The sun had almost completely set as we drove to the airport. Kendall wouldn’t let go of my hand. It felt so strange not taking her with me to Venezuela. It was as if I couldn’t remember what it was like to fly without her.
When we arrived at Miami International, I parked in the spot that the airline reserved for me. Neither one of us moved to exit the SUV as we just stared at each other until I finally cupped her cheek and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
“Perky, please don’t forget this, how right this feels.”
“I won’t. I couldn’t ever forget it, Carter.”
Her flight was two hours after mine, so she’d have to leave me at the gate for my airline and linger around the airport until it was time to head to her flight on a different airline.
One of the stewardesses, Renee, passed by us. “Good to see you’re back on, Trip.” She then winked at me.
I knew exactly what Kendall was thinking, and she was right. That flight attendant had been just another notch on my belt some time ago. It sickened me, especially now that I knew what it felt like to have meaningful sex with someone. I looked at Kendall and wanted to scream, “Stop looking at her. She doesn’t matter!” We just didn’t need this right now. It only added to the stress of our separating.
After a quiet few minutes of silence, I pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear, “I have to go.”
Her tears moistened my pilot’s shirt as she said, “This feels surreal.”
“I know, but it’s only temporary. We’ll be back together again soon.”
She sniffled. “Okay.”
Lifting her chin to meet my eyes, I said, “P.S. I love you.”
She could tell from my expression that there was more to that sentiment than just me stating the obvious.
“A Beatles song?”
“Yes. But that one really matches this life moment, probably more than any of them.”
“I love you, Carter.”
“I love you, Perky. Promise me we’ll talk on the phone and figure out when we’ll be back together next.”
“I promise.”
“I’m gonna be thinking about you the whole flight. You know that, right?”
She playfully grabbed my collar. “You’d better be.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“Sing a song for me, Captain.”
“You can guarantee that.” I hugged her one last time, squeezing her tightly. “Fuck. I can’t let go.”
She pushed back and wiped her eyes before waving me away. “Go. You’ll be late.”
I started on my way through security. When I turned around, she was still standing in the same spot watching me. I blew her a kiss before continuing down the hall. Right before I was about to turn the corner, I turned back one last time, but she was gone.
When the jet hit cruising altitude that night, I saw something I’d never seen while flying before: a shooting star. I took it as a sign that things were going to work out.
Don’t let me down, Perky.
I picked up the intercom.
“Good evening, Ladies and Gentleman. This is your Supreme Commander, otherwise known as Captain Clynes. I’d like to take a moment to welcome you onto this beautiful Boeing 757. Our flying time from Miami to Caracas is approximately three hours and thirty minutes. We anticipate a smooth ride with little to no bumps. So, sit back and relax. Again, welcome aboard International Airlines Flight 553 to Caracas, Venezuela. As I often like to do to welcome my passengers aboard, here’s a little rendition of a Beatles song that’s fitting for tonight—fitting because I’ve entrusted my heart to someone whom I left back at the airport. She’s taking it with her to Texas. I’m sure some of you can relate to this feeling. So, the song for tonight is called, Don’t Let Me Down.”
MY MOTHER REEKED of alcohol as she spoke into my face, “You can’t be serious!”
I’d made the mistake of filling her in on my trip to prepare her for the possibility that nothing would be going according to plan anymore. My mother had always strongly encouraged me to go ahead with the insemination in Germany, mostly for her own selfish reasons.
“I normally wouldn’t be telling you any of this, especially not when you’re half-drunk, but given the circumstances, you need to know where my head is at and that the Germany plans may not happen.”
“And what are those poor guys supposed to do now that you’ve changed your mind?”
“I haven’t closed the door one hundred percent, but I never promised them anything. I haven’t even met them in person, and I’m not the last woman on Earth with a womb. They would find another way.”