I didn’t have a chance to respond to J’s pep talk. A guy dressed in a gray jumpsuit came over to the car and grabbed our bags out of the trunks.
“Is this it?” the guy asked.
“Yes, these lovely ladies are traveling light today,” Allen said as he winked at us. “Well, this is the point where I say good-bye. It was my pleasure to drive you both.” Allen took our wrists, and bent down to kiss the tops of our hands.
“Thank you so much!” Joanie smiled as she pulled her hand from his and looped her arm through mine. We walked to the fold-down door that also served as our stairs to enter GP’s private jet.
There were two men waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs, both dressed in eye-blinding, white polyester with blue and gold stripes down both sides of their pants and across the seams of their sleeves and shirt pockets. One nodded to us as he grabbed his white hat and wedged it between his elbow and the side of his body.
“Welcome, ladies, I am Captain Richard Brenner and this is my copilot Captain Joshua Meyers. We will be piloting your flight this morning.” Both men must have been in their late thirties. Clean shaven, slicked-back hair. I wonder if all pilots have to slick back their hair?
I nodded at them before looking over at J, wondering what was going through her mind.
“Oh thank you,” Joanie responded.
“Miss Mooney?” the co-pilot asked pointing to Joanie.
“No, she’s Miss Mooney,” Joanie said pointing to me.
“My apologies. I have that we are arriving in Concord, California, is that correct?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“I have a message from Mr. Goldstein. He made arrangements for your transportation once in Concord.”
“He did?” I asked, almost embarrassed. The pilot didn’t respond.
“Please watch your step,” he said as Joanie and I started up the stairs. We both squealed, as quietly as possible, and clung to one another as we felt the stairs give under our weight.
“Holy shit, we are going to fly on a private jet!” I whispered as my breath caught in my chest.
“I know, unbelievable, eeekkk!” Joanie responded in a mirrored tone. I looked behind us; the pilots smiled, shook their heads, and laughed as they watched us climb to the top of the stairs.
“Oh my God! Are you seeing this, J?” I asked as we both stepped into the jet. All I heard was Joanie catching her breath.
It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. Now, I can tell you what I truly expected—maybe ten rows of seats like the little puddle-jumper planes you see on the travel channel when people hop from island to island in Hawaii. But this was something else. I never expected to see gorgeous, soft cream-colored leather captains chairs, with plush head rests and wide arms that were plump enough to hug you in place. Thick tables with honey-colored cherry wood. Matching cabinets hung along the top of the plane with GP etched in frosted glass, beveled mirrors, and recessed lighting. A long, posh couch ran the length of the sitting area with mocha-colored pillows that matched the carpeting. Deep gold GP insignias were embroidered on the pillows, matching the GP on the headrests.
“Holy shit, Wilson, it has an actual kitchen area with a fridge and microwave,” Joanie said as she shuffled past the couch and executive sitting area. She pulled open the fridge.
“The company stocked the refrigerator per Mr. Goldstein’s request,” Captain Richard said as Copilot Joshua twisted the lock on the door.
Diet Coke, water, orange juice, and chocolate dipped strawberries crowded the space in the refrigerator. I noticed a can of royal whipped cream with the red cap and smiled. Max must have wanted me to remember our first time up in his room when he fed me chocolate covered strawberries and filled my mouth with whipped cream before kissing me. I pushed my fingers to my lips as every flicker of my butterflies’ wings rattled in the space reserved only for him.
“Oooh, chocolate covered strawberries,” J said out loud as she grabbed one and took a bite of it.
“Alright ladies, it’s probably best if you find a comfortable seat before we begin to fly this bird to California,” Captain Richard said as he pulled open the cabinet closest to the front of the plane and stowed his cap.
“Okay, anywhere?” I asked.
“Please make yourself comfortable in any of the seats with the exception of the couch. I’m going to ask you to remain in your seats until I let you know it’s safe to roam about the cabin. Also I will be communicating with you via the speakers overhead and with the in-flight phone, located here,” he said in a monotone voice before he headed to the cockpit.
Joanie shut the fridge door and tossed the last bit of chocolate covered strawberry into her mouth. I sat in the chair closest to me; Joanie took the one directly across from it, with a coffee table between us. She plopped into the seat and snapped her seatbelt across her lap. I seemed to struggle trying to find my buckle. Copilot Joshua dug it out from the crevice under the arm of the chair. It wasn’t long before he gave us the safety spiel about our seats being a floatation device, restricted electronic usage, and oxygen masks that drop from the ceiling in case of an emergency. He also talked about the added luxuries of traveling privately. He demonstrated how the coffee table between us had dials we could adjust according to our needs, with a remote that was attached to our chairs so we could recline, raise, or swivel. He showed us how to turn on the bum heat, start the different types of massage settings to release any tension in our backs, and all the other bells and whistles. He pointed out where the restroom was, how to open and close cabinets and doors, and how to lower the lights in case we wanted to sleep.