Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Zoey
I looked around the area I was sitting in for a sign.
Any sign that someone was here watching us.
My plane with the mechanical problems, delayed flight status, Carter’s SUV not starting, and no rental cars available were more than a coincidence.
It was nice to see a familiar face here, even if it was his.
He seemed a little bit different today, and I couldn’t put my finger on why.
“I still can’t believe I ran into you here,” he spoke as he took the seat across from me.
“I believe it.” I smiled.
He gave me an odd look, smiled back, and began eating his sandwich.
“I apologized to Nora. In case you’re wondering. I told her I didn’t have a choice but to fly to Seattle,” he spoke.
“Oh, I’m sure she doesn’t mind.”
“I was a little shocked when I got your letter this morning. I didn’t think you’d get such an early flight.”
“It was the only one available. I was lucky because there were only two seats left.”
“Maybe not so lucky since you’re still here.” He smirked.
“It’s been quite a day so far.”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came on the overhead speaker.
“Attention, passengers. Flight 445 to Connecticut has been canceled. We will have a flight going out tomorrow morning at seven a.m. Please see the attendant at the desk for further instructions and hotel accommodations.”
I sat there as I pursed my lips and slowly nodded my head. Was I surprised? Absolutely not.
“Was that your flight they just canceled?” Carter asked.
“Yep. It sure was.”
“Well, I guess you’ll have to fly to Seattle with me.” He smirked.
“I don’t know, Carter. We can’t seem—”
“It’ll be different this time, Zoey. I promise. I need you with me for this, and I’m sorry for everything. When you’re ready to talk about it, I’d like to get to know you better, and whatever it is you tell me, I’m ready to hear it.”
I sat across from him and stared into his eyes, which were a little brighter, and the sincerity in his voice led me to believe he was telling the truth.
“Okay. I’ll fly to Seattle with you.” I smiled.
“Really? Then we better go get you a ticket. We'll find another flight for us if there aren’t any seats available.”
“Trust me, Carter. There will be a seat available.”
He cocked his head and pursed his lips.
“You seem confident about that.”
“I am.”
He finished eating his sandwich, and we both headed to the ticket counter.
“How may I help you?” The young blonde asked.
“I was supposed to be on the flight to Connecticut that was canceled. Could you tell me if any seats are available for the four forty-five flight to Seattle?”
“Let me check for you.” She began typing away at her keyboard. “We have one seat available, and it’s in first class.” She smiled.
“She’ll take it,” Carter spoke. “And I’ll pay the difference.”
“You’re all set. Have a safe trip.”
She handed me my ticket, and I looked at it.
“What seat are you in?” Carter asked.
“3C”
“I’m in 3A, so we’ll be across from each other.” He smiled.
“Of course, we will be.” I grinned. “What did you do about Nora’s ashes?”
“I had to buy a box at the gift shop in the hotel and transfer the ashes. The airline said it would be fine if I kept them in my checked luggage.”
“Good. I’m glad they didn’t give you any trouble.”
“Would you like to go grab a coffee and sit somewhere until we have to be at our gate?” he asked.
“Sure. Coffee sounds really good right now.”
We walked around until we found a Starbucks, ordered our coffees, and then sat at a small round table for two right outside the café.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you end up with John and Scott?”
“Scott was the fireman who found me in the plane and rode with me in the ambulance to the hospital. John was the attending ER doctor who treated me when I was brought in. The press surrounded the hospital for days. John had a good friend who was pretty high up at Child Protective Services, and he let him and Scott take me home with them to hide me until it blew over.”
“Didn’t you have any other family that could care for you?”
“My mom’s parents died about a year before I was born and my dad's only living relative was his father, who was a major alcoholic.”
“You were only five. How did you know all that?”
“My mom told me about her parents, and John and Scott told me about my grandfather. They had hired a private investigator because they wanted to adopt me. Because of John’s friend and the pull he had, I officially became Zoey Benson two months after the crash.”
“What I don’t understand, Zoey, is why the story about being left on the church steps?”
I sipped my coffee before answering his question.
“Do you realize what would happen if anyone found out I was the child who survived that plane crash? About a month after it happened, and things were starting to calm down with the press, John and Scott bought a house in Connecticut, and we moved there. Even though it wasn’t official yet, they introduced me to everyone as their daughter.
It was there that we started a new life as a family. ”
“I suppose you’re right. If anyone had caught wind that you were the child who survived, they would have called the press, and they would have been all over you. You would never have been able to live a normal life.”
I laughed. “My life is far from normal.”
“I get that impression. As I said, when you’re ready to talk about it, I’m ready to listen.”
I smiled as Carter looked at his watch.
“We need to get to our gate.”
As soon as they called first class to start boarding, Carter handed his ticket to the attendant, and I followed behind. Before we boarded, I looked to the right and saw Nora and Angelique standing there, watching as we boarded the plane together. I gave them a small smile.
“Who are you smiling at?” Carter asked as he looked over at me.
“No one. I’m just happy to get out of this damn airport finally.”
“You and me both.”
Carter took my carry-on and put it in the overhead compartment for me before sitting in his seat.
“Are the two of you together?” the older woman next to him asked.
“Umm. Yes. We are,” Carter replied.
“Well, then, she can have my seat.” She smiled as she got up.
“Thank you. But this seat is fine,” I spoke.
“No. No. I don’t mind at all.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive, honey. A window seat is a window seat, right?”
“Right. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. A lovely couple like yourselves should be sitting next to one another.”
I took the seat next to Carter and buckled my seat belt.
“That was very nice of her to switch seats with you,” he spoke. “Our bad day is looking brighter.”
“It is. Isn’t it?” I yawned.
“Why don’t you take a little nap? Feel free to lay your head on my shoulder,” he spoke as he grabbed the small red pillow and rested it on his shoulder.
“Thanks.” I smiled. “Maybe I will.”
I laid my head down on the pillow that rested on his shoulder. He was starting to change, and I liked what I saw so far.