Road to Casablanca

by Leah Leonard

  “Here you go.”

  “Your ticket, sir?” the man asked in the same tone, holding out his hand.

  “I don’t have one. I need to reach my…wife. She’s on that flight and she forgot something. It’s very important I give it to her.”

  “I’m sorry sir, but the flight is pulling away right now. Besides, I cannot let you past this point without a ticket.”

  The plane was still parked at the gate and Erick could see it clearly.

  “But you don’t understand.”

  Erick reached for the same wad of cash he attempted to give to the young woman and handed it to him as he pushed forward.

  “Here. Take this. I need to get to her, now!”

  The man waved off the money, then stood up and placed his palm on Erick’s chest. The gesture immediately attracted the attention of several armed guards who quickly approached. None of them looked like someone Erick would dare mess with had he been in a proper frame of mind. But for the time being, he seemed to have lost all sense of propriety and judgment. All he could think of was Cindy, and he didn’t care if they pulled him to the ground, he was going to get to her.

  “No, sir. I cannot allow it. Back away or we will have to arrest you.”

  “Look, I don’t want any trouble! It’s just an emergency.”

  “I’m sure your wife will be fine, sir. I apologize, but we are going to have to ask you to leave. You can catch up with your wife later.”

  The man repeated his warning as the other guards physically moved Erick out of the waiting area and back to the curb out front.

  Erick was used to always getting his way—at least almost always—and this was a huge blow to his ego, but more importantly to his heart. He had to find Cindy, no matter what. Why wouldn’t they understand that?

  If Cindy really was on that plane right now, leaving him because she’d seen him with Petra of all people, it was such a sore misunderstanding, it made him sick. It hit too close to home with what had happened the last time the media sharks got hold of him, but this time it was doubly devastating.

  Cindy was truly the only woman Erick had ever considered loving, and he knew if she left Morocco—as it now looked like she was about to—and he did not have the opportunity to clear things up with her, chances were good he might lose her forever.

  Erick was unwilling to give up on her so quickly; he had to try again. He waved to his driver to signal him to wait, then walked back toward the ticket counter, where he was immediately met by the guards.

  “Sir, we are going to have to ask you to leave.”

  “Please, I need to check to see if there’s another flight to London going out today.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, that was the last flight today.”

  Erick became visibly crushed now, his usually strong shoulders slumping in defeat. As he walked slowly from the airport and back out to the curb, he looked into the late afternoon sky, where a single aircraft made its ascent into the clouds. Cindy. She was in that plane all alone, afraid to fly and for what? Those damned reporters were bent on ruining his life.

  He only faintly considered what his father and the Board would say when they were home eating their dinners tonight and once again saw him Erick appearing to behave badly. But he brushed that thought off as his mind instantly returned to sweet Cindy. He reached for the wedding rings that were still in his pocket and a tear began to form in his eye.

  Could she not understand what she meant to him? She was the greatest gift he’d ever received, his everything. His wife. He wanted to make her his wife, and he would have to track her down now and let her know her fantasy was reality after all. He had to find a way to get those rings back on her finger where they belonged.

  As he considered following her, he realized that despite all they’d shared, he had no idea where she lived in Dallas, the name of the law firm where she worked, or anything. He was going to have his work cut out for him, but he didn’t mind. She was worth any effort he made and he would not stop until he could face her again and they could get this whole situation straightened out once and for all.

  The driver saw him and pulled up, rolling down the window. “Mr. Redmund? You not going home today sir with your wife?”

  “No, no, I’m not. Take me back to the hotel.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “I have to go standby today.”

  Erick stood at the front desk of the hotel and pounded his fists on the counter as he spoke to the tiny woman behind the front desk.

  “I’m sorry sir, I have called, but all the flights for today have already gone. You will have to wait until tomorrow.”

  Erick could feel his temperature rise and his face grow red with heat. Regardless of what he said or did, it seemed there was nothing he could do about any of it.

  I could call the private jet…

  It seemed like a good idea at first, but almost as soon as he thought about it, he realized it was still sitting on a landing strip in Hollywood. By the time it flew all the way to northern Africa, he could already be well on his way back to the States.

  “There must be a faster way to get out of Africa. Surely you must know of something, some way. I’m more than willing to pay you or anyone to just get me out of here.”

  The girl simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders, which made Erick even more angry.

  “I apologize, sir. There is no way that I know of other than the flights you checked and they are all gone for today, sir.”

  After leaving the airport he couldn’t think about business any more. His mind was locked on the only thing that mattered to him now: Cindy.

  “Hello. Everything okay, Mr. Redmund?”

  Erick turned toward the familiar voice and clutched his forehead, unable to hide his angst from his potential business partner.

  “Mr. Jibade…”

  “What seems to be the trouble, sir?”

  “It’s my…wife…Cindy.”

  “Ah, a little trouble in paradise, is it?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Erick turned away, nearly incapable of looking the man in the eye, lest he should discover his horrible secret and the burden in his heart.

  “Why don’t you marry her then, sir?”

  Erick stood there and looked straight into the eyes of the wise older man. Had he really known all along about the charade? Erick felt like a fool. How could he have known it?

  “You mean you…”

  “Of course, Mr. Redmund; isn’t it obvious?” Jibade laughed a bit as he said it.

  “But how did you…” For the first time in his life, Erick felt ashamed of himself.

  “It’s a look, Mr. Redmund. The look of the hunter. You still have that look in your eye when you see Miss Cindy. You, sir, are still on the hunt. It isn’t quite the same after you marry as it is when you are still on the hunt, engaged in the game of pursuit.”

  “It isn’t?”

  Erick wanted to know more, to understand the wisdom this man seemed to embody, but for now, all he wanted was Cindy. If Jibade could help with that, fine; if not, he needed to get moving.

  “It is wonderful to be married, Mr. Redmund. I love my wife, our family and our life together. It is God’s greatest gift to me, but it is not the pursuit anymore, Mr. Redmund. That is a special time, one you must treasure, one you must never take for granted.”

  “But I’m not…”

  “You must pursue and you must take action to get what you want, lest you lose it and destroy your chance for a happy and peaceful life, sir. Real peace comes from love, and love alone. Your business cannot bring you happiness, sir. My money and partnership cannot bring that to you. Only love can. Only the love of a good woman who understands you. When you find that you must grasp it tightly, with both hands and never let it go.”

  Erick nodded and said nothing as he listened and contemplated what the older man was saying to him. As he considered Jibade’s wise words, Erick realized he had never had anyone speak to him like this before. Not ever. N
ot even his own father was as wise as his new friend.

  “I need to go home today, sir, but I have no way to get there and I realize we still have another meeting tomorrow morning.”

  “Yes, you do, Erick.”

  Jibade called him by his name for the first time, which impressed Erick since he didn’t know Jibade even remembered it.

  “But how? We have our meeting tomorrow.”

  “You need not worry about the meeting tomorrow because you have my blessings and my money for your partnership. Just do the right thing and take care, not of me and your business, but of what matters most to you. If you do that, I would be privileged to be a business partner with you.”

  For the first time in his adult life, Erick thought he might burst into tears. He wanted to hug this man. It seemed his heart was suddenly opening and a floodgate of new emotions were starting to take him over.

  “Thank you, sir. How can I ever repay you?”

  Jibade grabbed Erick’s shoulders and gave him a strong masculine embrace, a fatherly squeeze that Erick had never received from his own dad, but one he needed now, when it mattered most. Erick respected Jibade now more than ever, and was determined to make this man proud of him so he would be able to respect him as his own father never had.

  “Your happiness is all I want to see. You may use my jet to go to London, but from there you will have to get another plane to take you the rest of the way.”

  Erick’s eyes grew wide in disbelief at Jibade’s generosity, especially since Erick had been lying to him the whole time.

  “Are you…are you sure? I couldn’t ask you to do…”

  Jibade raised his palm to silence Erick.

  “Mr. Redmund, did you not come here to ask for my money for your company?”

  Erick nodded.

  “And I have given it to you, but there can be no company unless you get back home, correct?”

  Erick nodded again.

  “Then you must accept my offer and use my plane. I can make an arrangement to have it fueled for you in an hour if you can get to the airport by then. Besides, no good businessperson ever turns down a good offer. And I do believe you to be a good businessman, Mr. Redmund.”

  “Thank you, sir, I don’t know what to say…thank you so much!”

  “Go now; catch your flight and allow your heart to be captured.” Jibade turned and walked away.

  Erick was awestruck by the wisdom of his new business partner. Jibade was right. He had to get back the one thing that made his life worth living, Cindy, and he would not be able to refuse Jibade’s offer for help at this stage in the game. He needed to get back to the States, get to Dallas, and find Cindy as soon as humanly possible.

  Erick was ecstatic about the offer to use Jibade’s private jet. He immediately returned to his room and packed his things after demanding a key to Cindy’s room so he could make sure he had everything that belonged to her.

  When he entered in her room and looked into the closet, he was stunned to see all of the dresses still on their hangers and the jewelry sitting in boxes on the bathroom counter.

  Of all the bimbos and users he’d dated over the years, the one who was about to get away was the only woman in his entire thirty-two years who seemed to be dating him for him, and not for the money. It was a stunning revelation and made him want to find her and straighten this mess out even more.

  His driver was still waiting for him outside when Erick left the hotel, bringing both his things and Cindy’s with him. The driver rushed to the private landing strip for Jibade’s plane.

  On the way to the airport, Erick needed to make arrangements to have a flight from London to the states and fortunately was able to reach Gloria on his cell.

  “Hello?”

  She sounded groggy. Erick realized it was probably the middle of the night there.

  “Gloria?”

  “Yes, who’s this?”

  “It’s Erick, and I need your help.”

  She acted surprised and waking up more now. “Erick? I thought you weren’t coming home for another two days.”

  “I had a slight change of plans and now I’m going to need a flight from London to Dallas. I need to be booked on one as soon as possible, within the next eight hours and it would be even better if I could book a private plane to take me.”

  “We’d already arranged for your pilot to pick you up in two days and take you direct, sir.”

  “I know, but I am on my way to London now and I need the flight. Cancel the jet. I’m not going to need it anymore.”

  “I’ll be happy to do that, sir, but I won’t be able to get to it for at least another six hours, because nothing is open now. It is the middle of the night, you know.”

  “Well, then, get on the phone to London and book something for me there. It’s not the middle of the night over here. Do it and call me back!”

  Erick hung up on her, and as soon as he did, he regretted it. He was the one at fault here — not Gloria, not Jibade, not anyone but him. And maybe the paparazzi. Still, he needed to be kinder. He could not get over the fact he had access to a jet tonight at all, and for that, he was grateful.

  Just before Erick arrived at the private landing strip, his phone rang and Gloria was on the line. The connection was crackling, but Erick could make out what she was saying.

  “I got a direct flight reserved from London Heathrow direct to L.A. and it leaves exactly nine hours from now.”

  “I’m not going to L.A.; I need to go to Dallas! Get me another flight, and I want something private. What about the Supersonic? Can’t I just rent that and get there in an hour? I don’t care what it costs, you hear me?”

  “Sir, the supersonic is no longer flying now, so I’m afraid at this short notice, commercial air is all you will be able to get.”

  Erick took a breath and tried to calm himself down. Gloria was right, there was nothing anyone could do, and he knew she was doing her best.

  “I understand, Gloria, and I’m sorry. I’ve just had a very rough day. I appreciate what you’re doing and I know it’s not your fault. Just please try and help me, will you? It’s the most urgent matter I’ve ever had.”

  “Yes, sir. Do you mind me asking what it’s about? Maybe I can help.”

  Erick could only imagine what Gloria was thinking of him as she spoke to him in her most matronly tone. She had known him since he was practically a kid, a motherless one at that, and had witnessed much of his father’s bad behavior firsthand through the years. There was no telling what she thought of him after all of that, so he figured it might be okay, and possibly even helpful, to go ahead and let her in on what was really going on.

  Erick recalled Jibade’s words only an hour earlier and knew how helpful he had been and he also knew Gloria was an older, potentially wiser person, so he decided to confide in her and listen to what she would have to say about it.

  “Cindy, my date…you know, the blind date?”

  He knew perfectly well she did, although she was discreet enough to never mention it directly to him.

  “Yes, what about her?”

  “She got upset. She misunderstood a mess I got into here with the media and a model, and…oh, I don’t know…the whole damn thing sounds completely ridiculous and I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “Yes?”

  Gloria sounded calm and spoke patiently, as she always did, waiting for more details of his always sordid affairs.

  “She saw me with another woman, okay? But I swear it wasn’t what it looked like. I didn’t do anything with her, we are just old friends and more than that…I…”

  Erick found it harder than he thought to tell her. “I love her, okay? And now she’s gone. She took off on the last flight out of here and I had to borrow a private jet and…”

  “You need to get home and find her. I understand completely, and I will do what I can to get it straightened out on this end. Go catch your flight and I will book a new one going to Dallas, and when would you like it to return
to L.A.?”

  Never.

  “In a couple days I guess. It doesn’t matter. If I need to change it, I’ll pay or maybe I can have the jet come get me.”

  “Consider it done, and I wish you luck.”

  It was perfect timing as she hung up and a team of professionals approached Erick’s car to assist him on board the private jet.

  “Welcome, Mr. Redmund. Welcome aboard, Sir.”

  Erick was bound to receive the red-carpet treatment as a personal guest of Mr. Jibade. There were simply no words to express his gratitude to the older gentleman, no possible way to thank him for his generosity.

  The ramp leading into the small jet was a staircase that held twenty-seven metal steps. Erick ducked his head as he entered the richly decorated cabin, which featured dark leather seats with built in drink holders and a full bar.

  The staff brought food on board and Erick was immediately served more traditional Moroccan fare and several kinds of small meat-and-cheese sandwiches which he gladly ate since dinnertime was long past now and he hadn’t had any time to eat anything before going to the airport.

  “Drink, Mr. Redmund?”

  “Scotch, thanks, and make it a double.”

  With all Cindy had put him through these past few hours, he wanted to request a triple. He wanted her and would do everything in his power to reach her quickly and bring her home with him to Hollywood.

  Erick was just settling in to rest his eyes when one of the attendants approached him.

  “Sir, I’m afraid we have some news about London.”

  “What is it?” Erick opened his eyes and sipped his scotch.

  “We’ve been asked to hold off or choose a new route, sir. It seems they’re having very bad weather there at present and we cannot get a clearing to land at any of the airports around the London vicinity.”

  “What? What do you mean? There was a commercial aircraft that left for London only a few hours ago and there was no word about delays for them!”

  “Yes, sir, I realize that, but weather tends to move in rather quickly in that part of the world, and unfortunately, as you know if you’ve flown private jets before, we do not always receive the same landing clearances as larger jets due to possible dangers from turbulence.”