Immersion Playground
Book #3: Flight to Paradise
Chapter 13
Mac sleeps restlessly, unable to let go of his anger with his mother and unable to comfort Kate. He senses her slipping through his fingers like sand. A noise causes him to jerk awake, the early morning light shining in the window. She's not in the bed and he flings the linens back, desperately afraid for her, until he notices her two large suitcases sitting by the door. So, she's leaving. He turns to see her step out of the bath. She's dressed, but rumpled and haggard looking, not her normal immaculate self.
"Can we talk about this?"
"What's to talk about?" she snaps, her voice cool. "It pretty obvious this relationship is going no place, so I don't see the need to stick around."
"Kate, wait a minute. Can't we just—"
"No Mac, we can't," she interrupts. "You said you'd take me home today. Are you going to do that, or do I have to rent a car?"
He stands. "No, I'll take you home. But won't you please stay? Kate, we can work this out!"
She stares at him, torn. She wants to stay, but then she hardens her heart again. "I don't see how. Your mother thinks I'm a whore. A fucking hooker only interested in her next john. Well fuck that Mac, and while I'm at it, fuck you too."
He holds his hands up in surrender. "Kate, I know you're hurt, and mad, but just calm down, okay? Will you wait while I get a shower? Please? Then I'll take you home."
She fumes. She's being a total bitch, and she knows it, but she doesn't care, and it pisses her off that he won't fight back, taking everything she throws at him with calm patience. "Yes, I'll wait," she finally says, standing in the middle of his room, not moving to sit down or make herself comfortable.
He sighs at her aggressive posture. "I'll be as quick as I can."
***
After his shower he prepares a quick breakfast of fried eggs on toast, hinting that FAA regulations require pilots to eat every so many hours, trying to get her to eat something. He isn't hungry but she has to be starving, having not eaten lunch or dinner the day before. It takes a little coaxing, but the smell of cooking eggs breaks down her resistance and she finally agrees to allow him to fix her a sandwich as well.
At the hanger she helps him get the plane out of the hanger and pre-flight it, but when they board the plane, she takes one of the passenger seats. He slumps slightly in resignation, having thought they were making a little progress, but says nothing to her as he moves to the front of the plane.
Pursing his lips in frustration he begins his checklist.
She's sitting in the back of the plane as they fly south to LA, feeling sorry for herself, when a ping arrives from Bertrand McMillan, surprising her that she can receive a ping while in the air. Her first inclination to reject the ping, but in this whole fucked up mess that's her life, Bert is probably the most innocent.
"Hello Mr. McMillan."
"Kate," Bert says over the link. "May I please have five minutes of your time?"
"Did Mac put you up to this?"
"No, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't tell him I pinged. He'll be furious with me for meddling."
"How did you find me?"
"It took a little doing, let me tell you, and I have the code to reach Mac when he's flying, but I don't want to cause trouble, so let's just say a little bird gave me your address. Kate, the reason for my ping... Cynthia told me what happened. I'm not going to ask your forgiveness for her, but I do want to ask you to not take your anger out on Tony. He had nothing to do with what happened in the kitchen and Cynthia said he was standing up for you every step of the way. We thought it important that you know that."
She thinks about what he said. So, he was defending her, but that still doesn't make it right. "Will you answer one question honestly for me, Mr. McMillan?"
"Yes, Kate. You deserve that much."
"Why does your wife think I'm nothing but a cheap whore? I've not asked Mac for a thing. Not one damn thing!"
He's quiet for a long time. "You probably won't believe this, but it's the truth. She doesn't. Cynthia just worries that women may try to take advantage of Tony. She's a bit old fashioned when it comes to sex and marriage and... she worries. Worries that he will get some girl pregnant, or that someone will string him along and take advantage of him—"
"And she thinks I'm that woman?" she interrupts, her voice as hard a steel.
"No Kate, she doesn't, she never did, but worry over your child sometimes makes you say and do things you regret," he says quietly. "Kate, perhaps I shouldn't say this, but you need to know. The reason Cynthia was so worried is... well, let's just say Tony is acting differently around you than he has any of his other girlfriends. He seems... more at peace I guess you could say. We both noticed it the first day we met you. Tony has always been a bit of a loner, and when we found out you were spending a month with him..."
She's quiet, thinking over what Bert's said. Could it all be just a terrible misunderstanding? "Are you telling me Mac's in love with me?"
"No. I can't speak for Tony's feelings, but I think you're good for him, and I don't want something we did to come between you and Tony. So please, if you have any feelings for Tony at all, don't let a foolish old man and woman ruin a good thing. I'm just asking that you not punish Tony for something he didn't do. That's all I'm asking."
Her tears threaten again. She's so torn, being eaten from the inside by her hurt and anger, and yet, he seems so sincere, so kind and gentle. "I'll try... Bert."
"Thank you, Kate. That's all I ask, for you to try. And Kate..."
She waits. "Yes, Bert?" she asks when he doesn't continue.
"Cynthia and I would love it if you would come visit us, in Hays, sometime. You and Tony, if you can find it in your heart to forgive us. We'd like to try to make amends for what has happened," he says quietly.
He sounds so sad, sincere, and hopeful that her tears begin again, wondering what it would be like to have parents that care so much. She also notices that he's taking some of Cynthia's guilt upon himself, an action she finds touching. "I need some time, Bert. But I'll think about it, about everything," she says, sniffing back her tears.
"Thank you, Kate. That's all I ask... and no matter what happens, Kate... you seem like a wonderful young woman and I, we, wish you the best."
"Thank you," she murmurs, still fighting against her tears. "Maybe we'll meet again."
"I'd like that," he says quietly before dropping the link.
She sits in her seat thinking about his words. Not once in the entire conversion did he ask forgiveness for himself or his wife, and he defended Mac without accusing her of overreacting or being unreasonable. He really did seem to be only concerned about Mac, and maybe, if she can believe him, herself. She pulls herself together and wipes her eyes before getting up and moving to the front of the plane and sinking into the right-hand seat.
Mac watches her settle into the co-pilot seat and put on her seatbelt, headset and sunglasses, unsure of what to say, unsure if there's anything to say.
