Because it takes time for people to get off the plane and out the gate.
How come ifs called a gate?
Jenny wanted to know.
It doesn't look like a gate.
I think they used to have gates, so they still call them that.
It was the best Suzanna
could come up with after a frazzling half hour at the airport with three children in tow.
Then the baby cooed and made her smile.
Look, Mom! There they are!
Before Suzanna could respond, Alex had broken away and made a beeline toward Kevin, Jenny hot on his heels. She winced as they barely missed plowing into other passengers, then raised a resigned hand to wave at Megan.
Hi!
Alex, having been schooled in airport procedure by his mother, manfully took Kevin's carryon.
I'm supposed to take this 'cause we're picking you up.
It
bothered him a little that, even though his mother claimed he was growing like a weed, Kevin was still taller.
Have you still got the fort?
We got the one at the big house,
Alex told him.
And
we got a new one at the
cottage. We live at the cottage.
With our dad,
Jenny piped up.
We got new names and everything. He can fix anything, and he built me a new bedroom.
It has pink curtains,
Alex said with a sneer.
Knowing a brawl was dangerously close, Suzanna neatly stepped between her two children.
How was your flight?
She bent down, kissed Kevin, then straightened to kiss Megan.
It was fine, thanks.
Megan still didn't know quite how to respond to Suzanna's easy affection. There were still times she wanted to shout, I slept with your
husband. Don't you understand? Maybe he wasn't your husband yet, and I didn't know he would be, but facts are facts.
A little delayed,
she said instead.
I hope
you haven't been waiting long.
Hours,
Alex claimed.
Thirty minutes,
Suzanna corrected with a laugh.
How about the rest of your
stuff?
I had it shipped. This is it for now.
Megan tapped her garment bag. Unable to resist, she peeked down at the bright-eyed baby in Suzanna's arms. He was all pink and smooth, with the dark blue eyes of a newborn and a shock of glossy black hair.
She felt the foolish smile that comes over adults around babies spread over her face as he waved an impossibly small fist under her nose.
Oh, he's beautiful. So tiny.
He's three weeks old,
Alex said importantly.
His name is Christian.