A Year to Remember(61)

Landing was a different story. Even though the flight from Detroit to New York was under an hour, it was enough time for the alcohol to have worn off. No longer chatty, I dug my nails into what I assumed was my armrest. A shriek from the lady sitting next to me notified me my nails had actually penetrated her thigh.

Oops.

I spent the rest of the flight apologizing. At least that kept me from thinking about crashing.

I had three hours before my flight from New York to Tel Aviv. According to the letter I received from Jewish Federation, I was to meet the tour group at the gate at least an hour before takeoff.

Because I signed up late, I didn’t get the chance to go to the meet and greet that had been organized for the participants of the tour. All I got was an email with pages and pages of information and my airline tickets.

I took a train from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 to get to El Al airlines. I had to go through Passport Control, where armed security guards grilled me on such details as where I was born, why I was going to Israel, and why was I going alone. The guard gave me a hard time about the fact if I was going with a tour, I shouldn’t be checking in alone, but I explained I hadn’t planned the trip.

Apparently, he didn’t approve of my sass because he pulled me aside for an additional security check. I was interrogated by another guard, who I could only guess was my new friend’s superior. After answering his questions, they sat me down to wait for FBI clearance.

The fact I had traveled alone placed me as a higher security threat. It didn’t escape my attention if I had checked in with a husband, I’d be at the gate right now, introducing myself to the forty people I’d be spending every waking moment with over the next ten days. I’d have to add that to my list of reasons to marry Caleb.

Apologizing for the delay, the guard assured me I had passed clearance and could now proceed to the gate. I had only thirty minutes before the flight departed. I begged them to drive me in one of those little electric carts to the gate, but they laughed at my request, thinking I was joking.

I had to run to make my flight. I tried not to pay attention to all the stares from the travelers as sweat poured down my face and my breasts bounced as though I didn’t wear a bra. I did, but because I’m so, well, large, I need to wear an additional sports bra if I’m planning to exercise. I definitely hadn’t planned on exercising today.

With ten minutes to spare, I arrived at the gate, expecting everyone to have boarded the plane. Instead, the gate was packed with waiting people because the flight was delayed. Now having some more time, I could freshen up before introducing myself to everyone. A familiar voice foiled my plan.

“What are you doing here?” Goldman asked me, apparently amused by my heavy breathing and sweaty face.

“What do you think I’m doing here, Goldman? I’m going to Israel on the single’s mission.”

“I thought you were no longer single,” he sneered, reminding me Caleb awaited my answer to his proposal back home.

Good thing I hadn’t told anyone about it.

“I’m still single.” I laughed, making eye contact with the others around us listening in on our conversation.

“Not for long from what I hear.”

“Listen, we’re going to be in close quarters for ten days. Why don’t we pretend we just met? Forget we can’t stand each other,” I proposed, delighted with my idea. Then he wouldn’t be able to use any inside information against me.

“Deal,” he said rather quickly. He stood and walked to me, extending his hand. “Hi, I’m Adam Goldman, and you are?”

“I’m Sara Friedman. It’s nice to meet you, Goldman,” I responded, shaking his hand.

He tightened his grip, using his thumb to massage my hand. “I prefer you call me Adam.” Tingles ran up my arm and straight to the places I didn’t want to tingle just now.

“Okay, Adam.” We held hands a moment longer than necessary before letting go. If I didn’t know him, I would say he just flirted with me.

“Let me introduce you to a few people. Sara, this is David, Alison, and Hannah. This is also their first time in Israel,” he informed me.

“I didn’t say this was my first time in Israel,” I reminded him with a smile. It’s easier said than done to pretend we didn’t know each other when we’d practically grown up together.

“I just assumed. Is this your first time visiting Israel?”

“Why as a matter of fact it is.”

“Where are you sitting on the plane?” Hannah asked me.

I looked at my boarding pass. “Seat 35C. What about you all?”

“We’re in 20 A and B,” Hannah said, referring to herself and Alison.