The rest of the day brought me back to reality. Rain and wind battered the Northeast, while snow blanketed the Rockies. Atlanta felt the effects from both directions. I was bumped from my first flight and couldn’t get on several others, so I spent nearly six hours waiting in the departure lounge before the ticket agent finally found a seat for me. On the plus side, she upgraded me to first class because I’d been polite and easy to deal with. So, score one for a
good attitude.
I spent the last of my pocket change on a quick call to Christy and then raced to my gate. I made it with plenty of time to spare and even had to wait for the last of the paying passengers to board. But eventually I settled into my comfy seat and let out a sigh as the adrenaline started to wear off. I was finally headed to San Diego.
One of the flight attendants gave me a couple of curious looks after takeoff, but that wasn’t too unusual. Someone on the crew usually knew my father, and she’d probably made the connection when she saw my name on the manifest as a standby passenger. She was several years older than me, a pretty brunette with a willowy dancer’s body. She was busy with the drinks cart and meal service for the first half of the flight, but I made my way back to the galley once the cabin settled down after dinner.
“Hey, I’m Paul,” I said, “up in 4E. I think you know my dad. He’s a pilot.
David Hughes.”
“I thought so! You look just like him.”
“Yeah, ’fraid so.”
“No, that’s a good thing.” She smiled and extended her hand. “I’m Pam.
Nice to meet you.”
We chatted for a few minutes, until the plane shook and rattled through heavy turbulence. The captain turned on the Fasten Seatbelts sign, and the first officer came over the intercom to make the announcement. Pam looked up as the flight attendant call chimed immediately after.
“I’d better get back to my seat,” I said.
“Yeah, sorry,” she agreed. “And I’d better get back to work.”
The flight was bumpy for a while but then it settled down. Pam and I didn’t have a chance to talk again, but we traded several smiles before we began our descent into San Diego.
We landed a little before eleven o’clock my time, nearly fourteen hours after I’d left my parents’ house that morning. I was worn out but felt a surge of energy at the thought of seeing Christy. I’d missed her more than I’d realized, and the promise of sex had little to do with it. Still, I let the paying passengers disembark before I shouldered my backpack and headed up to the cockpit.
The first officer and flight engineer both knew my dad, and we chatted as we made our way down the aisle to the galley and the main door there. Pam and the other flight attendants were ready to leave as well. She caught my
eye, so I lingered when the rest of the crew pulled their suitcases up the jetway.
After a bit of friendly chitchat, she gave me an appraising look. Then her body language changed, and I realized she was thinking about asking me to dinner and a drink. Her hotel room afterward was a distinct possibility. She didn’t bat an eye when she saw that I’d read her perfectly.
“You’re David’s son, all right,” she said with a laugh.
“Guilty as charged. And I’d love to get to know you better, but… I’m meeting someone.”
She didn’t bother to deny what she’d been thinking. “Girlfriend?” she said instead.
“Yeah.”
“Does she live out here?”
“No, we’re visiting her family. Spring break.”
We started up the jetway together.
“So you’re in college?” she said.
“Yeah. Why? You thought I might’ve been in high school?”
She looked at me sideways and shrugged.
“What would you have done if I were?”
“I wouldn’t’ve had a drink with you, that’s for sure!”
“And left me heartbroken?”
“Oh, my.” She glanced at me again. “How old are you anyway?”
“Twenty-one. Well, in a few months.”
“At least you aren’t a teenager.”
“Only in my head.”
She laughed.
“And in bed,” I added with a smirk.
“Aren’t you cocky!”
“Yeah. One of many flaws.”
“Your girlfriend must be very happy.”
“I think so,” I boasted. I followed up more seriously with, “But in reality, I’m lucky to have her.”
Pam’s expression went from amused to interested again, and she gave me one of her sideways appraisals.
We reached the gate before I could reply, and I spotted a very anxious Christy. She was standing in the middle of the walkway and looking back toward the main terminal. Brooke stood next to her and looked just as
confused. I couldn’t blame them, since most of the plane’s crew had left several minutes before.
I called out and waved, and Christy visibly relaxed when she saw me. She touched Brooke’s arm and pointed.
“Wow,” Pam said when she realized that both of them were waiting for me. “Which one’s your girlfriend? The blonde?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“And the redhead?”
“Her too,” I said on a whim.
“Oh, my!” Pam laughed. “You are like your dad.”
I shrugged, not the least bit sheepish. “What can I say?”
“Nothing! But I can’t compete with them, so I’ll just have to find some other way to pass the time. The first officer was cute. He’s married, though, and he didn’t seem like the type. Oh, well. Have fun while you’re in town.
Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, maybe. You have fun too.”
“Oh, I always do.” She grinned, said goodbye, and headed after the rest of the crew.
Christy watched uncertainly as Pam walked away, although her expression cleared when she saw that I was looking at her instead. I smiled.
She dithered a moment longer before she made one of her mental adjustments.
She ran toward me, and I used her momentum to lift her into the air. Her bright blue eyes flashed in anticipation as I lowered her to my level for a kiss.
She crossed her arms behind my neck, and I supported her with mine around her waist.
“I missed you, Sunshine.”
“I missed you too. I was so worried when you didn’t get off the plane. I thought you might’ve missed your flight. And then…” Her eyes darted toward Pam.
“She knows my dad,” I said.
“Oh. Okay. I thought— Never mind. I’m just being silly.”
“Not entirely. She knows my dad,” I repeated.
She thought about it a moment and then blinked in surprise.
“Mmm hmm,” I said evenly. “She thought I might be like him.”
“Oh my gosh! Are you serious?”
“Yes, but I’ll tell you about it later.” I pointedly didn’t look at Brooke,
who was waiting a few feet away.
“Oh. Right. Okay,” Christy said. “And… um… you should probably set me down. Not that I mind you holding me, but it’s kinda hard to walk.
Besides— Oh my gosh, why’m I nervous? I’m chattering!”
I grinned, kissed her again, and set her on her feet. Then I casually took possession of her with an arm around her shoulders. I turned to Brooke and smiled. I hadn’t really been paying attention before—she was simply a pretty redhead next to Christy—but my pulse quickened as I looked at her for the first time.
She was one of those impossibly good-looking people, like Leah or Danny. She had copper-red hair, blue eyes, and a dusting of freckles over finely sculpted features. She was a half-foot taller than Christy, with the graceful curves of a swimmer. I did my best to stay cool, but Christy knew me too well. She grinned her approval.
“Nice to meet you, Brooke,” I said as I shook her hand. “I’m Paul.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Years in California hadn’t entirely erased her Texas accent. “Chris’s told me a ton about you.”