Daniel and Spencer load our luggage into the car ànd we leave for the airport.
We have an early flight so we should be in Jamaica by noon, he allowed me to make all the arrangements this time around so we'll be flying economy and staying in an Air BnB fifteen minutes from my parent's house. No one knows we're coming so technically this is a surprise and I'm anxious about how things will go with him and my dad.
After the exhausting airport process, we decide to grab some McDonald's.
"Welcome to McDonald's, What can I get for you today?"
The question repulses me immediately, my appetite became non-existent and for a moment my mind felt stuck.
She'll have a McGriddle with Orange Juice and I'll have an orange juice as well.
We cash out orders grab our food and get seated.
It was finally dawning on me, the last time I was in Jamaica it happened, the entire Shebang with Andrew, another thing I don't need on my mind to be worrying about but here I am, the life of an overthinker.
"You okay?"
"Yeah..no"
"What's on your mind? You know you can talk to me"
"Andrew" I whisper
"What about him?"
"This...this is the first time since it...this is just bringing all-- the idea of this trip is triggering"
"Babe, I got you. He's gone, he's not coming back, you're fine, we're fine....here gimme your hand....close your eyes, breathe, trust the sound of my voice, you're safe... now let's go to paradise"
//
Our flight boarding commences and as we get closer to our seats I slightly regret not letting him handle all of this, leaving it up to me to get us middle and aisle seats.
"After you madam" he teased pointing to the middle seat
Uh-Ummm...
What? These are our seats... right? He asks sarcastically
They're but...
You don't wanna sit in the middle" he questions
Not really, no.
He shakes his head as he takes the seat...
The things I do for love"
OMG, you're so dramatic
Just say you'll let me book our flight back,
Deal
It doesn't matter how many times I fly I always get anxious on flights, I take my seat strap myself in, close my eyes and begin whispering a little prayer, as I do I feel his hand cup mine and our fingers entwine.
Let's just get this over with...
Immigration, customs, the entire works, we're finally on Jamaican soil together.
As we step outside the airport to find our taxi the melting sun pierces my skin and I know for certain I'm home.
In true Jamaican style, our first stop after leaving the airport is KFC
Can I get a barbeque zinger box barbeque leg as the extra piece and a fruit punch juice
"Barbeque zinger finish"
No barbeque zinger? Then why unno open? I mumble to myself before agreeing to get the spicy instead, I look over at Daniel whose answer I already know, and ask
"Would you like anything?"
"Do they have any salads?"
"Really Dan"
We drive for about 45 minutes in traffic before arriving at our air BnB.
The view from the Airbnb made up for the flight and after convincing Dan I was jet lagged from the flight we decided to visit my parents tomorrow.
The next day
I can't believe I've been in the country an entire day without my family finding out but Today I get to awkwardly introduce the love of my life to my very overprotective dad and my anxiety is through the roof.
As we sit outside my parent's house in the car I feel my organs being rearranged inside my body and as grown as I am, I just want to turn back and run away.
Daniel exits first then he walks around the car and opens my door,
"Are you ready?"
"Now or never...right?"
"We can spin the block one more time...wanna do this again tomor-
"Hello? Can I help you?" My mom's voice yells from the verandah
and while it did ignite a bit more fear in my bones it also calmed me, I am home, there's nowhere else id rather be no matter how sticky or scarier this situation is
"Uh-um..Hi... I'm Dan-
Okay here goes nothing, I exit the car and the moment my mom sees me she starts screaming and hurriedly opening the grill....it hasn't even been that long but I'm happy she's happy, I run up to the grill and greet her, she pulls me into the warmest hug and boyyy did I miss these.
After about five minutes of her holding me too tightly, she finally releases her embrace and turns to greet Dan...
"So I finally get to put a name to the face?...hello"
"Hi, Nice to meet you, Mrs. Williams"
"Likewise, come in, come in"
"So shan, how uh neva tell me, uh coming? Everything okay?"
"Yes mommy, everything is fine, Daniel's just wanted to meet you guys before we get married"
"Den how Tamera never tell me this? You know she can't keep water, and me talk to her up to dis morning"
"She didn't know, not even Yanique knows...we wanted to surprise you"
"Well me surprise, that's good though, hope you here for a long time, bwoy me miss you"
she says before pulling me into another warm embrace
"Yes mommy, we'll be here for a while...I missed you too"
"That's good, that's good, now come get some food in your belly, I know you must be hungry after the journey
"How's the big man?"
"Him alright, you know how him stay already, always working"
"Yes, I know...mek we call tam dem"
I conference call my siblings and Yanique
"Hey
Hi
Yo
What's up?
Their greetings echo one by one,
"What's up?" I ask casually
"Nothing, deh here
Wait shan - dah background looks familiar, where are you? Tia asks
Ummm- well...you know" I tease before showing my mom in the camera frame.
Me deh pah me way a come a country right now" Yanique screams.
A so you gwaan Shan? Kev asks and I flip the camera showing them Daniel devouring the plate of food my mom snuck him at some point.
"Bloodclaaat....sorry mommy"
Watch ya"
A wedding time already?
Calm down guys...one at a time...I chuckle
"When are you leaving?
I don't know yet.
Okay, good. We a come a country weekend then"
"Great, me cyaa wait"
"Me too, sista gyal, me happy seh uh deh yah but me deh pan the plantation so mi affi guh call you back later"
"Okay, talk to you later.
The excitement ends and mommy starts her 21 questions for Daniel, I honestly don't mind because I know my dad will be way more intense.
"A which white man dissa inna me house?"
Hey, my babies! My dolls! I miss writing but honestly things have been so hectic lately, I promised myself ill only be giving yall the best this year so my editing and revision process does take more time now....anyways, Thank you, guys, for reading, and please don't forget to vote, share and follow the book on insta @1capture_d...Love youuuu🥹