Call Me Stewardess
Page 22
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 15, 2017
Subject: Thoughts
Scarlett,
All through my flight across the ocean, I thought of you. I want to know your every thought. I imagine we’ll probably be seeing each other within a year.
John
He wanted to know my every thought? We would probably see each other within a year? I had been waiting for this moment for a month and now that I finally had what I had asked for, I didn’t know what to say. Actually, all I had to do was answer his request. Simply.
From: Scarlett Lambert
To: John Ross < j.ross.dublin@gmail.com >
Date: August 15, 2017
Subject: Re: Thoughts
Hi John,
You wanted to know my every thought, so here we go . . .
Since we spent the night together, I have not stopped thinking about you. A month later, I hear back from you. I had come to terms with the fact that that night with you would be the only one and that it was best that way. Even though I know it’s best not to take things further, I am convinced that next time I see you, it’ll be the same all over again. We will want each just other as much.
I completely agree with the fact that you have everything to lose in this situation and wouldn’t want to ruin your life, nor your family’s.
You are speaking in code so I’m not entirely sure of what you really want from me. Your first message is clear: You will not leave your wife for me. I know that and wouldn’t want it anyway. So, the real question is: What do YOU want? Your second message implies that you still want me. I want you too . . .
I will be waiting for your reply.
Scarlett
As I pressed send, my heart filled with happiness. I had no idea what his reply would be but I knew that John sincerely wanted to see me again. And I wanted to see him too. I was looking forward to seeing him and kissing him. But only time would tell. That night, I went back to bed feeling at peace and finally slept like a baby. Upon my return to Boston, I found another message from John in my mailbox. That message was the first of many that would succeed in making me even crazier about him. And maybe him crazy about me?
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 16, 2017
Subject: Re: Re: Thoughts
Scarlett,
I realize that you are not happy in this situation and must apologize again for having made you wait a whole month to find out. Please know that the whole story upsets me as much as it upsets you and that all I know right now is that I want you and I have fun with you. It’s the first time I’ve cheated on my wife and I have to deal with that fact. I have always avoided putting myself in complicated situations. I really don’t want to hurt you but I want to see you again because I know it’ll be even better than last time. Am I making myself clear now?
John
From: Scarlett Lambert
To: John Ross < j.ross.dublin@gmail.com >
Date: August 17, 2017
Subject: Crystal Clear
Hi John,
Thank you for apologizing for having made me wait a whole month. :) It is now much clearer.
When shall I see you again?
Scarlett
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 16, 2017
Subject: Chat?
I’d like to hear your voice . . . Can we talk?
If that’s okay with you, I’d like to give you a call tonight. What’s your number?
John
Oh, hold on! Weren’t we supposed to fix a date just to have some fun in bed? And now John was admitting to wanting to hear my voice! I was confused. I was dying to talk to him but felt a bit too fragile to venture into such intimacy. If we started exchanging daily emails and phone calls, would I still be able to content myself with a simple physical relationship? I doubted it. Nevertheless, as I also wanted to hear his voice, I gave him my phone number. As planned, I received his call that night.
“Hi, Scarlett.”
“Hi, John,” I answered shyly, my heart beating like crazy.
“How was your day?”
“Pretty good. I went down to the Charles River to hang out in the sun with my friend Becky. And you?”
“I went swimming with the kids.”
“Ah, I see. And your wife?” I blurted out, not thinking.
“She’s away for work. Can we talk about something else?”
“Of course!”
I didn’t know why I had brought up the subject right at the beginning of our conversation. What a horrible mistake! I had made up my mind. Sex for sex. Nothing more. Doubts and guilt had no reason to be. It was too late now anyway. I changed the subject.
“When do you think we can see each other again?”
“Well, I had a look at your schedule and I don’t see how it could work out with mine in the next week. You’re working a lot and so am I,” he said, disappointed.
“Yeah, I know.”
“I think it’s best we ask for the same flights for next month . . . ”
“Good idea! Let’s do that,” I confirmed, happy that such an option was possible.
“Let’s keep in touch, then, beautiful Scarlett.”
“You know the right thing to say to make me blush, huh?”
“It wasn’t my intention. I truly believe you are beautiful. I have an exquisite image of you in my head. Of you in my bed in Dublin,” he continued, his voice deep and powerful.
“Oh! And you think I don’t have one of you?”
“I hope you do. It’ll keep your mind busy until our next encounter.”
“Don’t you worry about that.”
“And mine will stay busy thinking about you.”
His last statement provided me with a real sense of comfort. But what about his relationship with his wife? What was going to happen in their bed? I was jealous. I tried not to show it. As we finished our conversation, my desire to see him had gone up a notch. It was a bad sign.
◆◆◆
The day after our phone conversation, I received a new message. John was so charming and caring. Without realizing it, he was getting closer and closer to my ideal man. Yet the situation was far from ideal. It felt like I had fallen into quicksand and couldn’t pull myself out even if, for the time being, I was only ankle-deep. I was already unable to come to my senses and stop communication with him. I wanted more.
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 18, 2017
Subject: Paris
Good morning,
Happy to have spoken to you last night. I had lovely dreams thinking about you . . .
Try to ask for Paris for the month of September. With your seniority, you should be able to get it. Otherwise, Lyon.
John
From: Scarlett Lambert
To: John Ross < j.ross.dublin@gmail.com >
Date: August 19, 2017
Subject: Not Lyon!
Hi John,
I asked for Paris but not Lyon. I hate the hotel there! It’s too hot, the air conditioning doesn’t work, and it’s full of ghosts . . .
I hope Paris will work out.
Speak soon,
Scarlett
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 20, 2017
Subject: Oh! Oh!
I’ll protect you, beautiful Scarlett. But if you don’t like Lyon, that’s fine. Paris it shall be. I’m leaving for Istanbul tonight. I will write you from Turkey. :)
Take care,
John
From: Scarlett
Lambert
To: John Ross < j.ross.dublin@gmail.com >
Date: August 23, 2017
Subject: Schedule
I got my schedule and have two Paris but you aren’t on my flights. We’ll have to find another solution. You didn’t write since you’ve left. I don’t like it . . .
Scarlett
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 24, 2017
Subject: News
Hi,
I see that you’re waiting to hear from me on a daily basis . . . and so am I! The cost of Wi-Fi at the hotel was horrendous so I decided to do without it for a day and make you wait. :)
That’s too bad about Paris. Are you free on the 28th?
Sleep tight and take care,
John
From: Scarlett Lambert
To: John Ross < j.ross.dublin@gmail.com >
Date: August 25, 2017
Subject: :)
Hi,
I forgive you for making me wait. I’m used to it now.
I hope your flight went well. Istanbul is so nice, isn’t it? I’m also disappointed about Paris and am not free on the 28th. Maybe it’s for the best . . .
Scarlett
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 25, 2017
Subject: For the best?
Do you really think what you’ve just written?
I don’t. Let me suggest something else then. I’m flying to Rome for 72 hours in the middle of the month. Come with me?
I saw that you had the days off . . .
John
What an interesting offer! Rome, my favorite city! And so romantic . . . I was indeed free to go with him. However, I was hesitant. Leaving with him would also mean lying the whole way there and hiding the truth from the rest of the crew. Once in Rome, we would have to be careful so that nobody saw us. Not to mention that I’d be spending three full days with him. What if he couldn’t stand me anymore after two hours? Worse, what if those three days made me fall even deeper in love with him? I had to take time and consider the situation before making an informed decision. Therefore, I stayed quiet for a few days which, curiously, drove John crazier than I could have imagined.
From: John Ross
To: Scarlett Lambert
Date: August 30, 2017
Subject: My turn to wait
Scarlett,
You’re running through my mind way more than you know. Although we haven’t seen each other again, I think about you every day, honestly. Do you think being in this situation is easy for me? Hell no! You’re really making me pay for that first month by not responding and making me wait. You should know that I’m not playing games with you. I want to see you and am trying my best to do so.
I’m still waiting for your answer about Rome.
John xxx
From: Scarlett Lambert
To: John Ross < j.ross.dublin@gmail.com >
Date: August 30, 2017
Subject: Rome
Hi John,
You’re on my mind as well, in case you were wondering.
No, I’m not trying to make you pay for anything. I’m not playing games either, but let’s not forget that our first encounter was all about a physical connection, nothing more. And now it looks like it’s heading into a different direction. I don’t want to be part of it. I thought you were the one who had made that clear from the beginning.
I haven’t made up my mind about Rome yet. I looked at your crew and I know pretty much everyone on it. We’d have to be careful not to arouse any suspicion.
On the other hand, if I go, it’ll be perfect for us to make the most of each other, as much as we want . . .
I’ll get back to you . . .
Scarlett xxx
For days, I wasn’t able to give him a definitive answer. And then Becky successfully reasoned with me:
“Scarlett, you’ve been dreaming about John for too long. Go to Rome, otherwise you’ll always wonder what if and you’ll regret it,” she advised.
“I know, Becky, but I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of coming back even crazier about him. I don’t want to be his mistress or a stepmom or a homewrecker.”
“Nobody wants that, Scarlett, but don’t you want to be spending three dreamy days with the one who’s been haunting you for a whole year?”
“Yes . . . ”
“So go! Go with him. Let him treat you like a princess and enjoy it. Then, if you don’t want to embark on a roller coaster, you’ll have to break it off. Because if you go any further, you’re gonna be the one getting hurt,” she recommended.
“You’re right. Break ties, that’s what I’ll do! But only after Rome,” I answered, convinced I’d be strong enough to do so when the time came.
I picked up the phone and called John. I had made up my mind. I would go to Rome with him!
Chapter 23
Boston (BOS)
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a general boarding announcement for Americair flight 762 to Rome. We now invite all passengers to please make their way to gate C14.”
It seems early to start boarding . . . departure is scheduled for ten p.m. I look at my watch. Oh! Actually, it is time. I hadn’t noticed the minutes ticking away. Obviously distracted.
If we stick to the plan, I will be flying to Italy on this warm, starry September night with my handsome captain. I’m nervous and, honestly, I’m no longer sure of what to do. When I got to the airport earlier, I immediately proceeded to terminal A. John was waiting for me on a bench. It was unlikely that we’d run into our colleagues as Americair doesn’t operate from that area.
I had been excited to see him again. Upon spotting him, I got weak in the knees for the thousandth time.
“Hi, John.”
“Ah! Beautiful Scarlett” he sighed.
I sat next to him, our bodies not touching. He rested a hand onto mine, smiling. I blushed.
“You’re gonna have to get used to it. You’ll be seeing me for the next three days,” he gently teased.
“I know, I’m just nervous, that’s all.”
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine,” he assured me, squeezing my hand.
“You really believe that? John, we barely know each other. What if this doesn’t go down the way we think and you end up hating me after an hour?”
“Impossible!” he exclaimed, without a hint of doubt.
John gives off such confidence that all my worries disappear when I talk to him. Close to him, I feel reassured. Far from him, it’s the opposite: I panic. I’m scared to give him my heart only to see him refuse to give me his. I didn’t want to vocalize my fears and so had simply smiled. He had moved his face close to mine and we had kissed tenderly.
“I have to get to the aircraft, Scarlett. I’ll see you in Rome. The next seven hours will be the longest of my whole career as a pilot!” he said before leaving.
I had briefly remained seated on that bench, lost in thought. Seeing John had provided me with such overwhelming happiness, but as physical distance grew between us, I had started to feel the polar opposite. His departure had reminded me of the brutal reality. Four days from now, I would suffer from his absence the same way I had for a year and during the month I was waiting for his reply. Would I return from Rome shattered or finally satiated? I shouldn’t speculate too much.
After our brief encounter, I had made my way to the crew room in order to pick up my standby ticket. When I pushed open the door, a few crew members were still there. I knew them and it proved quite difficult to go unnoticed.
“Hi, Scarlett!” called out Diane, the insomniac flight attendant.
“Hi!”
“Hey! Hello!” added Todd, the han
dsome green-eyed cabin crew, grabbing his carry-on.
“Hello, Todd!” I greeted, happy to see him yet remembering that our last flight together had been back when I had met a particular Freaky-Debbie.