I felt like a zombie as I was instructed to sign my paperwork. Saying goodbye to the only job I've ever known was harder than I expected.
One good thing out of this final meeting was they were sending people in to recover personal artifacts from our homes. The living quarters on the island were ten miles from the resort and gated in. Mrs. Masrani knew her husband would want this done for his employees.
I quickly signed the release form which stated they were not responsible for anything lost in transit. Giving my sister's address for our delivery site, I smiled. Owen and I may have to start over back in the States, but at least we will have all our important items with us. My list of items to be brought over manly included every picture in the house, some of Maisie's favorite toys that I knew would help her adjust to our new life a little easier, and Owen's motorcycle though I knew that was going to be more tricky.
The motorcycle was parked in front of the Innovations Center. Mrs. Masrani promised she would get it to me.
Owen spent years building it up from scratch. I will never forget his excitement the day he got it running. Maisie sat on it with Owen's helmet on. He had promised her a ride around the yard as soon as he got it started. His helmet almost covering her tiny shoulders as she sat patiently. At five-years-old she knew every part of that motorcycle just as well as he did.
I heard it start up from the kitchen where I was cleaning up from lunch. The yelling and cheering from the two mechanics made me check on their progress. Owen was jumping around with an unsteady little girl, trying to jump with his helmet on.
Surprising her with her own purple, sparkly helmet she was ready for her ride.
Panic gripped at the pit of my stomach as he rode in circles around the back yard until they ran out of gas.
I smiled at the memory and couldn't wait to have the pictures I took of that day to be in my hands. Our memories were saved.
Giving Mrs. Masrani a final tearful hug goodbye I ran to the elevator. My guards struggling to keep up and help me through the crowd of reporters.
"Owen!" I yelled, barging into our room and tripping over all of our bags packed by the door.
"Whoa, there killer." Owen laughed, moving to catch me as I stumbled my way through the mess.
"They're getting our stuff!" I exclaimed.
Maisie cheered around us.
"Where is it going?" He asked me.
"My sister's house. I figured it can go there and we'll move the stuff into storage until we find a place." I decided to keep his motorcycle a secret for now. Mainly because I knew it would be a great surprise, but also I didn't want to get his hopes up if it was destroyed or they couldn't get to it.
"Great!" Owen smiled.
"Can we go now?" Maisie asked, swinging her bag over her shoulder.
"We can go." I sighed and knelt down in front of her. "It's pretty crowded down there. The two men who have been escorting me around are expecting us. I need you to hold Dad's hand and do not let go."
Her eyes went wide and she reached for Owen. He gripped her hand tight.
"We'll just take the stairs." Owen suggested.
I shook my head. "They are just as packed."
One of the parks security guys came to take our bags down to the van and we made our way to the elevator. The security guard at the elevator stepped inside with us this time.
I had asked for extra security getting Maisie out of the hotel. I knew some of the reporters wanted to hear from her and the boys, but I refused to put them in the spotlight.
Owen was tense beside me, his arm tight around my waist and his free hand holding Maisie against him.
"Don't talk to anyone." I instructed him.
He nodded. "I know."
The elevator doors opened and my guards stepped in the way of the flashing lights.
"Hell no," Owen grumbled and lifted Maisie in his arms. With his free hand he twisted her head so her face was against his neck.
"The Raptor Dad!" One reporter yelled, gaining more attention from others.
"Look the little girl!" Someone yelled.
Voices began to yell around us, trying to ask Owen and Maisie questions.
"Mrs. Grady is that your husband and daughter?" a reporter questioned, shoving a recorder in my face. One of my guards blocked her arm and his hands were tight on my shoulders.
"Claire!" I heard Owen yell when he noticed I wasn't behind him anymore. He spun around and looked even more stressed as the two large men had their hands on me leading me through the crowd.
Two more men had stepped in to help keep Maisie hidden.
I knew Owen would much rather be face to face with a dinosaur than be in this moment any longer.
Skipping the larger crowd over by the stairs, we were escorted through a small door towards the back exit.
As soon as we were out of the crowd, Owen reached for my hand. The guard who had his hands on my shoulders immediately let go.
"That was scary." Maisie mumbled against Owen's neck.
"It's over now." One of the guards reassured her.
"Thank you," I told them.
"Yeah," Owen agreed, turning to shake the two men's hands who were standing behind me. "I appreciate you keeping my wife safe yesterday."
"Of course." They said at the same time.
Though Owen wasn't a small man by any means, the two men were larger.
Taking my hand again Owen walked towards the waiting van. We got in before any of the reporters knew we were there.
"Was it like that yesterday?" Owen asked as the driver drove towards the airport.
I nodded.
He reached over Maisie, who was seated between us, and squeezed my leg. "I'm sorry, I wasn't there."
I patted his hand. "You needed to be with Maisie." I knew that's not what he meant, but I didn't want to talk about that anymore.
He seemed to understand and dropped his gaze to Maisie. "You ok, kiddo?"
"Will it be like that all the time?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his right arm that was stretched over her.
"For a little while, maybe. A lot of people want to talk to us." I answered.
"Once we get on the plane we will be off the grid for a while." Owen added.
Maisie looked up at him. "What's that mean?"
"It means no one will be able to find us. I'm getting rid of phones for a while."
I was surprised at how relieved I felt thinking of not having my phone.
As soon as we got on the plane, Maisie curled up between Owen and I. Her head on my lap while he held on to her legs. She was asleep before the plane took off.
I watched out the window as land disappeared and we were flying over the ocean. My mind wandered to my plane ride that started it all. Arriving for my summer internship and never leaving… until now.
For fourteen years that island was my home. I felt it as soon as I stepped off the plane. Where would we find home now?
Peeling my eyes from the window, I looked over at Owen. My heart skipped a beat when I found him staring at me.
"What?" I asked. How long was he looking at me?
He shook he head. "Just trying to figure out how the hell I got so lucky."
I dropped my gaze to Maisie and blushed.
Owen laughed lightly and reached over to poke my reddened cheek.
I playfully slapped his hand away.
"Claire," he sighed, twisting his hand and lightly rubbed his knuckles against my cheek. "I am sorry for putting you through more stress than you needed. I didn't realize it was that bad in the lobby. I'm an ass for not being there for you."
I caught his hand in mine and kissed his palm. "You didn't leave. That's all that matters."
He sighed heavily and looked away from me. His hand dropped to my leg, just above Maisie's head. I knew he was fighting with himself and I left him to fight his internal battle.
Turning my head to look back out the window, I laid my hand over his and laced our fingers together.
"Claire," Owen's voice was close to my ear.
"What?" I groaned, trying to fight my eyes open.
"We're landing soon."
I blinked a few times before my eyes focused. I wasn't sitting up anymore. My head was on Owen's lap and I was curled up across the middle seat where Maisie should be. I quickly sat up trying to wake my mind up to focus.
"Over here," Owen pointed to the row of seats across from us.
Maisie was sitting with another little girl that looked to be her age. They were playing a card game.
"They woke up around the same time. She was visiting the park with her mom." Owen explained, nodding over to the sleeping woman against the window. "Mom looked tired so I said I'd keep an eye on the girls."
I listened to their giggles and moved to the middle seat, twisting myself to curl into Owen's side. "You're a good man, Owen Grady." I sighed into his shirt.