Mark paced back and forth in the airport. He was in a hurry for Lacy to get here and it seemed like they had been waiting forever.
"Daddy are you nervous?" Jessie asked.
"Yea, little girl, I'm nervous." Mark said looking down at Jessie.
Jessie smiled and took his big hand in her small one.
"It will be okay. Mommy loves you." Jessie said.
Mark picked Jessie up in his arms.
"Thanks sweetie, for making me feel better." Mark said
"Your welcome." Jessie said kissing his cheek.
Mark sat down with Jessie on his lap.
"Tell me something Jessie; I forgot to ask you last night, I was too relieved to find ya. How did you manage to book a flight to Texas?" Mark said.
Jessie looked away from Mark.
"Do I have to tell you daddy? I really don't want another spanking." Jessie said.
"Look at me Jessie." Mark said.
Jessie looked up at Mark.
"I'm not going to spank ya again, okay. You can tell me." Mark said.
"I made the reservations on the schools computer and I paid for it with a credit card." Jessie said.
"Where did you get a credit card?" Mark asked.
"Well when you were living with us, I saw where Ethan hid your wallet. So when I found out you were leaving, I went and took one of your credit card, just in case I needed to come to see you." Jessie said looking down.
Mark didn't say anything for a minute. His little Jessie was quite a little scamp.
"I can see I'm going to have to keep a close eye on ya little girl, your way to smart for yer own good." Mark said.
Jessie peeked up at him.
"Are you mad at me?" Jessie asked.
"Naw, I aint mad. You know stealing is wrong? Hmm?" Mark asked.
"Yes sir, I know. I only did it because I wanted to be able to come see you." Jessie said.
"Okay we'll let it go then, but I'm not expecting to have to talk to you again about it, okay?" Mark said.
"You won't daddy, I promise." Jessie said.
"I think yer mama's flight is in, let's go." Mark said.
Mark stood up and set Jessie on her feet and they headed for the gate.
Mark heard the little ones before he actually seen them. Three year olds were noisy. Mark smiled and spotted them. Damn Lacy was beautiful. Her long hair was escaping from the braid she had it in. Her cheeks flushed and pink and that happy sparkle in her beautiful brown eyes. God he loved her, how could he have left her. Her body had changed with pregnancy. Mark knew she was 6 months now and she was showing. She was even more beautiful in Mark's opinion. He wanted to grab her and hold her forever. Jessie had ran to her mother and was hugging her. He saw the tears in Lacy's eyes as she kissed Jessie and held her close. Zoe and Faith had spotted Mark. They screamed and ran and jumped all over Mark. Mark laughed and picked them up covering them with kisses. He hugged them tight to him.
"Daddy we missed you." Zoe said.
"Yea Daddy a whole bunch." Faith said.
"I missed you too, my sweet girls." Mark said kissing them again.
He hadn't realized how much till he seen them.
Ethan was standing back looking at the ground. Mark figured Ethan was still mad and he didn't blame him.
"Hi Ethan." Mark said
"Hello Sir." Ethan said not looking up.
Sir, okay that's where they were at, well he would be patient with Ethan. He had hurt the boy. He couldn't expect him to be turning cartwheels about seeing him again.
Mark looked at Lacy and her eyes met his. He caught his breath, he could smell her that sweet familiar scent that was uniquely hers, like lilacs, springtime, and a field of flowers all rolled into one. Lacy lifted her hand to smooth her hair down.
"I know I look terrible, it was a long flight, trying to keep up with the kids and I'm fat." Lacy said looking down. She had been nervous about Mark seeing her pregnant.
Mark walked closer to her and lifted her chin.
"Yer absolutely breathtaking, little mama." Mark said.
Lacy smiled that smile he loved to see that seemed like it lit up the whole world.
"That's my girl." Mark murmured before he lowered his head to brush a gentle kiss across her lips.
Lacy giggled.
"Your goatee tickles." Lacy said pulling back to look at him.
"I guess I'll have ta shave it." Mark said smiling.
"You better not." Lacy said pulling his head down for another kiss.
Jessie and the twins started giggling. Mark lifted his head and smiled own at the girls. Lacy laughed too.
Mark picked up the twins.
"Let's get you guys home." Mark said.
Lacy laced her arm around his waist and Jessie skipped beside them. Ethan walked behind wondering if Mark was still mad over the words they had.
