Today was the day.
The day Katherine would board her first flight since having the twins. The first ti she would be apart from Nathan and Maya. Even if it was just for two nights, the thought of leaving them tugged uncomfortably at her chest.
Katherine stood in the hallway in front of a mirror, adjusting the collar of her blazer for the third ti. Felix appeared behind her in the reflection, his sleeves pushed up to his forearms as he zipped up her overnight suitcase.
"You good?" he asked.
Katherine turned and smiled faintly. "As good as soone about to leave her children for the first ti in five years can be."
He walked up beside her and gave her a small, reassuring nudge with his shoulder. "You’re going to do amazing. And I’ve got the twins. We’ll be best friends by the ti you get back. Or sworn enemies. Either way, we’ll survive."
Katherine laughed, tension easing off her face. "That’s what worries ."
Minutes later, they were in the car. The twins sat in the back, Nathan chatting about how his class was going to plant sunflowers today, and Maya humming a little song to herself as she hugged her plush bunny tightly. Felix drove with one hand on the wheel, the other draped casually over the gear shift, while Katherine sat up front, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
The car pulled to a gentle stop in front of the kindergarten building. "Okay," she said, crouching in front of them, her voice low and gentle. "Mommy has to go now, but I’ll be back before you grow too big without ."
Nathan grinned, puffing out his chest. "I won’t grow too big, I promise!"
Maya’s little brows furrowed. "But you’ll co back soon, right?"
"Of course," Katherine said, kissing her daughter’s forehead and then turning to Nathan to kiss his cheek. "I love you both *so* much."
"We love you too!" the twins chorused, hugging her tightly.
Thank God—no one cried.
Katherine stood up with a soft exhale and watched them skip toward the entrance, backpacks bouncing. A teacher greeted them with a friendly wave as they entered the building. Katherine stayed there for a mont, just watching until they were out of sight.
Then she returned to the car and slid into the passenger seat.
"Well," she said with a small smile as she pulled the seatbelt across her chest, "that wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be."
"Told you they’re tougher than they look." Felix glanced at her with a proud smirk. "So, ready for the aiport?"
She nodded, the smile still lingering at the corner of her mouth. "Yeah. I think it’s ti."
The city buildings rolled by in the windows as they neared the airport. It wasn’t a long trip—just an hour-long flight to a neighboring city where the convention was being held.
They reached the airport soon after, and Felix pulled into the drop-off lane, putting the car in park. For a mont, neither of them moved.
Katherine shifted in her seat and turned to him. "Okay, last ti—are you sure you’ve got everything morized?"
Felix held up a hand solemnly. "Scout’s honor."
"No sugary drinks after 8. Maya has to brush her teeth for a full minute, not ten seconds. Nathan always hides the second sock under the couch. Oh, and Maya gets scared if the nightlight in the hallway is off—"
"I know," Felix said patiently, nodding. "I’ve got it. All of it."
Katherine stared at him, her fingers twisting in her lap. "...Sorry. I’m just being—"
"—a great mom," Felix finished gently. "You’re being a great mom. Don’t apologize for caring."
That made her smile again, this ti more warmly. "Thanks."
He looked at her for a mont, then tilted his head slightly. "Are you really sure you want to go?"
She blinked. "What?"
"I an, we’re just at the airport," he said, gesturing around them. "You’re not on the plane yet. We can still turn back. I could co up with a great fake ergency."
Katherine narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you trying to sabotage my trip?"
He hesitated, then exhaled. "No. I just... I keep thinking. What if your ex-husband shows up? What if you run into him?"
Her body tensed slightly. She had already thought of that too.
There was a very real possibility that Leonard might be at the sa convention. But she had made a choice. She wasn’t the sa woman who used to flinch at his na.
"So what if he does?" she said, her voice calm. "Are you suggesting I should hide?"
Felix quickly shook his head. "Of course not. You’ve got more strength in your little finger than he ever had. I just... hate the thought of him being near you."
Katherine turned her gaze to him, touched by the concern in his eyes. "I can handle it. And you—" she reached over and poked his arm playfully "—you just focus on work and keeping the kids alive and making sure they don’t eat cookies for dinner."
He smirked. "No promises."
She laughed and began to unbuckle her seatbelt. "Co on, I should check in before they close the gate."
Felix stepped out and walked around to open the trunk, pulling out her small luggage. He t her on the curb, and for a mont, they stood there.
"You’ve got this," he said, reaching out to gently squeeze her shoulder.
Katherine smiled, then stepped into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thank you."
Felix hugged her tightly, his chin briefly resting against the top of her head. "I’ll text you pictures of everything. Even our dinner disasters."
"Just no blood, okay?" she mumbled into his chest.
"No blood," he promised.
They pulled apart, and Katherine turned, her suitcase trailing behind her as she walked toward the sliding airport doors. She glanced back only once, to see Felix standing on the curb, waving at her like a dad seeing off his kid to college.
She laughed quietly and waved back.
As the doors whooshed shut behind her, Katherine took a deep breath.
"Okay," she whispered to herself. "You’ve got this, Katherine."
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