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Jessica Stroker stepped up to the airport official’s desk and handed him a boarding pass and her id.
“Oh, yes. Mrs. Stroker. I heard about you.”
The official bent over, taking her bag, and placed a luggage tag on it with “Los Angeles” printed on it.
“I don’t know who Erika Bloodworth is, but she has a lot of pull around here. This flight was full, but she must have offered a lot of money to someone in first-class, because they sold their ticket to her, and she gave it to you.”
The bag landed on a conveyor belt that carried it towards a black rubber curtain.
“I wish I had friends like that.”
Jessica forced a smile, but her heart hung like a weight in her chest. Erika came into Jessica’s life at the perfect time. And at the worst time. Jessica knew she’d be leaving Los Angeles, Seminal Communications’ home base of operations.
I’m letting her down, she thought.
“Yeah, nice to have friends.”
The official’s stamp pounded the boarding pass with a thud, leaving a black mark on it. He handed it back to her, cocking an eyebrow with a plastic smile.
“Ok, you’re all cleared through to Los Angeles. Gate three. Enjoy your flight.”
Jessica’s sandals flapped across the grey tiles of the airport terminal floor. Through the windows, she saw small island hopper planes taking off and landing. She thanked a god she didn’t believe in for the massive airbus that would carry her across the Pacific.
I hope they have booze, she thought.
Her radar for the lusts of men tingled. She noticed several men checking her out, and one of them tried to cover the wedding ring on his finger. But her usual energy for playing her games with men failed her. In her mind, she could only see Ron, and her body shivered with a chill, and her stomach gurgled. She kept her eyes glued to the floor in front of her and kept walking.
At the gate, a woman in airport uniform smiled as Jessica approached.
“Mrs. Stroker?”
Jessica’s stomach fluttered as she tilted her head to the side.
“Yes. How did you know my name?”
“Mrs. Bloodworth sent me your picture. She wanted to make sure we took care of you. If you’d like to board early, you can. Your accommodations will be more comfortable than out here.”
Erika, I don’t deserve all this, she thought.
“Yes, I’d like that. Thank you.”
Inside the spacious cabin, the hum of the airplane engine vibrated in Jessica’s chest and her ears. She made her way to the third row, seat A. A first-class window seat. Erika never missed a detail. A woman with long silver hair sat in seat B, gazing out the window.
“Excuse me,” Jessica said.
The woman looked up and smiled.
“Oh, yes. I wondered when you’d get here.”
“Don’t tell me you know my name, too.”
“No, I just had a gut feeling I’d have some company.”
Jessica nodded.
“Oh.”
Oh dear, I’m sitting next to Granny Granola, she thought.
The seat enveloped Jessica with its soft leather, and her muscles relaxed.
“So, how was your time in paradise?”
And she wants to talk. Great.
“Eventful.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah... I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Oh, dear. Things went sour with a romantic partner, didn’t they?”
Jessica’s lips parted, and she cleared her throat.
“I’m sorry, I know it’s none of my business.”
Jessica pressed her lips together into a flat grin.
“But if you want to talk about it...”
Jessica’s eyes narrowed, and she turned to face the woman, ready to give her a stinging reply. But she froze. The woman’s eyes sparkled blue in the sunlight and flooded Jessica’s soul.
“Oh my god,” Jessica said.
“What is it, dear?”
Jessica’s skin tingled, and her heartbeat raced. The woman’s eyes mesmerized her. And reminded her.
I know those eyes, she thought.
“Are you ok, hun?”
Jessica sat up and shook herself free of the trance.
“Um, yeah. Sorry. You just remind me of someone.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, your eyes.”
The woman smiled, and Jessica’s heart warmed. The smile, too. They resembled those of her mother.
“Um...”
Jessica pulled her attention to her lap, trying to get a grip.
It’s not her. You’re just emotional.
“So about this man. You know, there’s just no telling what will happen with a man when you’re on these islands. This place is the rise and fall of many a love.”
The tension in Jessica’s chest eased, and she relaxed her shoulders.
“For me, it was both.”
“Oh, dear. I’m sorry. Those are the sweetest and the hardest. You’ll carry the memory of this trip with you for the rest of your life.”
Jessica turned her head and looked out the window. Her voice lowered.
“I’m sure I will.”
“So, this man. Was he tall, dark, and handsome?”
“No...”
Jessica chuckled as she wiped a tear from her eye.
“He was none of those things.”
Her head turned back towards the woman, and she trembled as their eyes met again. Tears rolled down her cheeks, burning her skin.
“But he filled a part of me that I thought no one could ever fill.”
The woman’s eyes glistened, and her lips pursed as she nodded her head, cooing with an affectionate hum. Jessica dropped her head.
“Or would ever want to fill.”
She took a deep breath in through her nose and straightened her spine, looking again at the older woman and flashing a pained smile.
“Turns out, he doesn’t.”
Her lip quivered, and another tear followed the wet trail on her skin. The woman shifted in her seat to face Jessica, and she reached out, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Awww, dear. Are you sure he doesn’t?”
The warmth in the woman’s eyes washed over Jessica, melting her as she pressed her lips together and nodded. She turned back towards the window and leaned her head against it. Her knuckle rested against the glass, and she stroked it.
“And I don’t blame him. I’m a hard woman to love.”
The woman’s hand rubbed Jessica’s arm. She closed her eyes and let the tears pour out as she absorbed the touch of this angel.
I’m so sorry, Ron.
