some couples are meant to be together, some are not

The flight back home is a smooth one, at least compared to the flight over to Honolulu. I did get a break of an hour or so in a crew-rest seat and literally collapsed there. Even so, I still feel exhausted. On the crew bus back to the base I play my message-bank, and I note that I’ve received a message from Mary, inviting me to a housewarming party at her (and Mike’s) new place. She apologises for the short notice, as the party is tomorrow night. The chances of me being home and available for parties are usually fairly remote, but I can make this one.

I sleep forever and would have slept for longer had it not been for my phone ringing. I typically take my phone off the hook after a trip, but I went straight to bed last night.

‘Hello, Danielle speaking.’ I am back on local time, and it is time to get out of bed anyway.

It is Mary, and she is ringing to see if I am coming to her party.

‘Of course, I’ll be there, Mary. What can I bring?’

I have lunch with Helen and tell her all about the flight to Honolulu. After listening to my stories for almost twenty years, she has a fair idea of the highs and lows I experience on the job. I am lucky that she finds the dramas I endure captivating, and I am more than happy to get my anxieties and worries off my chest. We have to deal with many things on an aircraft that most people who spend their time working on the ground don’t ever have to experience. It makes for some colourful stories, but it is often difficult for us hosties to express to people how we felt in some of these situations. Thankfully, Helen listens, even if she cannot fully comprehend.

I find it just as hard to appreciate Helen’s problems when she talks about the difficulties she faces in family life and in raising her children. Such conversations can be an eye-opener sometimes. We often get so immersed in our own lives that we lose sight of how others live. I know I do at times. I know Helen does as well.

I leave Helen and go home to prepare for tonight’s party. I am already sure that it will be a unique and memorable event.

I arrive at Mary and Mike’s apartment block.

‘Can someone commit suicide by jumping from the third floor?’ is all I can think about as I walk up the three flights of stairs to their house.

The party is in full swing when I enter. Mary is so excited to see me and greets me with a big hug. Although she can be a loose cannon at times, Mary really is a warm and affectionate person. She pours me a glass of wine and proudly shows off Mike to me; he appears as keen as she is. I can tell that both Mary and Mike have been drinking for some time. I can also tell that they both are a contented couple.

Most of the guests are fellow flyers whom I know well. I mingle and chat as more and more people walk in to the apartment.

I am deep in conversation when I get a tap on the shoulder.

It’s Danny!

He smiles, and then he hugs me. He pulls away from me for a moment and looks over his shoulder. ‘There is someone I really want you to meet. This is my wife, Bernadette,’ he says.

From behind Danny, his wife steps out. I expected his wife to be stunningly attractive. She is not. She is very plain.

She steps forward, ‘Hi, Danielle, I have heard all about you. I understand you are quite the karaoke singer.’

I am taken aback that Danny has talked about me to his wife. Normally what goes on tour stays on tour. Danny has never talked to me about his home life, yet he has obviously discussed me with his wife. I guess I really don’t know Danny that well after all.

‘Hello Bernadette, it is so nice to meet you too.’

As I continue conversing with her, I realise that my first impressions of his wife are purely superficial: I can see the sparkle in her eyes and the warmth of her smile, and she is becoming more attractive by the second.

Mike has spotted Danny and races over to wrap his arms around him. ‘Danny Boy, you’ve made it!’

Later, after Mike has walked away to talk to the other guests, Danny tells me that he and Mike trained together.

‘Mary was in my training class,’ I volunteer.

Smiling, he replies, ‘What a small world, eh?’

I have the best time at the party. Seeing Danny is a real bonus. I really must have a malicious streak in me because I had hoped for Danny’s wife to be glamorous, pretentious and even a little dumb. Bernadette, however, is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. I somehow am disappointed, but I am starting to understand Danny’s obvious love for her.

At one point, Mike comes back to chat with us. He is very drunk now and starts telling a story about a Paris trip that he and Danny worked on together. I know Danny is a fun guy, but I have always seen him as sensible and responsible. I listen to Mike’s story with intrigue.

‘It was about ten years ago. We knew we were on this Paris trip together, and the Cannes film festival was on then, so we decided to get some cheap airline tickets and go. Danny here brought along his own red carpet.’

‘Red carpet?’ I enquired.

Mike continues, ‘Yes, he brought like a red hallway runner. Anyway, every place we walked into, Danny would roll out the carpet and we’d make a big grand entrance. And then he’d roll back the carpet, put it under his arm and we would go to the bar. We got smashed. Apparently we met all sorts of celebrities and supermodels, but still can’t remember a thing. Lucky we took a few photos, otherwise we would have had no idea of what we had done.’

Danny continues with the story, ‘We are not sure how we got there, but we ended up waking up on Monaco beach.’

‘Lying on the carpet!’ Mike laughs hysterically.

I turn to Bernadette, ‘Did you know your husband was such a party animal?’

‘He has his moments,’ she laughs, as she cuddles up by his side.

I am having a great time, but as the night gets longer, Mike and Mary are getting horribly drunk. The loving couple that greeted guests only a few hours ago are becoming jealous conspiracy-theorists that look like they are about to accuse each other of the most heinous of crimes.

I am not the only one that can see the writing on the wall. Most of the guests, including Danny and his wife, prepare to leave the party.

Before leaving, I lock the balcony door. You just don’t know what Mary is capable of doing. And from what I have seen of Mike, he might be just as capable of doing something stupid.

Danny, Bernadette and I leave together. As we walk down the stairs I ask Danny, ‘What do you think are the chances of Mike and Mary actually making it as a couple?’

Danny is normally the ultimate diplomat, but he turns around candidly to say, ‘None. None whatsoever.’

I just know that I am going to get a phone call from a crying and distressed Mary in the morning.

I do.