Sitting in her seat for over an hour, it seemed there was yet another delay. Something had failed on the pre-flight check and it was being repaired as they sat and waited. If she were being honest, it didn’t sit right with her and not out of fear of midflight malfunction, but because she wondered if it meant something.
First her flight was delayed due to fog preventing incoming flights, leaving them short planes for outgoing flights. Now a delay due to mechanical failure…it was like she wasn’t supposed to leave, forced to sit there with her thoughts.
Mr. Moretti’s words danced thorough her head. New York had already let her go once, and maybe he was right…she was running back to a place that didn’t want anything from her, that was just a job and nothing more. But, running from what? Clay?
Her feelings for Clay had become much more than she wanted to admit, as her sister said. The longer she sat on that idle plane, the longer she had to weigh the answers working their way to the surface. She was running.
“Ladies and gentleman, this is your captain. We are almost clear to taxi, but we had an injury among the flight staff so we are waiting for another attendant to join us and we will be on our way. We appreciate your patience. We should be cleared here shortly.”
Another delay, interesting. She saw this for what it was, a last chance. The universe was interfering, or assisting, depending on how you looked at it. Back to her thoughts, she picked up where she left off. Clay.
Why was she running from him, their town, and the life they were building? That’s the part she couldn’t bring herself to admit. He wasn’t like any man she had been with, in fact, he managed to put pieces back together for her, that she didn’t even realize were broken. He made their relationship easy. He was easy to love.
Love. That was it. He loved her and it scared the shit out of her. The last man that said he loved her, left her, hurt her in a despicable way. She was afraid of living that nightmare over again. Only, the man who hurt her didn’t truly love her or it wouldn’t have been so easy for him to put her on a plane headed cross country and tell her never mind about the whole marriage thing.
Clay loved her though. Loved her hard. Loved her completely. Loved her sincerely. She knew that, felt it even. That’s why it was easy for him to let her go, he loved her that much. She had been such a fool.
She had no business going to New York. It wasn’t what she wanted, it wasn’t where she belonged. She belonged in St. Helena, with Clay, and Tommy…teaching dance. New York was just an excuse to avoid what she had been fighting. Her dream. It had changed, like her sister said. Her dream was with them.
She jumped to her feet, grabbing her bag, ready to get off the plane while it was still at the gate when the contents spilled on the floor in front of her. Picking them up quickly, she picked up the script that had topped the pile and noticed something she hadn’t before. It wasn’t the right script, not even close. Not only was it from the wrong production, it wasn’t the choreography script. Tossing it in her bag, she took a second look at the flash drive that contained the music she was to use, and realized it was labeled for the same production.
Laughter overcame her, it was another sign. She wasn’t supposed to go anywhere on that plane. She was chasing an old dream, in a town that didn’t want her, with a script that didn’t belong to her. She needed to get off the plane.
“Miss,” a small voice came from behind her, “please take your seat, we are being cleared to taxi any moment.”
“No, I can’t,” she replied taking in the attendants shocked expression. “I-I need to get out of here.”
“Miss, we are about to leave, our manifest is complete, and with the captain. I need you to take your seat. Our flight is already behind; we surely don’t need any more delays.”
More laughter erupted from Heather, “Which is why I need off this plane! See, I’m the cause for all of the delays!”
A second attendant had joined them, both looking at each other with concern. “Miss, Cathy asked you to take your seat, and we need you to comply. If you feel you are the cause for all of the delays…”
“No, not literally, just figuratively.” She tossed her head in an eye roll. “I’m not supposed to be on this flight, I’m not supposed to be going to New York.”
Left speechless, unsure if they had a sane or insane passenger before them, Heather didn’t meet much resistance when she turned to open the door, letting herself off the flight. Just as she cleared the door and headed up the walkway to the gate, she heard the captain yet again…another delay.
***
Heather stood anxiously in line at the rental car counter. Finally her turn, it was made obvious why the past few customers left quickly and didn’t seem very pleased. They were all out of cars, trucks, and even vans – not even a commercial vehicle left to be rented. Feeling slightly defeated, she wandered away from the booth, weighing her options.
A cab simply wouldn’t go that far, nor would an uber. Even if they did, it would cost a small fortune. Calling Sara was an option, but she felt like a jerk, even considering it, since she already made a round trip today. Just when she thought she was out of options, the universe intervened again.
“Mr. Moretti! Mr. Moretti!” she hollered, running toward the older gentleman. “What are you still doing here?”
“Do you pry in everyone’s business or just mine? The cargo flight it was on was delayed. Why are you here? You were supposed to be headed to New York.”
“Same reason you’re just getting your gelato! Look, for some reason, they are out of rental cars, and I need to get back to St. Helena…any chance I can ride with you?”
“What makes you think I’m headed to St. Helena?”
“Mr. Moretti, where else would you be going with a bunch of gelato?”
“Ehh, good point. I have the truck, there isn’t much room.”
“The ice cream truck?” she questioned with a snort.
“Yes, the ice cream truck. Is that funny? Didn’t seem funny when you asked for a ride, now did it?”
“I’m sorry…I’m sorry. It’s just that, well, you were right, my sister was right, I’m supposed to be here. New York doesn’t need me. The universe intervened, hence all of the delays keeping me from going!”
“The what? The universe? I will never understand your generation!” He rolled his eyes, “Follow me, I’m parked this way. Extra weight means extra gas…why am I so nice? I just don’t understand you kids.”
She chuckled under her breath, grateful for her crotchety friend, and for the first time in days, happy.