Runway Romance (Love in the Air Trilogy) (7 page)

“How’s Ben?”

“Sleeping. Carrie scheduled an appointment for him at noon.”

“Oh, good. I wish you could have stayed home with him.”

“Me, too, but we need the money. Summers are always hard; substitute teachers aren’t needed much and Carrie feels like she’s not carrying her share of the expenses.”

“It’s actually a good thing that she’s not working right now; she can take care of Ben.”

“Yeah. I don’t think she sees it that way.”

“Are things okay between you two?”

Geri looked around to see if anyone was within earshot. “It’s pretty wonderful. I love her so much, Jenny. I didn’t know I was capable of loving another person so much. Well, except for a baby.

I was married to Randall for eight years and I never had this kind of love and passion for him. I guess it wasn’t entirely his fault, except for the drinking and cheating.

Carrie is just so kind and caring. I had no idea I was even attracted to women until I met her.”

“Maybe you’re not so much attracted to women as you are attracted to one specific woman.”

“Maybe so.” Geri turned quiet.

“What?”

“Mom and Dad still aren’t talking to me. They haven’t seen Ben in over six months. He doesn’t understand, of course. He just wants to see grandma and grandpa.”

“They’ll come around. They need time.”

“It’s time they can never get back. They’re missing out on so much, and Ben is missing them. I’m afraid he’s going to forget them.”

Jenny put her on hand Geri’s arm. “He won’t forget them. You won’t let him.”

“I show him pictures all the time, but then he wants to see them and talk with them on the phone. It’s all jibberish, of course, but his little face lights up when he hears their voices.

How can loving someone make everything such a mess?”

“Wish I had an answer. I’m sorry you’re going through all this.”

“How about you? Is love messing up your world?”

“Not at the moment, but I’m more than happy to add a bit of mess to my life.”

“Carrie has a friend you might be interested in.”

“Male or female?”

“Female. She’s really cute, in her late twenties.”

“If I was gay, I’d say set me up, but I’m not. I did meet an interesting gentleman in the corridor today. His name is Richard Novatney.”

“The baggage guy?”

“You know him?”

“Yeah. Melissa Walker was seeing him for a while. I thought they were going to make a go of it, but she said he got cold feet at the last minute.”

“How come?”

“She never really said. He seemed like an okay guy, but Jenny, you can have your pick of guys. Why would you choose a baggage carrier?”

“Why not?”

“For starters, they don’t make much money and they come home filthy.”

“You’ve had personal experience with this?”

“Well, no, but they’re lifting heavy luggage all day and they must end up smelling like hot tarmac when they come home.”

“He smelled like the forest and something else. Chammomile, maybe.”

“You were close enough to smell him? Tell me more.”

“I got lost underneath the terminal…”

“You never get lost.”

“I know. Jessica McDaniels had me all fired up.”

“She does love to push people’s buttons.”

“Rich gave me directions and then actually took the time to walk with me to the security checkpoint. And he told me about the nicknames.”

“Nicknames for what?”

“The security checkpoints.”

“They have nicknames?”

“Yes, and they are none-to-flattering.”

“Okay, I have to know now.”

“Skirt, Dick, Minions, Form and Digs.”

“Hello? Care to enter the current century?”

“I know, right? I was appalled.”

“Figures, most of the security guards are men.”

“All the security guards under the terminal are men.”

“I suppose the male FAs make more money than we do, too?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. Tell me exactly why having balls makes me a better FA?”

“I think it’s the strength thing. If someone were to attack us poor, helpless females, we wouldn’t be able to fight back.”

“Want to bet? We all took self-defense classes. I can take a linebacker down, if I need to. So why should some guy get more money for doing the exact same job I’m doing?”

“Preach it, sister.”

“I know. It’s just so unfair.”

“Welcome to the real world.”

Aida Brown joined them. “All the passengers are boarded and settled in. How many no-shows?”

“Three,” Geri said.

Aida glanced at her watch. “They have thirty seconds, then we’re closing the door.”

“Aida, do you think male FAs get paid more than female FAs?” Geri asked.

“Sure. It’s the Old Boys’ Network. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Women have been fighting it for years.”

“Do you think we’ll ever win the battle?”

“Absolutely. When a woman becomes president, things will change for the better.”

“Is that reverse sexism?” Jenny asked.

“No. It’s about damn time we started electing officials who can get the job done, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or any of that other crap that gets in the way.”

“Aida for president!” Geri said.

“I second that motion,” Jenny chimed in.

“I humbly accept the nomination. My first order of business? Equal pay for equal work.”

“Go Aida. Go Aida. Go, go, go Aida!” Jenny and Geri said in unison.

“You goofballs. Come on, we’ve got a flight full of passengers to take care of.”

“Authoritative. See, she would make a good president,” Jenny said, winking at Geri.

Chapter Nine

When all the passengers were on board, carry-on luggage stowed and the access door closed, the three women met Brindle Atkins in the kitchen area to divvy up tasks for the flight.

“I don’t need to stick around for this. I’m going behind the black curtain to the land of heated washcloths, gourmet cheese and slippers.” Randee gave her co-workers a wicked grin, then turned and headed for first class.

“Who are you sleeping with to get FC after only a year?” Jenny asked.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“She’s one of the best,” Aida said.

“It is odd how quickly she rose up through the ranks, though,” Geri said.

“Guess that’s my cue, too,” Brindle said, following Randee down the narrow aisle.

Jenny leaned around the dividing wall toward coach. “Natives are getting restless, let’s hurry this up. I’ll take emergency instructions and drinks.”

“I’m on food and welcome,” Aida said.”

“I guess that leaves me with being back-up and doubling up with you on instructions, Jenny. Just give me a nod when you need an extra pair of hands,” Geri said.

“Got your back,” they said in unison, followed by, “Safe flight.”

After the pilot greeted the passengers, Aida made her welcome and emergency instructions were finished, they buckled themselves into the slim pull-down seats for take-off.

“I hate this part,” Geri said.

“I love this part,” Jenny said.

“It’s all part of the job,” Aida said.

Once the plane leveled off, they removed the safety belts and began assessing passengers’ needs. A blanket was gathered to warm a fussy baby. A woman in a midnight blue suit wanted to read, but couldn’t get her light to work. Two children who looked to be about eleven or twelve were pressing their noses to the glass, amazed at their first flight.

“We’ve got first-timers,” Jenny said.

“I only have one pin in my pocket,” Geri said.

“Here, take one of mine.”

Geri took the pins and personally welcomed the boys. “Hi boys, are you having fun?”

A boy with dark hair and wire-rimmed glasses nodded his head vigorously. “It’s awesome. The clouds are underneath us!”

“We’re glad you chose Ballinger Air as your first flight. In celebration, we have a little gift for you.” Geri handed each boy a pin.

“Wings! That’s so cool!”

The nodder immediately began loosening the clasp, then pinned it on his shirt.

“Thank the woman,” their mother said.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. If there’s anything else I can do to make your first flight special, let me know.”

“There is one thing,” the nodder said.

“Yes?”

“Can we meet the pilot?”

“I’m sorry, passengers aren’t allowed in the cockpit.”

The nodder shrugged as he mumbled, “You’re the one who asked if there was anything you could do.”

Jenny caught the interaction and headed to the front of the plane. When she reached the cockpit, she tapped once on the door.

Brindle met her on the other side. “What’s up?”

“Two young boys are first-time flyers and they want to meet the pilot.”

“Captain Johnson, are you available to come to coach for a few moments to greet first-time passengers? They’re two young boys.”

“Sure.” He slapped his co-pilot, Barry McDonald, on the back. “Will you hold down the fort, Barry?”

“Will do.”

“Remember, the goal is to avoid other aircraft in the sky.”

“How’d you know that was the question I got wrong on the Ballinger exam?”

“Just a lucky guess.”

As they made their way down the hallway, Jenny said, “Thanks, Brendan. These boys are really excited about the flight.”

“It’s my pleasure. I know how much it meant to me to meet the pilot when I was a kid.

Is Kate in town? I’ve been calling her.”

“She’s heading to Ireland for an extended stay.”

“Is that your roundabout way of saying she’s been home for a few days but you didn’t want to hurt my feelings?”