“Whatever.”
He folded his hands in front of him and turned away fromher. His body language said he was finished with their conversation. Likely, he regretted having spoken at all.
The plane descended, and before long they were on the tarmac at Sea-Tac Airport and easing toward their gate. Once the jetway was in place, Maisy collected her carry-on bag and prepared to disembark. Mr. Grump was one of the first to exit the plane and was out of sight. She didn’t see him again until she descended the escalator to baggage claim.
The way Mr. Grump paced back and forth, barking into his phone, told her something else had gone awry. He shoved his hands through his hair and stared up at the ceiling.
“What do you mean my car has been canceled,” he shouted impatiently.
The entire area could hear him. “Yes, I realize my plane was delayed. That is no excuse…”
Whomever he was speaking to must have hung up on him, because he growled and glanced anxiously at his watch. Maisy, like several others, stood transfixed, staring at him.
After a few moments, looking even more disgruntled, he approached her. “Would you happen to know where I can catch a taxi?” he asked.
“It’s downstairs and across the street. Your car service was canceled?”
“Yes,” he barked.
“Did you try Uber?”
“Of course,” he said, as if that was a ridiculous question. “There’s apparently a big conference in town, and the next available car won’t arrive for another forty minutes. I’m already behind schedule and late for my appointment with the funeral home. If I’m delayed any longer, I’ll miss my return flight this evening.”
From experience, Maisy knew the taxi line could take longer than forty minutes as well. “I’ll take you,” she said, hardly believing the words coming out of her mouth.
“You?” His eyes rounded as if he was sure he hadn’t heard her correctly. “Why would you do that?”
He should know the answer. “So you don’t miss your flight back to Chicago.”
“But…”
They didn’t have time to argue. “My car is in the lot across the street. Come with me and we’ll be on our way in less than fifteen minutes.”
“But the taxi…”
“The lines here are horrendous. I’m your best bet. Take it or leave it.”
He hesitated and then reluctantly nodded. “I’ll take it.”
Maisy collected her suitcase and then led the way out of the terminal. Reluctantly, Mr. Grump followed her. “Why should I trust you?” he asked, falling into step next to her.
“Do you want to make the return flight or not?”
He groaned as if unsure.
“Listen…What is your name, anyway?”
“Chase. Chase Furst.”
“Chase, listen. I promise I’ll get you where you need to go.”
He sighed. “Like you said, I don’t have much of a choice.”
“True.” She understood his hesitation.
His steps matched hers. “Why are you helping me?” he asked, as if he found it hard to believe she would willingly go out of her way for him.
Good question.Maisy wasn’t sure herself. “Because you lost your mother,” she answered. Before he could respond, she turnedand headed out the door to the airport parking lot across the street. A friend of the family owned the lot and allowed her to leave her vehicle there for free. Her car was old, a gift from her grandmother, who no longer drove.
