Chapter Seven
Jack’s heart was beating a mile a minute as he rubbed his sweaty palms together. The immigration line was long and some travelers were annoyed as they fanned themselves with paper or their hands. Leaving Dubai wasn’t a hassle like he thought it would be. They looked at his paperwork and let him go without any issues, but in the US, it was another story. Rabbo, flirted with the other American women behind him. They giggled at all his corny as jokes. He was conflicted about the decision he made to finally come home. Jack couldn’t stop thinking of his little girl Melissa. How would his family react when they saw him?
“Next.” It was finally his turn.
He needed to look relaxed, his answers needed to sound convincing and honest.
“Passport.” The lady stared at him as he handed her the documentation. “Mr. Moses Smith,” she said placing the booklet above the light. “What were you doing in Dubai?”
“Working.” He kept his answer simple. “Coming home to celebrate Christmas with my wife.”
“That's great.” She watched him closely.
Jack could hear his own heartbeat that's how nervous he was.
“How long will you be staying?”
“Not sure,” he answered truthfully.
“Scan your fingerprint on the light,” she instructed.
Jack prayed the skin tape he used worked. He pressed his thumb on the glass and it beeped.
“Can you do that again?” The CBP asked and then stopped him when the light turned green.
Jack glanced at the woman.
“I forgot my machine has been acting up today.”
He let out an internal sigh—that was fucking close.
She stamped his passport and handed him his documentation. “Have a great day, and Merry Christmas.”
“You too.” He grabbed his bag, and continued to customs. Jack presented his disembarkation card and gave up his bag to be searched by the agent.
The agent slipped on a pair of blue gloves and opened the gym bag then proceeded to search through his things. He had the envelope Kayla sent him tucked into the side pocket. The man inspected the envelope, holding up in the light. It seemed like some sort of picture. The agent positioned it back in its place and pulled out a velvet blue box he had in the side pocket.
“That's a piece of jewelry,” Jack spoke.
The guy ignored him and opened the box, exposing a three-carat solitaire ring. “Looks expensive.”
“It is.” Jack spent his entire paycheck on that ring. Kayla should have the finest things in life.
“Did you declare this?”
“Yes.” Jack pointed at the card. “It's a Christmas gift for my wife.”
“Lucky woman.” The agent watched him for a few seconds and then placed the box back in his bag. “Have a good day.”
“You too.” Jack wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “Shit,” he said under his breath as he continued following the flow of passengers to depart the airport. He waited outside for Rabbo, hoping he didn’t have any issues.
“I'll call you,” Rabbo said exiting the door laughing. “I told you it would work.” He grabbed his phone and dialed. “We're here.”
“Who did you call?” Jack asked.
“The only other person we trust besides Kayla,” his friend replied.
A black sedan parked in front of them and low and behold—Tammy exited the vehicle. “Well, well, welcome back to the land of the free,” she said walking over and hugging Jack.
He embraced her tightly, she was dear to him too. Tammy kept his secret and constantly sent Kayla money from him.
“It's been over two year and a half since I've seen you.” Tammy kept her promise to Kayla after that trip to Afghanistan and Dubai, she hadn’t been out of the US. “You look delicious...” She moved back and pinched his biceps.
“Watch out.” Rabbo stepped forward and gave Tammy a lingering kiss on her lips.
“Really?” She wiped her lips with her manicured fingertips. “This is not the place or the time. Aren't you coming home with me?”
“You know it.” Rabbo pinched her ass.
She smacked his hand and leaned back watching Jack. “I heard you're going to surprise my bestie, but first you need to make a stop,” Tammy handed him a set of car keys. “It's parked in lot A52.”
“Thank you.” Jack squeezed her fingers. “Please don’t tell her I'm here.”
“Believe me, I won't.” Her voice softened. “Jack, if you decide to go home and stay there, and never look back, Kayla won't hate you...” Tammy added. “She loves you, and knew this day would come. I mean how many times did she tell you to go back home?”
Jack didn’t answer, he just listened. Why did his friends assume he would abandon Kayla? “I'm going to try to make it for Christmas.” He walked away leaving them on the sidewalk.
~~~
Rabbo could tell something was wrong with Tammy, she’d been extra quiet. Her curly hair was up in a messy up do, wearing black shorts and a white tank top exposing her radiant dark skin. Every time he visited her, she couldn’t keep her hands to herself and now both hands were on her steering wheel instead of on him. It seemed she had a lot on her mind. Tammy should be happy he was here. He couldn’t resist her any longer, he gently moved a strand of her hair behind her ear and then gently pulled on her earlobe. “What's up?”
She turned her head his way, glancing at him through brown eyes for a few seconds. “Kayla's pregnant,” Tammy announced as they drove away from the airport.
Rabbo's bottom lip dropped in shock. “What?” He rushed to get his phone, and was about to dial his friend's number.
Tammy grabbed it. “No!” she blurted out. “This is her secret to tell him. Kayla wanted to surprise him on Christmas through video chat.”
“He should know,” he argued.
“He will.” Tammy placed his phone in the middle console. “Let him have his reunion with his loved ones without having to worry about Kayla and his unborn child. His family deserves to know he is alive.”
“They do, but he deserves to know that his family is getting bigger. How far along is she?”
Tammy twisted her mouth. “Well…”
“Tammy...”
“She's almost eight months.”
“What!” Stunned, Rabbo turned in his seat. “He needs to know.”
“He will soon.” Tammy continued driving on the highway. “They both are planning to surprise each other. If he comes back to her, then he'll be astonished and she will be flabbergasted.”
“What happens if he doesn’t come back?” Rabbo placed his hand on her brown bare thigh.
“Then we will have to intervene and let him know,” she sadly stated. “I don’t want Kayla to be second choice, but I totally understand if she is. Jack didn’t choose to leave his wife and daughter in the first place, that decision was taken from him years ago. So, if he decides to fight for his past, who am I to judge him?”
Rabbo watched the love between Jack and Kayla grow right in front of his eyes. They both gave and didn’t expect anything in return. Yes, Jack loved Cindy, but she’d moved on with another man, no fault of her own, and had children with her now husband. His friend had a lot of decisions to make, but he knew that none of them included leaving Kayla.