An Unexpected Return
I came home from a business trip a little earlier than planned.
It was supposed to be a three-day conference in Chicago, but the final meeting was canceled, and I managed to catch an early flight home. I didn’t tell my wife, Claire. I wanted to surprise her and our four-year-old daughter, Gabriella.
During the ride home from the airport, I kept imagining Gabriella’s little face lighting up when she saw me walk through the door.
And that was exactly what happened.
The moment I stepped inside, Gabriella came running down the hallway in her pink socks, her curls bouncing around her cheeks.
“Daddy!” she screamed.
I dropped my suitcase just in time to catch her in my arms.
A second later, Claire appeared from the kitchen. She looked startled at first, but then she smiled and wrapped me in a tight hug.
“You’re home early,” she said.
“Missed my girls,” I told her.
For a few precious minutes, everything felt perfect.
