“I know what you are worried about, and don’t be.Dating is like riding a bicycle.”
“I can’t ride one of those anymore.It hurts my upper back and shoulders,” Kalliopi said.
“Well, as long as the other parts work, you’ll be fine.”
“Treasure!”
“What?”
“That is so not funny.Probably true because I’m worried, but still so not funny!”
“Girl, if you don’t get laid while you are there, I am so going to yell at you when you get home.”
“I will not let you chastise me about this now or later.”
“You’re right.I should let whatever is going on with the two of you progress naturally.After all, that’s what?—”
“Good God,girl!How many times do I have to hear about the Scooby Gang getting together?”
Treasure chuckled before placing her palms on her best friend’s shoulders.
“I will miss you fiercely.”
“I will miss you, too.”
* * *
Hours into the trip, Kalliopi checked the itinerary for the thirtieth time, as if that would make the time go by faster.She always fidgeted when she was nervous, and considering she felt like she was making the biggest mistake of her life by taking a chance with Stan, she felt ready to bounce off the walls.At least her charges had been behaving well, and they were also surprisingly quiet.
“Can I get you anything, miss?”
Kalliopi smiled.It’d been a long time since someone had called her miss.She’d been a ma’am for longer than she could remember, and it didn’t help that it came mostly from people under the age of thirty.
“Yeah, do you have any high-test chardonnay?”
“Certainly.I just need to see some ID.”
Kalliopi quirked a brow.Did this woman really not know how old she was?She smiled as she fumbled for her wallet and kept smiling as she handed over her ID.
“You just made my day.”
The stewardess smiled back as she handed Kalliopi back her card.
“I can’t believe you were born the same year as my mother!”
And there it was.“Thanks?”
“Oh, no!I meant it as a compliment!My mom is really old!”
Kalliopi kept a smile on her face but internally winced at the backhanded compliment.Why the attendant couldn’t have simply said, “You don’t look your age,” was beyond her.
“I’ll take that wine, now.Perhaps two… thanks.”
“I’ll be right back.”
The flight attendant practically ran down the aisle to get the wine and also ran back to Kalliopi just as quickly.Kalliopi mumbled a thank-you and took a sip.The buttery-oak scent touched her nostrils before the amber liquid slid down her throat smoothly, and she let out a satisfied sigh.When she finished, her eyes fluttered shut.She didn’t wake until the plane jetted to a lower altitude and the seat belt sign dinged.
That’s strange.I always struggle to fall asleep.
