Petrichor: Chapter 2

SERENA

During the last five years in hiding, we lived on the coastal side of Colombia, in Palomino. It was a smaller town on the Carribean where the population was small and the cost of living was low since the city it resided in was a magnet for hurricanes. Fortunately for me and the boys, a close family friend of mine had offered up his fortress up in the hills as a safe place to stay in until it was time for us to head back to Texas.

Today was that day, and I wasn't looking forward to it at all.

Knowing Vince had gone ahead to explain everything to my ex-husband before we landed eased the tension building up inside of me, but it didn't wash it away completely. I had no idea how to handle this, and I was in full panic mode inside. No one looking at me right now on this plane would notice. I kept everything that resembled emotion locked inside of me unless I was left alone with my boys. They're the only ones I softened up for now.

Despite being apart from their dad for the last five years, I made sure they knew all they needed to know about him. I showed them pictures and home videos I had saved up on my personal computer when they were old enough to understand what they were seeing. They were at an age where they asked about him often and now that the Thea situation was finally put to bed, they had the chance to get to know their father in person.

Turning towards them, I smiled as Zander bopped his head to the music he was listening to on my iPod, his sunglasses popping off his face with each head movement, and Zach continued to listen to the audio children's book I had on my phone. It was the only way to keep them still until we got off this long flight. Which would be in about ten minutes according to the pilot announcing his instructions through the speakers.

"Mami, can I have more jolly ranchers? The red ones please," Zander asked politely, pulling off his earphones as he displayed his father's cheesy smile to persuade me against my better judgement. His impulsive behavior resembled his father's more than my own, while Zach held more of my smart mouth and honesty. Both of them on the same page was catastrophic but they were still good boys, despite their mother not knowing what the hell she was doing half the time.

"Once we get off the plane, you can have one. Maybe two if you keep being cute," I explained as I covered his face with kisses, making him groan as he pushed me away.

"Okay, okay!" he whined and put his earphones in one by one, resuming his music listening. Glancing over at Zach, I noticed he had slumped back into his seat, succumbing to his narcolepsy. I'd read up a lot on the disorder, which was linked to premature babies. They tended to have more of the sleeping disorders than most babies, and both of mine unfortunately had them. Zander's wasn't as dangerous as Zach's was but Insomnia did lead to other critical things such as depression and anxiety. I'd had a hard time dealing with both of them when they were diagnosed three years ago, but we've managed to get it under control with medications and regularly scheduled naps.

There was so much their father had missed and I already felt the exhaustion of that conversation giving me a headache. I expected nothing but his hatred and I was prepared for it. I numbed myself so much emotionally and mentally that I could take any heated words thrown my way without a flinch. I just hoped everyone else could at least welcome my boys with open arms. I didn't need it as much as they did. They'd been eager to meet their uncle Freddy and Michael, and Marley too. I'd shown them pictures of them as well, told them funny stories about them all as their sleeping aids at night.

They were excited to meet them. I only knew I wouldn't receive the same kind of greeting from the rest of the group.

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The plane touched down 20 minutes ago, and the boys were already fishing for the snack in their backpacks. They knew better than to take one without asking permission first. After the frequent stomach aches they suffered from eating too many sweets, they finally figured out I only nagged for their own good.

"One. Just one, okay boys?" I reminded them, and they both nodded obediently as they snickered and traded sweets on our way to the luggage ramps. They helped me pull them off the rubber ramp and dragged them behind as we headed towards the exit of the airport. I felt the light spring breeze brush my skin as we finally stepped into Texas air and Zach handed me my phone when he saw me fishing for it in my back pocket. I sent him a wink as I dialed Vinson's number. He was supposed to be our ride back to Pasadena but I couldn't find him in this crowd.

As soon as I heard the roaring sound of my favorite car nearby, I smirked and turned to see my old mustang pulling up in front of us. I'd missed this car. It had a lot of great memories in it. Granted they were mostly sexual, but it still counted.

"Whoa! I love this car!" Zander exclaimed as he hypnotically touched the newly washed doors of the vehicle and I pulled at the back of his t-shirt before he obliviously began to walk into the middle of the busy airport road. His wolfish grin made my heart melt as he placed his arms around my legs, getting ready to ask if he could have more candy.

"No. Go help your brother get in the car," I ordered and he pouted as I kissed his forehead, then pulled away so he could help his drowsy brother into the backseat of the car. Vince killed the engine temporarily and stepped out to help me put the luggage in the trunk. I hadn't seen him since the trial started but he called every night to make sure we were okay. I also knew he was waiting for an answer I simply didn't have yet. Yes, we had a one night stand months ago. Yes, I knew he wanted more. But I'd always been upfront about what this thing between us was. I made sure he knew I'd given too much of myself to the wrong person and I had nothing left in me to make anyone but my kids happy.

"How was the flight?" he asked, pushing the luggage into the trunk, trying to make it all fit. I had twin boys who outgrew their clothes almost every month. The last money transfer Aaron had sent me from my personal savings account was mostly spent. Luckily, my business had blossomed to its capacity since I'd left, thanks to Aaron, and the money I invested had tripled during my sabbatical. But I wasn't ready to get back to work just yet. I still had to decide how to tell Daniel we weren't planning on staying. Then there was the issue of the custody battle I knew we were bound to go through.

My migraine was getting worse by the second.

"Not too bad. They slept through most of it," I answered, yawning as he escorted me to the passenger's side of my car, and opened the door for me. I stepped inside, strapping myself in as he closed the door and I turned to make sure the boys were strapped in as well.

"Are you guys excited?" I asked with some enthusiasm. Fake enthusiasm, but enthusiasm nonetheless. I had to put on a brave face in front of them. They had no idea how exhausting keeping the truth from them was. I hadn't told them why we had to wait so long to see their daddy. I simply promised them that we would one day. They were five now, soon to be six and easily distracted, but I knew they'd been anxiously waiting for me to keep my promise.

"Yesss! Are we going to eat first, Mami? My tummy is making funny noises," Zander inquired, rubbing his flat stomach as he fixed his sunglasses. I envied that little shithead. He ate twice as much as his father ever did and managed not to gain a single extra pound.

"Yeah! Mine too! Can we get this many fries? And this many cheeseburgers?" Zach chimed in next, counting with his fingers until both of his hands were up in the air. These boys were going to make me broke in a week.

"Let's make a deal first," I began, while Vince stepped into the driver's seat and closed the door as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, "you guys take your naps now and when you wake up, we'll get you some food. Okay?"

"Okay!" they shouted simultaneously and slumped into their seats as they closed their eyes and the loud lull of the engine put them sleep quicker than anticipated. I settled back into my own seat and rested my temple against the window as we drove passed the country side of Pasadena.

"He's excited to see you all," Vince mentioned quietly, careful not to wake up the boys. My ears perked up at the news, but I didn't get my hopes up. Five seconds in a room with Daniel was all we needed for our tempers to flare up. I was expecting an explosion when we finally see each other again.

"Yeah, for now," I scoffed, and reached for my phone, which had fallen out of Zach's hands when he fell asleep.

"You're worried about the rest of them," he concluded and I shrugged, knowing the kind of welcome home funeral I was going to get when they found out I was back.

"Are you heading back to Arizona now that the investigation is over?" I changed the subject, not willing to dive into my issues with my friends, or the people who used to be my friends. I wasn't so sure they'd be so friendly towards me anymore.

"Well, I have some vacation time coming up. I can stick around if you'd like," he offered, looking in the rear view mirror first before reaching for my hand. I'd made it a rule that we weren't allowed to show any kind of affection in front of the boys. I didn't want them to get confused, or angry or anything in between. Vince and I weren't serious. It was simply banter and actions of the sexual kind behind closed doors. And the boys already had a father. And he was going to be a pissed off one too, if he found out about what happened between me and Vince. It had only been that one time, but it was more than likely to happen again if he stuck around long enough, since I planned on keeping my distance from Daniel. I didn't want to cause him anymore pain. We'd done enough of that to each other. The cycle didn't need to continue now that we weren't married anymore.

"It's up to you, Detective Mercy. No pressure," I replied, my lips curving into a smile as he grinned with happiness.

"Up to me, huh? I love it when I'm in control," he teased and I rolled my eyes at his innuendo, while my cheeks burned from recalling the last time he was in control. Our lips ended up in very compromising positions, followed by our bodies and then we promised each other it would never happen again while we collapsed into each other's arms. No words were spoken about that night until now and I hated that I secretly wanted another night like that to happen again. Just to help me forget about the world if only for a little while.

"The old farmhouse, you know where it is? I'm not familiar with Texas country," Vince asked and I tried to ignore the memories of that place while I gave him the instructions. We stopped by what-a-burger for the boys when they woke up, then headed to the old farmhouse, taking back roads and taking in the scenic route. I hadn't expected to be this nervous when we pulled into the driveway, but I began to swallow hard when I saw Daniel's truck parked in front of us and took a breath as Vince killed the engine, and patted my shoulder carefully, making it more of a friendly gesture in front of the boys.

"Just let the boys ease you both into it. Everything else will fall into place," he advised and I nodded as I unstrapped myself from my seat and turned to face the boys.

"Mouths clean?" I asked my little soldiers.

"Yes!"

"Hands clean?"

"Yes, Mami!" they shouted in unison again and I chuckled as they quickly unbuckled their seatbelts and began to fight over who was going to pull the door open for me. I raised them to be gentlemen, and they know what kind of punishments awaited them if they decided to be anything but how their Mamma raised them. Vince had convinced them they could all open the door for me and I couldn't help but laugh when the three of them pulled at the door and helped me get out of the car.

"I'll get the luggage," Vince offered and I nodded a thank you towards him as I began to straighten their navy blue buttoned down shirts and made sure their belts weren't making their pants sag down.

"That's him right? That's Daddy? Can we hug him now?" Zach's words made my hands shake, but I took a deep breath, put my big girl panties on and placed my hands behind me as I turned to face Daniel.

Fuckfuckfuckfuck!

Leave it to Daniel to make me feel like the world was spinning below me with just one look. He kept his penetrating stare on me briefly as he approached us, then tried to keep his watering eyes in check as he lowered himself to Zach and Zander's height and smiled at them. They both turned to look at me, as if they needed permission to hug their own father.

"Go on. Give him the biggest hug you can for me," I ordered and they turned towards him, wrapping their arms around him tight, while their father sighed in relief, holding them tighter in his embrace as he stared up at me again.

He had a lot to say. Those damn eyes of his were telling me that much. The only thing I didn't see in them was the fury I had pictured in them all this time and it almost made this moment, five years in the making, that much more unbearable.