shows all kinds of movies in 3D. It is the coolest thing ever.” She brushes a sweaty curl from Reece’s forehead.
“Or we could stay here and watch it rain. Whatever you want is fine with me.”
That last bit is said with a skillful level of nonchalance that has me in awe.
Reece’s face breaks into a grin. “Galveston!”
Mom kisses her forehead. “Okay, we’ll have lunch here and then head to the airport.”
“Oh, I love those tiny bathrooms on the airplane. They are so cute,” my daughter says as her grandmother sets her down.
I loop my arm around my mother’s neck, and whisper, “You are a freaking master, Mom.”
“The key is to make them think it’s their idea.” She winks. “I raised three boys. A little bit of well-placed deception was my only means of survival.”
It’s almost midnight when I arrive at my house on Friday night, and I’m weary as fuck. When I see Jordie’s truck in my driveway, I realize I forgot to inform her of our change of plans.
I enter through the garage door, being as quiet as possible. The house is dark and silent. Leaving my suitcase, I take the stairs to the second floor, deciding I’ll send Jordie a text to let her know I’m here so I don’t frighten her when she wakes up in the morning.
The room to her door is cracked open, and I resist the urge to push it open and watch her sleep. Instead, I head straight to my room and freeze in the doorway. There’s a single lamp lit on the nightstand, giving the room a soft glow.
My eyes go directly to the bed, and my cock twitches behind the zipper of my shorts.
Jordie McNamara lies on my bed with her blonde hair fanned out around her, the covers pooled around her waist to reveal that she’s gloriously naked.
I grip my burgeoning erection and stand there enjoying the view that seems to have all my travel weariness evaporating into thin air.
My. Fucking. Goddess.