Airport woes.
Andy did a lot of things slower than usual that morning. Breakfast was eating slower than usual. He showered and dressed in a slower than normal fashion even though his close where set out. He held his wife just a bit longer than usual. He pet his dog just a little bit long than usual. He didn't feel reluctant; he knew he made the right choice to go to Jakarta. He just wanted to savor the morning. Too many mornings would pass between now and the next time he'd be able to spend a morning holding his wife in groggy silence.
He had to do this. He had to know he could survive without Lauren and she without him. They were going to have son. If something happened to either one of them the surviving parent couldn't let himself die too. The surviving parent would need to be able to talk care of both himself and their son. It was one of the hardest things Andy would ever do but he would do it. He would come back and their relationship would be stronger than ever. He would work hard, but he had also decided that traveling for chunks of time for stories would not be something he would continue to do. This was a one time deal.
When Andy was an unmarried man, he would have jumped at the chance to learned about another culture and teach others about their conflicts, problems, and victories. He tried to keep that mantra in mind when when thinking about this trip to Jakarta. It would be incredible experience. An unforgettable once in a life time experience, no doubt. Still, it hurt a lot to have to go. Andy was no longer excited about having invaluable once in a lifetime experiences without Lauren there to share them with him. At least things with Sela weren't as bad as he anticipated. He was actually enjoying spending time around her, like she was an old friend. It was nice and would make the trip better.
They reached the airport in plenty of time. His suitcase was checked and his backpack securely on his back. They even had time for a cup of coffee before he had to go to the gate. He ordered a large coffee for both Lauren and himself. He held Lauren in his lap, his hand resting on her belly.
"This is the one time that buying me coffee isn't going to make things better," Lauren pouted.
Andy chuckled and kissed her softly. He caught a curvy olive skinned figure in the corner of his eye. "Sela!" He called out, not noticing his wife's crumpled brow. He caught his colleague just before she walked off. "Sela, come here and sit with us!"
"Hello," Sela said politely as she approached. Andy did quick introductions. "I've got to make a quick phone call. I'll see you at the gate, Andrew." Andy nodded and quickly turned back to kissing his wife.
He stayed with Lauren 20 minutes later until the announcement for his flight was made. He kissed both Lauren and the baby (Lauren's belly) goodbye, promising that Papa Bear would be back soon.
He boarded the plane and closed his eyes once he was settled in his seat next to Sela. They would be in Jakarta in just about 12 hours, 8 on a plane, 4 spent on a layover in Hong Kong. It felt like a long trip already.
He had to do this. He had to know he could survive without Lauren and she without him. They were going to have son. If something happened to either one of them the surviving parent couldn't let himself die too. The surviving parent would need to be able to talk care of both himself and their son. It was one of the hardest things Andy would ever do but he would do it. He would come back and their relationship would be stronger than ever. He would work hard, but he had also decided that traveling for chunks of time for stories would not be something he would continue to do. This was a one time deal.
When Andy was an unmarried man, he would have jumped at the chance to learned about another culture and teach others about their conflicts, problems, and victories. He tried to keep that mantra in mind when when thinking about this trip to Jakarta. It would be incredible experience. An unforgettable once in a life time experience, no doubt. Still, it hurt a lot to have to go. Andy was no longer excited about having invaluable once in a lifetime experiences without Lauren there to share them with him. At least things with Sela weren't as bad as he anticipated. He was actually enjoying spending time around her, like she was an old friend. It was nice and would make the trip better.
They reached the airport in plenty of time. His suitcase was checked and his backpack securely on his back. They even had time for a cup of coffee before he had to go to the gate. He ordered a large coffee for both Lauren and himself. He held Lauren in his lap, his hand resting on her belly.
"This is the one time that buying me coffee isn't going to make things better," Lauren pouted.
Andy chuckled and kissed her softly. He caught a curvy olive skinned figure in the corner of his eye. "Sela!" He called out, not noticing his wife's crumpled brow. He caught his colleague just before she walked off. "Sela, come here and sit with us!"
"Hello," Sela said politely as she approached. Andy did quick introductions. "I've got to make a quick phone call. I'll see you at the gate, Andrew." Andy nodded and quickly turned back to kissing his wife.
He stayed with Lauren 20 minutes later until the announcement for his flight was made. He kissed both Lauren and the baby (Lauren's belly) goodbye, promising that Papa Bear would be back soon.
He boarded the plane and closed his eyes once he was settled in his seat next to Sela. They would be in Jakarta in just about 12 hours, 8 on a plane, 4 spent on a layover in Hong Kong. It felt like a long trip already.