The weather was turning cooler, the changing of seasons was one of the things Gabriela would have to get used to. As she and the dog jogged out of the house, Gabriela began her usual consideration of what still had to be done for the wedding. Only a couple months and she’s be Mrs. Gabriela Hawkins.
Despite feeling silly, she giggled.
“Hello Gabriela,” a woman jogging in the opposite direction called out. It took a minute to realize it was her nail technician.
“Hi Brenda,” Gabriela replied slowing to a stop so they could speak. “Do you live near here?”
“About a mile that way,” Brenda pointed. “You?”
Gabriela motioned to the condominiums. “Over there.”
They chatted inconsequential things, ending with Brenda inviting her and Jeremy for dinner the following day and Gabriela alone for a girls’ night out at a new local martini bar.
As Gabriela continued her jog, she couldn’t help feeling optimistic about the future.
Chapter Fourteen
December
This time the arrival at the Missoula airport was so different than the first time Gabriela had come to do a story of a winter festival in a place she’d never even considered visiting. This time she was waiting for passengers disembarking instead of fighting her way out. She looked toward the stairway waiting for her family, excitement bubbling.
It had been several months since seeing her mother, Nana and brother. Her father had already made a couple trips. First trip, he helped her drive there, and the second trip was to spend time with Jeremy and her soon to be father-in-law on a fishing trip.
She’d lived there for over half a year and it was definitely the best decision of her life. Already she’d started a book club with a group of local women. She was involved in a wine tasting club and she had an office that looked out onto Main Street in downtown Missoula.
Although technically she didn’t need an office, it was easier for her to adjust to a slower life by going somewhere busier than the quiet street where she and Jeremy lived.
Now that she rented a small office space, she not only continued writing for the online magazine, but she’d also been hired as an editor for the local city magazine, which conveniently had its offices in the same building. They’d loved her experience in writing and explained they needed someone with fresh eyes to write about the town’s social scene.
A group of loud people came from the parking area and bustled to where Gabriela stood. A red-faced woman glared at who Gabriela assumed was her husband. “I told you we’d be late. I bet the plane has already landed.”
The group looked at the lighted arrivals board, all of them speaking at once about which flight whoever they were there to greet was on.
Gabriela moved away from them when one of the men proceeded to pick his nose and rub his fingers on his pants leg.
The same man pointed to where passengers were appearing. “Here they come now.”
The group moved forward, effectively blocking Gabriela’s view of the doorway. She shifted from one side to the other, but they were rather large people.
“Excuse me.” She tapped a woman’s shoulder. “I can’t see.”
“It’s not a parade honey, you’ll be okay,” the woman screamed more than said. The same woman shoved one of her own group out of her way. “I can’t see either. Move!”
Someone came up behind Gabriela and jabbed her arm. “Excuse me lady, I can’t see with all of you in the way.”
Gabriela blew out a breath and decided to go stand by the baggage claim. Her heel caught on something and she fell backward. Out of pure reaction, she grabbed the woman in front of her who immediately lost her balance too.
A man in the group tried to catch them, but instead of helping, they pulled him down with them.
Thankfully, Gabriela landed on something soft. Possibly, the person who’d tapped her on the shoulder. Unfortunately, two rather large people fell on top of her making it difficult to breathe.
“Need assistance?”
Above her, Jeremy’s face came into focus. “You really need to stay out of airports.” He pulled her to her feet while people helped with the others.
“You made me fall,” the red-faced woman shouted at the same man she’d been irritated with earlier. “All you had to do was hold my arm, not do whatever you did.”
The group lost interest in the fall when someone called out a name and everyone rushed to greet their person.
“Don’t tell my family what happened. They always rib me about being so accident prone.”
Laughter broke out and she turned to find Nana in the center of the rambunctious group looking at someone’s cellphone.
“You’re a hoot,” her Nana said, wiping tears from her eyes. “All that’s visible is a leg and your hair. It could be me.”
“My Nana thinks they’re here to greet her,” Gabriela said hurrying to retrieve her grandmother.
The drive from the airport was uneventful. Jeremy drove her father and brother and she her Nana and mother. All the way, they discussed last minute wedding items that needed to be done. The entire time, Gabriela couldn’t stop grinning. It was a happy time.
This was actually going to work out. Her family would come to Montana often. As a matter of fact, her brother already had plans to come in the spring to help with ranching. Juanito was always up for exploring new adventures.
Her parents and Jeremy’s were negotiating traveling back and forth and exchanging homes, depending on the seasons. Her parents wanted to come up and experience a white winter, while the Hawkins’s were excited about a milder San Diego one.
“What the hell is that?” her Nana called out pointing. “Is that a naked man? Pull over. Stop the car.”
Gabriela slowed down and then brought the car to a stop.
“Henry, what the hell are you doing?”
Nana got out and rushed to the
