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“You okay, lady?” the man seated next to me asked.
“I’m not sure….” I murmured. The seatbelt light was still on, and I had to remain in the seat. Sweat broke across my body as the plane lifted into the sky. My knuckles went white as I tried to relax through the pocket of turbulence.
Ding.The seatbelt light finally went out.
“…you are free to move around the cabin.”
I wobbled to my feet and grabbed my handbag. “Excuse me.”
The man stood, and I staggered down the aisle to the restroom.
Clutching my hand over my mouth, I trembled in the line.Please hurry.A woman let me skip her, and I made it in time before vomiting.
My handbag held a few antacid tablets. I reached for them and saw my birth control. A trickle of fear grew in my chest. I’ve vomited twice, but it could be nerves. I never missed a dose, so there was no way I was pregnant.Thank God.
My life—my heart—had been thrown into chaos during the last twelve hours. That was all this was. Stress. Sophie had once vomited for twenty-four hours and blamed it on stress, so it made sense to me.Why was I in this mess?
The man beside me offered his aisle seat.
“Thank you.”
A flight attendant offered me a complimentary blanket and water, which I also appreciated. Placing the soft fabric over me, I tried to rest. But for the life of me, I couldn’t.
The plane landed at General Mitchell International Airport two hours later. My skin prickled at the chill in the air while walking on the breezeway to the arrivals. The air cooled my body enough to settle my stomach.Only in Milwaukee.Yet, despite the cold, I loved my home city.
My heartbeat picked up as I checked my phone. No new messages.No Paul.
Deflated, I walked out the gate and down the elevator toward the exit. A man in a business suit held a placard with a name written on it.
‘Nadia Sokol.’
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath to regain control of the delight in my chest.It means nothing. How did Paul even know where I’d gone? Xander?
I texted him again.
Nadia: I’ve arrived in Milwaukee. Did you tell Paul? Can you take my things from the apartment to your dorm? I’ll pick them up when I return. Talk to you soon.
I took a deep breath, then approached the driver.
“I’m Nadia Sokol, but I didn’t order a car service.”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Sokol. My name is Chris Parks, and I’ve been hired as your driver for your visit by Mr. Crane.” I rolled my eyes. Of course.
Buzz.My phone vibrated in my hand.Paul.
I took a deep breath to calm myself. “One moment, please, Mr. Parks. I need to take this call.” I then walked a few steps away from the driver before answering. “Hello.”
“Nadia. Thank God. I’ve been looking for you for hours.” My heart contracted at hearing the relief in his voice.
“I…I went home,” I mumbled.
“Yes, I know. Your friend Xander told me you flew to Wisconsin. But with you on a flight and I couldn’t reach you….” His voice trailed off, and a flutter of guilt rose as I remembered he lost his late wife on a flight. My stomach knotted. I wanted to apologize for his worry. I wanted to soothe his pain. But a lump formed in my throat.I can’t.
“Anyhow, I’m happy you landed safely, Nadia.”
I cleared my voice. “Yeah…yeah, I did…so you spoke to Xander?” I croaked and bit my lip.Did that mean Xander arranged to get my stuff from the Hudson? Probably not yet. But Paul sent someone to pick me up?
“I spoke briefly to him, but I don’t want to talk to someone else about you. I want you to talk this out with me, Nadia.” His tone had an earnestness that pulled on that part of me that wanted to give him whatever he wanted, but I had to push it away. We weren’t together anymore.
