Page 41 of Codename: Dustoff
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Igave myself a fantastic present for Christmas. I traded in my little two door Hyundai for a Jeep Cherokee. The zippy SUV was high enough off the ground that I didn’t struggle getting in and out as much as I had with my two-door. The overall comfort factor of my new Jeep made even my three-hour commute to the V.A. enjoyable—as much as a trip to the V.A. could be, anyway. Gemini also had one amazing Christmas based on the pictures of the newest piece of jewelry she sported on her ring finger. Finn popped the question Christmas morning.
Emmett: Thank you for the gift.
I forgot that prior to the big break up I’d asked Pam if she knew anyone that had suggestions for making a kitchen accessible. After a few phone calls she’d directed me to a website that had all kinds of kitchen equipment for people with a single arm. Everything from vegetable peelers and jar openers, to chopping block stabilizers that held items in place while one would slice them. While I certainly wasn’t swimming in money, I got him a few things I knew he would be able to use, like a standard sized electric can opener and a one-handed jar opener.
Me: You too, Emmett. Hopefully they are up to your discerning chef standards, and you will find good use for them.
Emmett: Anything from you will be used and appreciated. I hope you find your peace, angel. Merry Christmas
I nearly typed I miss you. Twice. Based on the ellipses coming from Emmett’s phone he considered and reconsidered a response, though no more ever came. Emmett’s Christmas message hurt my heart more than I thought it would. I didn’t know what to say back. Honestly, I was still trying to process all the feelings I had for him.
I’d taken to sleeping on the couch in the living room. After one too many night terrors, Abby said I scared her, and asked to share a room with Annie again. Given Annie still fought for her independence, the couch just seemed like it made the most sense.
Once in the middle of the night, my mom came out to lay with me to try to calm me enough to fall back to sleep. In the midst of my fear, I’d reached out to her and called her Emmett. She took that as a sign that my soul was restless and in search of its matching pair. She and all of my aunties said endless novenas for me and had the whole church lighting candles for me. Finding my way to being normal was going to take more than a novena, that was for sure.
* * *
Ihated flying. Not because I was afraid. Or I didn’t like the sensation of floating, feared crashing, or any of the other million reasons people hated to be on airplanes. I actually joined the Army because I had a sense of wanderlust that I thought would be satisfied by touring the globe with Uncle Sam. Of course, those plans got cut short. No, I hated flying because those sardine cans they called seats made even a ninety-minute flight practically intolerable.
“If you show them your military card,” Gemini whispered, “they will give you special accommodation.”
I didn’t need—the moment the thought of Emmett surfaced. His stupid sexy eyebrow cocked up in challenge, calling “check.” I did need accommodation. There wasn’t any shame in asking for it.
“Will you come up with me?” I asked her, feeling small and ashamed. “It may sound silly, but I’m not sure what I’m asking for.”
Gemini jumped into action, marching straight up to the ticket counter.
“Hi, Tiffany.” She smiled at the agent, reading her name badge. “My friend here is an Army veteran. She lost her leg in Afghanistan and hasn’t flown in an airplane since her amputation. She’s incredibly worried that the ever-shrinking space between rows is going to be a hinderance on her ability to move about the cabin, and also may be a challenge to how comfortable she is while in flight. Is there any possibility you can put her in one of the exit rows perhaps? They have more leg room than the rest of us will have.”
Tiffany glanced my way, that standard “I’m glad it’s not me” pity in her eyes. “I really wish I could,” she began, “the exit rows unfortunately bear the responsibility of assisting everyone off the aircraft in an emergency. If you are unable to perform those duties, I can’t have you in those seats.”
I turned to go back to my seat, assuming that was the end of the discussion. Gemini grasped my bicep to hold me in place.
“We do however, have accommodations for military veterans. It looks as though all of our extended leg room seats are full fare tickets, so I’m unable to bump them, but I do have an available seat in First Class right at the front of the aircraft. Number 1F.”
She smiled and handed me my upgraded ticket, thanking me for my service.
“Fancy ass,” Gemini joked, “I’ll just be back in 32F mingling with the hoi polloi while you’re up there having caviar and champagne.”
Since Emmett forced my hand and I was had to attend this wedding, I asked Gemini to join me. She agreed, telling me that she really did want to see her friend Penn before he and his fiancé left for Chicago. They were spending their last weekend in New York and truly did have a going away party they’d invited Gemini and Finn to attend. Our flight to New York didn’t have any available seats on it, so Finn planned to take a separate flight and meet up with us at the hotel after the wedding.
Taking me dress shopping had actually been a ruse to get me to try on dresses and find one I was comfortable in. Coordinated, of course, by Emmett. As angry with him as I was, and upset at his lack of situational awareness, the ice may have softened just a little bit with the plans he’d conspired behind the scenes.
“Excuse me, ma’am?” A businessman approached Gemini and I where we sat waiting for the flight to board. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation at the ticket stand.”
He shifted nervously in front of us, transferring his bag from one shoulder to the other.
“I fly a lot for business. I’m back and forth a million times a week, so I accrue miles and upgrades like they’re monopoly money. Getting to sit in first class, really is just a small perk I like to treat myself to as a reward for spending so much time away from my family.”
He thrust his ticket toward me with a half-smile. “I’m 1D. I want your friend to have it. I’ll take 32F.”
Gemini and I both just stared at him in shock. Here was this total stranger, randomly approaching the two of us to give us his seat. I’d seen that kind of thing happen in movies, but in real life? And to me? As a kid I only dreamed of ever riding on an airplane. I never imaged riding in first class, and then have someone in possession of a first-class ticket randomly volunteer to give it to me. I had no words.
“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” I smiled, accepting the ticket
I paused for a moment, tracing the outline of the paper ticket. I bore his name on it, Lucas Brown. “I’m Amelia,” I extended my hand in greeting. “Thank you for this. Truly.”