Part 52
“You look nervous. Is this your first time flying?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry. My name is Ann.”
“Hillary.”
“So, are you nervous because this is your first flight?”
“Heaven’s no,” laughed Hillary. “My husband was in the military and we traveled a great deal. No, I’m going to see my daughter and her new boyfriend and my granddaughter.”
“I take it you two don’t have the best relationship.”
With a far away look, Hillary said, “We use to…when she was growing up.”
“I don’t mean to be nosy but would you like to talk about it?’
Hillary looked back at the older woman and felt at ease. She hadn’t had anyone to talk to since her closest friend was still mourning the loss of her own daughter…not to mention, Betty Wynne was too close to the whole situation. It would be nice to share with someone who might have some good advice being able to look at it objectively. With a heavy sigh, she started, “Seven years ago, my daughter came to her father, my soon-to-be-ex husband, to tell him that she was pregnant. It was a flash-back to when I was her age and we had to tell my parents that I was pregnant.”
“I take it she wasn’t married to the father of her baby?”
“No, and when her father asked her if she planned to marry the boy, she said ‘no’, that she wasn’t even sure she was going to tell him because of his career. That just infuriated her father even further and he kicked her out of the house.”
By now, Ann knew exactly who Hillary was talking about but she kept silent.
“I haven’t seen my daughter since that night, when her father told her to get out and never try to contact us again. I should have stopped her…put my foot down then with him…but I…” a tear slid down Hillary’s cheek and Ann handed her a tissue. “I missed the birth of my first grandchild and seven years of my baby’s life.”
“I can’t imagine going seven years without seeing or talking to one of my boys.”
“How many do you have?”
“Three and MY baby is a performer…constantly on the road but he always makes sure to call home every day.”
“Are you going to see him now?”
“As a matter of fact, yes…along with MY new grandchild. Her mother named her after me and she is absolutely adorable.”
“So your youngest and his wife just had a baby?”
“No, my youngest is the father of YOUR granddaughter.”
“You’re Kevin’s mother?” asked Hillary in shock.
“Yes. It’s a small world, isn’t it?”
“Very!”
Placing a hand on Hillary’s, Ann reassured, “Kevin has told me everything and I know your visit will be very nice.”
“I’m just glad Chelsea agreed to see me but I expect Alex had a lot to do with that.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Alex can be very persuasive but from what Kevin’s told me about Chelsea, she wouldn’t have let him talk her into something she didn’t really want to do.”
“I am looking forward to it. Annie looks so much like Chelsea when she was that age. How long are you going to be visiting with Kevin?”
The two ladies spent the rest of the flight getting to know each other and sharing stories about Kevin and Chelsea. By the time they were walking down the corridor at the airport to meet Kevin, they were ‘old’ friends.
Greeting his mother with a kiss, Kevin said, “I see you two have already met.”
“We were actually seat mates,” smiled Ann.
“Your mother is such a wonderful woman. I see where you get it from,” smiled Hillary as she gave Kevin a hug. “Thank you for meeting me.”
“My pleasure. AJ didn’t want Chelsea here in this crowd with her ankle messed up.”
“How is she doing, son?”
“She’s tired of being hurt,” laughed Kevin. “But she’s getting better. I’ll let her tell you over dinner what the doctor said about her ankle. AJ made reservations for all of us at a restaurant in Malibu and we’re meeting them.”
“Where are Annie and Dianne?”
“I need to swing by the house and pick them up. I didn’t want Annie in this crowd either….with the fans recognizing me too. Now, let’s go get the luggage and we’ll get going,” said Kevin as he guided the two mothers towards the baggage claim area.
