Page 29 of A Spot of Tea
“I’m not going to let you tease me right now.”
She turned and looked out of the window. There was a mass of blue beneath them. They were so high; falling would feel endless. Falling and falling and falling, then hitting the water – how deep could she go, plunging to the bottom?
Rationally, she knew crashing anywhere would result in a swift death, but the ocean made it look almost inviting.
Crashing on land might be better, though, because they had a chance at being found. Being out here meant being swallowed by the sea.
“It was just two of us on the plane when I crashed.” He glanced at her and added, “No broken bones. Just one broken heart.”
A sliver of land appeared ahead of them and Eliza let out a breath. “Uh huh.”
“Are you okay over there?”
She spun to look at him. “Yeah. Great. Why do you ask?”
“I’m sorry. I won’t talk about crashes. We’re not going to crash. I promise.”
He placed his hand on top of hers for the briefest of moments and squeezed.
Eliza’s breath caught in her throat, but she quickly recovered. “I just miss earth a little bit.”
Joey laughed. “We’ll be back on earth soon.”
Landing in Portland was a breeze. They walked to the bank, and when Eliza explained who she was, the manager emerged from her office to talk to them.
“I was so sorry to hear about the San Juan branch being robbed,” she said, shaking Eliza’s hand. “It’s such a frightening experience. I didn’t sleep for at least a month after our robbery. How are you doing?”
It was the first time Eliza realized what had happened to her was more than just embarrassing – it was traumatic.
Obviously. If it had happened to anyone else, she would’ve been worried for them. But since it had happened toher, she’d only been annoyed with herself and her poor reaction.
They talked to the manager for half an hour, and though the woman was open and friendly, she didn’t have any information to share. The only thing Eliza took away from the conversation was that it might be okay to give herself some grace.
They left the bank and stood outside under the gorgeous midday sun.
“I guess we can try Tacoma next,” Eliza said.
“Or,” Joey said slowly, “we can find a little breakfast place and hang out here for a while.”
She made a face at him. “We’re on a mission, Joey! We’re not here to have fun.”
“Aren’t we? Isn’t that what we’re always here for?” He sighed. “Let me buy you a coffee, at least, and we’ll see where the day takes us.”
Eliza was feeling much hungrier since getting off the plane. She agreed to breakfast, then Joey convinced her to catch a cab to the zoo and, after that, to stroll through Washington Park.
Then he was hungry again, and they were having so much fun, they ended up getting high tea at a fancy hotel downtown.
In the end, they never made it to another bank, but Eliza wasn’t too torn up about it. It only meant they’d have to go out again.
Twelve
With a plate of Eliza’s rejected danishes in hand, Sheila made the short trek to Russell’s house.
“I’ve got good news,” he said as he opened the door.
“Oh?” His bubbly optimism was infectious. Even the stern-faced contractor got giddy after hanging out with Russell. “I doubt you can top what I’ve got – Eliza’s apricot danishes.”
He paused, looking down at the offering in her hand. “It’s close, but I still can beat it.”
