She's like the wind 01

1

 

Standing in the Hagerstown's airport hall in the line to buy the airline ticket Lena was nervous.

 

„To New York. As soon as possible, please,“ she said, stepping to the counter as finally it was her turn.

 

„I'm sorry. All today's flight are sold out,“ the clerk answered.

 

„No,“ Lena sighed. „You don't understand, I need to be in New York today because of a funeral,“ she ran her hand through her hair, her tone urging. „It's important. Please, there has to be a free seat.“

 

„Unfortunately, there's not, Miss. I'm really sorry but all flights to New York are full today.“

 

Lena shook her head, took her suitcase and moved aside. She didn't know what to do. She forgot to book up the airline ticket because she was busy the entire week finishing her work so she could fly to New York. She was desperate. Today was her daddy's funeral and she had to be there. She felt tears forming in her eyes. She looked around, wiping them.

 

*

 

Eric crossed the airport hall with his favorite coffee from Starbucks in his hand when he heard a desperate woman's voice explaining she needed to get to New York today because of a funeral. Even though his private plane was waiting for him to take off, he stopped. He saw her stepping aside, noticing tears in her eyes as she looked up. As their eyes met he made up his mind and stepped closer.

 

„Hi, I'm Eric...,“ he mumbled his surname so she couldn't recognize it. He didn't want her to know who he was. „I happened to hear that you were in trouble. I could take you to New York right away if you wish. My friend's plane's waiting for me outside.“

 

She stared at him, surprised. „Hi, I'm Lena Gray. It's nice of you but I can't accept it,“ she shook her head, not paying attention to his name right now.

 

„You can. I have to fly to New York anyway,“ he looked in her brown doe eyes that captivated him. „What else do you want to do when they have no airline tickets? I mean no harm. I'd just like to help,“ he gave her a small friendly smile, taking her suitcase. „Follow me.“

 

*

 

„Would you like a cup of coffee?“ he asked as she took a seat by the window.

 

„Yes, I would, please,“ she answered, glancing at him.

 

He could see so much grief in her eyes as he handed her a cup of coffee. „Thank you,“ she looked up briefly.

 

„You're welcome. I'll be in the front if you need anything. Have a nice flight,“ he retreated. He decided to leave her alone. She didn't look happy to talk and he respected it.

 

*

 

„Lena?“ she heard Eric's soft voice as he lightly touched her shoulder. She opened her eyes. She'd had to fall asleep. „We landed in New York right now.“

 

He escorted her in front of the airport building and waved down a taxi for her.

 

„Thank you very much for taking me here, Eric. You were kind to me,“ she looked up with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

 

„You're welcome, Lena. I was glad to help,“ he watched her to get in the taxi.

 

She waved at him and closed the car door shut. He was standing there with his suitcase in his hand till the car disappeared out of his sight.

 

Staring out of the window of his taxi he realized he didn't know anything about her and she probably vanished out of his life as quickly as she’d appeared in it. He sighed and got out of the car in front of his hotel.

 

*

 

Lena cleaned the house on Friday after the last guest had left their house and her two years older brother Tom helped her. It was a hard day. She spent Saturday in New York with her mother and Tom. She didn't tell anyone about how she'd got to New York.

 

On Sunday morning she packed her suitcase. Tom offered to take her to the airport after lunch to catch her flight back to Hagerstown.

 

„Let me know once you're at home,“ her mom said, hugging her.

 

„I will, mom,“ Lena patted her back, holding her in her arms a little longer. „Didn't you think about coming back home, girl?“

 

„I didn't, mom. I have a good job that I love,“ Lena pulled back to look at her. „Will you be OK? You can come to visit me. Both of you,“ she looked at Tom who nodded.

 

„I'll take care of her, don't worry,“ Tom gave her a half smile. „Let's go to catch your flight.“

 

Lena kissed her mom on the cheek. „I'll let you know. Bye, mom.“

 

Her heart clenched as she saw her mom standing on the porch, waving. I should come to see her more often. I have to. I don't want to lose her. It's enough that my daddy...

 

„Are you OK?“ Tom glanced at her and immediately he paid attention to driving.

 

„Yes, I am,“ she wiped her eyes. „Thanks for taking care of mom, Tom.“

 

„No problem,“ he winked and pulled in the parking lot in front of the airport.

 

She hugged him. He smiled and kissed her on the crown of her head. „You need to go. I'll miss you. You should come more often.“

 

„I told myself the same thing. I'll miss you, too. And mom,“ she took her suitcase and made her way to the airport hall. She looked back for the last time, waving at him before she entered the building.

 

*

 

Once in Hagerstown Lena jumped in her car that she left standing in the parking lot and drove home to Halfway.

 

Lena walked inside her small house and put her suitcase in the bedroom. After taking a shower she poured coffee in a mug for herself and settled in her bed, turning on her notebook. She called her mother and immersed herself in work. Her boss expected her to hand in corrections tomorrow and a considerable piece was left for her to read. The story she was reading was written by Monica Davis. It was an amazing romance with elements of drama. Lena loved reading and correcting her stories. Of course it was her job but she always enjoyed it. She didn't need to buy books she could read the first draft and watch them grow.

 

She smiled to herself as she finished. Glancing at the alarm clock on the bedside table she saw she was reading for two hours without taking her eyes off of the screen.

 

Lena checked her email and found out that Ann Miller finished the next three chapters today and sent them to her. Ann was another favorite author, she wrote dramas. Lena a copied of the file in her notebook and sent her answer to Ann. She would postpone this work until tomorrow. She turned off her notebook. After using the bathroom she crawled under the covers to get some sleep.