“You ready to go?” Maria asked Derek. He was getting ready for his 14 hour flight to Greece. It was 4 days before their wedding, and he was headed to Mykonos early to help make sure things went smoothly. Maria stayed behind to work and take care of Dia.
“Yep.”
“What’s wrong?” she sounded concerned. “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”
He laughed. “Definitely not.”
He pulled her closer to him. “I just get incredibly bored on planes when it’s longer than six hours.”
“Do you want a sleeping pill?”
“No, I’ll be fine. I loaded up my iPod with stuff. Plus, there’s always Skymall.”
“You’re sure.”
“As sure as I am that I want to marry you.”
He kissed her just as Dia started crying via the baby monitor.
“I should get her ready,” Maria said. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, babe.”
An hour later, Maria drove him to the airport.
“You didn’t have to take me. I could’ve used a car service.”
“Yes, but you know one of my favorite things to do is say goodbye at the airport.”
“I didn’t know that,” he chuckled. “Why is that?”
“I don’t know… I think it just makes me feel like goodbyes are only temporary. Like, we say goodbye now, but we’ll be reunited soon. Like we’re only a plane away from each other.”
“Yeah… also the plane could crash.”
He laughed after a few seconds. She did, too.
“Way to kill the thought!”
She entered the unloading zone of the airport and got out to help him.
“Ok, so the wedding planner will meet you at the hotel in the morning. Make sure and give her these final notes, and this bag. Don’t forget!”
“Ok, Bridezilla,” he joked. “What’s in the bag?”
“It’s a secret-- don’t look!” she said as she opened the back door.
“Say bye to daddy.”
“Bye!” Dia exclaimed happily.
Derek gave her a hug and a kiss. “Bye, baby. I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Bye!” Dia exclaimed again.
Maria closed the door and gave Derek a hug. They kissed passionately. Maria felt her heart begin to race; Derek’s breathing was heavy.
“I love you. Call me when you land, please.”
“I love you both!”
And with that, he walked away with his bags.
On the plane, Derek got settled. He text Mark.
DUDE YOU’RE LATE.
A few minutes later Mark was the last one on the plane.
“Sorry,” he said to Derek. “I overslept.”
“At least you made it.”
“How are you? Nervous? You look nervous.”
“I’m fine.”
