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Chapter One
I clicked off the walkie-talkie and walked to the bank of full-length windows. Flight 145 inbound from Seattle was on visual approach, and I was prepared to greet the three passengers aboard the Cessna 140. Off to the sidelines was the love of my life – Mitch Macomber, the airport mechanic, baggage handler, and all-around sweetheart of a sex-god.
Some say they’d never be able to work with their boyfriends, but I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my day. We’d drive in to work together, go our separate ways – him to the garage, me to the front desk as the face of West Coast Air and Cheshire Bay Airport – and we’d cross paths occasionally before heading to our home at the centre of our tiny village.
“Flight 145 has touched down.” Mitch’s voice crackled on the walkie-talkie.
“Check.”
Cheshire Bay typically had two flights a day, which given the size of the town, was quite a lot. Most were intra-island, but occasionally, a few times a week there was a flight to the mainland, either Vancouver or Seattle. Over the summer months, our lovely little village swelled a hundred times its size as visitors drove across Vancouver Island to visit our impressive beaches and ride the amazing waves. Those with a little more money, caught the more expensive charter flights.
The inbound flight from Seattle was the last of the day, finally.
Tonight, Mitch and I were going to celebrate our fifth anniversary at one of the seaside restaurants I’d managed to secure a reservation at. September was still a busy tourist month, but theHarbour Chophousesaved ten percent of its capacity for the locals during the summer rush. Tonight, we’d beone of two tables. Lucky us.
My drop-dead gorgeous guy was laser focused as he walked over in his grease-stained coveralls, baggy enough to fit the both of us, and popped the door where the luggage was stowed. With ease, he set the suitcases on the tarmac near the stairs unfolding from the plane.
I loved the tourists and drummed my fingers on the metal doorframe as I eagerly awaited their descent off the plane and over to me, where I could inquire about their flight and if they needed any information about the location of the motels and local amenities. Since I was the first person they greeted, I had to have the knowledge about everything in Cheshire Bay, as well as the two nearest towns, which were larger, but tucked back on the highway away from the coast.
The tourists grabbed their suitcases and walked my way, the idyllic maple and elms trees blowing lightly behind them just off the runway.
My excitement on overdrive, I inhaled a mixture of the fresh salty sea air combined with the robust stench of jet fuel, as I propped open the huge glass door for the incoming passengers, water bottles in hand.
“Good afternoon, and welcome to Cheshire Bay.” I gave the first guy, an older man with a hat and cane, his complimentary bottle.
He tipped his hat in greeting and declined the cold water.
“Did you have a good flight, sir?”
His colouring was great, so I imagine the pilot – Eric Morris, one of my best friends, had a smooth ride with little to zero turbulence.
“Great, yeah.”
“Do you have a ride picking you up, or shall I call for one for you?” Our selection was minimal, not at all like a major urban area.
“Julia’s got me. That’s my granddaughter. D’ya know her?” He grinned a toothless smile and pointed to the door, where a young lady around my age was entering.
“No, I’m sorry, sir, I do not.” It made me smile. Yes, we were a small town, a village really, but I didn’t know everyone. Most though. “Enjoy your stay, sir.”
I turned my attention to the mother and son still on the tarmac and repositioned the last water bottles.
The little guy seemed to be struggling with his bag, as it kept tipping to the one side when he pulled it, likely to the contents shifting during flight.
The mom had a tight-lipped smile and a firm grip on the child’s hand. I strode towards them.
“Can I be of any assistance?” Specifically, I looked at the little boy, who appeared as though he’d slept most of the quick flight. “I can carry your suitcase.”
“No.” The mother said with a sharp bite and followed it with a sigh. “We’ll be fine.”
My gaze fell to the little guy who continued to walk, stop, right his suitcase and do it all over again.
“It’s really no trouble, ma’am, and it’s a bonus service we offer here at Cheshire Bay.” I bent down to take the handle.
“Fine, thank you.”
I hunched down to the little boy’s height. “How about I take care of this until we’re inside and you take care of this for me?”
The little guy yawned and eagerly let go of his suitcase while embracing the cool bottle of water.
