FLIGHT 217
The rain beat hard against the window pane as she sat with a cup of hot cocoa, looking out. It reminded her of that long day when she suddenly felt old all at once and life seemed so unfair. She lit a vanilla candle and sat back in her lounging chair..........
It had been raining for days on end when she climbed into her car to head to the airport. Being just 22, she was through college and was enjoying life to the fullest. Now she was flying to Connecticut to join her fiancee who was waiting there for her. They were going to spend a long week-end together, skiing and swimming and just being on the water. She had bought a new bright, yellow 2 piece swimsuit and knew she looked hot in it!
The airport parking lot was jampacked as she parked her red sportscar and rode a shuttle bus to the airport gate. Her umbrella helped a bit and she found herself sharing it with a tall, dark & handsome stranger.
When they had both checked in for their flights, she was pleased to discover that he was on her's, flight # 217. They sat together inside a coffee shop near their gate and he lit her cigarette. This was long before smoking was banned as it is now.
His name was Zack O'Connor and she introduced herself as "M" Fitzpatrick, though her real name was Emily. All of her friends just called her M.
"So, M, what takes you all the way from Ca. to Conn.?"
She found herself not wanting to tell him that she was engaged to marry the man who would be meeting her plane in a few hours. So she just said "Well, I'm going there to jet ski with some friends; hang out for a few days. I just graduated University and need to let loose for awhile."
He told her he was a music teacher in CA. and was on his way to a Seminar in New Haven, Conn. They sat across from each other, smoking and sipping their martinis. He saw that she had a dazzling smile and laughing eyes to match.
After an hour they heard their flight being annoucded & they walked toward the gate. But the plane was being delayed for two hours so she found a pay phone to tell her boyfriend the news. His answering machine took her message as he had probably already headed to the Conn. airport to meet her.
Zack said that he had no-one meeting his plane so he was content to wait with M and continue their new friendship. They had so much in common. They were both "an only child", both were single, smokers and athletes. They loved all kinds of music but jazz was their favourite.
"Whats' that perfume you're wearing?" he asked her. "I really like it!"
They walked outside the airport together, him holding her umbrella for them. She felt him holding her elbow as they crossed in front of some traffic. Everywhere they went, the women were looking at her with envy; she was thrilled!
They decided to eat as the plane wasn't leaving anytime soon; apparently, a mechanic was going all over it again. She would never be able to eat the same food ever again without tears. It was 'chateaubriand for two' with huge baked potatoes and fresh garlic bread. They toasted one another with a sweetened iced tea and he smiled at her white teeth & brown eyes.
Back inside the gate, the airplane was just commencing to board. They stood together in line and noticed they were seated just one row apart. He was hopeful of trading places with who-ever was her seat mate. He had decided he'd pay someone just so he could sit close beside her, get her phone number, ask her to go out.......
She remembers thinking how nice, attractive and intelligent he was; a great listener with a wonderful sense of humour. Could it be that she wasn't ready to be someone elses wife? Maybe she had more wild oats to sow yet.......
An announcement was being made over the intercom. Delta was asking for volunteers to take a flight that was leaving just 20 minutes after this one. They were offering a future FREE round trip ticket to anywhere in the USA as an incentive. It seemed they had oversold this first flight to Conn.
"I should do this." she said to Zack. "I can use a free ticket at Christmas time to visit my parents back in Mass."
"Well, that's very nice of you but I was hoping to see more of you once we get to Conn."
"Listen, here's my phone number at home." What was she thinking? She was engaged! But all she knew at this point was she HAD to see Zack again. They had some special chemisty going on like she had never experienced before in all her 22 years.
He turned to hug her as he left for flight 217 and she lifted her mouth to his and spontaniously brushed her soft lips against his. When they opened their eyes, all she recalls him saying was a tender, emotional "M".......
In a flash, he was gone, carrying his briefcase full of music books and her phone number. Her heart rushed and she sat down by herself, touching her lips.
Soon, her flight was announced and she was given a free pass to use with-in the next 12 months. She knew his plane had already taken off but still she looked in the skies for a glimpse of the aircraft. All was quiet out there and she pulled down the shade & fell asleep. Her dreams were happy and filled with a sense of excitement and chills went up & down her spine. Zack!
When her plane landed, they were rushed inside but not before the glare of cameras caught her attention! Was there a celebrity on board? A politician? What was happening? She tried to look for her boyfriend but Security rushed all of them inside a secured room.
It was then she heard the horrible news. Flight #217 had not made it to Conn! It had gone down into the Atlantic Ocean and there were no survivors! A Chaplain began to pray.......
She was stunned, in shock! Zack! Oh my God! Her fingers touched her lips and she felt his caress; she saw his dark, sexy eys. And she burst into tears!
As the Media swarmed her, asking how it felt to be alive when by all accounts and purposes she should be in the cold waters below, she hid behind her dark glasses, refusing to answer. It bewildered them and they followed her to where she had arranged previously to meet her friend.
He was just so happy to have Delta tell him she was on a later flight, that he was crying too. She let him hold and hug her to him while she collapsed inside his embrace. He thought she must have been so relieved just to be alive!
They married that Christmas Eve. in Mass. and when their first child was born nine months later, it was a boy. She had never mentioned meeting her 'heart-mate' at the airport. Somehow, it would have diminished what they had shared to tell anyone about it. She thought of him often and hoped that somehow, he knew.
As she sipped her cocoa now and watched the falling rain, her eyes filled with fresh tears for what had never been and could never be. She saw her husband's Cadilac pulling into their garage and heard their son getting out of the car.
"Hi, Mum, what's for supper?"
"Hi Zack; we're having chateaubriand and baked potatoes with home-made garlic bread. Come give me a hug."
And the rain stopped.......
