The day had finally arrived. My daughter Katie was returning home after finishing her exams, capping off her first year of university and her first year living away from us. My wife Alison and I were headed to the airport to pick her up; she enrolled in a school that was several hours away by air. We of course wanted her to stay closer to home, if she was so inclined, but we ultimately left the decision in her hands as to where she wanted to go.
Our older daughter, Kyra, had already come home for the summer, having completed her third year. Because we had two years with just Katie at home, we had gotten close to her, clinging desperately to those last years of childhood before she was set free into the world. This year had been hard on us as parents. We didn't bear the title of empty-nesters well, and we missed our girls terribly.
We walked to the arrivals gate of the airport, eagerly awaiting Katie's appearance. She had already lined up a job for the spring and summer to earn some extra money prior to her second year commencing in the fall. I was so thrilled at the idea that our family would finally be all together again, even if it would only be for several months.
"Do you think the airport lost her luggage?" I asked Alison semi-seriously, impatient to see her.
"Don't be silly, Tim. She'll get here when she gets here. Don't worry," she said, rubbing my arm lovingly.
I nodded and was about to make a sarcastic comment when I saw a familiar sight. Katie bounded through the arrivals gate. She had always looked a lot like Alison, both brunettes with striking green eyes, and the comparison was becoming more apt as she developed into a young woman. She was slender, with long brown hair which would reach to her mid-back when she had it down; it was up in a sensible bun at the moment. She had slim blue jeans and a black top on. She caught sight of us, perpetually light on her feet, and broke into an enthusiastic sprint, only somewhat hampered by her luggage.
"Mom! Dad!" she cried, her eyes bright. She hugged Alison tightly, with a big smile on her face, before practically leaping into my arms. The weight of her in my arms was a welcome presence; we had always been big on hugs as a family.
"I missed you so much, Daddy," she said quietly as we embraced.
I looked at her and chuckled with a smile. "You haven't called me that in years, sweetie. I missed you too."
She shot me her gorgeous smile, her green eyes narrowing in that incredibly cute way, and just hugged me close again.
We walked back to the car, Alison and I each holding her hand, our little girl finally back with us again.
Once we got back home, Katie flew up the path to the door, eager to see Kyra. They had always been close, despite Kyra always being a bit more aloof. Katie was very much a heart-on-her-sleeve girl, which I always admired about her. She could never really hide her emotions.
"I guess I'll be the one bringing your luggage in?" I called after her wryly as she hustled inside.
She turned, not breaking her stride, and waved with a "Thanks Dad!"
Chuckling to myself, I hauled her bags up the stairs and into her room. I could already hear the two girls gabbing away in Kyra's room, and it made me realize how much I missed hearing it; it was the sound of home, the run-of-the-mill kind of thing that you treasure once it's gone. I lingered in Katie's room, taking in her decor, her dresser, her bed. Before she left she made us promise we wouldn't touch a thing, as it was
her
room, and we dutifully kept that promise. Not that I would ever tell her, but when I missed her this past year, I would come in and sit, taking in all her little decorative idiosyncrasies, as if it brought me closer to her somehow.
"Don't tell me you moved things around in here," Katie said with a grin, her head appearing at the door.
I held my hands up in a mock-innocent pose. "Haven't touched a thing! I would never want to suffer your wrath," I said.
She giggled and began to slowly meander around her room, as if discovering it for the first time, inspecting her paraphernalia with the interest of a curious museum patron. She really did look remarkably like Alison, but as I watched her move I became aware that she had more of a lithe and slender figure. I noticed how her jeans hugged her hips closely, and it seemed to me that she had developed a...fuller figure in the time since I had seen her last. It was quite noticeable in that particular outfit.
I became acutely aware that I was leering at my own daughter. In an effort to get ahead of potentially getting caught, I spoke up in a silly tone. "Is everything up to the exacting standards of our sweet Katie-bear?"
"Daaaaaaad," she complained, rolling her eyes. "That's such a ridiculous name, why are you still calling me that?"
"It's Dad law, I get to call you whatever I want. And hey, you called me Daddy earlier! So we're even," I said, smiling and approaching her, pulling her in for another hug. "I'm so glad you're back, honey."
She closed her eyes and stayed in my arms, the two of us basking in the moment, my hands around her lower back, hers draped around my neck. "Me too, Daddy. I really missed you. A lot." She looked up at me, her beautiful eyes the picture of contentment. She slowly brought her face to mine, planting a soft kiss on my cheek, before smiling at me and leaving the room.
I had been about to tease her again for using the term Daddy yet again, but I was struck speechless by her kiss. Not the fact that she gave me one; she had been doing that for years and I was very comfortable with it, but it just felt like there was something more to it. It seemed less affectionate, and more...sensual. Did it linger slightly?
I shook my head, telling myself I was reading into things that weren't there, and made my way downstairs.
We all sat at our dining room table, eating dinner as a family for the first time in months. I looked at Katie and Kyra sitting in their usual places, Alison across from me, and felt unfettered happiness. Though I knew they were growing up, this felt like how things should be. Like everything was blessedly
right
, even if just for a little while.
"So, how did exams go, Katie?" asked Alison as we tucked into our meals.
"They were tough, but I managed to study pretty well. Really glad they're over. Should get my marks soon, hope they're all right," she said with a little trepidation.
"I'm sure you'll do just fine, sweetie, you always do," I said, rubbing her arm reassuringly.
"Thanks, Dad."
"You always hit the books too hard, Katie. You've gotta remember to have fun when you're at school!" Kyra teased, pointing with her fork.
"Uhhh, ok, says the girl on the Dean's List the last two years," Katie retorted.
