20

                                    

                                          
"See me off tomorrow, won't you?" 
"What time do you leave?" 
"10 am sharp."
"We will meet at the airport, I will wait for you there." 
Ana true to her words, Elica finds her waiting for her at the airport in the morning. She's in a white dress shirt and gold sandals. Stylish prescription tinted sunglasses framing her face instead of her usual clear ones.  Eli closes her eyes trying to control the fire running through her as she sees her. 
"Are you sure those are enough bags you bought?" Ana asks seeing her luggage. 
"I asked her the same thing." Nadi pitches in. 
"Hi my babygirl, my loves." Ana hugs them. 
"It's not like I'm relocating there, it's just two weeks..." 
"Remember to take lots of pictures for us." Darina reminds her. 
"I will try... No promises though..." She smiles at her woman.
Nadi clings to her side as they wait for her flight to be called. "Mami and D will take care of you okay?" Eli rubs her back and Nadi looks at Ana and D before shying away and nodding her head. 
"I love you, be good okay? And remember to email your results to the institution when they come out alright kitten?" Eli softly speaks to Darina. 
"I will love. Thank you" 
Her flight number is called and she and Ana stare into each other's eyes before Ana simply hugs her. 
"It's only two weeks." Ana whispers. 
"I've never been away from you for more than three days ever since we got together..." Eli mumbles. 
"You will be fine." Ana quietly states. And for the first time, Eli feels like the roles between her and Nadi are reversed. She finds herself wanting to cry. Ana softly kisses her and let's go of her, letting D and Nadi do the same. 
"I love you." Eli tells all of them. 
"We love you too," they tell her as well. 
They watch as her plane takes off till it disappears. 
"Let's go get ourselves some milkshakes..." Ana announces lightening up the mood. 
They have some burgers and fries along with the milkshakes in town. Nadi has to go back to the house and change since she has an afternoon shift at the hospital. 
"I'm going to go and see Ethan and the kids like I said." D tells Nadi. 
"Let me drive you there." Nadi offers. 
"You will be late, it's fine, I will take a bus..." 
"I can take her... There's not much I'm busy with..." Ana speaks up. 
"Oh, thank you..." Darina says surprised. 
Nadi suddenly wishes she weren't going to work so she could go with them. 
On their way to Ethan's, Darina fills in Ana on the story of how she knows them. From Ethan, Zoe the youngest and to how Lorenzo would sell maize cobs next to her at the market. 
She hasn't been to their new place ever since they moved. 
When they arrive at the gate, they find Ethan, Lorenzo and Zoe waiting for them. 
Lorenzo throws himself at her immediately she sees her. 
"Ai ai Lorenzo! Still naughty as a puppy." She fondly shakes the boy's hair.