A dream trip to Cabo could be what ends Elsie and Tommy’s relationship. Elsie, Tommy, and his family are at the airport. Trouble rears its ugly head when it turns out that Tommy’s mother, Linette, got first-class tickets for everyone but Elsie, who’s booked in economy. Tommy is convinced it must just be a mistake, Elsie is not as magnanimous and is justifiably upset. Start Elsie and Tommy’s story here – Not Even Cabo – Will This Vacation Be What Ends It? – Part 1
Chapter 3
Tommy reached for her hand again, his eyes imploring her to allow him. She clasped his hand and followed him to the counter, battling with the internal voice judging her for being seemingly unable to say no to him.
He had both their tickets in his hand and as soon as the attendant saw the coach ticket, she launched into the official position which was this queue was only for first-class passengers and they had to wait their turn. She did all this without using her inside voice so that it felt to Tommy like she was making an announcement to all the waiting passengers who were already following the unfolding events.
He kept his voice low, as though compensating for her inability to do the same. “There was a mistake. Is there any way I can upgrade the ticket from coach to first-class?”
The attendant told him how much it would cost and he knew he was well and truly screwed. There was no way he could come up with that sum. There was no way he and Elsie could come up with it even if they pooled resources. He could feel the panic rising in him, like a hand advancing slowly from the pit of his stomach and reaching for his neck to squeeze and squeeze and squeeze. He looked around frantically, his eyes landing on Marcus. Maybe Marcus could help. He doubted it but he was a drowning man clutching at paper straws he knew had zero structural integrity. He gave Elsie a look he hoped was reassuring then rushed over to his brother.
Before he could even ask Marcus if he had any ideas, he heard the attendant, loudly, instruct Elsie to step aside for the First-Class passengers and held back a string of cuss words. He turned to see tears pool in her eyes as she stepped away.
He asked Marcus in a hurried barely audible sentence if he had the amount of money required for the upgrade. He didn’t. Of course, he didn’t. Fuck.
He rushed back to Elsie and grabbed her hand, stroking it, attempting to offer her a measure of comfort and calm her down.
She pulled her hand back, grabbed her suitcase, and started walking away. “Go with your family,” she said over her shoulder.
He could just feel all the eyes on them, storing away the details of this incident for gossip with friends, and loved ones and, he just knew, social media.
Panicked, he followed her trying as much as possible to keep it all as normal as possible, with no drama or antics on his part. “I have an idea.” He whispered close to her ear.
She kept walking and though it went against every single one of his instincts to keep as low a profile as possible; he moved ahead to block her way.
Her angry eyes drilled into him, and he almost forgot the idea he planned to advance. She attempted to walk around him, but he intercepted her and whispered in what he hoped was an earnest, convincing tone, “Please, baby. Just let me fix this.”
She stopped and took a deep, calming breath, eyes closed. He seized the opportunity, grabbing her suitcase and walking towards one of the other counters. He made a beeline towards one with a woman who looked matronly and kind. Yes, her. No more ‘projector-voice-lady’, no thank you.
After a beat, she followed him and for the first time since the entire debacle began; he entertained the hope that maybe this day, this vacation, could yet be salvaged. “Hi, I’m hoping you can help us,” Tommy said and, hearing the panicked anxiety in his voice, forced himself to stop and clear his throat.
“Of course. I’ll do whatever I can.” The matronly woman said with a smile that had the effect of calming him down almost instantly.
“Can I downgrade from first-class to coach? We’d like to sit together.”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid not. We’re fully booked.” He felt his heart sink. Almost like she could see it, she gave him a warm smile. “I could ask the person seated next to her if they’d be open to swapping seats with you.”
Hope rushed in like a flood. “Can you please find out for me?”
“Will do. Let me just make a call.” She unveiled the warm smile again, this time aimed at both him and Elsie.
“Thank you so much.” Relieved, he bent to tie his shoelace which had come undone and had been steadily irritating him. Now he had the time to take care of such mundane problems.
Elsie wasn’t sure how to feel about Tommy trying to swap his first-class seat for one in coach. She was touched, but she was also angry, so angry with him for reasons she couldn’t immediately parse out. She was getting angrier watching the intensity with which he was tying his shoelaces.
She shifted her eyes from him and found the attendant’s eyes on her even as she spoke softly into the phone. Her brown eyes were the softest, kindest, saddest eyes Elsie had ever seen. Eyes that said what was happening to Elsie wasn’t right. Eyes that said she deserved better. Before she knew what was happening, Elsie felt the tears coming and this time, falling. Then loud, heavy sobs followed, racking her chest Try as she might, she couldn’t stop herself.
Tommy’s concerned and embarrassed face swam before and even though he was speaking, she couldn’t hear a word of it. The more he tried to calm her down, to get her to stop, the faster the tears flowed. At some point, the matronly attendant came round, enveloped her in a hug, and finally, she felt safe, anchored. Then the tears stopped, and she knew what she had to do with startling clarity.
Tommy walked her to the seats away from the conspicuous counters, and she followed him. She could tell Tommy was embarrassed by the way he kept looking around and trying to get out of people’s line of sight. She almost started crying again, wishing he worried about her more than about strangers staring at them. Taking a deep fortifying breath, she reminded herself that she was making the right choice.
Elsie’s made a decision. What will it be? Keep reading. Not Even Cabo – Consequential Decisions Part 4
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