“Sure, that’s right. But are you honestly trying to tell me that this euphoria of yours hasn’t got a thing to do with the fact that your handsome beau is in the cockpit of this flight?”
“I never said that,” I said quickly, blushing profusely as I did.
“You two really are cute, you know it? I don’t see why you would want to do anything but shout it from the rooftop that the two of you are together. If it was him and me, well…”
“You’d put out a news bulletin?”
“Honey,” Tony answered with a mischievous wink. “I’d be announcing it to the passengers on every flight before the safety instructions. But seriously, you two are really great together. I was on some flights with him before he met you, and believe me, he’s better off now. He was always so stern, so unhappy looking. Ever since he met you, though, that’s all different. You’re like the light in his life, honey, and don’t you forget it.”
I wanted to thank Tony for the kindest words I'd heard in a long time, but all I could manage was to squeeze his arm appreciatively. There had been plenty of gossiping about my relationship with Drew, and not all of it had been good. Not by a long shot. To have Tony be so openly supportive of me and Drew meant a great deal. It was enough to send me so deeply into my own thoughts that I failed to notice who was walking up the ramp in preparation to board our flight. It was Tony that snapped me out of it, grabbing my upper arm tightly and letting out a low, disapproving whistle.
“Oh shit,” he said under his breath.
“What? What’s the matter?”
“Take a look for yourself, honey. Here comes trouble. From the look of him, possibly big trouble.”
It took me a minute to place the wretched looking man walking toward us. His face was distorted and angry, gaunt and sickly looking. There was something about his body that looked twisted and caved in on itself, and I wondered when this guy had last gotten a decent meal in him. He looked like somebody that belonged on the street, not on one of our flights, and it was only when he spoke that I realized who I was dealing with.
“Ah, Miss White, is it? So glad I get to fly with you again.”
“Mr. Stevens?” I gasped, knowing I must have looked distressed but completely unable to help it. “Is that you?”
“What’s the matter, sugar? Don’t you recognize me? Don’t think unemployment suits me?”
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Tell me, sweetheart, is your boyfriend on this flight? I hear he’s been doing so well since I was told to get my ass out of Dodge. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, either, if you want my humble opinion.”
His voice was hard and angry. I was sure that if he had the ability to physically wound me with his words, he would not have hesitated. I had an idea he would have destroyed the entire plane if he could have. He wouldn't have even given a thought to what would have become of him. People who were at rock bottom, the way he appeared to be, rarely did. The force of his hatred struck me so hard, I couldn't think of an answer. Again, it was Tony who swooped in to save the day.
“Mr. Stevens, I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say it’s good to see you again, and we’re sorry about the way things played out. Still, we can’t stand around and catch up all day. You know that better than anyone. So, if I can see your ticket, I’ll be happy to show you to your seat.”
“I’ve got my ticket right here, boy. Don’t worry about that. First class ticket, right here. And I know how to find my damn seat.”
“Wonderful. Then I must ask you to go ahead and be seated. We’ll be taking off very shortly.”
“Spare me,” he snapped. “I know the drill. I’ll sit down like a good little boy.”
Mr. Stevens sneered at us both and then shoved past us, almost knocking me over in the process. As he went, I realized that the stench of alcohol on him was almost overwhelming. This was not the smell of a guy who had knocked back a drink or two. This was a man who had been drinking steadily for days and days. I glanced at Tony, and all he had to do was give me a nod for me to know that he had smelled the same thing. Fred Stevens was dangerously drunk and very, very angry.
“Will you excuse me for a minute?” I asked Tony in as light a tone as I could pull off, painfully aware that Fred was trying hard to listen in. “I need to go let the captain know we’re fully loaded.”
“Sure thing, doll. Just hurry back, won’t you?”
"Believe me, I definitely will."
The walk from where Tony and I stood to the cockpit door was only a couple of feet, but it felt like miles. By the time I was close enough to knock, I was almost sure I was going to pass out. It was only the sound of Drew's voice granting me entry through the door that kept me up and alert. I opened the door quickly, hoping that Fred Wouldn't do anything stupid while I was away, and shut it soundly behind me.
“What’s the trouble, Jess? You look upset.”
"I just, I'm not sure that I even need to say anything, but then I started thinking that it might turn into a problem, and things would be worse if I didn't. So here I am."
“What are we talking about here, Jess? What kind of a potential problem?”
“It’s Mr. Stevens. Fred Stevens.”
“What about him?” Drew asked, frowning.