Lost in Las Vegas

by Melody Carlson

  “Yes. It seems her mom is busy with the tour, and Taylor is on her own a lot.”

  “Well, naturally, Eva must be very busy . . . so very much in demand. She’s such an amazing woman . . . so talented.”

  “Anyway, Taylor called to ask if I could come join them in Las Vegas.”

  Grandmother looked surprised. “Las Vegas?”

  “Her mom is performing in some huge hotel, and they’ll be staying there until New Year’s. I guess they have a big suite with plenty of room for me to join them, and Taylor really wants me to come.”

  “Oh, my . . .” Grandmother pressed a perfectly manicured fingertip to her chin. “Las Vegas. Why, this is so sudden.”

  DJ nodded. “I know. Taylor said that her mom can call you . . . if you like.”

  “Goodness.” Grandmother sat down in a cream-colored armchair and just shook her head. “I’m not sure what to say.”

  Suddenly DJ wanted her grandmother to agree to this slightly insane plan. She couldn’t even explain why, since part of her questioned the whole thing. Yet another part wanted to go. “Taylor asked me to beg you,” persisted DJ. “She said she really, really needs me down there.”

  Grandmother nodded. “Poor Taylor. Yes, I can understand that. She is such a beauty . . . and she is so easily confused. She needs a girl with your mature sensibilities to help her along.”

  DJ tried not to look too surprised by this statement, since Grandmother never described DJ as mature or sensible. Beyond that, it was ludicrous to think that DJ or anyone else actually had much influence over someone like Taylor. Still . . . it was nice that Grandmother thought so.

  Grandmother glanced at her diamond-encrusted wristwatch. “Goodness, it’s almost time to go to the general’s.”

  “Do you want Taylor’s mom to call you?”

  “Yes . . . in fact, you can have her call me at the general’s.” Grandmother smiled coyly. “That will be quite impressive, you know, for me to receive a call from the talented Eva Perez in front of the general’s friends.”

  “And what should I tell Taylor in the meantime?” asked DJ.

  “That you are coming, of course!”

  Shocked, DJ pressed her lips together.

  “Well, as long as Eva is in favor of this little plan. If it’s something that you and Taylor cooked up yourselves . . . well, I’ll be very disappointed in you, Desiree.”

  “I can’t speak for Ms. Perez,” said DJ quickly. “But Taylor seemed to think she’d be happy for Taylor to have a companion.”

  “Perhaps the general can help with your travel arrangements. He seems to know how to do these things on the computer. He told me that he rarely relies on travel agents anymore.” Grandmother paused from pulling on her fur-trimmed coat. “But, Desiree, this means you won’t be here for Christmas.”

  DJ considered this. “Will you be okay?”

  “Oh, certainly. The general had already invited us to join him for a pheasant dinner.” She reached for her bag — a very expensive Bottega Veneta that Taylor often lusted over — and slipped it over her arm. “But now I suppose it will be only the general and me.”

  “I hope you don’t mind.”

  Grandmother smiled. “Not at all, Desiree. And I actually think it’s lovely that you want to help our poor Taylor like this. She is such a beauty — and she’ll be such a necessity to our big debut during Fashion Week — you must be sure to keep her safe and sound in Las Vegas. Bring her back to Carter House in one piece, dear.”

  DJ nodded without answering. Was that the only reason Grandmother was agreeing to this totally outrageous idea — because she wanted DJ to go out to Sin City to act as Taylor’s bodyguard? Just to ensure that Taylor would be around to participate in Fashion Week? Talk about bizarre! Suddenly, DJ wondered what she was getting herself into.

  9

  “GOING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, DEAR?”

  DJ looked up from her paperback to see a white-haired woman seated next to her and smiling hopefully. DJ was sitting in the O’Hare terminal now, waiting for her next flight — to Las Vegas — which was running two hours late. “You mean me?”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt your reading,” apologized the woman. “But I’m just dying to talk to someone.”

  “That’s okay.” DJ stuck her boarding pass in the book as a marker and smiled back at the woman. “Now what did you ask me?”

  “Are you going home for Christmas? Does your family live in Las Vegas?”

  DJ frowned. “Actually I’m going out there to meet a friend.”

  The woman looked slightly surprised. “Oh . . . you’re meeting your friend for the holidays?”

  DJ made a slight nod.

  “Not going home to be with your family then?”

  “I don’t exactly have that kind of family.” DJ wasn’t sure how much she wanted to say.

  The woman waved her hand. “Oh, you’ll have to excuse me, dear. My daughter is always telling me I’m far too nosey. I just assumed you were a college girl on her way home for Christmas vacation. My son lives in Las Vegas, and I’m going to spend the holidays with him and his family. My grandchildren are all grown-up like you, but I’m hoping that some of them will take time to pop in and visit us while I’m there.”

  DJ considered telling this woman that she was only seventeen, but then wondered why bother? Besides, she was sort of flattered that the woman assumed she was in college.

  “I must say I’m looking forward to some sunny weather. I heard that they’re having quite a nice warm spell in Las Vegas.”

  “Yes, my friend said it was supposed to get into the low eighties today.”

  “Goodness, that is warm.” The woman peered out the window where snow was flying. “Not like here.” She shuddered. “I just hope we don’t get stuck.”

  “Stuck?”

  “Well, we could be stuck if this storm doesn’t let up. I heard they’re having a hard time keeping the runways cleared. They hadn’t expected this much snow.”

  “Is that why we’re delayed?”

  “That’s what I heard. I just hope we’re not stuck here all night.”

  “All night?” Now DJ was feeling concerned.

  “Yes, it happens a lot here. The weather gets so bad that the flights are cancelled. And at this time of year, it’s nearly impossible to get a hotel. I know because it happened to me a couple of years ago.”

  “What did you do?”

  The woman smiled and shrugged. “Made the best of it.”

  DJ groaned.

  “Now, if an old woman like me can make the best of it, surely you should have no problem.”

  “I guess . . . but the idea of spending the night in a crowded airport doesn’t exactly sound fun.”

  “Think of it as an adventure.”

  DJ looked out at the swirling snow and wondered if it had been a mistake to come. The plans had all seemed to work out smoothly. Grandmother had a nice conversation with Taylor’s mother. The general had been successful at booking the flight, which he said was nothing short of miraculous at this time of year. So DJ had assumed that this was God’s way of giving her the green light. But maybe she’d been wrong.

  “I learned long ago that it does no good to worry about these things,” the woman was saying now. She’d been chattering away for several minutes, but DJ hadn’t been listening too well.

  “What’s that?” asked DJ.

  “I was just saying that worrying doesn’t help anything, dear.”

  “Oh.”

  “And I can tell by your expression that you’re getting worried.”

  “I was just wondering if going to Las Vegas for Christmas was a good idea after all.”

  “Then why are you going, dear?”

  DJ shrugged. “It sounded like fun.”

  The woman shook her head. “I hope you will be careful. Las Vegas can be a very dangerous place. A pretty young girl like you could get into all kinds of trouble there.”

  “Really?”

  “Most cert
ainly. I’ve heard all sorts of stories. Especially if you’re not staying at a reputable place.”

  “We’re staying at a hotel called Mandalay Bay, and we’ll be there until New Year’s — ”

  The woman’s brows lifted now. “Goodness, that’s a very nice hotel — and rather expensive too, especially for that long of a time. I’m surprised young people can afford such things. It’s not like it was when I was a college coed.”

  So DJ opened up and told the woman about Taylor and her mother and the generous invitation, and how she was going primarily because it seemed that Taylor was lonely. She left out the part about going to make sure that Taylor didn’t get into trouble.

  “Well, that’s very thoughtful of you, dear. I’m sure it will be worth whatever little inconveniences you may experience while traveling.” The woman patted her hand. “Now, that we know each other better, I think we should introduce ourselves. My name is Clara Snider.”

  “I’m DJ Lane. It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Snider.”

  “Oh, you can call me Clara.” She chuckled. “Who knows . . . we may know each other quite well if our flight continues to be delayed.”

  Unfortunately, one delay seemed to turn into another until it was nearly eight at night and all flights were cancelled.

  “Is there any point in trying to get a hotel?” DJ asked the agent at the gate.

  “No. For one thing, I doubt you’d get one.” She handed DJ a plastic-encased blanket and pillow from the plane. “Besides that, there’s a chance this flight will get out around six a.m. if the storm lets up like they’re predicting. In that case, you’d need to be back here before four and, if you think about it, it’s hardly worth it.”

  “Can I have another pillow and blanket for my friend?” DJ glanced over to where Clara was snoozing in her seat.

  “Here you go.” The agent lowered her voice. “And here’s a tip. If you didn’t bring any food, you might want to go get something before it’s too late.”

  “Too late?”

  “Meaning before everyone figures out that they’re spending the night here.”

  “Right.”

  DJ hurried back to Clara, piled the blankets and pillows on the chair where she had left her book and jacket, and then headed out to forage for food. As it turned out, the gate agent was right. The air terminal was packed with thousands of travelers who’d been stuck in O’Hare all day. Every restaurant had long, crowded lines, and signs were posted announcing which foods were already starting to run out. According to the news, the roads surrounding Chicago were a mess as well, and the prediction was that delivery trucks would be delayed as a result. But somehow DJ managed to gather an assortment of fresh fruit, crackers, nuts, and candy bars, as well as several bottles of water — enough, she figured, for both her and Clara. On her way back to her seat, she phoned Taylor with the latest news.

  “No way!” cried Taylor. “You have to make it in tonight.”

  “It’s not possible.” DJ stuffed a water bottle into her backpack.

  “Bummer!”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Did you get a hotel?”

  DJ glanced around the packed terminal, where people were already setting up makeshift campsites and preparing for a long night. “Yeah, right. Earth to Taylor. It’s a blizzard here, all flights are cancelled, it’s holiday traffic, and the hotels are full.”

  “Ugh! That’s too bad. Spending the night in O’Hare . . . sounds like a nightmare.”

  “Well, at least I’ve made a friend to keep me company.”

  “A guy? Is he hot? Maybe you can cuddle up with him and stay warm.”

  DJ laughed. “It’s an old woman, Taylor.”

  “Oh. It figures. Call me when you know you’re coming in. I’ll send out a limo.”

  “Like six in the morning?”

  “Maybe not. Just call the hotel. I’ll arrange it so that it goes on our bill. Okay?”

  DJ sighed. “Okay.”

  “And DJ,” Taylor’s voice softened a little. “Be careful, okay?”

  “Thanks. Hopefully I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.”

  DJ pressed her way back through the crowds of people until she reached the right gate, which was even more packed now than before.

  “I foraged for us,” said DJ as she held up her bulging backpack.

  “Bless you, child,” said Clara.

  “I figured I better get some food before it was gone.”

  “Smart girl.” Clara reached for her oversize handbag. “I brought a few things to munch on, but they’re mostly gone.” Now Clara set her rolling carry-on bag between them like a low table, arranging a napkin like a tablecloth as DJ unpacked the food. Then Clara bowed her head. “For what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful. Amen.”

  DJ grinned at her. “Cool.”

  Clara laughed. “Yes. Cool.” Then she opened her handbag to produce a small jar of peanut butter and some mozzarella string cheese.

  “That will be perfect with the crackers,” said DJ.

  “It’s like the loaves and fishes,” Clara declared. “God always provides.”

  After they finished their meal, Clara produced a deck of cards. “Do you play gin rummy?”

  DJ admitted she didn’t know how, and Clara offered to teach her. By midnight, DJ had the game down, but she could tell Clara was worn out. “Would you like to try to find a place to lie down?” asked DJ, suddenly concerned with the old woman’s welfare.

  “I hate to give up our seats.” Clara glanced around the crowded area. “It’s possible we might not find a better spot.”

  “Why don’t you stay here while I look around,” suggested DJ. But when DJ walked through the terminal, she could see it was futile. The place was packed. Finally, back at her own gate, she saw the weary-looking ticket agent and decided to approach her.

  “I’m worried about my friend over there,” said DJ. “She’s pretty old to be sitting up all night. Do you know anywhere she could lie down?”

  The agent looked behind the counter. “I guess you could both have this area back here. I’m about to leave anyway.”

  “Thanks!” DJ looked at the small space which suddenly seemed like a plush, private room. “I’ll be right back.”

  “I found something,” said DJ, grabbing up their things. “Up there.”

  Soon DJ had managed to make a “mattress” of sorts from the clothing in their carry-on bags and their coats. “It’s not the Ritz,” she admitted.

  “It’s lovely,” said Clara. “And you are an angel.”

  After they were both settled down, Clara sighed. “It reminds me of the first Christmas. Mary and Joseph . . . in Bethlehem . . . no room at the inn . . . but God took care of them . . . they made do . . . and then the Savior was born.”

  DJ considered this. But before she could respond, she heard the quiet sounds of Clara’s snores. And that’s when it hit DJ — if she hadn’t connected with Clara today, if she’d been by herself in this crazy, crowded terminal — stuck here for the night — she would’ve been feeling vulnerable and scared right now. As it was, she felt safe and protected. It’s as if God sent Clara to be her angel. And then DJ went to sleep too.

  10

  “I’D LIKE YOU TO MEET my latest guardian angel.” Clara politely introduced DJ to her son. The three of them were standing amidst the crowd clamoring around the baggage carousel, watching for their bags to pop out.

  He shook DJ’s hand. “Thanks for helping my mom in Chicago.”

  DJ laughed. “I thought she was the one who helped me.”

  Soon they had gathered their bags and were making their way to the ground transportation area. “You sure you don’t need a ride?” Clara’s son asked DJ for the second time.

  “I’m supposed to be picked up,” DJ assured them. She tried not to look nervous as she glanced around the busy area.

  “Well, you take care now.” Then Clara kissed DJ on the cheek and departed with her son. Suddenly DJ felt very much alone — alon
e in a big crowd. She walked around, watching as people connected with loved ones, grabbed taxis or shuttles, all hurrying on their way. She seemed to be the only one who had no idea of what to do or where to go. And she was getting more and more frustrated. Even though it wasn’t yet eight a.m., she was about to call Taylor when she suddenly noticed a man dressed in a neat black uniform holding up a sign that said DJ Lane. In relief, she waved at him, hurrying down the sidewalk toward him. “That’s me!” she exclaimed.

  “DJ Lane?” He gave her a scrutinizing look.

  “Yes.” She glanced down at her rumpled clothes, then quickly explained how she’d spent last night sleeping on the floor of an air terminal.

  “Eva Perez sent me to get you.” He gathered her bags and nodded to the black stretch Hummer limo that was waiting right next to him. DJ had to laugh as she remembered her last ride in a rig like this. Okay, maybe that Hummer had been white, but this one smelled a whole lot better. And this one she had all to herself.

  “Wow,” said DJ as he helped her into the back. “I feel like a rock star.”

  He just nodded politely, then closed the door.

  She leaned back into the comfortable leather seat and sighed. This was quite a departure from sleeping on the floor of an airport. She peered out the window, trying to take in the glittering billboards and tall buildings. It wasn’t long until they were at the hotel. The driver unloaded her bags and handed them off to another guy in a uniform who led her to a registration desk, informing the clerk that she was “a guest of Ms. Perez.”

  “Yes, I just need to see your ID and have you sign here,” the woman told her. Then she was given a key and a room number, and the next thing she knew she was walking into what looked like a very expensive home. Their suite had a spacious living area that looked out over a large pool, a full-size kitchen and dining area, and a hallway with several closed doors. The bellboy set her bags inside and, without even waiting for a tip, quickly made himself scarce. The suite was quiet. Since it was only a little past nine, DJ guessed that her hosts were still sleeping. She made herself comfortable on the large sectional and fell quickly to sleep as well.