Ken stared at the wall of video screens at the terminal. He had a knot in his stomach that had been there ever since Shay told him that she was flying into Boston a couple of weeks before. The knot was getting even tighter now. He was just grateful that her inbound flight to Logan was on time - having to wait any longer to hold her again would have been absolute torture. He had memorized her flight and gate, but couldn't help himself from going back to check again and again, as if the video screen was his connection to her.
"Flight 2219, Gate C3" He read out loud. Knowing that the plane would be arriving soon, he started to make his way to the gate. He felt as if everyone was watching him walk through the terminal, wondering what was fueling the beaming smile on his face.
Ken finally got to gate C3 about 15 minutes before Shay's flight was scheduled to touch ground. The knot in his stomach was giving way to swarms of butterflies. Before sitting down, he double checked to make sure his shirt was tucked in. He grabbed the handkerchief from his back pocket as he took his glasses off, blowing moist breath on the lenses before cleaning them. Putting his glasses back on, he caught his reflection in the floor to ceiling length window overlooking the tarmac. He stood there for a moment or two, checking his hair, trying to make sure everything was in place. He finished fussing over himself and sat down in the waiting area. Trying to look casual, he grabbed a magazine and began to leaf through it. His mind was elsewhere - it took him couple of minutes to realize that he had been leafing through an issue of Family Circle. Sighing heavily, he tossed the magazine down on the seat next to him. He had given up trying to look cool. He wanted her there now.
A couple more minutes passed before a voice came over the PA announcing Shay's flight. The number of butterflies dancing in Ken's tummy instantly doubled, and he felt like a kid at Christmas as he watched the plane start to taxi off of the runway and make its way towards the gate. After an eternity, the gate doors opened and people began to make their way into the terminal. Shay emerged, carrying a medium sized bag. She was wearing one of his favorite sun dresses, and looked amazingly fresh for someone who had just spent hours in a plane. Her tan skin contrasted so nicely against the lavender of the dress. Her light blonde hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, with little strands of hair, her "thingys", sneaking out of the ponytail and framing her face perfectly. Ken stood there in awe of the beauty before him, and found himself speechless as she searched the crowd looking for him.
As Shay's eyes darted from person to person, a big smile took over her face as she saw him standing there waiting for her. Fighting the temptation to push through the crowd in front of her, she made her way over to where he was standing. She found herself finally before him and dropped her bag at his feet. Shay looked deep into Ken's dark brown eyes and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. He sighed contentedly as he leaned down to her and kissed her passionately, without a single word being said. Ken wrapped his arms around her waist and effortlessly picked her up so that her feet left the floor. As he held her completely, Ken snaked his tongue into her mouth, exploring her and tasting her breath. They became completely unaware of their surroundings as the crowd of arriving passengers weaved around them. Time stood still for them both as they shared of each other in their kiss.
After a long moment, Ken gently lowered Shay back into the ground. Only after making sure that Shay was firmly on her feet and had her balance did he break the kiss. Looking into her eyes again, watching them sparkle, he found himself completely overwhelmed by his emotion and he started to laugh, with a tear rolling down his cheek. Shay reached up and gingerly wiped the tear away with her index finger and smiled up at him.
"Welcome to Boston, baby" he whispered to her. "I thought you'd never get here."
Ken grabbed her bag in one arm as he took her hand and made his way to the baggage area. As they made their way through the airport, she filled him in on how her flight was. It never failed to amaze him that she could tell a story about how the stewardess passed out drinks and still find a way to make it funny. He lingered on every word she said to him.
As they stood at the baggage carousel, Shay started to press as to what sort of plans Ken had in mind for them during her stay. He just smiled back at her.
"As you always say to me, honey" he joked to her "We'll do something, even if we do it wrong".
"C'mon baby", she pleaded, as she pointed out her bag to him on the carousel. "Aren't you going to show me what Bawstun has to offer?"
"Gonna show you all that and more" Ken chided as he lugged her suitcase off of the carousel. "You'll just have to wait until we get there."
They finally made their way out of the airport and to the lot where his car was waiting. Ken popped the trunk and lovingly placed her bags inside. Once her things were securely in place, Ken looked up and smiled at her as he pulled a large plastic bag out of the trunk. He made his way over to the passenger side of the car where she was waiting patiently to be let in. He backed her up against his Honda and kissed her quickly, moving his lips down to her neck as he reached down with his right hand and unlocked her door. He reluctantly pulled himself from her to open the door. Ken felt a slight stir as she lowered herself into his car, the sun dress riding up her thighs a bit as she adjusted herself in the seat. She looked up at him once she had made her way inside and noticed him staring at her legs.
"Kenneth" she admonished. "There's time for that later. Please close the car door and let's go".
Ken couldn't help but smile at getting caught. He nodded silently and closed her car door. He made his way around the front of the car swinging the plastic bag in his hand as she watched him through the windshield. He let himself in on the driver's side and slid in behind the wheel. He plopped the plastic bag down on his lap as he smiled at her and clicked his seat belt. She looked at him and the bag quizzically.
"OK, tonight is your first lesson about Boston" he explained to her. "If you are to experience nothing else about the city, you need to see this. He reached into his bag and pulled out a brand new baseball cap. It was medium blue in color and had had a white "T" on the front with red trim around it. Confused, she took it from him.
"Kenny, are you telling me that I came all the way to Boston for you to give me a Texas Rangers hat?? I mean, I'm happy to see you, but I could have gotten one of these at home."
"As always, my baby is so patient" he answered. "Once you told me you were coming I checked and saw that the Rangers were coming to town this same weekend. I figured that there was no better way to show you the best of Boston than to take you to a game at Fenway." As he was saying this, Ken reached into the back seat of his car and pulled out his well loved vintage Sox cap and placed it on his head. Shay followed suit with her new hat, pulling the ponytail out of the hole in the back.
"OK, we've gotta start moving if we're gonna catch the start of the game. We're bound to hit some pretty bad traffic on the way... but at least we'll have good company for the ride."
