Flirting with Fifty

At the Bozeman airport, Jack broke the news to Paige that the end of semester field trip to Costa Rica wasn’t going to happen, explaining that the Caribbean and eastern Costa Rica had been slammed by three hurricanes in a row, each one adding to the flooding and devastation.

She listened without interruption, her blue gaze focused on him, expression intent.

“You didn’t say anything last night,” she said when he’d finished speaking.

“That was our time. I thought this could wait.”

“The center in Monteverde cancelled our stay?” she asked.

“They haven’t officially cancelled, but I’m expecting a call or email any day, letting me know that the center is under water. It’s happened before with hurricanes and heavy rains, and it’ll happen again. The good news is that we have time to shift the field studies to another location.”

“Jack, we’re five weeks away.”

“Plenty of time to make alternate arrangements. If it was one week, or two, I’d be concerned.”

“You’re talking airfare, accommodations, meals for over twenty people.”

“Planes seat hundreds of people.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know that. I’m just saying these are daunting logistics.”

“You don’t have to worry about the logistics. Leave that part to me.”

She could tell he had a plan already percolating in his mind. “What are you thinking?”

“You know how I’m supposed to film my show in Tanzania?” He waited for her nod before he continued. “I go to Arusha several times a year, taking my Princeton grad students for field studies. I’ve got a conference there the weekend right after our Costa Rica trip, and then I stay for filming.”

“Okay,” she said slowly, still not seeing where this was going.

“Why don’t we take our students to Arusha? I’m sure I can put the trip together, and we’d have a wonderful experience.”

“And I thought Monteverde was far,” she said under her breath.

“What part about going to Tanzania worries you?”

“Um, everything?” She looked at him, gave her head a slight shake. “I am not a world traveler like you. Going to Africa is a big deal. I imagine we’ll have to get some shots—”

“—and take malaria medicine.”

“See? Malaria medicine. That sounds scary.”

“It’s not. It’s a very simple thing. Easy to get a prescription, all the students would take it, not a big deal.”

“Unless you get malaria.”

He smiled wryly even as he tugged on one of her silky strands of blond hair. “The point of taking the medicine is that you don’t get malaria.”

She continued to study him. “And you’re comfortable taking all these kids so far from home?”

“I do this all the time.” He hesitated before adding, “Although generally they are my grad students, so a bit older, a little more independent, but I’m not worried about our students. We don’t have anyone in that class who isn’t pulling their weight. They’re a really good group of kids, very responsible, and I think everyone should go.” He frowned. “But I do think we could lose a few students simply because some parents might be concerned about the distance, and the change of plans.”

“How do you get to Arusha?”

“Fly to Europe and then I usually go to Zanzibar, and then hop over to Arusha. It’s not that complicated.”

“Three different flights?”

He nodded. “I can reach out to my colleagues in Arusha, and check on rooms and meals. I’ve gone so many times I know what needs to be done, and who to go to.”

She sat back, shoulders slumping. “This is a huge endeavor.”

“It’s not Hawaii, no.”

“Maybe we should go to Hawaii.”

He gave her a look. “This field work was never designed as a vacation. Our studies contribute to real research. Our work is needed and appreciated.”

Her silence spoke volumes.

“Are you opposed to Tanzania?” he asked.

She opened her mouth, then closed it, getting to her feet and pacing back and forth in front of their seats before slowing and facing him. “I’m not set against it. I’m just not . . .”

“Comfortable.”

She nodded, anxious. “This is definitely out of my comfort zone.”

“But it’s not out of mine,” he said, trying to reassure her. “Arusha is like a second home.”

“Would the schedule differ greatly from Costa Rica?”

“The biggest difference would be the additional travel days at the end. After I wrap up the coursework in Arusha, my Princeton students typically spend the last few days in Tanzania doing an escorted, guided safari before their return home. I would try to arrange the same thing for our students, with a three-day safari ending on Sunday afternoon, and then the flight to Zanzibar Sunday evening. Monday morning we’d fly from Zanzibar to Amsterdam and then connect to Los Angeles.”

Her eyes got wider with every word. He checked his smile. “Since you like numbers, yes, there are six flights total and we’d tack on an additional three or four days to the trip.”

“You’ve been thinking about this.”