A few days later, they went to the airport to pick up their friends.
"Here they come."
Simon leaned against the railing, gesturing toward the arrivals gate with his chin.
Clara followed his gaze and saw Emily pushing two large suitcases out of the terminal.
Daniel followed close behind her, pushing a cart stacked with three more bags. To any outsider, it looked like they were moving across the country.
Bringing up the rear was Noah.
He carried only a simple backpack, looking incredibly relaxed compared to the couple burdened with all the luggage.
"Clara!"
Emily shouted from fifty feet away. She pulled off her sunglasses, hooked them onto her collar, abandoned her suitcase, and practically tackled Clara.
"I missed you so much! Look, did I get a tan?"
Clara patted her back, nearly breathless from the tight squeeze. "No, you just look even more beautiful."
"Damn right." Emily let her go and looked down at Felix.
The little boy was wearing overalls and a yellow bucket hat. He looked up at her and greeted them sweetly, "Emily, Daniel, Daddy Noah."
Noah walked over, bent down, and scooped Felix up, tossing him lightly in the air. "It's only been a few weeks. How did you get so heavy?"
"I'm not heavy," Felix whispered, wrapping his arms around Noah's neck defensively. "I'm just wearing extra clothes."
Noah laughed out loud and kissed his cheek. "Alright, our Felix has just grown taller, that's all."
Daniel stood to the side, pushing the luggage cart. His gaze swept over the scene, paused on Clara's face for a split second, and then shifted away without a word.
"Let's get to the car," Simon corralled them. "With all this luggage, the trunk is barely going to close."
Everyone pitched in to load the bags.
Once inside the car, Emily insisted on squeezing into the middle row next to Clara.


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