Chapter 4
“We really could have flown commercial.” Kallie balked, stepping out of Treasure’s car and looking at the massive royal jet. “This is nuts, Treasure!”
“It’s a long flight,” Treasure reasoned, joining Kallie on the tarmac.
“You may as well be comfortable, plus, this way, you won’t need to worry about corralling your troops in the airport terminal on either side of the ocean.
You’ll step off the plane in BC and the bus will be right there waiting to take you all to FUCN’A. Easy-peasy, right?”
“Why do I get the feeling that you did this so I wouldn’t complain about the kids being a pain when I got home?”
“Yeah, okay, I kinda did it for that. But Stan also thought this would make things easier. You’ve got fifteen kids to keep track of, and that’s—”
“A lot for even an experienced teacher, let alone someone who’s personal and professional life has been pretty far removed from dealing with fledglings.”
“At least you’re not alone.” Treasure gave Kalliopi a small smile.
“I added three staff to help you on the plane with serving drinks, snacks, and meals. I get how rambunctious clutches can be. The staff will also assist you with the headcount when you load onto the bus, since Stan won’t be there to greet you on the tarmac.
” Kalliopi watched as Treasure’s hand landed on her growing stomach.
“You take care of my growing niece or nephew in there,” Kalliopi teased. “Remind her or him that Aunty Kalliopi is going to spoil them rotten when they finally arrive.”
“You won’t be the only one!” Treasure chuckled. “Teo being the top of the list. He’s already going overboard decorating and reading every baby book he can find.”
“Yeah, well, try not to be too jealous thinking of me up in the sky enjoying the fully stocked bar. I know your family keeps the good stuff on hand, and lord knows I’ll need at least one stiff drink if I have to listen to constant gossipy chatter for the entire flight.” The women chuckled.
“You got the roster?” Treasure asked.
Kalliopi waved her phone. “It’s all pulled up and ready to go. Not a single fledgling will be unaccounted for. Guess there’s nothing left to do but board the plane.”
“Don’t worry, you’ve got this, Kallie.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Treas, but I’m not worried about the mission.”
“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.
A single flash from her dreams hit her. She’d dreamt of Stan, and she smiled because only once in her life had she slept so soundly.
It was when Stan sat beside her in the hospital.
She wondered if knowing she’d see him soon had made her relaxed enough to sleep.
She’d been so tense after SHIT. Being taken out had reminded her of her age and mortality.
If she were even five years younger, she was convinced they wouldn’t have had the jump on her.
Of course, it could just be the flight attendant’s comments that had her thinking about age.
I’m not that old! She still had a lot of life to experience.
Oh, who was she kidding besides herself?
The fact was she’d become a creature of habit who hated to try new things.
Even something as simple as going to a new restaurant seemed dicey.
What if she didn’t like the food—or worse, what if it upset her stomach?
She’d had enough nights ruined by stomach cramps keeping her up all night that she avoided going outside her food comfort zone as much as she could these days.
Kalliopi let out a sigh. Had she really become this rigid?
She knew her ex had done her in, but how had it gotten this bad?
Why had she become so frumpy? At first, she thought her bestie was out of her mind when they were shopping for PJs, but now?
Now, Kalliopi had to admit that her bestie might be right about her.
When they finally began their descent into Canada, Kalliopi’s heart skipped a beat, and it had nothing to do with the plane’s movement.
Was she actually excited to see Stan? Her body tingled with excitement and impatience while the plane landed and taxied toward the private terminal.
She peered out the window, identifying a charter bus that was likely the one waiting for them.
It was early morning when the plane finally stopped and the seatbelt light clicked off, Kalliopi saw a figure step out of the bus.
Stan? He wasn’t supposed to meet them here.
That was what Treasure had said, at least!
Kalliopi had thought she still had the entire trip from the airport to the Academy to prepare herself for seeing him, but now, here he was!
Her heart pounded full-force. Crap, I have it bad.
She took a couple of breaths to calm herself and then turned to the cadets.
“You all need to wait here while I brief the FUCN’A staff. Gather your things and freshen your faces while I’m gone. When I come back, I expect you with your gear and in formation so we can exit the plane and enter the bus.”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” the cadets said in unison.
Kalliopi exited the plane and came face to face with Stan, who was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, looking as sexy as ever. His smile brightened with each step she took from the plane, and Kalliopi couldn’t help but smile back.
“Welcome to Canada, Kalliopi,” Stan said to her with his arms outstretched.
Does he want me to hug him? Should I hug him?
Before Kalliopi could mentally process what Stan wanted, he was already enveloping her in his embrace. Her soft curves met the hard planes of his chest, and Kalliopi bit her bottom lip to squelch a moan. Her cheeks instantly flushed.
“It’s good to be here. I have them in formation as we speak. Would you like me to introduce them as they depart the plane or save it for the bus?” She turned the topic to work as she placed some distance between them. Her body instantly mourned the separation.
“Let me introduce myself,” Stan replied. “I’ll lead them off the plane, and you can take up the rear so we don’t leave anyone behind.”
“Okay.”
Once they entered the plane, the cadets greeted them with hoots and whistles.
“Hot boyfriend, ma’am!” said one of the female cadets.
Kalliopi shot daggers at the group. “Cadets, you will remain professional from here on out.”
Silence hit the plane instantly until a chorus of “ma’am, yes, ma’am” followed.
“This is Agent Stan Dutetre, cadets. He will oversee your transfer to the Academy. You will address him as sir.”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am.”
“You will remember that you are the first troops sent from the island to undergo training with FUC. This is a unique opportunity that we are all grateful for, and remember, you’re representing all of the island every moment you’re here.”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am.”
Kalliopi turned to Stan.
“They are all yours, Agent Dutetre.”
“Thank you, Ms. Kouris. Cadets, please follow me.”
Kalliopi thought she saw a flash of hurt in Stan’s eyes, but she couldn’t be certain.
Is he upset that I addressed him by his last name in front of the cadets? But why? It’s customary for the cadets to know their superiors’ last names and address them accordingly.
The whole thing seemed strange to her. But then again, she wasn’t on Milos Island, so perhaps she’d made a faux pas because Stan’s customs here in Canada were different.
She made a mental note to remember to ask him as she checked off each cadet while they passed her exiting the plane.
As the last one moved past her, she walked down the aisle, checking each seat to make sure no one had left behind their cellphones or earbuds.
She didn’t need any of the young adults complaining they had lost something on her watch.
By the time everyone collected their baggage the plane staff had unloaded and then boarded the bus, the only seat left open for her was next to Stan.
She wondered if the gods of fate were mocking her as she slid in beside him.
“How was the flight?” he asked.
“Honestly? I slept through most of it. But given the welcome you got, I probably shouldn’t have.
I want to apologize for their behavior when you came on the plane.
Our cadets are trained better than that.
I suppose it’s because I’m not someone they normally work with.
Maybe they don’t see me as their leader, but more—”
“It’s okay.” Stan palmed her forearm. “They’re excited to be here, and they just finished a long flight. I’d expect a little rowdiness.”
“Still, I’m sorry. They will act better than that for you from this point forward.”
“It’s okay,” he said again, smiling at her. “Did I mention how glad I am that you’re accompanying them? I had expected it to be one of your usual trainers, but I understand the logic in keeping them on the island, continuing to work with the cadets who didn’t opt in to the FUCN’A program option.”
Is that the excuse they gave him? She realized it did make sense.
“Well, the only downside is you’re going to have to fill me in on what you need from me.
Obviously, you have all your staff in place to take them on as you would a regular new batch of cadets, so I’m not really sure what’s needed of me. ”
“Don’t underestimate the importance of a friendly, familiar face,” Stan soothed.
“They’re all in a new country with new food and customs, with all the adults having strange accents and mannerisms. You’re their connection to home, and based on how I observed them talking to you on the plane, you’ve already built a friendly rapport with them, which is exactly what they’ll need.
They’ll need to feel comfortable going to their dorm mom for whatever they need. ”
“Dorm mom?” Kalliopi’s eyes widened in horror. “That’s not what I had expected to be here.”
Stan sputtered. “Well, no, that’s not exactly the term. And they will have an actual RA, not a dorm mom or dad… person. I guess we just hadn’t sorted out exactly what your title would be…”
“She’s the head MILF!” someone shouted, and Kalliopi snapped her head back to try to identify who’d said it. She wasn’t familiar enough with the fledglings to know them by voice yet.
They all looked out the windows or at their laps, none of them looking more guilty than the others. “Put your headphones on,” Kalliopi snapped. “Don’t listen in on other conversations.”
But she couldn’t blame them. She would, too, in their position.
Stan kindly moved their conversation forward. “Today we’ll focus on dorm assignments and settling in. I’m sure they are all tired from the long flight. We’ll have orientation at 0800 hours tomorrow.”
“And I’m staying in the dorms with them?” Kalliopi asked, dreading the whole idea. It wasn’t just not being able to have some space apart from the cadets but also that she might not have the freedom to spend time with Stan without the fledglings chiming in about it.
“Oh no!” Stan chuckled. “Once we get them settled, and after your meeting this afternoon with Richard, I can take you to the place you’ll be staying. It used to be Harriet’s place when she was working under me. We’ve had it as a co-op ever since. It is half a block away from my place, as well.”
“Oh, I don’t want to put you, or the Academy, out. I can get a hotel. It’s not a big deal.”
“No one is using it right now, so I insist.”
“Well, if you insist, I guess I can’t say no.”
Stan smiled at her, and this time, his eyes brightened.