Lynne enjoyed her vacation with Leif. It felt like a honeymoon of sorts even though they were not yet married. And Linda hadn't wanted to see them go. She dropped them off at LAX airport.
She threw her arms around Lynne as they entered the airport, with Leif in tow, carrying their bags.
"Well, I'm sorry you two are leaving, but I'm so glad that you all will be coming back for the wedding at least. I'll help in any way that I can," said his mother.
"We'd love your help. And thank you so much for our gift, to help get us started. And the kindness, and making me feel like your daughter in law already," said Lynne with a shy smile.
"You are my daughter in law. There's no waiting period to make it official, you don't have to wait until the wedding to call me your mother in law," said his mother.
"Linda...this was such a great trip. I don't think I've ever had so much fun at home. I...getting to introduce Lynney to all the sites, and people I knew growing up, and my family, it was just phenomenal. And it makes me appreciate even more all that you did for us, growing up. Seeing what it's been like for others, even my Lynney, thanks Mom," said Leif with a smile.
"Well if you really mean that, come back soon. I don't know if I could ever convince the two of you to come on back to California to live, but we all miss you, and we enjoyed having you, and Lynne. At least I got you back for the wedding. You all have to come back every six months at least. Don't worry about the tickets, Garret and I will send what you need," said Linda.
"Of course Linda, of course," said Leif.
Linda swallowed the three of them up in a huge hug.
"Come on Ladies, don't be sad and shit. You have face time on your iPhones, and you girls love to talk to each other on the phone, so you'll have to call each other. I just want to request less double teaming on me, with the christmas cookies, and at dinner and things like that," said Leif.
"Oh please, you need someone to keep you in line," said Lynne.
She swatted him firmly on the ass.
His mother chuckled, reached up to tousle Leif's hair, difficult for her because he was so tall, and she bid them goodbye.
They checked their luggage, and once they passed security clearance, Lynne's phone started vibrating.
She thought it would be Janelle, demanding that they arrange a time to pick up their cat. Janelle had graciously agreed to watch "their daughter" the cat, but Janelle was not a cat lover, and had already sent a few playful complaining text messages about how the cat was spoiled and would not eat cat foot, but wanted table scraps, because she was used to Lynne's delicious cooking leftovers.
But when she pulled her phone out of her pocket, she saw that it was her father's number. Instead of the smiles on her face that she got when she interacted with Leif's family, a sense of dread filled her. She'd never known anyone else's family besides her own so intimately to compare, but the visit brought the stark differences in Leif's upbringing, and the way she suffered emotionally struggling for her parents love and approval to light.
They couldn't even allow her to come home and have a few days to feel like she could float on the air from the love that she and Leif shared and the unfettered acceptance of his family. It was like coming back to work on a Monday after a three week vacation in tropical paradise, even though their little vacation had been a simple one.
And as she held the phone vibrating in her hand, she couldn't even mask the worry, the hurt, and the fear that crossed her features. The phone was shaking in her hands, and she stopped keeping up with Leif as he looked for a place for them to sit while they waited to board the airplane.
Leif quickly noticed Lynne was not keeping pace with him. He turned around and called for her. Lynne's eyes were watery and she wore a screwed up facial expression. The phone rang again.
"Sweetness, come here, what's wrong, why are you upset," murmured Leif.
He grabbed her protectively by her waist and nuzzled his nose in her hair.
Security. Love. She was learning what that felt like in stark contrast what she'd felt like growing up, as the recipient of the browbeating that was sure to await her on the other end of the phone, should she dare answer.
Her eyes swirled with tears. She hadn't heard from her parents since she'd called them and confessed that she was serious about Leif, and had been living with him outside of wedlock. That she hadn't heard from them in three weeks, and they were calling her all of a sudden, could not be a good thing. She thought they were calling to tell her they were kicking her out of the church.
"I...it...it's my parents. Twice they called in the last five minutes," she said softly.
She hadn't been prepared for Leif to snuggle her deeply into his arms. Other airport passengers be dammed, he pulled her into his chest right in the middle of the busy terminal.
The message was loud and clear to Lynne. He didn't care who saw, her first priority was that she feel safe and loved. She buried herself in his arms. She'd never known comfort like this, even as a small girl. It was heavenly to drink in, and her sobs came out in tiny gulps, and most of the sobbing was pain, but some of it was emotional pleasure at being cared for tenderly by her sweet man, and the shock of the tenderness he showed. She couldn't have imagined all that they would share a few short months ago.
"It's alright baby. Leif's got you now sweet princess," he added dotingly, his nose in her hair.
