I fought back tears as I tried again to plead with the perfectly made-up lady on the desk.
"But I have told you, I left twice as much time as recommended to get here, and was caught in the huge accident that everyone in this queue was also caught up in. It was not my fault I have missed the flight and I do not have the $10,000 to buy a ticket on the next plane. I have to get home to the UK for Christmas." A tear slid down my cheek. I had only come to LA for 3 days as a favour to my boss who had now refused to spend the money getting me back in time for Christmas, saying I would have to wait until the flight cost came down.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. There is nothing else I can do. You should have left enough time to get here in time for your flight. I have to deal with the next customer now. Please move aside."
I flung my bag over my shoulder and wheeled my case to the side where the tears started to flow. What should I do?
"Excuse me, ma'am?" I looked up and through the tears stared straight into the face of Josh Williams, Hollywood A-Lister and long-time celebrity crush of mine.
Attractively wiping my face with my hand, all I could manage was, "Hi."
"I overheard what was going on over there -- do you need to get the next flight out?"
I nodded, "I'm supposed to be spending Christmas with my family. It's the first Christmas since my sister had a baby and now I'm going to miss it. My boss won't pay for me to travel back until the flights are cheaper." Another huge tear rolled down my nose. I didn't even care at this point what a mess I must look.
"But there is a ticket on the flight in 3 hours?"
"Yep, but only in first class and I don't have the $10,000 they want for it."
"Look, I know you don't know me, but let me buy you that ticket. I'm on that flight myself as I need to be somewhere in the middle of nowhere for filming just after Christmas. We can hang out before we fly."
I looked up at him and could see he meant it. His eyes were searching mine for an answer.
"I couldn't, it's too much..."
"Don't say another word, it's not too much. The studio paid for my flight, so I can pay for yours. Deal?"
Realising this was my only way of getting back in time for Christmas, I nodded and smiled at him through tears that still kept coming from my eyes.
"Right, let's go see that lovely lady on the desk again."
He took my case from me and walked straight to the front of the queue. With a lot of people nudging their neighbours and pointing, I could feel myself getting more and more flustered, but Josh didn't even seem to notice them as he quickly paid for the flight and handed me the ticket. The 'lovely lady' on the desk couldn't have been more helpful for him, although I did notice she kept giving me death stares. As we turned to leave, she leant forward and touched his arm,
"I don't suppose I could have a photo to celebrate the holiday season?"
Sweetly as anything, Josh looked straight at her and said,
"I'm sorry, you can't. My friend is trying to get back to her family for Christmas and you couldn't have been more unhelpful to her. Have a good day, we're moving aside now."
Taking my arm, he led me away and towards a door which clearly said 'First Class Passengers'.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you so much. Please don't feel you need to be stuck with me, I can sit somewhere and read until the flight."
He stopped, turned me to face him and smiled.
"No way. I want some company and you're just the person to wait with me. I've had enough of people pandering to me. You seem like a nice, regular person and I think we could have a laugh. You up for that?"
I smiled back, my insides doing somersaults at the thought of spending the next three hours, plus the flight with one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood.
The time until we boarded flew by, no pun intended. Josh was charming and funny and couldn't have been nicer. We ate amazing snacks and had champagne brought over as often as we wanted -- how the other half live! Before I knew it, I knew all about his family and how his mum ('mom') was annoyed he wouldn't be home for Christmas and was worried about him being alone in a hotel. He in turn knew about my little nephew, Jack, who was 9 months old and had no clue about Christmas, but was the centre of it, this year at least.
As we heard the first call for the flight, I had a brainwave.
"Why don't you come for Christmas with me? There's loads of space because I'll be in the AirBnB we have over the garage and mum will have four times as much food as we could all eat. Then you're with a mad, English family for Christmas, your mum won't worry and you're close to the Cotswolds for filming afterwards."
I looked up at him triumphantly, having solved the problem myself.
He laughed, throwing his head back in a way that was so typically American but so cute when he did it.
"Won't your folks mind?"
I snorted attractively.
"Mind?! They'll be thrilled to have you. If there's one thing my mum loves it's having a stray to look after."
"In that case, I'd love to. Thank you."
"No need to thank me, you've been my knight in shining armour." I leant over and kissed his cheek, then flustered stood up.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to do that. Damn champagne. I'm just going to freshen up."
I darted off to the loos before he could reply, shaking my head at myself as I went. Knowing I should warn my parents but appreciating it was the middle of the night in England, I sent a brief text, explaining the flight problem and that someone had paid for me to get back and they didn't have anywhere to go for Christmas so he'd be coming with me. I knew they'd be intrigued so I deliberately left it at that. Let the fun begin when they saw who it was.
Twelve hours later, I felt someone gently shaking my shoulder.
"Bex? Wake up -- it's breakfast time."
Completely confused, I woke with a start to see Josh standing by my 'seat' which had been magically turned into a bed after our 4 course gourmet dinner. I had never been able to sleep on a plane before -- first class was certainly the way to travel.
After freshening up and enjoying a delicious continental breakfast, complete with freshly squeezed orange juice, I was ready for landing.
As first class passengers, we were first off the plane, were whisked through immigration and to cap it all had our luggage waiting for us. No waiting by the carousel with a sickening feeling in your stomach when your case didn't appear.
Once through customs, I looked out for the board with my name on. Normally mum and dad would come and pick me up, but as it was now Christmas Eve they didn't want the drive when there was plenty to do at home.
The journey to just outside the Cotswolds whizzed by. We were now able to chat easily and with no awkwardness. I'd never met anyone so easy to get on with in such a short space of time.
As the taxi pulled up outside the house, I saw the door fling open and my sister, Beth, come running down the path, closely followed by my mum.
"You got here! I'm so mad at your boss! Who is this mysterious benefactor...oh!".
The "oh" was when Beth spotted Josh.
Never one to be lost for words though, she immediately put on her most radiant smile and went towards him, hand outstretched.
"Hi Josh, I'm Beth. I hope Bex has been telling you all the good things about me?"
I got between them, giving her a hug.
"Yep, have told him all about your husband and new baby. Speaking of baby, where is my gorgeous nephew?"
She poked her tongue out at me.
"Jack's inside with Ben and dad. They're watching the Great Escape."
We all made our way inside, my mum fussing over Josh as I knew she would do and Beth gesticulating wildly at Josh behind his back.
Over an early lunch, it was decided that in the afternoon, me and Beth would go and do our usual Christmas Eve activity of last minute shopping and tea and cake in the local town. Josh would go for a walk with Ben and Jack to see some of the local area. I knew he'd get on with Ben -- he was a perfect brother-in-law and really good company. Josh had already held Jack and in answering mum's interrogation we learned that he had 3 nephews and 2 nieces back home so was well used to having babies around.
Later that day, Bex and I got back later than planned after a fun afternoon picking up small last minute 'table gifts' for the following day. I rushed over to the apartment over the garage where myself and Josh would be staying to change for dinner -- mum had been texting both of us warning we were late.
Going into the sitting room 20 minutes later, the first thing I noticed was how comfortable the scene looked.
Josh was sat next to Ben, looking gorgeous in a light blue checked shirt which, I noticed, matched his eyes. They looked like they'd become best buddies in the space of the afternoon and Josh threw his head back, laughing at something Ben had said.
