Chapter 3 - The Ocean's Invitation
While Betsy was being ushered toward the driveway,
Naomi was standing in the VIP lounge of the airport.
She looked at her parents,
who were still whispering to each other,
wondering if they had done something wrong.
"Mom,
Dad,"
she said,
kneeling in front of them and taking their hands.
"We aren't going back to the town tonight."
Walter looked confused,
his brow furrowed.
"But Naomi,
we don't want to be a burden on you and Lucas."
"Your mother-in-law is right,
we don't fit in at those fancy lake houses."
Naomi felt a fresh wave of anger,
not at them,
but at the poison Betsy had injected into their hearts.
"You aren't a burden,"
she said,
her voice firm and filled with love.
"You are the reason I am who I am."
"And we are going to Key West."
"I’ve booked a private villa where the only people allowed inside are the four of us."
"No drama,"
"no insults,"
"just the ocean and the sun."
Lucas walked over,
holding four first-class boarding passes.
He hugged Nancy,
who finally allowed a few tears to fall.
"I’m done letting her treat you this way,"
Lucas said,
looking at his wife with a sense of pride.
"I’ve spent too long being the 'good son' while she was being a terrible person."
The announcement for their flight echoed through the lounge,
and for the first time that day,
Walter smiled.
"I’ve never seen the ocean in Florida,"
he admitted,
his eyes brightening with a childlike wonder.
"Then it’s about time,"
Naomi replied,
leading them toward the gate.
As they walked onto the plane,
the luxury of the cabin felt different this time.
It wasn't a show for social media.
It wasn't a way to prove status.
It was a gift of comfort for two people who had spent their lives sleeping on old mattresses so their daughter could have a better life.
Naomi watched as her father marveled at the reclining seat,
his rough hands touching the soft leather with reverence.
She opened her laptop one last time before takeoff.
She saw a notification from the Pinecrest property manager.
"Guests have been removed from the premises."
"The property is now locked."
She leaned back in her seat,
the hum of the jet engines sounding like a victory song.
She looked at Lucas,
who was already showing Nancy how to use the entertainment system.
The baggage from the dumpster was heading to paradise,
May you like
while the designer luggage was left on the curb.
The world was finally right-side up.
