Page 6 of The Cruise

ChapterThree

Anne, Kath, and Jane sat in a café at Manchester Airport and stared out of the windows, where lights from aircraft could be seen moving across the concourse. Icy rain ricocheted against the glass as the dawn sky changed from charcoal to soft grey.

‘When I was flying, I always thought that dawn was like an invitation to a different day,’ Anne reminisced as she sipped a cappuccino and stared out. ‘An unopened gift. I never knew what was inside until the layers of light were peeled back and the aircraft flew into a new time zone, full of possibilities and hope.’

‘Goodness, how can you be so poetic at this unearthly hour?’ Kath muttered from behind her latte. A layer of milky foam formed a moustache on her top lip. ‘I’m so tired I can barely string a sentence together.’ She removed her glasses and began to polish them.

‘It’s a long time since we’ve been up so early.’ Jane glanced at her watch. She hadn’t slept a wink and had been dressed and ready long before the taxi had arrived to take them to the airport.

‘Oh, I do miss flying,’ Anne sighed, ‘I had such a wonderful life.’

‘Before you fell to earth with a bump and Barry and a baby buggered things up.’ Jane yawned.

Kath held up a trilby, turning it around as she studied the black fabric. ‘Do you think we were impulsive buying these? Should we have gone for something more subtle?’ She looked doubtful as she turned the hat in her hand.

‘No, they’re a bit of fun.’ Anne wore her trilby at a jaunty angle. ‘It makes us stand out.’

Kath pulled a face. ‘Sixty-something singletons on tour,’ she mumbled, ‘there should be a slogan saying, “Kiss Me Quick.” I feel like we are on a hen night in Blackpool.’

‘Hardly.’ Anne laughed. ‘Barbados and the wonderful islands of the Caribbean beckon.’ Gathering her hand luggage, she stood. ‘Come on, our gate number has just been announced.’

With Jane and Kath trailing behind, Anne raced across the terminal, caught up in the swell of holidaymakers. But in her haste, she tripped and accidentally bumped into a man making his way through the crowd.

Captain Mike Allen reached out a hand to steady the person who’d almost knocked his flight bag out of his hand. ‘It can’t be?’ Mike said as he gazed at the blonde gripping his uniform sleeve. ‘Is it Anne?’ he asked as frown lines fell in grooves across his leathery forehead, and his eyes lit up in recognition.

‘Mike!’ Anne exclaimed, ‘I thought you’d retired years ago?’

‘I’m a training captain now, only a few months to go before I hang up my wings,’ Mike replied, ‘but what about you?’

Anne explained that she’d flown for as long as the company allowed and then taken severance pay. She was on her way to Barbados with friends to join a cruise.

Coincidentally, Mike was on the flight deck. To their amazement, he upgraded the three friends into business class, and they boarded a little while later.

Anne, Jane, and Kath could barely believe their luck.

‘Oh, my Lord,’ Kath whispered as she settled into a deep leather seat, ‘I had no idea that planes were as nice as this.’ She looked around the cabin. ‘It’s better than a trip to Bournemouth and a stay at the Sunnyside Hotel.’

‘It’s not first class but it’s a big improvement from our seats in economy.’ Anne beamed. ‘And all the drinks and meals are free.’

Jane was wearing a thick wool poncho, which she regretted as she tucked swathes of fabric into the sides of her seat.Please, please don’t make me wear a seatbelt extension, she silently pleaded when an immaculate attendant in a neatly tailored suit approached.

‘You may be more comfortable with this.’ the attendant smiled and handed Jane the extension.

‘Take your poncho off,’ Anne whispered.

Humiliated, Jane didn’t want to take her poncho off. Knowing that it would be hot in Barbados, she’d chosen a thin, short-sleeved top to wear underneath and preferred to leave sight of her batwing arms and chunky chest to the very last moment. With a sigh, she clipped the extension into place and settled the curves of her tummy around it.

The attendant held out a tray, and the friends eagerly took a glass of champagne.

‘So, this is what you did for a living?’ Kath looked at Anne. ‘Spent all your time in a fancy get-up flying around the world.’ She was in awe as she watched the crew prepare for take-off.

‘It’s not as glamorous as you think,’ Anne replied. ‘Although in my early days, the job was easier, and we wore gorgeous uniforms of kilts and matching jackets with beautiful starched white blouses.’ Anne smiled, her eyes dreamy. ‘We used to get long stays down-route and generous expenses.’

‘And cosy nights away with Captain Mike,’ Kath added. ‘He hadn’t forgotten you, despite the years.’

The plane was ready for take-off and taxied down the runway before roaring into the sky. Kath gripped her seat and began to pray and Jane, wriggling uncomfortably, adjusted her safety belt. Anne smiled and remembered bygone days when her time as a flight attendant was enviable. Her working hours consisted of being in one exotic location after another with crazy crew parties that lasted all night. A ten-day stint in Rio de Janeiro with Mike had been memorable, filled with sun-drenched days and passionate nights.

But the bubble had burst when their homeward flight took him back to his wife.

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