Chapter 4
It seems so bizarre to be loading luggage back into the car so soon after I’d just arrived. Kaylee is sleep walking over to the coffee maker to get her breakfast. She is pretty much useless in the morning until she has had her first cup of jo. We sit at the counter sipping our coffee and I watch as Kaylee comes alive. The dawn is becoming apparent as the first rays of light seep in from the window.
“We better get a move on Kaylee if we’re going to catch our flight.”
Kaylee nods in response. “You know Emma, I don’t know if it has just hit me until now that I am actually going to Hawaii!” Yep, she woke up. “I mean, that is so cool!”
I watch her as she jumps off the bar stool and runs into her room. Struggling to catch up to her, I find her packing several different swimsuits, sundresses, flip flops etc. into her suitcase.
“You know, I hate to be a killjoy Kaylee, but I don’t think we are going to have a lot of time to sit around and soak up the sun while we’re there. Remember what this is all about!” I am trying not to be a Debbie Downer, but I can’t help but squelch her spirits if she is thinking of this as some exotic vacation.
Kaylee stops mid pack and looks up at me. She exhales softly looking deflated. “Sorry Emma, it’s just—ever since I was small I’ve always wanted to go somewhere like Hawaii, I’ve just never had the chance, what, with my mom being the sole provider and all.”
Feeling utterly horrible I kneel down to Kaylee’s level. “Trust me Kaylee, if there was any other way…” I leave it at that. I know I really don’t have to explain myself, because in a few hours time she will be immersed in it as well.
Getting to the airport doesn’t take long when Kaylee is driving. If there were ever open auditions for NASCAR I would sign her up myself. My hand remains glued to the ‘Oh Crap’ bar as we drift into the nearest parking spot. I cringe just knowing she’s going to be paying $20 a day to park here.
Standing in line for the ticket counter to pick up our boarding passes feels like the longest wait of our lives. Not because the line itself is long, but because we know that when we get to the counter, they will need to check our IDs. They could technically say something about us being minors and that could put an end to our trip before it has even begun.
Once we finally get to the front of the line an older woman behind the counter calls out, "next!" I start to head forward but Kaylee grabs me abruptly by the arm and then kneels down, pretending to mess with her shoelace. Since she's stalling for some apparent reason, I turn around to a young couple behind us and offer them to go ahead in front of us.
Once they move ahead Kaylee stands up and gives me a mischievous look. That's when I hear a man at the far end of the counter call out, "Next!" This airline employee is somewhat young; I would say early twenties if I had to guess. Kaylee turns slightly towards me whispering, “Let me do the talking.”
Oh boy, I have no idea what she intends to do, but she better not blow it! We finally get to the front of the line when I see Kaylee’s hair flipping back flirtatiously as she cocks her hip. Oh. My. Gosh. Is all I can think right now. She bats her eyelashes as she waltzes up to the ticket counter and leans forward over it, leaving only about a foot of space between the two of them. I look at the young man who is paying no attention to me. I can tell that he is a little shocked by Kaylee's audacity, but I can also tell he is enjoying every second of it.
Kaylee places our confirmation print outs we got online in between the two of them. Then she begins in a throaty soulful voice, “Hey handsome, have we met before, you look familiar?”
“Um, I don’t think so,” the man hesitantly replies. He methodically places each print out under the bar code reader without even looking down.
“Hmmmm,” Kaylee ponders. She twirls her hair around the tip of her finger. “Maybe it was just in my dreams.” I see a smirk little smile etch across her face.
Oh brother…
I hear a flirtatious giggle before she continues. “It looks like you have a very important job.” She reaches for his nametag tracing the name Tad with her index finger. She turns to me and grabs my arm bringing me to her side. “And this is my friend Emma. Emma and I are on our way to Hawaii!” She giggles again.
My face is probably beet red and I am so over this moment wishing it would end soon. I could only imagine what the people behind us are thinking right about now.
"Sounds like fun," He says flirting right back. Kaylee hands over her ID while she tries her best to distract Tad. He only steels a quick glance to confirm that the name matches the computer. It takes an agonizing moment before he gives it back to Kaylee.
“You ladies have a good trip,” Tad says while giving Kaylee the once over. He quickly checks mine but is still looking at Kaylee out of the corner of his eye. I do a mental eye roll as he hands me back my ID along with our boarding passes. I have no idea how he processed and printed them without even looking at the screen.
Kaylee takes a sharpie out of her purse then grabs his hand and places her digits on his palm.
“It was nice to meet you Tad,” I say while pushing Kaylee past the ropes and towards the security area. Kaylee reaches her hand up extending her thumb and pinkie finger to her ear, call me, she mouths back to Tad.
“Okay, seriously Kaylee, I think you might have just taken that a little too far.” I say giving her a playful shove.
Kaylee laughs, “I got us through didn’t I.”
She has a point, so I just nod in mutual understanding as we make our way through the security checks.
Once we make it through, I check my watch seeing we have about 30 minutes or so until our flight boards. It’s just enough time to stop at Starbucks and get a steaming cup of coffee. I grab a pastry as well knowing all about the revolting food they serve in coach. This should tide me over for a few hours at least, I hope.
***
Kaylee unscrews the air nozzle above her in the plane letting out a burst of cold air.
“Hey,” I chide as Kaylee turns it back down.
“Sorrree,” she chides back.
To say I’m a little on edge would be an understatement. I feel like I’ve been running in circles uselessly since I last saw Kai, and I’m not sure what to do with myself. I go to recline my seat only to be stopped just inches back. I push the button and try again only to get the same resistance. I look behind me and get a very dirty look from an overly large woman. I let out a long sigh and settle in for the remainder of the long trip ahead.