Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“Mom, I’ll be there when I get there. I can’t control the weather, and I definitely can’t make a pilot fly when it’s not safe.”
“I know . . .” her voice trailed off.
“Guess who I ran into in the airport and happens to be on my flight?”
“Holly, don’t play games. Just tell me.”
“Christian Lane,” she said as she watched him approach.
“Oh, well, isn’t that a delightful surprise?” Holly imagined her mother standing there with her hand over her heart. Her entire family was fond of the Lanes. It was hard not to be. Christian’s parents were very much a part of the community, and always the first to volunteer for anything.
“Yeah. Listen, I gotta run and find out when the next available flight is. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Holly hung up just as Christian sat down. “I think I’m going to take off,” she told him. “It was great seeing you.”
“Wait, what? Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“They canceled our flight, remember?”
She shook her head slowly. “I live here, remember? When the airline rebooks me on the next available flight, I’ll come back.”
“Or,” Christian started, “what if I can get us booked on a flight to DC? There’s one leaving later tonight. The only problem is that it’s a red-eye. That gives us enough time to get your luggage moved to the other airline, go through security again, and have something to eat.”
“And then what?” she asked, laughing at his rambling. “What happens in the morning when we’re in DC and not New York?”
“Then we figure it out from there. At least we’re closer. We can rent a car.”
“And drive through a storm?”
He shrugged. “I’ll figure it out. Regardless, we’ll be closer to home.”
“All right,” she said without hesitation. The flight to DC took about two and a half hours, and hopefully the storm would have cleared up by then and they could get another flight. She hoped for a direct flight to Plattsburgh. She was over this traveling thing already.
Christian told her to follow him. They walked speedily through the airport until they were in line with another airline. “We need to secure the seats, then go get your luggage, and then check it in here.”
Holly thought about going to start the luggage process because that normally took some time, but then she wouldn’t be able to pay for her flight. The last thing she needed was to be indebted to Christian. She doubted she’d see him again after this trip unless they ran into each other back home.
“Why don’t you go start the luggage retrieval, and I’ll get us booked on the flight.”
It was like he could read her mind. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. The quicker we can get things done, the better. Plus, I’m starving and want to stop at Hudson to grab some food.”
“Okay. You’ll let me know what I owe for my ticket?”
Christian nodded, and Holly made her way to baggage claim. She hoped the carousel would have her luggage going round and round, but the amount of people standing there told her otherwise. As soon as the warning bell sounded, everyone around her sighed with relief. By the time she had her bag, she’d been gone for forty minutes and was certain Christian was long gone. They hadn’t exchanged numbers, not that she couldn’t call her mom and get it, and hadn’t agreed to meet anywhere.
Holly rolled her suitcase beside her and when she saw Christian walking toward her, a smile broke out. She was happy to see him. It was like their first day of whatever grade when he would show up at her door, ready to either walk with her to school or drive her. Her first day of school was always her best day until Skye came along.
“We’re all set,” he told her. “Now, we go through security again.”
“I need to check my suitcase,” she told him.
“Right, let’s go do that.”
After an elevator ride up one floor, they strode to an open kiosk. Christian typed in their flight information, followed the prompts, and pulled the luggage tag from the printer. Airlines made it easy to check baggage and avoid lines. He secured the tag, handed Holly her portion, and then carried her suitcase to the drop location.
“There, now security,” he said. They followed the signs to security and Holly groaned as they approached.
“Look at that line.”
He held up their tickets. “First class, no line.”
“What? Are you serious?” She made good money from her job, but not first-class money. She was torn. Should she tell him she couldn’t afford the ticket, even though she could, or just chose not to and let it go? Holly opted for the latter. There was no point in discussing finances with him right now.
Christian led them to security and then handed her ticket to her. “I see the wheels spinning in your head about the ticket,” he said. “It didn’t cost me anything. I used my points.”