"Stop fidgeting...please." begged Jacob as he watched Connie straightened yet another pillow.
"Do you think we should set off now?" Wondered Connie ignoring Jacob's request.
"The plane doesn't land for another three hours..." said Jacob shaking his head. "...it's not going to take three hours to travel to the airport."
The first few day of Connie's stay with Jacob had been normal, uneventful, she'd spent her time pottering while he'd been at work. Preparing Grace's temporary room, setting up a tv, hanging up a small selection of clothes and finding space for some of the things she knew Grace wouldn't want to be without.
She'd used Jacob's gym in the shed, with her ribs now well and truly on the mend, short sessions on the running machine helped her take her mind off other things. And as for her and Jacob, they got along well, domestic bliss was the only way to describe it. A few little spats here and there which surprised Connie, living in such close confines with someone wasn't something she thought she could do. Now she was feeling so much better and with no actual work to do, Connie couldn't believe she wasn't climbing the walls. Instead she would clean up, go out, maybe shopping or a visit to the E.D catching up with Charlie, taken her bike out for a run. Then when Jacob returned home from work she'd have a simple meal waiting.
Connie had know idea what was happening to her and she'd never admit to going soft but for a short while she had everything she needed to keep her content.
"What if the traffic is bad?" She suggested.
"Connie...even if the traffic is the worst it's been in ten years it's still not going to take three hours to travel twenty minutes down the road!" Reasoned Jacob.
Connie left the room with a huff, a smile crept over Jacob's face when he heard her putting pots away in the kitchen.
"And stop laughing!" Shouted Connie from the other room.
Her remarked only amused him more. "Come sit down."
Connie appeared, leaning in the doorway. "I can't wait to see her." She told him quietly.
"Come on..." Said Jacob standing up taking hold of Connie's hand. "...let's go..we can get a drink at the airport while we wait."
Giving Jacob a grateful smile she picked up her hand bag and accepted his hand as he led her from the house.
"Its landed." Said Connie reading the arrivals display.
"Lets go get her then." Beamed Jacob, he laced his fingers with Connie's as they walked through to arrivals, finding a clear view of the exit.
"Why am I so nervous?" Wondered Connie out loud.
"You haven't seen her for a month...it's understandable." Offered Jacob putting his arm over Connie's shoulder.
They stood together watching as people filed out of the sliding doors, the crowds becoming smaller as the last of the passengers drifted off. "What if..." Connie started until she saw her, being pushed along in a wheelchair by a chaperone.
Jumping up Grace limped over to her mum who rushed towards her greeting her half way.
"Gracie." Connie whispered enveloping her in a tight embrace.
Jacob stepped toward, taking Grace's bag and thanking the lady for bringing her to them, he gave mother and daughter their space as they hugged each other fiercely.
"Oh I missed you so much." Smiled Connie holding Grace close.
"I've missed you to but could you not squeeze so hard." Struggled Grace, her face beaming with delight.
"How are you feeling...I see you've got your pot off." Noticed Connie.
"I'm okay...still ache a little..." Grace smiled. "...dad took me to get my pot off a few days ago...it still feels a bit odd."
"Odd, in what way?" Frowned Connie, concern rising inside her.
Grace shrugged. "I'm not sure...just because I've have a pot on for so long I guess."
"But they gave you an X-Ray-" "-yes...dad sent a copy, it's in my case..." Grace told her worried mother, it was then she spotted Jacob hovering nearby. "...Jacob!" Rushing to him she threw her arms around his waist hugging him.
"Hey firecracker..." Answered Jacob enjoying the embrace. "...let's get you out of here...you gonna manage the walk to the car...it's a bit of a trek."
"Erm...Ye sure...besides, the ladies taken the wheelchair." Said Grace looking around.
Jacob gave Connie a wink before bending down a little. "All aboard firecracker."
Grace giggled as she hopped onto Jacob's back.
Smirking at the two for them Connie took Grace's suitcase and pulled it along behind her. "I can see I'm going to have fun with you pair." She murmured walking along side Jacob as the left the airport.
"You definitely made a good choice with the car mum..." Commented Grace as she climbed out of the backseat slamming the door shut behind her. "...much more practical now there's three of us."
Connie pulled out her keys letting Grace into Jacob's house trying to hide how much her daughter's comment had rattled her. 'Three of us.' She had to admit, it had a nice ring to it, all the things she thought about when her mind drifted to Jacob were terrifying and so unlike her but she couldn't help wanting it.
Eating their evening meal around the kitchen table listening to Grace's stories from New York, Connie couldn't imagine anything more normal, more wonderful. She sat there, a bright smile etched on her face, Jacob's hand on her thigh under the table as he ate one handed.
If this is what it felt like to be a proper family, Connie never wanted it to end.