On that Friday morning I received an interesting telephone call. It was Kelly, and she wanted to know when I was arriving in New Orleans so that we could possibly share a cab or a rental. Tina drove a Cooper Mini and there was no way both of us with luggage would fit, and Kelly was not comfortable traveling alone in a large city.
I told her that my flight arrived there at approximately 3:30 local time. She gave a sigh of relief and said that her Delta flight arrived at about the same time departing from Raleigh. I told her that was great. I had no problem sharing a taxi with her. I could hear the relief in her voice as she said thank you. I was about to hang up when I heard her say something else. I quickly put the phone back to my ear and said "Excuse me?"
She laughed and said "I was just telling you that I am really looking forward to meeting you. Tina has told me a lot of interesting stories. I have a picture of you that Tina posted on Facebook. Do you have one of me?"
I am sure that my ears were burning as I stammered out my reply that I was looking forward to meeting her too. I told her that she did not have to bother with the photo as Tina had provided an excellent description of her. I quickly disconnected and sat down breathing hard. What had Tina told her?
I chided myself for being so nervous. Of course Tina would tell her about me. They were best friends, after all.
I got upgraded on my flight from Atlanta and ordered two vodka and tonics while in the air. By the time I landed I was feeling fine and all nervousness was gone. I exited the plane with my back pack and carryon suitcase and went to the Delta arrivals board and looked for the Raleigh flight. It wasn't listed. I looked for Durham. No flight listed. I was about to go to the Delta desk when it suddenly hit me and I ran back to the gate I had just left. She had connected in Atlanta. She had been on my flight.
As I got back to my gate my phone rang. It was Tina. I answered, out of breath.
"Hey honey I just wanted you to know that I have Kelly. I talked her into an earlier flight and I couldn't reach you to tell you." Tina always made everything sound so casual, as though everything that happened was supposed to. "We are sipping wine on the deck right now so get your cute little ass here."
The call disconnected. Tina never said goodbye, she just stopped talking and hung up. I told her one time that it was rude but she said there was a very good reason for it, and that someday she would tell me that story. I looked at the phone and said "Yes, I love you too. Bye!" I laughed and put the phone in my pocket.
Thirty minutes later I was approaching Jackson Square. I handed the cab driver $40 as he pulled up in front of her place and told him to keep the change. I headed for the front entrance and looked up just in time to avoid being hit by a carnation dropped from above.
I saw Tina on the third floor deck, smiling and waving her arms like maybe she was stranded on an island and trying to get the attention of a passing ship. I was thinking think that maybe that they had done more than sip a little wine. I picked up the white carnation and slipped it into my lapel button hole.
Two minutes later I was in her arms and we were kissing like we always did after not seeing each other for a week. I could taste the pot on her breath and she was carrying a half empty bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. She was wearing a dark blue cotton maxi dress. I couldn't see her feet but I knew that she would not be wearing shoes...or underwear for that matter.
Where's Kelly?" I asked looking around.
"She crashed a little while ago. She had to get up at 4:30 to make her flight and I think maybe she isn't used to my Friday afternoon libations. She is in the 2nd floor bedroom. I think that's actually perfect because it gives us a little time to get reacquainted, buster."