Tonight we fly out to Toulouse, France for Tess's university graduation. Today is also June 28, which means that Sebastian is two months old.
I packed the children's things yesterday and I'm only halfway through my own packing when Sebastian's cries reach my ears from the room next door. I sigh and start to get up from the stool in my wardrobe but before I can, I hear Hazel's soft voice singing a poem and soon after the crying stops.
I smile to myself and then return to my packing. Hazel joins me soon after.
"Seb was crying but now he's sleeping again." She proudly informs me.
"Thank you for helping, mommy." I smile and kiss her cheeks, "My phone is in Sebastian's room, can you call daddy and ask when he'll get home?"
She leaves to call Daniel and I finish packing my things. Hazel tells me that he'll be home in an hour. I'm zipping up my suitcase just as gets home. I leave the bedroom so that he has space to pack his things.
With Hazel's help I pack a separate small suitcase full of Seb's essentials: diapers, wipes, formula milk , milk bottles and bibs to protect his clothes. We'll only be there for four days but you can never have enough baby products. Then I pack his carrier bag for the flight and to carry around with us while we're in Paris.
Daniel joins me soon after.
"All the packing is done." He informs me and I nod, "Yup. I just need you to have Hazel and Sebastian's strollers taken out. I think Hazel's is in the white BMW and Seb's in the Audi."
"On it." He says, heading for the front door.
We have a late lunch of burgers and then Daniel heads off to shower and change for the flight so that he can get some work done while Hazel and I get ready.
While he's doing that I feed Sebastian and then change his diaper. Then I change him into the dark green romper that Hazel and I picked out for him. By this time Daniel has come out so I hand Seb over to him and watch father and son head to the library before I head for Hazel's room.
I send Hazel in to shower and then help her pick out pants and a shirt that she can sleep in on the plane. Once Hazel's ready, I leave her to spend time with Vanessa and head off to get changed myself.
An hour later, a driver loads the suitcases and strollers into a car and drives them to the airport. We're delayed half an hour since Sebastian throws up milk all over Daniel's shirt and then Hazel has a hard time saying goodbye to Vanessa.
But finally an hour later we reach the airport and Daniel drives the car up to the runway where the private jet awaits.
By the time we take off it's almost 11p.m. and Hazel falls asleep immediately after. Sebastian is sleeping in his carrier in the seat across from Hazel's. The air hostess brings me my coffee and I sit chatting with Daniel until we both fall asleep too.
I am the first one to wake up. There's sunlight coming in through the plane's windows. When I return from using the bathroom Daniel is also awake, feeding Sebastian milk from his bottle.
"How long till we land?" I ask him as I sit back down in my seat.
"An hour more." He says and I decide to wake up Hazel so that she can eat something before we land.
Hazel offers no resistance as she's eager to look out the window. I share a bagel with her and have coffee with it.
"We're about to begin descent." The copilot informs us.
When we step out of the plane, onto the runway. The sun is bright and sunny. It's perfect French summer weather.
A white Mercedes waits for us with the car seats that we ordered online already in the back. Daniel buckles in Sebastian while I help Hazel with hers. When Daniel gets in next to me, he hands me a sim card that I replace my American sim card with.
This gives me internet connectivity and I receive messages from mom. They arrived last night and have decided to go out for breakfast.
"Mom and dad are meeting Tess for breakfast. Are you up for joining them?" I ask Daniel who has begun to drive.
He nods, "I caught enough sleep on the plane to make it through breakfast."
I look up the name of the restaurant that mom sent me and see that it's right in the heart of Toulouse. It's a twenty minute drive from the airport. I notice that we're driving along the River Garonne and it's beautiful. There comes a point where we need to leave the car and go ahead on foot.
Daniel takes out the strollers and I place Sebastian in his as Daniel crouches in front of Hazel's and buckles her in. Once both the children are secure, I take out my sunglasses out of my purse and hand Daniel his as we start towards the rows of restaurant in the distance.
"Emma darling!" Mom calls out when she spots us.
"Hi!" I smile as she stands up to meet us. I accept her hug and then give dad a hug too.
"Sebastian!" Mom coos and lifts him out of the stroller as dad meets Hazel who for the first time doesn't shy away from them.
Then mom hands Sebastian to dad and holds out her arms, "Hazel! You big girl!"
"Hi grandma." Hazel smiles at mom.
Once everyone has met each other we take our seats. I'm at one head of the outdoor table and dad at the other. Sebastian's stroller is next to my chair and Hazel's highchair next to Daniel's seat who is sitting with dad. Mom sits to my one side and two chairs are empty for Tess and Phil.
We get coffees as we wait for them to arrive and catch each other up on our flights. Mom and dad complain about their flight and how first class didn't feel like first class since they had to put up with a crying baby the entire flight.
"If I ever take a commercial flight with Sebastian, I'm going to feel bad the entire time now." I sigh.
"Sebastian better be as good a baby as Hazel was." Mom smiles at Hazel.
"Hazel was an angel." I agree with her just as Hazel decides that it's too much praise so she leans over and buries her face into Daniel's shoulder.
Before we can start up our conversation again, the people graduating tomorrow arrive.
"Hi." Tess says, walking up to the table with Phil in tow. He looks nervous and for a good reason. It is Phil's first time meeting mom and dad in person.
Phil actually looks more confident than her as he shakes hands with my dad, "Mr. Kensinger."
And then turns to my mom who bypasses all formalities and pulls him into a hug. Then Phil greets Daniel and me.
"Congratulations on your son." He says us.
"Thank you." I smile at him as we sit down again.
"What does it feel like to finally get to meet your niece and nephew to be?" Mom asks him.
"I actually met Hazel in Paris." He smiles at her.
Suddenly I catch up with what mom said and look to Daniel who raises an eyebrow at me.
"Wait. Your nephew and niece?" I turn to Phil.
"I wanted to tell her in person." Tess quickly jumps in.
"Tell me what?" I ask her.
"That we're engaged." She says.
I stare at her for a second before I break into a smile, "You idiot! Why should've told me!"
She reaches over and gives me a hug, "I needed to see this reaction in person."
"Congratulations! This is a big step." Daniel congratulates the two of them.
"Thanks Daniel." Tess smiles.
"Lost one daughter to an American and now one to an English." Dad says out of nowhere making us all laugh.
"You didn't lose us to anyone. We're all still here." I remind him.
Tess adds, "Plus, we'll all be in Switzerland next summer."
"Why?" Mom and I ask at the same time.
I see dad and Daniel share a look and shake their heads, smiling.
"We've decided to get married in Bern." She announces.
Mom and I squeal and Tess quickly joins in. This time Phil shares a look with dad and Daniel. He's already part of the family.
I'd meant to post this chapter yesterday along with the next chapter but I have a cold and the next chapter is only half written. So, I thought I'd post this and then post the next one later :)
-T