Christine summoned a smile. She heard mutters and groans behind her as word spread about no more space on flights out. Yet another sign?
"We're so sorry for the inconvenience." The girl tapped away on the keyboard and then handed her a pile of papers. "This is your stand by notice, your hotel reservation, and flight out tomorrow. Please don't leave the terminal until after the 1:30 pm flight has its final boarding."
Christine glanced at the line of passengers behind her and thought of Davy. "It's all right. Let someone else take stand by in my place. I'll just go ahead to the hotel now. Tomorrow's flight is fine."
"Thank you so much, ma'am." A spark of relief filled the girl's face which only cemented Christine's decision. "I'll have your luggage transferred now. Check in at the hotel isn't until later, so here's a voucher for breakfast and lunch here in the airport. If you need anything else, please come see me. I'm Elizabeth and will help any way I can."
"Thank you." Christine kept her laptop case and purse as another worker came to take her bags. There were no coincidences. Things always happened for a reason. Her mind spun with words and thoughts. Branching out. A Gem in the Path...Look and Seek and Find.
She didn't think. She didn't question. She didn't debate. Christine pulled out her cell phone and dialed. She got his message system. "Hi, it's me. We had an unexpected landing here in Hawaii, and I thought maybe we could have lunch or dinner or something. I'm at the terminal but will be at the Sands Hotel, Room 512, in a bit if you want to stop by. Or give me call." As she disconnected, she shook and laughed. She'd done it. She'd really done it and taken the first step. He had to take the next.
Christine dialed her son then her daughter, reassuring them both her travel plans had changed a bit and she was fine. Then she glanced around, seeing the shops and venders were open for business. She might as well grab more coffee and something to eat. Christine wanted a shower the minute she could get into her hotel room. Then she'd do like Davy, see the beach, explore a bit, and maybe, just maybe, meet Charlie.
***
Christine had been on the flight. Charlie watched emergency vehicles zoom toward the airport as he also ran toward it. He had to stop, catch his breath, and pray. Let her be safe. Please let her be safe. Sirens filled the air as he resumed his dash to the small whitewashed terminal. They weren't big enough for jumbo jets. All the fire trucks and ambulances meant trouble. He glanced up at the sky. Just past dawn. He'd be able to see and smell smoke if the plane had crashed. Wouldn't he?
He rushed inside and took the stairs two at a time to Harry's office. Airport workers and security guards hurried beside him, around him, behind him. Surrounded by a dozen people Harry barked orders and waved his arms. Behind him, the wall of glass showed a huge plane swarming with firefighters intact with the safety chutes deployed.
"The passengers are all safe. The flight crew is in the conference room to explain what happened. The most important thing right now is disaster has been averted. Everyone is safe." Harry shouted. The noise level dropped considerably.
Charlie breathed again. Thank God. Christine was safe and here in Hawaii.
"The airline has declined to send a replacement jumbo and with their disabled one already taking up space, God knows where we'd put another one anyway," Harry said. "All the passengers need to be re-routed on existing flights or pushed back to ones tomorrow and even the next day."
"How the hell are we going to re-route over three hundred people?" one man demanded. "There are only so many flights scheduled today."
"Obviously we aren't." Harry snapped. "It's why I mentioned tomorrow's flights and later ones this week. The airline is paying for hotel rooms for those we can't accommodate immediately. This is an added mini vacation for those who don't get a seat today." A few people laughed. "We'll do our best. Now get out there and help keep order. Smile, be friendly, pass around free coffee, juice, fruit, water, and whatever these stranded passengers need. They're going to be irritated, shaken, and perhaps even in shock. Show them our famed Hawaiian hospitality."