Flight SQA016 (The Flight Series)

by A. E. Radley

  “I’ll admit I was surprised but I have no regrets. In fact, I had been hoping…”

  “I think we need to take this slowly,” Emily opened her eyes and focused on Olivia. “For all of us. I don’t want anyone to get hurt here. I mean, we hardly know each other.”

  “Then let’s change that.”

  “Tell me more about you?” Emily requested with a tilt of her head. “Tell me more about…about…”

  Olivia frowned. “About?”

  Emily sighed in frustration at not having the correct words on hand. “Every word or description I can think of sounds derogatory and I don’t want to use them, and I don’t want to use the phrase that you say the ‘wrong thing’ because I don’t think that is accurate.”

  “Socially awkward?” Olivia suggested.

  Emily made a face. “It feels mean to call you awkward, and that’s not accurate either.”

  “Socially inept?” Olivia tried again.

  “No,” Emily shook her head. “I don’t like it, it’s…it’s rude.”

  “It’s accurate,” Olivia chuckled. “My mother used to call me artless?”

  Emily frowned. “Well, I don’t like it but it’s slightly less cutting than the others.”

  “I don’t mind,” Olivia shrugged.

  “Okay,” Emily nodded in reluctant agreement. “So, have you always been…artless? Or did it happen over time?”

  “Oh, I’ve always been like this,” Olivia answered easily. “As a child it was excused that I didn’t know any better but as I got older and I upset and alienated the other children, it became a little more difficult for my parents to explain away. Back then there wasn’t a lot of interest in diagnosing that kind of behaviour.”

  “So, your mother chose to call you artless instead?” Emily gave a wry smile.

  Olivia grinned. “No, she chose to punish me for misbehaving for the longest time. Eventually she came to understand that I wasn’t doing it on purpose, I didn’t know any better. Then I was promoted from inconsiderate to artless.”

  “Must have been hard,” Emily commented lightly, not wanting to force Olivia to say any more than she was comfortable with.

  “It was what it was,” Olivia shrugged but Emily could tell there was more to the story.

  “But your…your wife, she understood?” Emily asked, watching Olivia carefully as she skirted around the potentially sensitive subject.

  Olivia face lit up at the memory.

  “No,” she chuckled. “Not at first, anyway. I think I drove her insane at the beginning.”

  Emily smiled. “Not a good start?”

  “The worse. I insulted her mother,” Olivia explained with a grin. She turned to mirror Emily’s position and shuffled closer until they were facing each other.

  “Ouch. Insulting the mother, not good.”

  “Indeed.” Olivia chuckled. “She was rightly annoyed and she couldn’t understand why I didn’t see anything wrong with what I’d said. She called me thoughtless and stupid and I thought that would be it, but fate seemed to conspire to keep throwing us into each other’s paths.”

  “What changed?” Emily asked with interest. She placed her hand over Olivia’s which rested on the back of sofa and tenderly rubbed circles on the soft skin with her thumb.

  “A flight, ironically. As I say, fate kept bringing us together. I had to fly to Paris from London for a Women in Business event that was organised by a company I sometimes worked with. She was invited as well and was seated right next to me.”

  Emily laughed. “Oh, I bet you both loved that.”

  “I asked if I could move,” Olivia admitted. “But we agreed we were mature enough to sit together for the short flight. We realised we had more in common than we thought. We got to know each other and I think she started to understand that…” Olivia paused. Emily squeezed her fingers to encourage her to continue.

  “That I’m not insensitive or mean, just artless. After that, things started to fall into place. We still argued, a lot, but she understood me and my limitations when it came to social requirements and rules. She helped me to understand things. If you can believe it, I used to be much worse than I am today.”

  Emily grinned but remained silent to allow Olivia to carry on her story.

  “We fell in love and, before long, we were married. It all happened so fast but it seemed so right,” Olivia smiled at the memory before adding, “It was so right.”

  “How fast?”

  “From that flight to our wedding day was exactly six months,” Olivia said. “Mother thought I was out of my mind. If she ever thought I was in my mind to start with. She did everything she could think of to stop the wedding.”

  “Why?”

  “She didn’t think Rebecca was good enough for me,” Olivia sighed, clearly remembering the arguments with her mother. “Rebecca was a fitness instructor, she established her own business and managed to get a few executive clients. Before long she was being referred to all of the top business women in London and she had an enormous waiting list. You really had to hope that someone died to be in with a chance of having her as your instructor.”

  “But that wasn’t good enough for your mother?”

  “Nothing was ever good enough for my mother,” Olivia said grimly before taking a deep breath. “Anyway, she didn’t approve but we did it anyway. Three months later, Rebecca died, aggressive brain tumour.”

  Emily blinked in shock at the detached way Olivia relayed the information. “That…must have been hard.”

  “Yes,” Olivia nodded noncommittally. “I suppose it was. I don’t allow myself to dwell on it. We’d hardly had a chance to start our lives together and then she was gone.”

  Olivia’s gaze travelled over the back of the sofa and she stared out of the window into the inky darkness outside and Emily considered her next words carefully.

  “Henry’s dad was killed in a car accident, I was seven months pregnant,” she said. “I had just turned twenty-three and I was young and naïve. After I got out of the foster system, I didn’t really know what to do so I moved around a lot, fell in with the wrong crowds. And then suddenly there was Joe and he promised to care for me, look after me. So I dated him for a while and we moved in together. He did everything and I was happy to let him look after me, especially once I got pregnant. It was so nice to have someone. But then he was gone and I realised I’d become so reliant on him I didn’t even know how to pay the rent. I didn’t even know who our landlord was, nothing.”

  “So, then you went the other way and became incredibly self-reliant?” Olivia asked.

  Emily nodded. “Probably went a little too far and I ended up pushing people away. I thought I could do everything. More importantly, I started to think that I should do everything myself. Especially after Henry was born. I wanted to give him everything and be the best I could possibly be for him.”

  “You’re a wonderful mother,” Olivia said with a smile.

  Emily laughed bitterly. “Thank you, I’m glad you think so. Sadly, Joe’s parents didn’t think so. They never wanted anything to do with him. As soon as he was old enough to fend for himself, they tossed him out. Joe’s dad was a self-made man, he worked hard and made a lot of money but he was harsh, you know?”

  Olivia nodded, taking Emily’s other hand and interlacing their fingers.

  “So when Joe wanted to join a band and try to become a professional musician, well, that didn’t go down too well. They kept trying to force him into the family business and he kept fighting back. The relationship completely broke down; things were really bitter between them for years.”

  “That sounds awful.” Olivia looked shocked.

  “When I was pregnant, somehow word got back to Joe’s parents and then they suddenly wanted to see him again. They hadn’t spoken to him for nearly ten years and then they turned up at the door one day.” Emily stared at their connected fingers, lost in her thoughts for a moment. “It didn’t work. Too much time had passed I guess.”
r />   “When Joe died,” she continued. “I called his father to let him know. He was so…cold, so pragmatic about it. He asked what had happened and I explained that it was an accident with a drunk driver. He thanked me for letting him know and then hung up the phone.”

  “Was he in shock?”

  “I always hoped so. I can’t imagine anyone being that cold. But I didn’t hear from them again, not until after Henry was born. Then the letter came, asking for custody of Henry.”

  “What?” Olivia balked.

  “They said I couldn’t care for him, that I had no friends, no family, and no chance of giving Henry a good life. They wanted to take him and get full custody. I always thought Joe’s mother was the one behind that. Maybe she was trying to make up for how things went with Joe. I don’t know. Either way, I won, obviously, and then I never heard from them again.”

  “Good riddance,” Olivia muttered. She was about to speak again when her phone rang. She looked apologetically at Emily before reaching into her bag and looking at the screen. “It’s the New York office. I have to take this.”

  Emily nodded and Olivia took the call in the kitchen. Emily absent-mindedly listened to Olivia giving instructions and relaying information for a while before deciding it was best to give her some privacy and reached for the television remote control. She turned the television on and lowered the volume so it wouldn’t wake Henry or distract Olivia and sat gazing at the screen, even though her mind was elsewhere, thinking about the kiss earlier.

  When she next opened her eyes, Olivia was leaning over her with a pensive look and Emily realised that she had somehow fallen asleep.

  “I thought it best to wake you,” Olivia said apologetically and it was then that she noticed that Olivia was in dark red silk pyjamas, her face devoid of makeup.

  “How long was I asleep?” Emily asked as she pushed herself up into a sitting position.

  “An hour,” Olivia said with a slight blush. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know if you’d want to keep sleeping, but you would have had a sore neck when you woke up if I left you here.”

  “You did the right thing,” Emily said. “I’m just sorry I fell asleep.”

  Emily stood up and fussed with her hair for a moment before chuckling. “It must be that sofa,” she said with a nod of her head at the offending piece of furniture.

  “Absolutely,” Olivia agreed with a nervous smile and averted her eyes.

  Emily looked down to notice a couple of the buttons on her white blouse had come undone during her sleep and quickly buttoned them up again. “Well, I should…go to bed, properly this time,” she said.

  “Yes, I should too. I have a client meeting away from the office tomorrow so I won’t be back until later in the evening,” Olivia said with a disappointed look.

  “I was thinking,” Emily said as they walked towards the bedrooms. “Maybe you could meet us after Henry’s hospital appointment on Thursday, we can have that lunch in the park and then go on to the zoo.”

  “I’d like that, are you going to tell him about the zoo tomorrow?”

  “No, you’re going to tell him on Thursday during lunch,” Emily told her.

  “Oh, okay,” Olivia nodded with some nervousness. They paused by the doors to their respective bedrooms.

  “He’ll want to give you a big hug,” Emily chuckled.

  “Well, that’s okay I guess. Who doesn’t like a hug?” Olivia said with a light, nervous laugh.

  Emily took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Olivia’s shoulders, pulling her into a gentle hug. Olivia returned the embrace.

  Emily loosened her grip and leaned back. She gazed into Olivia’s eyes for a moment before pinning her to the closed bedroom door. Olivia let out a surprised gasp which was smothered by Emily’s lips.

  She threaded her hands through Olivia’s thick, dark hair and tilted her head back to trail a kiss along Olivia’s jaw and slowly down her exposed neck. Olivia’s moan was husky with desire and broke the spell enough to remind Emily what she was doing. She pulled her mouth away from the thrumming pulse point at Olivia’s throat.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered and leaned her forehead against Olivia’s. They both struggled to regain their breath.

  “I’m not.”

  “We shouldn’t…”

  “I know,” Olivia said hoarsely.

  They released their hold on each other and Emily took a step back smiling shyly.

  “Goodnight, Olivia,” Emily said softly

  “Goodnight,” Olivia whispered back, fumbling for the door handle of her bedroom. When she found it, she almost fell through the door. Emily waited until she closed the door before biting her lip and turning towards her own door.

  * * *

  Emily couldn’t concentrate all day Wednesday. She half-heartedly entertained Henry with drawing, games, and television, but her mind was elsewhere. Olivia had left the hotel suite early that morning and whenever Emily looked out of the window at the empty executive office she caught herself sighing.

  She felt like she was going stir-crazy in the hotel and desperately needed someone to talk to. As the end of the day approached, she picked up the hotel phone and dialed the number from a business card and looked across the street.

  “Olivia Lewis’ office, Simon Fletcher speaking.”

  “Nice professional greeting you’ve got there.”

  “Thank you,” Simon chuckled. “Just a little something I’ve been working on. How are you doing?”

  “So bored,” Emily admitted.

  “Oh dear, have you been looking for giraffes on buses?” Simon asked seriously.

  “Yep,” Emily deadpanned. “Like, all day and there’s been none.”

  “Damn them and their giraffe vacations.”

  “I was wondering, and feel free to say no, I know you probably have plans,” Emily said. “But I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me and Henry tonight?”

  “Is he going to be wearing the most awesome giraffe hoodie ever?” Simon asked.

  “Absolutely,” Emily said. “I’m surprised you had to ask!”

  Simon laughed. “In which case, yes, dinner sounds good. What do kids eat? Sushi? Curry?”

  “I feel sorry for the barista girl,” Emily joked.

  “Not sure who you’re talking about? Oh, unless you’re referring to my new girlfriend.”

  “You asked her out? Oh my God, well done!”

  “I know, now we need to get you set up and we can totally double date,” Simon said in a fake American accent.

  “Oh, don’t even go there.” Emily cleared some of Henry’s toys from the sofa.

  “Trouble in paradise?”

  “No, well,” Emily flopped on the sofa. “I don’t know.”

  “Oh this sounds juicy! Do you want me to bring some food over?” Simon asked.

  “Hell no,” Emily replied. “No, the mission is getting out of here for a couple of hours.”

  “Does the kid like chicken?” Simon asked.

  “It’s one of his four primary food groups, chicken, pasta, cheese, and bread.”

  “Cool, I know just the place. I’ll meet you outside the hotel in half an hour, okay?”

  * * *

  The casual dining restaurant was packed but somehow Simon had negotiated a large round booth in the corner. The food was tapas style and Simon ordered a number of small plates of various foods for them to share. When Henry got bored with his colouring book, Simon had given the boy his mobile phone to play some games.

  Before long, a couple of flamboyant cocktails were placed on the table at Simon’s request and Emily burst out laughing at the colourful drinks with their little parasols.

  “I just don’t know why anyone would think you might be gay,” Emily joked as Simon removed a slice of orange from the rim of his glass and bit into it.

  “I know, right?!” Simon laughed with his mouth full of orange.

  “So,” Emily stirred her drink with the pink straw. “W
hat’s her name?”

  “Sophie,” Simon said. “She’s amazing.”

  “Aw, young love,” Emily grinned.

  “She said I’m funny,” Simon said and puffed his chest out proudly.

  “You are,” Emily agreed with a nod.

  “We’re seeing each other again on Saturday.”

  “Cool, what’s the plan?” Emily asked as she took a sip of her cocktail and was grateful that the alcohol content seemed relatively low.

  “We’re having a picnic at Greenwich Park and then we’re going to see the observatory,” Simon said. “I’m checking to see if she’s as much of a geek as me.”

  Emily chuckled and Simon fished out another slice of orange from his glass with his straw.

  “So, what’s happening with you and…” Simon paused and looked at Henry who was focused on his games, and then he glanced over at Emily, “O?”

  Emily licked her lips nervously and stirred her drink with a straw.

  “Come on,” Simon said. “I know something’s happened. She was all smiley this morning and then you wanted to talk and there’s cocktails and…I’m basically your gay best friend without the gay. You want to talk; I can see it fighting to get out of you. So, spill.”

  Emily laughed and looked at Henry to check he was occupied before leaning closer to Simon. “We kind of…kissed.”

  Simon raised his hand. “Up high.”

  Emily rolled her eyes. “I am not high-fiving you.”

  Simon smiled while lowering his hand. “Fine, your loss. So? What happened?”

  Emily shrugged. “Nothing happened.”

  Simon pouted. “Oh, that’s well boring.”

  Emily snorted a laugh. “Sorry to disappoint you!”

  “She likes you,” Simon said simply. “Like, really likes you.”

  Emily rolled her eyes. “Do not tell me she told you to say that; this isn’t high school.”

  Simon grinned. “No, she didn’t tell me to say that. In fact, she’s been very cagey about it which is why I know she likes you.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter,” Emily said. “It can’t happen.”

  Simon gasped and put his hand to his chest. “You’re secretly married?”