I leaned back in my seat, trying to relax. I had just spent a wonderful weekend away from work and my family. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my family dearly. My husband Luis is the best man in the world, and our little four-year-old daughter is the cutest thing around. But having a weekend alone is so rare for me.
I'm Elizabeth Crane Lopez-Fitzgerald, but everyone just calls me Liz. I'm a top fashion designer, a mother, and a wife. Yeah, that's some combination. Of course, I've always had it made. Being a member of the Crane family has helped me along the way. It never hurts to have an extra stash of money here or there.
Who are the Cranes you ask? Well now, if you don't know you must be living in the dark ages. My family is known around the world. We have offices all over the globe. We run factories, businesses, and own most of the places in Harmony.
Now, back to the story. I was on one of my family's private jets, coming home from a weekend in Paris. I knew Eva would be excited to see me. She hates it so much when I leave her, but she always knows I'm coming back, and that I'm coming back with a surprise. And even being away from my husband for two days can be torture. I mean, if you just go away for a little bit and you're used to having sex every night, it can do real damage. Luis is always happy in a way when I go on trips like this because he knows what he's going to get after I come home.
I felt like I had been on this plane forever. Sure, the flight from Paris back to Harmony was a long flight, but it had never seemed to last this long before. I fixed myself a drink and then called home.
With drink in hand, I went over to the phone and punched in my number. Debbie, our housekeeper, answered the phone.
"Debbie, it's Liz. Is Luis around?"
"Yes, I think he just got in from work. Let me get him." Debbie put me on hold while she found Luis.
I waited patently for Luis to pick up. "Hi honey," I said once he answered. "How are you?"
"I'm doing good, but I know I'll be better once you arrive home."
"What about Eva? Has she been keeping you busy?"
"Like always. I took her to the zoo yesterday, since it was my day off. Then I took her shopping because she wanted to buy her mommy something."
"What is it?"
"She wants it to be a surprise. Eva seems to be becoming more like her mother every day."
"Is there something so wrong with that?" I laughed. "I only wonder whose attitude she'll end up with. It could be bad."
"Liz, don't even go there. Please, don't go there. Give it a few more years, and we'll talk about her attitude again." He paused. "How much longer till you arrive in Harmony?"
"I'm not sure. This plane ride seems like it's taking so much longer than normal. Why don't I call you back when I'm an hour from arriving? Are you coming to pick me up, or is my father sending a driver?"
"Honey, what do you think? Your father always sends a driver. And he always has one of his security guards waiting for you at the gate. Do you think that would ever change?"
"No, probably not. I don't know why I would think any differently. You know he only wants what's best for me. He's still trying to make me think that you're not good enough for me, even after five years of marriage."
"He's always going to be like that, and you know it. He's never thought good of my family. All my mother was to him was a housekeeper, Theresa wasn't the right one for Ethan, and I was just the bad cop of Harmony."
"You know I've often said we could move out of Harmony."
"But Liz, I don't want to leave my family."
"I know. Your family means a lot to you. And your mother means so much to me. I don't know what I'd do without Pilar in my life. And after I got to know your sister better, I realized how great of a person she was, and how great she was for Ethan. I mean, don't get me wrong, I feel sorry for Gwen. She spent many years with Ethan, and she always thought she'd end up with him."
"But she ended up finding love with someone else, and that's all that matters. Gwen is happy, my sister is happy, and Ethan's happy. How did we end up talking about all of this?"
"I don't know. It doesn't matter. I'll call you when I get closer to home. I love you." I hung up the phone and lie back in my seat.
I guess I should tell you about my husband. He's of Irish-Latin decent, and there's only one word to describe him. Hot. He works out every day, and has this chiseled body that any man alive would kill for. Luis has the blackest of hair, and this perfectly colored skin, a deep dark tan from his Latin heritage. As I was sitting there, all these memories of Luis and I started coming back to me. About how Luis and I met, how my father tried to keep us apart. And how our love was so strong, that no matter what he did, Luis and I would always be together.
It wasn't till hours later that I realized I'd fallen asleep. The pilot dialed back to my phone, announcing that we'd be arriving in Harmony in a little less than an hour. I said thank you, and then called back Luis.
"Honey, I should be home in an hour or so. The pilot said that we should be landing in less than an hour. What time is it here? I can easily get used to the time changes going to Paris, but coming back, forget about it."
"It's about seven in the evening here. How tired will you be?"
"I don't know. I fell asleep after hanging up with you. I got caught up in some memories."
"Should I even ask?"
"No, don't bother. I mean, they weren't bad memories, they were about you and me."
"Well, as long as they were about you and me, and they were good, that's perfectly fine. I'll see you when you get home, okay? I love you." I hung up the phone, and waited patently for the plane to land. I couldn't wait to go home, to see my little girl, and to see my husband.
As soon as it was safe to leave the plane, I gathered my purse and headed out. Seeing the bodyguard my father had sent, I walked up to him and he lead me to the limo waiting outside. I watched the scenery as I was driven home. Familiar sites and familiar people made me feel good to be home.