Page 17 of Get A Fix

“I certainly feel better than I did when I got off the plane,” she said, smiling at me. “You really are a lifesaver.”

“As I told you earlier, I’m a fixer.”

“You most certainly are.”

Ainsley turned from me and waved, and the boys flew across the terminal to reach us, with Jeff carrying the same size backpack as she had, rolling one large suitcase and two smaller ones. The boys crashed into their mother, happy to see her, climbing all over her and explaining, in great detail, talking over one another, the things their father didn’t know how to do, from playing their shows on their tablets, to giving them their snacks, to not telling the lady on the plane that they didn’t drink grape juice or cranberry, only apple.

When they noticed me holding Gemma, who was passed out on my shoulder, I held out my hand to each and introduced myself. Joey, the oldest, met me first, and then Timothy. Once Jeff reached us, he flopped gracelessly down into the seat beside Ainsley.

“You all right?” she teased him.

“I’m sorry for not realizing you’re a rock star. I apologize wholeheartedly for anything I might have ever said that led you to believe you’re not amazing.”

Her smile was radiant.

I thought, Attaboy, Jeff. He was utterly redeemed in my eyes with a few simple words.

“You have stores of patience I do not possess. Like, at all.”

She was chuckling as she took his hand. “No more boy trips unless I get to take girl trips. Fair is fair.”

“Oh yes. Agreed. Without question,” he acknowledged sincerely. “And I’m sorry for those too. It’s you and me from now on. Lots of weekend trips together, just the family. We can go on adventures up at my sister’s cabin.”

“That sounds really good.”

He sighed deeply and kissed her. The boys made disgusted noises, like they were going to die. Once the kiss was over, they both turned to me.

“You must be the amazing Cooper.”

“I’m amazing?” I asked Ainsley.

“Ohmygod, without question. Completely. I mean, you bought lunch.”

“I did. I did buy lunch.”

She tipped her head as she grinned at me. “I don’t suppose you want to take that one with you?” she offered, waggling her eyebrows at me.

“I might. Let me think about it.”

“Well,” Jeff said, “since we’re all going to the same place, shall we grab one of the inn shuttles?”

“Yes, please,” Ainsley agreed. “I mean, I’ve grown fond of this airport, but a bed sounds good, as does a shower.”

“It’s only an hour away,” Jeff told her.

“What?” she whined.

“Maybe longer,” I chimed in. “There’s a lot of rain out there, and fog.”

Her groan was loud.

Gemma woke up then, was very happy to see her daddy, but had to pee. Once all the children had gone to the bathroom and Taylor’s diaper was changed, we got ready to go.

Jeff was surprised when his daughter refused the stroller and walked over to me, arms lifted. Picking her up, I put her on my suitcase and zipped the parka.

“That’s amazing,” Jeff told me as Timothy, the four-year-old, got into the front seat of the stroller, ready to be pushed, worn out from the flights.

Joey was happy to take his mother’s hand, and we were off.