“Floor it, Esben,” Kerry says. “Floor it. We can make it to the airport on what’s in the tank.”
The car screeches as we pull from our spot on the side of the road, and I look at the clock. We won’t make this flight. An extra fifteen minutes and maybe we’d be okay. Esben is driving as fast as is responsibly possible, but it won’t be enough.
“The flight’s going to leave,” I say flatly.
“Just hold on.” Kerry is on her phone again, typing away. “I’m writing Caroline and Deb, the girls with the tickets...okay, they’re with a ticket agent. They have to print new tickets with your names and all that. Security is moving really fast, but they’re ready to put you at the front anyway.”
“Don’t think. Just drive,” Jason says calmly to Esben. “Just drive.”
We say nothing more until Esben pulls up at the small airport and slams on the brakes. We all get out, and he tosses the keys to Kerry as he rounds the front of the car to take my hand. “We’ll be in touch. I love you guys.”
I start toward my friends, but Esben pulls my hand. “No time. Come on. The flight is supposed to leave in four minutes.”
As we rush to the glass doors, I look back to see Jason and Kerry waving. As if I didn’t already know how wonderful they are, today has cemented my understanding of that.
We both scan the terminal, and I yank Esben toward the airline’s ticket counter.
“Caroline? Deb?” he yells ahead.
Two girls, both with long red hair, wave wildly. “Esben! Allison!” they scream.
We reach them, and one says, “No time to talk. Show the agent your licenses.”
We do, and she prints out our tickets in record time. “I’ll walk you to security,” the agent says. “They’re holding the flight for you.”
“What?” I could cry. “Oh God, thank you. I’ll pay you two back for the tickets. Message me.”
“No. It’s on us. Just go.” The two girls run with us to security, and I try to say something, but they both shake their heads.
“We’re sisters, and we were in foster care until we were five. We get the bond,” Caroline says.
“Your friend Steffi needs you more than we need anything.” Deb’s voice cracks.
“I’ll never forget this,” I call out as I stand in the scanning booth.
“You two rock!” Esben shouts.
We’re still holding our shoes as we run to the gate, which is thankfully right outside the security checkpoint. God bless little airports.
There’s a flight attendant standing there. “Esben and Allison?”
We nod.
“Welcome to flight six forty-two.” She scans our tickets and then motions for us to quickly enter the corridor to the plane. The door slams behind us, and we all walk briskly. “I’m Michelle. Let me know if you need anything.”
I assume that our fellow fliers are going to shoot us seething looks for holding them up, but the moment that we are in view of the other passengers, applause erupts. I look to Michelle and Esben with confusion.
“We explained what’s going on. They’re all behind you,” Michelle says. “Let’s take off.”
I can’t believe this, but as we walk down the aisle, people touch my arm, give me friendly nods, and continue clapping. One woman even has tears in her eyes. In a fog, I make it to our row and drop into the middle seat, next to a serious man in a business suit. Part of me is waiting for him to yell at us for delaying the flight, but he gives me a very brief smile before going back to his book.
We buckle our seat belts, and I lean against the headrest as the plane begins to taxi. Esben is rustling in the seat pocket.
“What are you looking for?”
“Damn,” he says under his breath, as he flips the plane’s info card in his hand.
“What?”
