I check my watch again for the third time in five minutes. I'd been here, at the arrivals lounge of the airport for an hour, waiting on my parents. Their flight was late landing and after grabbing myself a coffee there wasn't much else to do other than people watch for a while. I'd already witnessed three happy yet emotional greetings and seen endless groups of youngsters ready to enjoy the holiday of, what they'd hope, to be a lifetime. To think that used to be me once, I suddenly felt old. Sipping my coffee, my phone vibrates deep in my bag and I fish it out quickly. Naomi's name flashes on the screen and I tap the open button.
'Love you Mummy xxxxx'
My heart swells and my cheeks grow wide, seeing the incredibly cute picture of my Daughter's adorable little smile accompanied with the gorgeous face of my girlfriend. It was already my favourite of them and I make a point of saving it before telling them that I love them both too and I'd be home soon.
I hope there's something really interesting on that phone," the familiar tone of my Dad's voice brings my head up sharply.
"Mum. Dad hey,"
"Alright kid, it's good to see ya. Come here and give your old man a proper Fitch welcome eh," he hugs me in his usual tight manner, which always left me struggling for breath and was no different now. No one could ever accuse him of not being happy to see me, that was for sure.
"So where's my little darlin granddaughter?"
"She's at home," I answer my Mums question, embracing her in between. She looked well. They both did.
"Roped Katie into babysitting duties huh?"
""Yeah, something like that," I smile the most uneasy smile and immediately help them with one of their luggage bags. "Come on, cars this way,"
The walk to the car and the drive out from the airport seems longer than usual. My Parents chat away, asking about my Sister, her boyfriend and then myself and Olivia but I manage to answer questions without any further probing. After a twenty minute traffic jam, I begin the journey home. My Dad in the front seat and my Mum in the back, gazing out at the their surroundings for the next week. I keep the music at a low volume.
"Remind me again why we haven't sold up and moved here?"
""Oh Rob," my Mum tuts in her usual tone. "You say this every time we're here,"
"In the hope that one day you might listen love,"
It goes without saying that I love my Parents dearly but I couldn't possibly think of anything worse than them living here, pretty much on my doorstep, analysing my every move and every decision. I'd been contemplating on how to break the news about Naomi all morning and as we cut off the main road, I pull up at the side much to their confusion.
"Why have we stopped, Em?"
"There's something I need to tell you both before we get to the house,"
"Okay," they say in unison. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything is fine," I barely begin before stopping with a sigh. "The thing is, it's not Katie that's looking after Olivia,"
"Oh. Have you got yourself a new man?" My Mum almost squeals with sheer delight at the thought. Of course she did. Ever since my teens it's what she'd hope. In her mind, I should be with this tall dark handsome guy. "What's he like?"
"Mum, it's not,"
"Tall, right? Blue eyes, well spoken,"
"Love, settle down yeah?" My Dad interrupts on my behalf. "Give Emsy a chance to talk,"
"She's blonde,"
"Oh," she sinks back into her seat. "She?"
"Yes Mum,"
"So, what's this girl like then love?" My Dad asks, I smile. It didn't even phase him like it still did with my Mum.
"Amazing," I chew my lip gently, if anything, it stops the beaming smile taking over my face. "She's really amazing,"
"Well let's get going then, so we can meet the girl,"
"You already have," I confirm, my right hand gripping tighter around the steering wheel as their faces are awash with confusion. I had to say it now. Quick and straight to the point. "I'm back with Naomi,"
"Are you joking?" Predictably my Mum pipes up first. I roll my eyes, knowing this was what was coming. "After what she did to you, I didn't think you'd be so stupid to let her back into your life, Emily. Not just you, Olivia too,"
"I didn't just let her walk back in, OK? And I thought about Olivia, she's my priority. I'd never involve her in something I wasn't one hundred percent sure of. Naomi is fantastic with her, Olivia loves her to pieces,"
"What does she know about being a Parent?"
"The same as I knew before I had Liv but she's trying and Liv adores her,"
"Oh kids love anyone at that age,"
"Well that's bullshit," I scoff, ignoring the disapproved look on her face. I used to wonder when I was younger if that look was just a permanent feature when it came to me. It always seemed to be there. "You never gave her a chance last time, you just decided because she had tits, she was everything wrong for me. I'm not a kid anymore,"
"So, what happens to Liv when Naomi breaks your heart again,"
"You'd love that wouldn't you," just so she could say, I told you so. I resist the temptation to further argue with her and start the car again. "I don't care how much you don't want to hear this. I love Naomi, I've always loved her and she's part of my family. If you really can't get your head around that then there's a flight back to England tonight and I can turn this car around right now,"
"Let's not be harsh Ems," my Dad pipes up over my Mum's silence. "Can we go please love? They'll be waiting on us and I really need the bathroom,"
Within ten minutes we'd arrived back at the house and after helping with their bags, I leave them in the hallway and we enter the front room. Naomi, Katie and Jake are sitting on the sofas with Olivia before she rushes over to greet my Mum and Dad with cuddles. My Dad fusses over her like he always does, followed by Mum who is yet to so much as look in Naomi's direction. I do though, she winks at me, despite the nerves she was feeling and I knew she was, she wasn't showing it. I walk over to where she's sitting, Katie and Jake approach my Parents which leaves us alone.
"Hey you," I lean in, planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "You alright?"
"Hmm. Nervous a little," she admits, resting her hand on top of mine. I separate my fingers, entwining them with hers. "You are aware she is watching our every move right now?"
"I know," my mum was very predictable. "Don't worry about her, don't be nervous, she'll love that,"
"On a scale of one to ten, how much does she hate me and this?"
"Probably around twelve," I laugh, we both do. "Was Liv alright?"
"Yeah of course she was, Katie brought pizza for dinner, we've saved you some,"
"Thank you, I'll eat later when it's a little less hectic in here,"
"Hi Naomi love," my Dad interrupts us but considering the fact he's making an effort and attempting to make Naomi feel more at ease, I don't mind. "It's been a while,"
"Hi Rob, it's good to see you,"
"Good to see you too kid, you're looking well,"
He's always had a soft spot for Naomi, it always made it easier for me when we were younger and it was making things a little easier now. It was the next greeting that was going to be a lot more challenging.
"Hi Jenna,"
"Naomi," she mutters back, like even that was too much effort.
"I can swim now, without bands," Olivia announces proudly, no idea of the tension she's just interrupted.
"Well done sweetheart, that's really good, isn't it Rob?"
"That's amazing princess, we knew you could do it. You can show us tomorrow,"
"Ok. Naomi helped me do it,"
"She did, did she?"
"Yep and she tells me good bedtime stories and plays all my games with me but I always win," she cutely continues, the smile on my face growing wider. "She's really funny and my Mummy is really happy now Naomi sleeps over in her room,"
"Liv, come here darlin'," I call her over, interrupting her from making an awkward situation all the more awkward. Kids. Sometimes they are completely oblivious. "Why don't you go show grandad your new room yeah? He hasn't seen it since we painted,"
They go off together, Olivia continuing to tell my Dad little stories as they disappear upstairs. That's when I pick up on the conversation between my Mum, Sister and Jake.
"It's lovely to see you both. Jake, I always knew you were perfect for our Katie, I'm very pleased she's found someone like you, someone that makes her happy. I'm proud of you,"
"Are you listening to this bullshit?" I almost laugh with Naomi as my Mum gushes over my Sister and her boyfriend, even more so than usual. Of course it was all for my benefit. "She's unbelievable,"
"So one daughter's happiness means more to you than the other?" Naomi speaks up suddenly, turning from the sofa to look towards my Mum and the frown which has now taken over her face. "All you seem to care about is Katie's happiness, which is fine of course but what about Emily's?"
"I'm not going to argue with you, Naomi,"
"It's not an argument. Just an observation,"
"Jake has never hurt Katie, he's never broken her heart, he's never given me any reason not to like him,"
"Fuck sake," I groan. This was like a never ending constant loop.
"Mum, don't," Katie pleads. "Just stop it, okay?"
"Didn't know you two were friends again,"
"We aren't," my Sister replies, looking from my Mum to me and then back. "We aren't friends but I've been here, I've seen a difference in Emily with Naomi around and I know you won't want to hear that but it's true. So can you just stop with the stubborn shit, please? However happy I am with Jake, Emily's probably double happier with Naomi and then there's Olivia. You spend even ten minutes with that girl and you'll hear how much she loves Naomi too. They are both happy, isn't that what matters?"
"I'm going to put our things in our room it's been a long day," she announces, ignoring Katie's defence of me and more importantly, Naomi. I thank her for that. It meant a lot that she had softened towards the situation, so much so that she was actually willing to speak out to my Mum about it.
"Well, I did say it wasn't going to be easy Ems," Katie sighs.
"When has Mum ever been easy? Fuck sake, are you sure she can't stay at yours?"
"Hey," Naomi soothes, tucking my hair behind me ear. "I can stay at my Mum's for a couple of nights, give you some time with her,"
"I've just got you back Naoms,"
"It would only be for a few nights,"
"I don't care, I don't want to be without you," I really didn't, not for a second and certainly not to accommodate my highly annoying and unforgiving pain in the ass of a Mother. "This is your home now and she isn't kicking you out of it. I need you here,"
"Ok,"
"Ok?"
"I won't go anywhere," she confirms, placing her lips gently to my own. I can't help but savour the kiss, drawing her in closer just to make it last a few seconds more. "What was that for?"
"Thank you for standing up to her before,"
"It's alright," she lifts my hand to her mouth, kissing along my knuckles. "We're Naomi and Emily, right?"
"That's the most obvious thing you've ever said in your life," I giggle at her.
"Oi, I wasn't finished," she chuckles, playfully nudging my shoulder. "What I was about to say was, I think we can deal with anything, your Mother included, so long as we're together,"
"I think so too,"
"Eurghh," Katie mocks from across the room. "You two are lovably sickening,"
"You better not let Mum hear you say that," I say, a slight smirk appearing on my lips. "She'll relegate you from the title of Daughter she is most proud of,"