Part 2: The Departure Gate
Making our way through the crowded airport without Brandon seeing us proved much harder than I had expected. We arrived extra early to keep our distance, keeping our heads low as we navigated the busy terminal filled with travelers.
“Stay close to me, Toby,” I whispered, holding his small hand tightly as we passed coffee shops and newsstands.
Suddenly, Toby tugged hard on my coat sleeve, his voice squeaking with excitement. “Mom! Look right over there!”
“Shh, keep your voice down,” I urged, bending down toward him.
“MOM!” he insisted, pointing straight across the wide hallway. “It’s Dad!”
I followed his finger and felt my heart drop into my stomach. Brandon was walking across the terminal in his full pilot uniform, carrying his black luggage only thirty feet from where we stood.
“Quick, in here!” I whispered frantically, grabbing Toby’s wrist and pulling him into the nearest gift shop.
