Wednesday came and I picked Jo up early. I drove us to the county airport south of the heart of the city. Since the plane was just going to make a stop just for us I steered her to the fixed base operator check-in. The plane was set to land just before ten and we'd be in Montreal for lunch.
"Will this be your first time in Canada?"
Jo shook her head and looked over at me. "It will be my first time to Montreal but I've been to Alberta with Scott before. It was nice until we went up north to where they mine." She seemed melancholy. When I picked her up I greeted them at the door, Scott seemed okay, rested but still low on energy. There was a tension in the air and I felt like I was intruding. I took Jo's bags out to the car and left them alone for a few minutes. When she came out Scott stood in the door way and waved to me. I waved back and opened the car door for Jo. She looked back at the house in the side mirror as we pulled away.
Jo looked out the airport windows at the runway as a jet took off.
"He'll be okay." I said. She reached over, took my hand and she nearly crushed my fingers.
She took a deep breath. "I know. He fought me tooth and nail on having the nurse stay with him at night. He said he wasn't at that point yet. I cooked for the last two nights and put up enough food to feed an army for a week and told him if he didn't eat regularly I'd send him to the hospital myself when I got back. I know exactly how many meals there are in the freezer and I'd better find the correct amount of empty containers when I get back. I threatened him if he shared them with Maggie." She let out a weak laugh. "I wouldn't even care if he ate junk. As long as he eats something."
"Is that normal?"
"He's been better with you around. His ego won't let him look as weak as he feels sometimes. Since he got sick he turns inward and doesn't care for himself unless I bitch at him."
"Are you afraid he'll do that without you there?"
"We met with Barbara, the nurse, yesterday. She and I had a little chat and she will make sure he eats. She's been a nurse for years and says she knows how to handle difficult patients." That made her smile.
The representative of the charter service let us know the plane was on time and would be outside the gate area in a few minutes. We gathered our things, as the plane rolled up beyond the windows.
"Our chariot awaits." Jo smiled as we descended the ramp onto the apron. The door opened, a set of steps was lowered and a man stepped out followed by a woman, both in black uniforms. The woman had captains epaulets on her uniform.
"Mr. McNeil? Welcome aboard. I'm Anika Patel, I'll be your captain today." She introduced her co-pilot who was staring in open appreciation at Jo. The first officer took our bags stating he would stow them for us and climbed back aboard. We boarded and got seated. There was one other passenger, a man in a blue uniform with a different logo above the pocket. He nodded and smiled at me and his eyes opened wider at the sight of Jo. She had that effect, more so in the gray pinstripe suit she wore today. The skirt was short not only teasing the business attire policy but making it blush. We took the rear seats on the other side of the aisle and settled in. The pilot came aboard as the co-pilot did a walk around the plane.
The intercom came on. "The trip to Montreal Pierre Trudeau should take about ninety minutes. The weather is clear the entire way and the ground temperature is nineteen Celsius, sixty-six Fahrenheit. If you would please stow any loose items and fasten your seat belts we will get underway in a few minutes." Just then the co-pilot climbed aboard, brought up the steps and pulled the door shut as the engines started again. He secured the door and nodded to the other passenger and us.
"There are drinks in the galley once we're airborne you can help yourselves. The restroom is aft left." He went forward to the cockpit.
The intercom came on again and this time it was the co-pilot. "We are going to taxi to the runway now. We are third in line for take off and should be on our way in a few minutes."
I looked over at Jo who was all belted in, her bag behind her legs. She leaned on her chin and looked at me with a little smile which I returned in kind. She reached across the narrow space and took my hand for a moment giving me a reassuring squeeze. She sat back and crossed her legs and lifted the hem of her skirt ever so slightly showing the tops of stockings and a garter appeared and I felt my heart skip a beat. She was seated facing the rear and I glanced over at the other passenger who was flipping through a binder that looked like a manual of some sort. We taxied to the end of the runway, the engines roared louder and we began to roll forward picking up speed. Jo was staring out the window like a kid and I smiled. We lifted up sharply as the end of the runway approached. We continued to climb and after a few moments began to bank to the right as we circled the airfield. The dark ribbon of the Monongahela River curled into the distance. A few minutes later we leveled out and headed northward towards the border. We were given leave to move about the cabin a few minutes later. I asked Jo if she'd like a cup of coffee and she shook her head. I got one and held up the carafe to the other passenger who nodded.
"Black, please." He thanked me as I handed it to him.
"Are you headed to Montreal to certify on aircraft?"
"No, I'm deadheading to pick up a flight to London tomorrow."
He asked about us and I told him I was an engineer headed to research a plane for a client purchase. He had heard of our company and nodded. I moved back to my seat across from Jo and smiled as she leaned back and gave me a smile in return. I relaxed and looked out the window, in the distant haze Lakes Erie and Ontario could be seen. We would pass over the east end of Lake Ontario as we got closer to our destination.
I was worried about what this trip would bring in the budding relationship between us. I had no idea how much longer Scott had but he looked to be slowing down considerably in the past few weeks. He had told me that he hadn't actually stopped treatment until March and the remission was likely to stick with him for a month or so. True to his prediction the doctors had found signs that the cancer was active again at the beginning of April which was when he'd finally decided he wasn't going to fight it any longer. He said that the constant treatment was leaving him feeling like a zombie and that they he would never stop having to have them until they eventually wouldn't work any longer. I rested my head and looked at Jo who was to my surprise looking directly at me. Her hand rested on her knee and I noticed she didn't have her wedding bands on. I should have noticed it when I picked her up. I wonder if she had removed them after we left the house so as not to let Scott see. I smiled and she reached across again for my hand. I took hers in mine and played with each finger in turn wiggling it back and forth before holding it fully.
The other passenger stood and turned and I let go of Jo's hand as he walked past us. When he returned, Jo smiled at him. I looked down and she'd never adjusted her skirt back into place and was still showing the lace and satin. I shook my head and grinned. I should warn her that pilots are notorious skirt chasers and to be careful who she teases.
The intercom came on and the co-pilot said we would be landing in about fifteen minutes and if we looked out the port side we could see Ottawa in the distance. The announcement came to stow gear and buckle up for the landing. We landed smoothly and taxied to the terminal. We disembarked and entered the building and headed for the immigration kiosk. We finished our entry and we stepped away from the counter.
"Did you rent a car?"
I shook my head and smiled. "Come with me." We went out to the arrivals area and there was a gentleman in a dark suit standing nearby with his hands behind him in classic, former military, at-ease posture. He stood next to a small digital sign with my company's logo on the screen. "Hello André, this is my dear friend Miss Joanna Meadows."
He took her hand and smiled introducing himself to Jo. "Welcome to Montreal Miss Meadows. I've come to bring you to your hotel so you may check in. My associate and I would enjoy your company for dinner this evening if you are available." We agreed and André offered to take Jo's luggage for her and we made our way out to the parking area. André dropped us at our hotel and we made arrangements to meet for dinner. We were shown to our suite which was impressive. I tipped the bellhop and closed the door behind him.
Jo walked over to the large windows and looked out over the airport. She turned and leaned against the window. She fidgeted with her hands and ended up crossing her arms. She didn't look up at me right away.
"Relax. There's no pressure Jo. We'll enjoy some pampering while they try to woo us into buying a new jet, maybe a little photography, some sight-seeing and we go home."
She gave me a strained smile and walked towards me, her arms wrapped around my neck as she melted into me.
"I know, being here with you isn't the problem."
