“Still tired,” I admit, and roll my sore neck.
“Do you give me permission to check your vitals one more time?”
“Sure.” I nod and close my eyes as she takes my blood pressure and listens to my heart again.
“Everything sounds great, and you’ll be back to normal within a few hours, but you should avoid driving for the rest of the day. Is someone picking you up?”
“I have a—Oh my gosh!” My eyes fly open as I remember what I was forgetting, and I scramble for my phone. My hands shake so hard that it takes me two tries to unlock it as I remember why all of this happened. I was supposed to divert the plane to save my family from danger, but I took a fat nap instead. I click on the messages icon multiple times as if that will make it load faster and check the group chat.
Gabe:Your flight should have just landed! Call me when you can!
Monika:Have the best time, Drew. Can’t wait to talk later.
Just as I am convinced that something bad happened to Scott because he hasn’t written anything since before takeoff, my phone buzzes in my hand.
Scott:Snuck out of my meeting to check in. Have fun. I’ll call tonight too.
I let out an audible breath and clutch my heart. Bianca’s smile falls as she looks to Doctor Emily.
“Are you feeling all right, Drew?” Doctor Emily asks.
“Yes, more than all right. They all survived!”
I ignore the look that passes between them and lean my head back against the headrest. Nobody died. Everything is okay.
“Where are you headed, and how are you getting there?” Bianca asks wearily.
“To a book club retreat, and I have a car rental reservation already in place,” I say, and push to stand, but frown when none of them retreat to let me by.
“Let us help you set up a taxi or an Uber instead,” Bianca says, as more of a demand than a question. With all of them firmly in agreement behind her, I have no choice but to plop back down in my seat.
“I can figure it out myself. I don’t need help to call an Uber,” I point out, irked that I am being treated like a child. My phone buzzes again, this time with a FaceTime call.
“Is that your boyfriend?” Doctor Emily asks, seeing the contact photo of Gabe and me in a cheeky embrace pop up on the screen.
“My brother-in-law,” I correct.
“Go ahead and answer it,” Doctor Emily says, and I do as I am told.
“Hey, Drew! How was—oh my gosh. What’s happening?” Gabe asks, going from excited to panicked in the span of two seconds.
“Nothing, I’m fine,” I say, shooting the crew around me a pointed look. “Just had a little mishap on the plane and am trying to get off now. The real question is, how are you and the others?”
Doctor Emily leans forward so that she is visible on screen, interrupting Gabe’s answer. “Hi, Gabe, my name is Doctor Emily. I was sitting next to Drew on the flight when she accidentally ingested four Dramamine pills and a vodka soda within the span of one hour, so she is unable to drive at the moment. Would you be able to pick her up from the airport and take her to her retreat?”
Gabe’s already big brown eyes bulge even more. “I am in New York—”
Doctor Emily interrupts again. “If you can set up a ride for Drew to get from the airport to her retreat, that would help all of us here sleep a little more easily tonight.”
“Of course, I’ll work on that right now. I’ll call you back in a few,” he says, then the FaceTime call disconnects.
I look up at my captors. “I can handle it from here. Thank you all for your help.”
The flight crew defers to Doctor Emily, and she gives them a nod, prompting them to move aside, and I am finally free to get off the plane.
Chapter twelve
SILVER LINING
