A Short Love (Short story collection)

Delayed…

Delayed…

Delayed…

“Damn,” I whispered before looking out the large windows at the horrible snowstorm raging. I didn’t even need to hear the announcement over the speakers or read more than the word delayed to understand why getting on a flight right now was impossible.

“I should have left the office earlier,” I murmured, only to remind myself how impossible that would have been. One crisis after another had kept piling up, and when you were the boss, it was your duty to handle them.

As the announcement echoed through the terminal, I couldn’t help overhearing the collective sighs and complaints. Yet, I knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault. The weather had a mind of its own, and it seemed we would all experience a slight delay in reuniting with our families for Christmas.

Instead of wallowing in frustration over an uncontrollable situation, I made my way to the bar, secured a comfortable seat, and ordered a drink. However, I found myself lost in thought and barely touched the beverage.

I turned my eyes toward the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the snowflakes fall and the twinkling lights from the towers and grounded planes glowing in the darkness. I took a small sip of the Scotch, reminiscing about my father. This had been his favorite drink, and I remembered the first time I had asked for a taste, brimming with excitement, only to discover how much I hated it.

Yet, a few years later, for some inexplicable reason, I had grown to love it. Now, with my mother gone, I longed for the drink even more, as if somehow it brought him closer to me.

“Is this seat taken?”

I turned to my left and found myself facing a remarkably handsome man with a charming, slightly crooked smile. He gestured toward the empty seat beside me. For a moment, my voice failed me, but I managed to shake my head, avoiding complete embarrassment.

“No, please, go ahead,” I finally replied, extending a hand in a welcoming gesture.

He smiled gratefully, taking the offered seat and ordering the same drink as me. Suddenly, I felt oddly confined. Even though he wasn’t particularly broad, his presence filled the space around me.

“Is your flight delayed as well?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Heading home?” he continued, curiosity evident in his voice.

Again, I nodded.

“Where are you going?” he probed, amusement dancing in his eyes as he clearly noticed my sudden speechlessness.

I took a long sip of my drink before setting it back on the table.

Pull yourself together, Mary, I scolded myself silently, offering the stranger a smile as I finally spoke.

“Kansas.”

“Visiting family, or is it a boyfriend?” he teased, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

Boyfriend? As if, I thought with an inward chuckle. When was the last time I’d even had time to date?

“Family.”

“That’s nice,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.

“How about you?” I inquired.

“Family too.”

“Do… do you have a wife waiting there as well?” I asked, unsure if I was being too forward.

Apparently not. In fact, he suddenly looked a little sad.

“Widower,” he told me.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said, instinctively placing a hand on my chest.

“Sorry that a stranger’s wife died four years ago?” he asked.

At first, I was taken aback, but when I noticed his smile, I realized he was teasing me. I couldn’t help but chuckle. The best part was that he laughed too. The tension instantly disappeared, making it much easier to sit beside him.

“Yeah, I bet you don’t hear that one very often,” I said.

He simply shook his head, taking another sip of his drink. “But I appreciate it anyway,” he replied.

His comment created a comfortable atmosphere between us. Despite being stuck in an airport, at least the conversation isn’t half bad, I thought.

“So, where are you headed?” I asked.

“New York,” he replied.

“Oh, a New Yorker,” I teased.

He nodded with a smile.

“And what brings you here, trapped in an airport in Washington?” I inquired.

“My sister lives here.”

“And she isn’t coming back with you?”

“She and my parents aren’t on speaking terms,” he told me.

“Why not?”

He flashed me that adorable crooked smile, and it suddenly dawned on me that I had just asked a complete stranger about his personal affairs.

“Sorry, that’s none of my business.” I raised my free hand apologetically.

He merely laughed, showing no sign of offense. Once again, I realized he was simply teasing me. I couldn’t help chuckling a little myself. When was the last time I’d sat beside someone and had such a simple, easy conversation?

“They just don’t see eye to eye,” he explained.

“Well, I understand that.”

He raised an eyebrow, silently asking me how.

“I never got along very well with my mother. We even lost contact for a while,” I confessed.

The alcohol might have been affecting me, or perhaps it was simply the pleasant company, but suddenly old secrets came pouring out.

“Oh?” he responded, sounding genuinely curious.

“Sometimes it’s just not easy to get along with your parents. My mother wasn’t thrilled about me starting my own company, whereas my father encouraged me to go for it.”

“You own your own company?” he asked, admiration evident in his voice.

“It’s not very big. Just my own little design company.”

“Wow,” he exclaimed, making me smile. “Why wouldn’t your mother want you to start your own company?”

“Job security. She was afraid I might fail, but I know she only wanted what was best for me. That’s just how parents are. They want their children to have good lives and be safe,” I explained, leaning my arm against the counter and resting my chin in my hand.

“Do you mind calling my sister and telling her exactly those words?” he joked, retrieving his phone from his jacket.

This time, I understood it was a playful remark, and I burst into laughter as I pushed his hand away, shaking my head.

“I think you can tell her yourself,” I replied.

“I think she’d rather hear it from you.”

I continued shaking my head.

This is really nice, I thought as I looked at the man in front of me.

“And what do you do for a living?” I inquired.

“I’m an engineer,” he told me.

“Really?” I asked, intrigued.

“I work in cybersecurity.”

I looked at him in surprise, and he immediately started laughing at my expression. I felt a little embarrassed, as though I’d been caught doing something I shouldn’t have.

“You thought I’d look different, right?” he asked.

“No!” I protested, though it was obvious the image I had of people working in that field looked nothing like him.

“It’s fine. You can admit it,” he said.

I sighed and shook my head before joining in his laughter.

“I’ll need another drink before I admit anything,” I told him, noticing my glass was empty.

“Then we’d better get you a new one,” he said.

He called the bartender over and ordered me another drink. I smiled gratefully.

“Let me.” He tried to pay.

“Oh, you don’t need to.”

“I insist,” he said.

I didn’t want to be rude, so I accepted his kind gesture.

“Thank you.”

A drink was placed in front of me.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Mary. And yours?”

“Ryan.”

Ryan. It suits him, I thought as we locked eyes. I had to admit that if there really was someone out there controlling the weather or destiny, I almost wanted to thank them and tell them I was finally starting to believe in the idea of two people being destined to meet. Is there any better proof than this, right here?

Suddenly, my phone rang, and I held up a finger to signal that I needed a moment. I reached into the pocket of the jacket draped over the back of my barstool. It was my father calling. I quickly answered, turning slightly away from Ryan.

“Dad?”

“Mary, where are you? I just saw your text.”

“Still trapped at the airport. It looks like I’m going to have to wait it out for now.”

My father let out a low curse.

“I’ll get there, Dad,” I assured him, already knowing what he was thinking.

“I’m more worried about you.”

“Don’t worry about me, and I’ll text you as soon as they say it’s safe to fly again, okay?”

“Okay. Do that! And keep me updated as well.”

“I will. Bye, Dad.”

“Bye.”

I hung up the phone and turned back in my chair, noticing the almost sad smile on Ryan’s lips.

“I wish my parents were concerned enough to call,” he commented.

“They aren’t concerned about you?” I asked, surprised.

He shrugged slightly as he took a sip from his glass. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, setting it down. “I don’t mind the company I’ve found.”

The smile on his lips shifted into something warmer, more charming. This time I wasn’t sure what made my cheeks turn warm—the man or the drink. But suddenly, it felt as though something between us had changed.

The energy grew stronger, heavier with tension, and it was as if an invisible force was pulling us closer and closer until our lips were only inches apart. Yet neither of us took the final step. Just as I was telling myself to go for it, a woman’s voice shattered the moment.

“The storm has calmed down, and all passengers flying with American Airlines to Kansas City, please proceed to your gate and prepare to board the plane.”

“Isn’t that your flight?” Ryan inquired.

I felt his warm breath brush against my lips, sending a pleasant shiver through me. We stayed close for another second before I finally turned my head, breaking the moment.

“It is.”

“Then you’d better hurry,” Ryan said, leaning back with a smile, though this one seemed different somehow, sadder.

I nodded as I grabbed my jacket and stood from my seat. “It was really nice meeting you, Ryan.”

“You too, Mary,” he replied.

For some reason, I felt reluctant to leave. I knew it was silly. We had only talked for a little while and shared a few drinks, yet I felt closer to him than I had to anyone in years.

It is stupid, right?

I gave him a small smile as I picked up my suitcase and started walking away, but I hadn’t taken more than a few steps before I stopped and looked back. Ryan was watching me, and when he noticed me glance over my shoulder, he raised his glass. I waved before finally turning away.

Meeting someone in a snowstorm, who would have thought?

The End.