Page 66 of Too Much In Common
“What are you talking about?”
“I think Colin and I could use a few days of ‘us’ time. And the kids have so many parties next week, they won’t miss us much...” Candace tapped her chin. “You have a passport, right?”
Chris’s eyes narrowed. “Yes?”
“You sound unsure of that answer.”
“I’m sure that I have a passport, I’m just not sure what you’re proposing.”
“I’m going to be spontaneous. If I help your Cupid in the process, so be it.” Candace stood and walked to the front of the plane where her husband sat.
Chris spent the rest of the flight alternately trying to figure out what she meant and composing a long text to Tian.
Chris: I hope you had a good flight and your father is better off than you expect. I’m trying not to be annoyed with the universe for keeping us apart. I already put in for the 17th off, but if you need to return to Boston with your father, I understand. I have this feeling that you’re trying to end things with us. Please don’t. I’m not fooling myself into thinking this will be easy. Our job schedules are going to need some fine tuning. Please give us a little longer.
In airplane mode the message couldn’t go anywhere. He read the message again. It sounded too desperate.
Chris hit delete.
* * *
Tian: Any social media video that claims jump seats are comfortable is lying. And backwards-facing landings are disconcerting.
Brit: You’re jealous of my normal seat.
Simone: You’re used to looking out windows when you land. How’s your dad?
Tian: He says he is fine. Mom says no.
Brit: Hospital sent him home, so probably in the middle.
Tian: Why are you up anyway? It’s 2 a.m.
Simone: I was watching Valentine’s Day Hearthfire Channel movies. I need to go find a small town and a man in plaid.
Tian: I thought plaid was for Christmas.
Simone: It carries over. This one owns an organic farm.
Brit: I’d roll my eyes but I am too tired. Go to sleep. Especially you, Tian. I want the light off.
Tian turned off the light sitting on the nightstand in her old bedroom. So much had changed over the years, but their shared room hadn’t. Boy band posters still littered Brit’s side of the wall. Tian needed sleep. Tomorrow would be full of phone calls. Who knew what would be decided about Dad’s last flight. He was thinner. Other than that, she couldn’t be sure. Everyone looks tired at two in the morning. She checked her phone one last time, hoping for a text from Chris. Still nothing.
Her alarm woke her sometime after sunrise. Tian hurried to take a shower knowing whomever was last would get only cold water. The bathroom door was locked. Brit beat her. Tian stumbled back into the bedroom and turned on the light. Still no message from Chris.
Tian: Are you back in Chicago?
Chris: Oh sorry. I wrote a long text on the airplane but didn’t send it.
Tian: We need to talk.
Chris: The four words every man dreads.
Tian: I don’t want to do this in a text.
Chris: Then don’t.
Tian: I wish things were different. I can’t ask you to change your job, and I don’t know how to change mine. Now with my dad. I’ll probably end up living here for half of my off time for the next six months.
