Free Faithfully by Izzy Cullen Page A

table. I hated how quickly she was growing up. I wanted to freeze time and keep her as a little girl.
                  “Mom, I stopped playing with those in kindergarten. Even the twins are over them.” She was trying to use her hip, I’m-too-cool voice.
                  “Okay, ladies, this is the plan, so listen up. We are leaving after school, and Uncle Bruce is flying us to a bigger airport to get on a different plane. We will fly to LA and we won’t be landing until late tonight. I will call you in the morning my time, but remember there is a time difference between us while I am there. Grandma and papa have lots planned for you, and I expect good behavior from all of you,” I said, looking pointedly at Lily.
                  “I know you are not just looking at me. They are the ones that fight.” She got up and walked over to Alex. “So is this a big plane like we take to Disney, or your plane?” She was so nosy it was starting to drive me crazy, but in actuality I had created this monster.
                  “No, it isn’t like the ones you take to Disney, and I don’t own my own plane. I charter them. Kind of like how your Uncle Bruce gets paid to fly people, except it is a bigger plane than his.”
                  I looked over at the clock, saw it was after seven, and knew I needed to get moving. “Listen, brush your teeth and get moving, no more questions. I love you and I will see you at school.” I walked over, giving each girl and Alex a kiss.
                  Alex walked me to the door. “I’ll meet you here after school and we can head to the airport. Bruce said he would be ready to get off the ground by three thirty. We have about eight to nine hours of travel to get there.” I was not looking forward to traveling, probably because I knew I was going to be confessing what a big fat liar I was and getting the silent treatment on the way there.
                  The day seemed to drag on, and at the end of the day I picked up the girls so I could drop them at my parents and give them a proper good bye. The twins got out of the car and ran right inside the house. I was going to have to track them down to get my hugs and kisses. Lily lingered a bit. She and I were buddies, and in the last year she had gotten more attached. There was a time that I was getting concerned because she would refuse to go to my parents, and even asked me to skip working to stay home with her. I think it had to do with fear that I would never return like her dad.
                  I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in for a hug. “I will be home in three wake ups. I will even bring you back a surprise.” Lily pulled me in tightly and squeezed.
                  “Promise?” Lily didn’t say anything else. I wasn’t sure if I was promising to the returning or the surprise.
                  “I promise, now give me a kiss and let’s go find your sisters so I can say bye to them.”
    Lily gave me a quick kiss and another long hug. When she let go, we headed into the house to find her sisters. They didn’t seem as upset or worried about me leaving. They gave me a quick hug and kiss before they disappeared again into the living room. My mom and I exchanged quick notes on the schedule and she gave me a hug and kissed my cheek. It was the first time she has ever done this. Ever since the DC conversation, she had been a whole new person around me, and I liked it. We were actually having a normal mother and daughter relationship. 
                  I finally managed to pull into the driveway around three thirty, and I knew I was making us late and putting us behind schedule. My dad was in the driveway with Alex. I got out of the car and walked over to them, giving my dad a look.
                  “You honestly didn’t think I would let my baby girl leave for a few days without a