February Lia Summary

Lia tells Sam she'll meet him at the airport. She wants to give him a gesture, a sign; she wants to be there when he arrives in Philadelphia. She goes to the luggage claim, yearning for the good old days before 9/11 when you could meet someone you love at the gate. She sees a couple with twins in a stroller and a newborn in a backpack. She notices the mother's dark circles under her eyes, her hair pulled back haphazardly in a ponytail and how she walks like her bones ache. When the mother sees her staring, she smiles and tells her to have a nice trip; the woman says she'll try.

She feels a tap on her shoulder and at the sound of his voice, her blood and skin feel warmer. She takes in his broad shoulders; he's taller than...