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“No, maybe you should pick me up. That way we arrive at the airport together.”
“The Billings airport is not that big,” Tobias replied, becoming annoyed.
He could hear rustling and then Mimi crunching in his ear. “I’m so hungry. I spent the entire day shopping.” She sighed. “You know what, maybe I’ll just hire a car.”
Tobias’ finger lingered over the button to end the call. “I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”
“Wait,” Mimi interrupted and he felt bad. If she was about to tell him she loved him, he wasn’t sure he could respond in kind.
“Yeah?”
“Oh, shoot, gotta go. I have to answer this call I’ve been waiting for it. I’ll see you. Don’t forget your birth certificate.” She giggled and ended the call.
He stared at the cell display. What the hell was wrong with her? The woman was half-crazy at times. If it weren’t for the long day he’d had, Tobias would have laughed.
Two days later,morning came way too soon. Tobias trudged to the front room with his overnight bag. He looked in the direction of the kitchen to find Ernest drinking coffee. His cousin lifted his gaze to him. “Ready to go? We need to get going.”
“That might be why I’m carrying a bag and headed to the door,” Tobias snapped.
“No coffee? Oh, hell. We are not driving to the airport with you in a bitchy mood.”
This was his life. Damned family. “Let’s go, please.”
Ernest’s eyebrows lifted and then his gaze narrowed. “I’m only going to ask you this once. Are you sure, absolutely sure, about this?”
Tobias turned away and walked out the front door, the dogs trotting along. He looked down to the two trusting faces. “I’ll see you two in a couple days. Be good.” Both wagged their tails as if understanding. He knew they didn’t, but it was nice to see them rush off barking, tongues hanging out upon spotting the horse trainer arriving.
The trip was about an hour and a half. He called Mimi several times, but she did not answer. Tobias figured she was headed to the airport and didn’t hear the phone.
They arrived two hours before his flight since Ernest was always a stickler for being early to things. Once again, Tobias called Mimi.
“Why isn’t she answering?” He looked around.
Ernest looked across the lobby. “Maybe she’s going through security.”
“Yeah. That’s possible. Thanks for the ride.” Tobias held out his hand. “See you when I’m married.”
His cousin took his hand. “I wish you the best. See you in a few days.”
Since he didn’t have to check a bag, Tobias went directly to security, but then decided not to go through just yet.
He waited for another half-hour and called. Still nothing from Mimi. Finally, an hour before the flight when they began to announce boarding, he couldn’t wait any longer and he went through security.
His heart plummeted when he arrived at the gate. There were only about twenty people waiting to board. Mimi was not among them. He went to the gate.
The man behind the counter looked up. “How can I help you, sir?”
“Can you tell me if Emmaline Murphy has checked in for something? We’re traveling together and she’s not here.”
He shook his head. “No one by that name has approached the counter and I can’t give you any information about any ticket changes.”
“Thanks.” He turned away as the same guy announced the first zone for boarding.
Tobias was watching the plane taxiing away from the gate when his phone dinged. Tobias was too furious to read it. If Mimi was angry because they didn’t swing by to pick her up, he was going to lose it.
“Where are you?” he said without preamble.
“I’m sorry,” Mimi said, sounding more petulant than sorry. “Remember that call I got yesterday?”
