We dropped off our bags and went through security. Lisa showed me how everything worked, and I’m pretty sure I made it through without looking like the lone idiot who had never been on a plane before.
“Ok, we’re at gate 17. Let’s go find a seat now, or we’re never going to get one at all. We’re boarding in like, twenty minutes, so it shouldn’t be too long.”
When we got to gate 17 there was an airplane already there, its enormous nose pointing straight at me as I stared at it out the window.
“Is that what we’re flying in?” I asked Lisa. It was enormous! I had never really actually seen a plane close up before. I knew they were big, but this was way bigger than I had thought.
“Yeah, it is. They’re just cleaning it up now before letting us in.”
“Holy shit, that’s huge.”
“Not really, it’s just a normal sized plane,” Lisa said, laughing. “I always forget you’ve never flown before, but yeah, this is basically the type of plane you’ll take anywhere in the country.”
“Wow.” I stared at it for a while after sitting down next to Lisa as we found a couple of chairs. Don and Karen, the receptionist and another salesman from our office, sat down across from us and we chatted for a while until we were finally called onto the flight.
I was a little bit apprehensive at first, and when the engines roared to life I genuinely thought I was going to die, but the plane took off, my stomach plummeted inside my body, and we were in the air. It was all pretty uneventful after that, and seven hours later we found ourselves landing in Honolulu.
Tom had organized for a shuttle from the resort to come and pick us up. We climbed into the seats, and I admired my new lei and enjoyed the heat. It was night time now, just after eight, but it was still very, very warm. Definitely nicer than the weather in Minneapolis, that was for sure.
When we got to the resort, an efficient looking blonde woman came out to greet us.
“Aloha, I’m Sandra. Welcome to the Hibiscus Resort Waikiki. We’ve got your rooms all organized, I’ll call out your names and please come and get your keys. The pool is on the third floor, with a perfect view over the ocean. It’s open 24 hours, and you’ll need your key to access it. The gym is on the top floor, and you’ll need your key to access it as well. For anyone who wants to organize excursions either through or outside of the resort, please feel free to come over here to the concierge desk, where we’ll be happy to book whatever you desire.”
Exhausted, Lisa and I went up to our room. We shared two queen beds, overlooking the sea.
“Oh my God, Lisa, I can’t believe it!” I exclaimed as we entered the room. It was pure luxury. A huge flatscreen TV against one wall, a kitchenette with a dining table on the other side of the room and a comfortable looking, modern couch made up the living area. To the side was the bedroom, with two queen size beds, and a marble bathroom that looked like it came out of the movies.
“I feel like we’re in a magazine,” Lisa exclaimed as she looked around the room with me.
“Just think, this is where we’re going to be staying for the next week. This is amazing!” I exclaimed.
“Yeah, it is.”
About fifteen minutes later our excitement wore off and exhaustion set in. We crawled into the incredibly comfortable beds and went to sleep. As I drifted off, I thought to myself that this was going to be the greatest week ever. Little did I know how right I was, and that it was also going to change my life.
*
For the next three days Lisa, myself, and occasionally some of the other staff from our branch hung out and relaxed in Hawaii in style. Lisa, as promised, booked a snorkelling tour, where we went to a place called Turtle Bay in a wonderful, modern catamaran. Sure enough, I saw dozens of sea turtles, and even an octopus, to my complete and total amazement. It was absolutely awesome.
On the fourth day, Lisa and I were going to leave the resort and go find somewhere nice to eat along the main strip. We were just leaving the hotel when I realized I’d left my sunglasses in my room.
“Crap. Can you wait for me in the lobby? It’s so bright out I don’t think I’ll be able to see anything if I don’t take my sunglasses.”
“Yeah, sure,” Lisa replied, and I made my way back to the elevator. I was racking my brain trying to remember where I had put the sunglasses, so much so that I didn’t notice the man coming out of the elevators when the doors opened, and I barrelled straight into him.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, embarrassed.
“No, no, it was my fault. I apologize,” the man replied, grabbing my shoulders gently to steady me. His touch was strong, confident, and it sent a surge of electricity running through me. I looked up at the man, and my breath caught in my throat.