My Life After the Disaster

Chapter Eighteen

-Saturday, August 11th, 2023-

I get up early the next morning and Alexia stayed the night. We get dressed and go into the kitchen to have some breakfast before leaving to pick up Annabelle and her siblings at the airport. I decide to have cereal as I let my aunt sleep in this morning.

I grab two bowl out of the cupboard and pour some fruity flavoured cereal into the bowls, putting the cereal away and pour milk into it. Once the milk is put back into the fridge I grab two

spoons, put them into the bowls and walk over to the table, placing them down.

“How are you feeling this morning,” Alexia asks me as she scoops some cereal into her spoon.

“I’m a bit tired but mostly excited,” I tell her honestly as I shove some cereal into my mouth.

“Then it’s a good thing they’re arriving soon. I can’t wait to meet the woman that saved your life who you like to call your best friend,” she tells me, smiling over at me.

We quickly eat our cereal and drink some juice then we clean up and head out, locking the door behind us. Alexia drives my aunt’s van, leaving her car behind in the driveway.

We park in the airport parking lot then get out and go inside to the arrival area where people wait to pick up plane passengers.

It doesn’t take long for the Moncton flight to come in and people start rushing though the doors with their luggage.

I spot Annabelle with her luggage coming towards us with Daniel and a boy and girl who I presume is Julian and Molly. I start running over with my arms wide open, ready to hug her. “Annabelle! I’ve missed you soon much,” I tell her as I throw my arms around her.

Alexia slowly follows after me, watching the interaction between us.

“Hey Rose, it’s nice to see you too,” she tells me, wrapping her right arm around me.

I pull away from her, reach out to grab Alexia and say, “This is my girlfriend Alexia.”

She holds out her hand and says, “It’s nice to officially meet you.”

She takes Annabelle’s hand and shakes it, saying, “Same to you. I’ve heard so much about you from Rose and I wanted to meet the amazing woman who saved my love and became her friend.”

Daniel walks over with Julian and Molly along side him. He walks up beside Annabelle and puts his arm around her. “Hello again Rose,” he says, smiling.

“Oh my goodness! You are the most adorable thing I have ever seen. Your like the little version of your sister,” I say, crouching down in front of Molly.

Molly steps back a bit looking surprised and says, “Um… hi. Thank you.”

“Could we maybe get out of the airport. I don’t want to be standing around here all day,” Julian says, looking over at me.

I stand up, turning to Julian and say, “Of course we can. Sorry about that. I just got excited. I’m glad I got to meet you two. I had to come back home before Annabelle was able to get you back.”

Alexia takes my hand and we all head out to Guinevere’s van, with everyone following behind us.

“That was kind of rude. She completely ignored me,” Daniel says, walking along with Annabelle.

“I don’t think she meant to ignore you honey, she was just excited to see Molly. She’s so adorable it’s hard not to,” she tells him. Not wrong at all.

We reach the van and I pull the trunk opened so they could put their luggage inside. Then they all get into the van.

“I need to get a room at a hotel close to the building I bought. Do you know of one?” Annabelle asks me as I get into the passenger’s seat.

“I do? I can take you there. It’s not far at all. You could even walk over if you wanted to,” Alexia tells her, starting the van up.

“Alright. That sounds perfect. Do you think we could stop at the hardware store before we go there? I want to pick up some tools for the building,” she asks.

“I can do, that’s no problem,” Alexia tells her, pulling out of the parking lot. She drives out of the airport and heads for the closest hardware store, stopping once we got there.

Annabelle grabs her purse and unbuckles her seatbelt then turns to the kids and says, “You guys sit right here. I’m only going to be a few minutes then I’ll be back.”

They both nod their heads and say, “Okay.”

Daniel grabs her and kisses her tenderly. He pulls away and says, “I love you, be safe.”

“I love you too Daniel. And I will.” She turns around and opens the door, leaving the van.

I turn to Alexia and say, “I’m going to go with her, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, I love you,” she tells me with a smile.

I smile back at her saying, “I love you too.” Then I open the door and come out of the van closing the door. I walk over to Annabelle and say, “I’m coming with you. I can help you find stuff and carry things.”

“Alright. That’s fine with me. Let’s go.” She walks towards the store together with me and we head inside.

I lead the way towards the tools and help Annabelle to find what she was looking for.

“This will be perfect,” she tells me, picking up a big tool box with all kinds of tools in it.

“Then I guess we’re all set to go. I’ll carry these screw drivers and you take the giant tool box that probably weighs a ton,” I tell her, laughing lightly.

She shakes her head and makes her way towards the checkout. “It’s a bit heavy but I wouldn’t say it weighs a ton,” she tells me, stopping once we reach the lineup.

I come behind her and say, “I know. I was joking, but I meant that it would weigh a lot. I’m not as strong as you.”

“That’s okay. You don’t have to be. You should think about taking some defense classes though. To make sure you stay safe,” she tells me honestly. She places the tool box on the counter as we were next in line.

I place the screw drivers beside it. “You don’t need to worry about me Annabelle. I’m grateful that you do. But I’m okay. I’ve got Alexia now and she goes to the gym. She’d kick some butt for me if I needed it,” I tell her.

The cashier rings up her stuff and says, “That’ll be $93.87.”

She takes her wallet out and pulls out her card. “That’ll be debit,” she tells him.

“Just tap or insert your card,” he tells her.

She puts her card into the machine and quickly punches in her pin, completing the transaction. She takes her card out once it beeps and grabs her tool box.

The cashier hands her a receipt and she shoves it into her purse.

“Thank you sir, have a pleasant day.” She walks towards the exits and waits for me. “I’m glad that you have Alexia now and that she can protect you. But you should still know how to protect yourself. Even if it’s just to prevent what happens to you from happening again. Not that it will. I just want you to be safe,” she tells me.

“Okay Annabelle. I’ll think about it. But I can’t make any promises,” I tell her, walking out the door.

She follows me and we start running back to the van.

Daniel gets out of the van and comes over to her, taking the tool box from her hands. “Why would you carry this?” he asks her, seriously.

“Because I can. It’s not that heavy Daniel,” she tells him, turning to me to take the screw drivers from me, then she puts them inside her purse.

“It has some weight to it. I’d just rather not have you carrying heavy things,” he tell her, kissing her on the cheek.

I look at him questioningly and say, “Dude, she’s not a child and she’s stronger than I am. What’s your problem?”

Daniel looks at me with anger in his eyes and says, “I know she’s not a child Rose but it’s none of your business. So just but out of it.”

“Great guy you got there Annabelle. I’m getting back in the van,” I say, completely pissed. I run to the passenger’s side and get into the front.

Annabelle storms into the van, angrily pulling the door open and sits down in her seat.

“Is everything okay sis?” Julian asks, sounding concerned.

“Yeah. Daniel is just being insensitive again. It’s fine. I’m sure he’ll learn his lesson and won’t do it again,” Annabelle tells her brother, putting her seatbelt on.

Daniel climbs into the van and gets into his seat, placing the tool box by his feet. He buckles up and looks at Annabelle with an apologetic look, saying, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Please forgive me.”

She sighs, and says, “Of course I forgive you Daniel. Just be more understanding and stop being so over protective. I don’t like it.”

Alexia starts the van up and pulls out of the parking spot, driving out of there and heads towards the hotel. “Okay guys, next stop, the hotel. We’ll get there in no time,” Alexia tells them, driving along the road.

Before long we’re pulling into the hotel parking lot. Alexia parks the car and says, “We’re at hotel Sunshine. You guys go check in and drop your stuff. Rose and I will wait in the van for you.”

“Are you sure? We might be in there for 30 minutes or longer. You’re welcome to come with us,” she tells Alexia.

I smirk, looking at my partner and say, “We’ll be just fine here while you’re getting settled in. But don’t take too long.”

“Alright. Come Julian, Molly and Daniel. Let’s get our stuff and head into the hotel. Leave the tools here. I’m taking them to the new shelter,” she tells them, taking the screw drivers out of her purse. She places them onto the tool box then opens the van door and gets out.

Daniel comes out on his side and Molly and Julian go out after him. They take their bags out from the trunk and head inside the hotel.

As soon as they’re out of sightI lock the car doors and turn to Alexia, taking my seatbelt off. “So, what do you think about Annabelle?” I ask her, getting out of my seat to straddle her lap.

She looks at me with heated eyes as she undoes her seatbelt and looks me up and down, saying, “She seems like a genuinely kind person and she’s superstar beautiful. But to me no one compares to you. Now what are you doing?”

I place my hand over on her face, holding her head in place and say, “I thought we could have a make out session while we waited.” I then lean in and kiss her tenderly.

She slips her tongue into my mouth and kisses me more deeply while twisting around my tongue with hers.

We get lost in our kissing, moving from the seat to the floor where we start exploring each other’s bodies without taking our clothes off.

Before long we get up off the floor and spot everyone coming back towards the van so we straighten ourselves out and get back into our seats, buckling up again