Page 7 of Journey to Cheshire Bay
Lucky for him, and deep down, I was happy in a way. Hopefully he was free of the assholes who’d picked on him. Like me. “I know nothingabout the stars, aside from what they taught us in school, which really wasn’t much.”
“No, they don’t get too in-depth, that’s for sure. They give you just enough to say there, we taught you sky science, but it’s minimal at best. A joke really.” He shookhis head and gazed upon the book in the pocket.
“Next time we cross paths, if it’s nighttime, point me out a few star systems, I want to sound smart when I speak of them. Like that famous one. The, uh, big dipper.” I snapped my finger when the name finally came to me.
“That’s a constellation, not a star system.”
I shrugged a shoulder and gave my sweetest smile. “And there went that.” But I laughed. Sounding smart and being smart were two completely different things. “What about the places they talkabout on Star Wars?”
“Total fantasy, but if you come to the observatory, I’d be happy to show you a bunch of stars. It’ll change your whole outlook on the world.”
Mission impossible. I cocked my eyebrow. “I highly doubt that.”
“We’ll see.” He turned to the flight attendant when she stopped beside our row with her cart. “I’ll take a Coke, please. Iris, what do you want?”
“Umm…” What I wanted was something strong, like a fireball whiskey, but after what happened a week ago, it was best to give it a pass. “A Coke is fine.”
I unfolded the tray and set my drink and cookie down, as Holden did the same.
“Tell me, Iris, what’s your story? What have you been up to since the good ole days of St. Jude’s?”
I took a sip of the dark cola, allowing the carbonation tobubble and burn on my tongue. After a pensive moment of white knuckling my drink, I set it back down and tore open the package of cookies. “I have no story.”
“Right.” He drawled out the word. “Everyone has a story.”
Pulling out my cookie and sending crumbs everywhere, I ripped myself away from the scrutiny. Not everything needed to be shared. I wasn’t an open book. In fact, I was so closed, the key to the lock holding it shut was lost. It was better that way.
“We have tons of time, and you have a captiveaudience. My sister says I’m a good listener, and the best part is, I never interrupt.” A serious expression filled his face. “Besides, if you talk, then I won’t be the one talking your ear off.”
My gaze fell to the tome in front of him. “Didn’t you bringa book?”
“Actually, I had plans to stare out the window for the duration of the flight and see what stars were visible. Up until you arrived, I thought I was sitting alone.”
I had grabbed alast-minute fair, snagging what the check-in lady said was one of the last seats on the flight. “Why didn’t you book the window seat then?”
He shrugged and scanned the airplane. “I honestly didn’t think a flight leaving Toronto at midnight and flying across the country would be so full.”
I didn’t either, which was whyI chose to run to the airport at that time, foolishly hoping someone would stop me. Or at the very least, show up and try.
A dull ache spread across my chest and a lump formed in the back of my throat. It sucked being unloved and unwanted, and the loneliness once again bit me in the ass. To try and swallow the bitterness away, I took another sip of my Coke and turned my pained focus to the view out the window.
Speckles of orange and yellow lights dotted the landscape beneath me. Wherever we were, we werehigh up, and each minute took me further away from the past and toward an unknown future.
After a few cities or town had sailed underneath me, I twisted around in my seat to face Holden. “You said you’re the talkative one.” A weak smile spread from cheekto cheek. “So, give me the 411 on who Holden is now since I didn’t bring anything to keep me entertained.”
“Thought you said that phrase was obsolete?” He laughed as he chased his cookie down with the last of his soft drink.
“Fair enough.” I couldn’t help the hint of a grin.
He shifted in his seat and stretched out his legs under the limited space in front of him. “Let’s make it interesting. Do you like twenty questions?”
“Only if I do the asking.” My personal life was all mine to keep locked away.
“Nah, it’s only fun if we both play.” He turned to the passenger across the row. “Hey, buddy. Playing a game over here. What’s your favourite colour?”
“Yellow,” he deadpanned and reached into the pocket in front of him to pull out the inflight magazine.
Holden returned to my full attention with a broad smile and a sparkle in his eyes. “See, it’s not hard. You can even ask first.”