Chapter 1: Anna Flies Home After a Business Trip
Another business trip was coming to an end.
The inky darkness below was suddenly illuminated by the yellow glow of Gothenburg Landvetter airport. I watched the gray landing strip come into view as the plane prepared to land. All around were snow-covered pines and frozen lakes.
The intercom crackled and the pilot asked the cabin crew to take their seats. Then there was the change in pitch of the engine, then the rumble of extending landing gear. I took comfort in the thought of being back on the ground and sleeping in my own bed tonight.
I looked at my phone, it was 10:20pm. By the time I got off the plane, pushed my way through the airport and found a cab, I figured it would be about 11:30 until I finally got home.
I texted David:
Me:
Hi Babe, just about to land and can't wait to see you :) It's been a long week...
A few seconds later , his reply:
David:
Yes, me too! Glad you're back. See you soon!
The plane seemed to hover motionless for a minute, then came the bump as rubber tires met concrete. After a few minutes taxi to the gate, a loud ding spread through the cabin followed by a series of clicks as passengers released their seat belts. People then got up and reached for the overhead bins. Luckily, I was sitting alone so I didn't have to wait for some annoyingly slow person to get their shit together and delay me from getting the hell off the plane.
The cabin door finally opened and procession of bodies stumbled forward. When the aisle space was clear in front of me, I swung out and reached into the overhead bin and pulled down my carry-on bag. I didn't see the woman step out in front of her.
"Whoops, I'm sorry!" I blurted out.
"No problem, it's late," the woman returned in an apologetic voice.
I watched her as she reached up into the overhead bin and pulled out a brown leather bag. She had light brown hair, late thirties maybe, looked pretty fit, and was dressed in a dark blue business suit.
I noticed the bag, a Maxwell Scott, the trappings of someone highly successful for sure.
"Yeah, It's been a long week, I'm kind of out of it." I said, feeling the need to explain myself some more. "I'm sorry."
"No worries," the woman assured me with a pleasant smile.
I stood patiently as she finished getting everything in order which included slinging a Gucci purse over her shoulder with a self-assurance that went with her accessories. She looked up one more time at me and gave me a disarming smile.
This woman was impossible to get annoyed at. I caught the faint whiff of perfume.
"Good to be home, huh?" the woman commented as we walked side by side down the jet way trailing our bags behind us. I hoped she wouldn't notice my cheap, plain black bag as it trailed behind me.
"Yes, for sure," I responded with a sigh.
"Been gone long?"
Hmm, this woman sure was chatty.
"This whole past week."
"Business trip I take it?" she continued.
"Yeah, had a bunch of meetings at our home office to finalize a contract for a new client."
"Did it go well?"
"Yeah, I think so."
She certainly was the curious type.
"And you?" I countered with a question of my own.
"I've been away this whole week also. Started in Berlin, was there for a couple days, then finished up some meetings in Copenhagen."
The wheels on our bags struck the metal seam between the jet way and the airport hall making an audible thump. The main hall opened before us. Not many people were there this time of night.
"So what do you do? What kind of business are you in?" I asked.
"I'm an attorney."
"Oh really? What firm do you work at?"
"Mannheimer and Swartling."
"You're kidding me. My boyfriend's an attorney."
"Oh yeah, which firm?"
"The Blokker Group."
"Okay, Yeah. I know them." Her tone was if she was suddenly reminded of something. "They do a lot of work with banks and insurance if I'm not mistaken?"
"Yep, that's what he tells me anyway. One of the junior associates, just started not too long ago," I said with a shy little laugh.
"Hope he likes it so far."
"He does. I'll have to tell him we me met, what's your name by the way?"
"Olivia. And yours?"
"Anna."
"Nice to meet you, Anna."
"Likewise."
We continued to walk through the terminal towards the baggage claim area. Only a few shops were still open; most of them had the metal cage pulled down while the cashiers closed out the register. I glimpsed at Olivia's hand looking for a ring. There was none.
What was her deal? Living with someone? Divorced? Or just an ambitious corporate girl with no time for relationships?
Even though I was just an entry-level account executive at a mid-sized corporate communications firm, I felt a kinship with this woman. I saw in her a model for who I would become in five to ten years: successful and attractive; someone who exuded elegance and confidence.
Yes indeed, this was going to be me.
I was a little disappointed that she hadn't asked me what I did. It was probably just as well, she could probably tell that I was an entry-level this or that, a milestone that she herself had crossed long ago, and didn't want to appear condescending with the question.
"Did you check any baggage?" She turned to me and asked.
"No, traveling light." I smiled confidently hoping that it sounded impressive.
Frequent travellers and people of importance knew how to travel light. Checked baggage was for amateurs.
"Good for you. I wish I could just head directly home and sink into a bath."
Her response was endearing, but my attempt to impress seemed to fall flat. This woman was not going to be impressed by someone like me.
We made our way to the terminal exit and pushed through the large steel glass doors into the arrival hall. I followed her to the sole baggage carousel that was in operation this time of night. Pieces of luggage were ejected from an opening at the top of a steel cone then crashed into a thick rubber bumper where they started their journey around the moving steel conveyor.
She turned to me and started to laugh. "I thought you didn't check any bags?"
"Oh God, I'm losing it," I remarked.
"That's okay, it's late and you've had a long week. Trust me, I know the feeling." Her voice was filled with compassion, almost sister-like.
I felt foolish, I was so drawn to this woman that I was following her like a little puppy dog.
"Yeah, I'm a bit tired."
"Well, it was nice meeting you, Anna. Take care of yourself, okay?"
"Yes, same here."
This was a cue that the conversation was now over, and it was time to go back to our own lives. I felt a bit rejected.
"Here, wait a minute," Olivia continued while reaching into her bag. She pulled out a business card and handed it to me. "Call me sometime and we can get a coffee."
I took the card without looking at it and studied Olivia's face. She seemed honest and sincere.