• • • • •
I pace around the Butte airport baggage claim waiting for Seth’s plane to arrive. The place feels sterile, almost like a nursing home. And I don’t think that’s because of Susan. She is standing there patiently.
“Charlie, calm down. What are you so nervous for?”
“Not nervous.”
Truth is, I’m freaking out. Seth is moments away from seeing me, and I am moments away from seeing him. Even though it’s been only a few weeks (three!), it feels like an eternity since we last saw each other. I also can’t shake the thought that maybe Seattle caused him to realize how big a loser I am. Maybe he’s a different Seth—or maybe I’m a different Charlie? Or worse, we’re both different and won’t even recognize each other anymore.
“Oh, here he comes! Hurry, hide!” Susan says.
I dash to the baggage claim carousel—the only one in Butte—and turn my back to him. I sneak peeks over my shoulder. The door to the gate opens, and Seth appears, as handsome as ever. Not sure what I was expecting, but I’m glad he hasn’t changed. Susan waves him down.
Susan squeezes him once he gets to the baggage area. He hasn’t seen me yet, which is just what Susan and I want. It’s my moment, and in the huddling crowd, I walk past and bump him in the shoulder. “Watch it,” I say in a deep voice.
“You watch it.” He turns to face me, and his eyes light up.
“Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?” I keep the ruse going.
“Charlie!” He laughs and gives me a hug. My feet briefly lift off the ground. “It’s so great to see you.” He laughs again. “You had me going for a minute. What are you doing here?”
I nod to Susan. “Your mom thought I should come surprise you.” I suddenly regret saying that. I want credit for coming. I don’t want him to think I couldn’t have thought about something like this on my own.
He doesn’t seem to pick up on anything negative. “I’m so glad you did.”
“See, Charlie? I told you he’d be happy to see you. Perhaps a bit happier than seeing his own mother.”
Seth smiles.
I smile.
Susan smiles.
We all probably look like a bunch of smiling goons. But I like it. This feels more like a family than anything else I’ve felt in a long time.
Seth looks me in the eyes. He winks.