Page 29 of All the way home

“I shouldn’t have asked you that,” he said. “I know you love me.”

“Good,” she said, shaken.

That was two years ago, and he never brought it up again since. Unresolved. Just like every other fight they’ve had in the time since, insignificant like spitting rain.

Clearing her throat, Rena shifts in her seat toward Lucas. “Do you think we’ll be delayed again?”

Attention on the flakes drifting in heavy blankets past the windows, Lucas sighs. “Do you want an optimistic answer or an honest one?”

Rena pauses. “Both.”

“Optimistically? We’ll be fine.” Lucas leans forward and rubs at his eye sockets, groaning. “Honestly?”

She waits.

Without meeting her eyes, he says, “We’re going to be here a long time.”

Hour Three-12:50 P.M. Chapter Nine

Rena

Silence creeps up Rena’s arms and under her sleeves, staticky and urgent.

The minutes crawl by.

In the years they’ve been a couple, she and Lucas have traveled together a lot. Certainly enough that it shouldn’t feel like this. Enough that she should know what to say; enough that she shouldn’t be at a total loss.

Frown pinching his features, Lucas scrolls through his phone. If Rena leaned over, she’d know what he’s reading—from here, it might be a text thread. Possibly with Josiah.

The announcement begins in the same irritatingly calm and collected tone: “Attention Air Canada passengers—”

Eyes shut, Rena listens.

Delayed again—4:15.

All right.

Around them, the gate erupts with noise as their fellow travelers protest the news. Across the aisle, somebody scoffs. A young woman speaks loudly into a phone—“Yeah, Mom? I’m not gonna make it to your party”—as several rows over, a hapless parent cranks the volume on the Bluey theme song. The percussive snare of rolling wheels on tile echoes in tandem with a half dozen sets of heels walking past.

Rena presses her fingertips to the skin under her eyes.

“What did the attendant just say?” Lucas asks.

“Another delay.” The beginning of a sulk prods the corner of her consciousness as Rena opens her eyes. “What would you do if I wasn’t here to pay attention to announcements for you?”

“I guess I’d probably miss them,” he says with a cheeky edge.

And—seriously? Rena’s almost certain he would, but he could at least pretend.

Slouching, Rena texts Kieran.

Delayed again. To 4:15.

He responds right away.

Oh noooooooo

;)