i knew he looked familiar

Ryan has chatted with Dean throughout the flight and been updating the techies about Mr. Weiss’s condition. Dean chooses not to eat and continues to keep a constant vigil over his patient.

I really want to ask Dean if he knows Danny Weily, but I’m feeling just too awkward to ask under the circumstances.

‘Do you need to make a connecting flight to Tanzania tonight?’ is all I can muster when I do get a chance to talk to him.

‘No, I am staying in Johannesburg tonight and then fly out in the morning. I am actually staying at your crew hotel.’

‘How does he know where the usually stay?’ I think, but still don’t ask.

Damn it, ask Danielle, ask!

I ponder momentarily, before my curiosity gets the better of me, ‘How do you know about our crew hotel?’

He is also trying to be mindful of Mr. Weiss, but answers anyway, ‘My brother organised it, and he is—’

I interrupt him, ‘Danny Weily? Oh my God, you are Danny’s brother!’

Dean smiles, but tries to be restrained, ‘You know Danny?’

This is not really the right time or place for me to jump up and down and yell ‘Oh my god! I just don’t believe it!’ I simply and coolly say, ‘I know Danny very well. Listen, we’ll talk later. Have you made transport plans to get to the hotel when we land?’

He shakes his head.

‘I’ll arrange for you to come with us on the crew bus.’

He is appreciative. Before I walk away, I direct my attention to Mr. Weiss. He is still on oxygen and very weak. He can understand what we are saying, but does not have the strength to speak.

I talk with Ryan and inform that Dr. Weily is staying at the same hotel as us, and Ryan is more than happy for him to catch the crew bus if the captain is OK with it. Ryan also tells me that he has already gifted Dr. Weily a nice bottle of champagne, as thanks for all the help he has done for us. I don’t tell Ryan, but I had also slipped Dean some French and a fine bottle of red as well. Dean is going to walk off looking like a pack horse.

As soon as we land, medical staff are on hand, and with the assistance of Dean, they leave with Mr. Weiss before any of the other passengers can disembark. Dean returns to pick up his bag (and additional bags, compliments of the airline) and I tell him to wait by the luggage carousel for me. From there, I can direct him to our crew bus.

I notice that Dean offers to let all the crew sit down before he has boarded the bus. Dean appears incredibly savvy with regard to crew etiquette. When I wait back with him, he insists that I sit down first. Although there are other spare seats available, he chooses to sit next to me.

‘You’ve been on a crew bus before haven’t you?’

He smiles, ‘How did you know?’

‘I notice things. Have you been on any trips with Danny?’

‘Several.’

As a crew member we get fantastic staff travel benefits. We are also allowed to nominate one other person to receive the same benefits. I’ve had my mum on my staff benefits for a few years. However, she has been away with me only once, and I am considering offering the benefits to Helen instead. I am mindful of the fact that Helen is a mother of two, which makes it difficult for her to get away, but I know how much she would love it.

Dean is on Danny’s staff benefits, but based on what he is saying, I gather he has only recently taken these trips.

I do some calculations in my head: he has only recently started travelling the world; he is probably three or four years younger than Danny, he is going to Africa for a few months doing volunteer work; he has no ring on his finger. I deduce that he is recently separated or divorced.

I probably shouldn’t try to play amateur psychologist, but I would bet my still new D&G jeans (which are now my favourites) that he has only recently become single.

When we reach the hotel, some of the crew members are going down to the bar to unwind and to take advantage of our free welcome drink. Dean asks me if I am going too. I wasn’t, but I am easily persuaded once I find out that he’s planning to go.

Most of the crew turn up at the bar; this is a bit unusual as many say they will, but rarely do they come. This is surely antisocial behaviour, but after a seventeen- or eighteen hour working day and enduring numerous time-changes, sometimes you have all the right intentions to be social, but can’t follow through; fatigue hits you like a sledgehammer before you even make it to the shower.

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, after a massive day your body overtakes your mind and you hit the wall. This time I push through that barrier, and feel surprisingly good. The company helps; Dean is as witty and charming as his brother. There are similarities, but they are very much different people. We spend some time at the bar, and then he asks me if I am hungry. I know he must be famished so we leave the rest of the crew and walk to a sensational steak restaurant near the hotel. I am beginning to suspect that all of the restaurants in Jo’burg are steak restaurants.

But no one’s complaining about that: the steaks in South Africa are awesome. Dean brings along the bottle of red wine I gave him onboard, and the restaurant has no problem with us drinking it there. My filet mignon is to die for. I much prefer quality to quantity when it comes to meat and men; as for my meat, any steak that can be cut with a butter knife is my type of steak. This steak is the best I have ever had, and the company is even better.

Dean is divorced, like I had already guessed, but doesn’t like to talk about his personal life too much. He doesn’t have children, and from what I gather, that was the marriage’s problem. She wanted kids, but Dean didn’t.

‘I am a bit like Danny, in that I like to explore and travel. I had all those years at medical school and then I got married and set up my own practice … Life just seemed to be passing me by.’

Our conversation flows effortlessly and although I have been awake for over twenty-four hours already, I somehow wish the night would never end. I get the impression that Dean feels the same way. Before he has finished his steak, which is the biggest I have seen anyone eat, he reiterates what a great time he is having and coyly asks a question.

‘Is it is OK for me to call you back home? When I return from Tanzania?’

I am so excited, but reply as nonchalantly as I can, ‘Are you asking me out on a date, in two months’ time?’

‘If I could, I would ask you out on a date tomorrow night.’

I smile. ‘Tomorrow night works for me.’