Lost in Flight

by Neeny Boucher

  After the formal part of the evening concluded, the Martins began to prepare for their act. Johnny was still grumbling about performing Asha’s choice of music, but was going to do it, just under serious protest, making sure that everyone knew. Christina and Gabby couldn’t look at each other because they wanted to laugh.

  They argued for a bit about who had the worst job. Christina doing Celine Dion’s version of “At Last” was not a simple task, but they all decided Gabby had it worst. She had to sing two love duets with Dad, which made Christina and Johnny feel a bit better.

  The sound system had been playing hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s, which Dad thought were fantastic, making the Martin children roll their eyes. They sang their songs receiving beams of approval from Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, and applause from the audience. The Martins performed the best they could because their father would accept nothing less.

  As Johnny finished “Love”, Asha motioned for the sound system to start in 10 minutes, but Christina halted her. Nodding to Dave, who took off his jacket to wolf-whistles from the crowd, he joined them on stage behind the drums. Christina looked directly at Mandy saying, “This is for you.”

  When they opened with Remy Zero’s “Prophecy” Mandy’s eyes went wide in surprise and then she cried. She had been obsessed with this song ever since it played on Charmed. Johnny sang lead and the two sisters backed him.

  Christina sang Nelly Furtado’s, “I’m like a bird” and the smile on Mandy’s face was worth any trouble that might result from their musical rebellion. They closed with Hole’s “Malibu” to Mandy and Bonnie’s cheering. She grinned when she saw her two friends take to the dance-floor.

  Although they weren’t wedding songs, Mandy loved them and that was enough. Mandy blew them kisses, clapped and mouthed, “Thank you.” Christina caught Bonnie’s eye and held it just a moment, then Bonnie winked at her.

  “Malibu” was the last song Christina sang in public for years and as events unfolded, she couldn’t bring herself to listen or sing it again. She loved this song, but the memories it evoked were too painful. Although she was unaware, she shared this in common with Riley. After they broke up, Riley always associated it with Christina and the divorce, and the last time they were semi-happy.

  ********************

  Riley found her after the Martins had finished their set and the sound system was playing hits that Mandy’s parents liked. He grabbed her by the hand and led her to the dance floor, where they danced until Mandy and Dave were ready to leave. To Christina’s surprise, Riley had learned some new dance moves in his absence and some of them were quite raunchy. Bonnie and Christina followed Mandy back to her place to help her change, and send her off on her honeymoon with all their best wishes. Some of their best wishes were quite dirty, but they were given and received nonetheless.

  As Bonnie and Christina left the Robinsons, Riley was waiting for her by his truck. He automatically took his jacket off, placing it around her shoulders and Christina waved Bonnie goodbye. Bonnie gave her a hard stare and then left to go back to the reception. He opened the door of the truck, helping her in and drove to the farmhouse. They didn’t say much because words were fraught with danger and she was leaving.

  He led her into the farmhouse by the hand and inside started to slowly undress her, stopping to kiss the back of her neck and lips. Riley held her face in his hands and kissed her, whispering that he loved her and always would. When she went to take her shoes off, he said, “Leave those on,” he pulled his tie off and threw it on the bed. Staring at her with a wicked grin that made her knees weak, he said, “I’d like to try something different.”

  ********************

  Christina was drifting off to sleep when she heard Riley say, “Baby, why don’t you sing? You should sing – with your voice – I don’t understand this. I don’t know why you won’t do it.”

  She was half asleep and mumbled. “I don’t want to. I just want to live life under the radar. I wish you’d understand.”

  “I do understand. I understand you’re living someone else’s life and dreams.”

  Her eyes snapped open and she was wide-awake now. “Instead of the life you think I should be living. This is the same conversation over and over. It doesn’t change. You don’t hear me…”

  Riley rolled on top of her and kissed her on the collarbone. “I hear you alright,” he murmured, “I hear you calling my name.” He cupped her breasts in his hands and shook his head. “These are perfect – do you know that? Perfect.” He ran his tongue over her right nipple and then sucked her breast into his mouth.

  She arched her back and then pushed him away. “We understand each other’s bodies, Riley, but that’s about it. Maybe that’s all there is left? I don’t know...”

  Riley flipped himself onto his back and stared at the ceiling. “There’s more to us than that Dina, for fuck-sake. It pisses me off when you say shit like that. Is that what you think? That all we’re good for is what? Fucking? There are plenty of girls out there I could fuck, Dina. This isn’t what it’s about for me.”

  Christina flinched. “I didn’t mean it like that, Riley. I’m just saying maybe we’re confusing our feelings and holding onto something that’s no longer there. I’m not the same person, Riley…”

  “Oh yeah. I get that,” he laughed, “and I don’t know who you want to prove that to more: me or you? It’s what you’ve done since you’ve been back. Oooh, my life at college, I want, I want, I want, for fuck-sake. It’s like you’re a fucking “I” specialist.”

  “Hey – wait a minute…”

  “No, you wait,” growled Riley sitting up and glaring at her. “I’m not the sort of person who gives my heart away because I’ve got confused “feelings,” he air quoted. “And neither are you. Believe me, if I could have fallen in love with someone else in the time we’ve been apart – I would have. But I didn’t and all it took was one look at you, and we’re back in this mess.”

  Christina sat up and stared at him. “So what’s your answer?”

  He shrugged. “I’m out of here, Christina. We’ve survived our time apart – let’s just carry on.”

  As much as it hurt, Christina agreed with him. It was over – so over and they couldn’t resolve it. In some ways this would be a nice way to end it. They’d had a great time together and more time would lessen the pain. “

  Okay,” she said, “we can do that. You sign the divorce papers and we can formalize things.”

  Riley rolled out of bed and started getting dressed. She could tell by the way he was hauling his clothes on that he was furious and she didn’t understand. He sat on the bed putting his shoes on with his back to her before he made any comment. “Fuck you,” he said.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Fuck you, Dina. I’m not signing. If you want a divorce, you can fight me in court.”

  “Don’t speak to me like that,” she snapped, “and I don’t get this. We’re over, but you don’t want a divorce it makes no logical sense.”

  Riley turned around and stared at her. “What’s the hurry? Are you planning on marrying someone else?” He tapped her on the arm and said with a sneer. “I tell you what, I’ll sign when we want to marry someone else, okay?” He gave her a wink and she wanted to slap him.

  Christina hauled herself out of bed and got dressed. “You are being ridiculous and I never realized what a control freak you are. Take me home.”

  “With pleasure,” he snarled and exited the bedroom.

  It felt like everything was happening in slow motion and she was moving underwater. Her limbs felt heavy and she couldn’t seem to get her body to do what she wanted. Somehow she’d managed to misplace one of her bridesmaid’s earrings, the ones Mandy had given her and Bonnie for the wedding.

  Christina had to cut her search off when she heard Riley growing increasingly impatient in the next room. She asked if he’d return the earring if he found it and he grunted his response. They rode in silence to her home and as she opened
the door of the truck, he said, “Dina, I’m sorry.”

  She looked at him and her heart lurched. She nodded. “Me too. Are you really leaving now?”

  He shook his head. “I’ll leave in a few days.”

  She smiled sadly at him and kissed him on the cheek, but he turned his head, catching her lips. They pressed their foreheads together and choked out goodbyes. She watched as he drove away, waved, and gave him a watery smile.

  As soon as his truck was out of sight she went inside. This was no time for sentiment, she told herself, now was the time to be strong. She only had a matter of days before he was gone again and she was tired of remaining in limbo. It was time for Plan B.

  ********************

  The day Christina left town, she asked Bonnie to take a detour to the Riley farm. With an envelope clutched in her hand, she knocked on the door. Grace Riley answered the door and looked at her with eyes so much like her son’s, it hurt Christina’s heart. Grace tried to smile warmly at her, but it came off as more of a grimace. Although the Rileys had been good to Christina, she and Grace had never been close.

  Grace invited Christina in, but she declined, asking Grace if her husband was there too. Grace went to get him and as she waited Christina pushed down all her fears, and fortified her courage. When Riley’s parents appeared together, Christina had a moment where she almost turned and walked away. Riley favored his mother in appearance, but he was like his father in height and build. Leo Riley towered over Grace, but unlike his wife, warmth and generosity came easily to him.

  Taking a deep breath, Christina handed Leo an envelope saying. “Hi Leo. In there are divorce papers and demands for settlement. I’ve been trying to divorce Riley – agh - Nicholas for years, but he refuses to sign the papers. He’s told me I have to fight him in Court. I’m aware that Nicholas’s trust comes soon, if he hasn’t signed the papers by then, I’m going for half of everything.”

  The Rileys didn’t respond, but Christina knew her message had been received loud and clear. Leo’s hands had gone white around the envelope and he looked at her and nodded. For a moment she felt terribly guilty, but quashed it.

  “You’ll need to instruct a lawyer for Nicholas. I already have one and they’ll be in touch.” Her farewell was met by deathly silence as she left the Riley home for good.

  Chapter Nineteen – Cabin Crew

  Christina, Seattle, The Present, Wednesday 10 October 2012

  “Earth to Dina, earth to Dina, come in,” Gabby was holding her nose impersonating astronauts and Mandy was staring at her. “Where did you go? Just now? You just disappeared.”

  Smiling, Christina said, “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

  Gabby snorted. “About who, I wonder?”

  Giving her sister a sharp look, Christina retorted, “It was a “what” actually.”

  “Sure,” said Gabby smirking her disbelief.

  Christina and Mandy packed up the boxes of rock chick clothing and made dinner. Bonnie wasn’t coming over tonight because she was busy, but had promised to spend the day with them tomorrow. They made enough food for Jed, but when he came home he couldn’t look them in the eyes.

  He thanked them, hurriedly ate his food and went to his room. Both women looked at each other and shrugged. Christina hoped Gabby wasn’t giving him a hard time and resolved to find out.

  Mandy hated sleeping alone because she’d been with Dave so long she couldn’t get comfortable without him. Even though Mandy should be used to it by now with his travelling, she still didn’t like it and would often drag the children into bed with her for company. This was normal for the two women and they always crashed together if Mandy stayed over.

  They didn’t see each other as much as they liked and it gave them a chance to gossip uninterrupted. Christina listened as Mandy told her about life in New York, her children, and how she worried about her parents. Mandy was an only child and her father was sick, and she felt a responsibility to be closer to them.

  Christina was genuinely sorry to hear how sick Eddie Robinson was. He had always been a fantastic father and one of the best people Christina had ever met. She’d seen him when she was back in Shanwick, but Eddie hadn’t let on how ill he was.

  As Christina was drifting off to sleep, she heard Mandy say, “Are you sure about this, Dina? He’s still the guy that married you when you were 18 and refused to divorce you. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt again.”

  It was all the fears that went through Christina’s mind, but she and Riley were inevitable. “I don’t know,” she said in the darkness. “There’s this spark and it’s never really died. I’ve never loved anyone else and I’m not sure I ever will. We used to bring out the best in each other, but for so long we’ve just brought out the worst. Maybe we owe it to ourselves to try and find some kind of balance?”

  Mandy stayed quiet, but she hoped that was true. “He was with a woman in New York for awhile, Dina, nearly two years. It was pretty serious. Dave and I thought they’d get married – I know she wanted to. He broke up with her six months ago for no reason. At least, he’s never told anyone why he did it. She’s a nice person and she was pretty heartbroken.”

  “Six months ago?” Christina turned to Mandy.

  Mandy nodded. “Yeah. Right around the time Gabby got injured. He went with Johnny to Seattle and came back, and broke up with Bianca. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

  Neither did Christina. “The first time I saw Riley in five years was in Shanwick – last Friday. This can’t have anything to do with me.”

  “Don’t be so sure about that, Dina. All I’m saying is he’s a pretty intense guy. He always has been, and where you’re concerned, he’s never thought straight. Just – just don’t let this get ugly, but I’m on your side – both of you. I just want you both to be happy.”

  ********************

  Christina woke the next morning to find she and a fast asleep Mandy with their arms wrapped around each other. Bonnie was in the doorway grinning lasciviously at them and gave her a wink. Christina extricated herself from Mandy, trying not to wake her up laughing.

  Bonnie, however, had no such reservations. Jumping on Mandy she yelled, “Get your raggedy ass up. We got things to do.”

  After some swearing and grumbling, with Mandy telling Bonnie she was worse than a 100 children, they got ready to go out. They were off to do girly things today and all of them were looking forward to it.

  ********************

  Riley, Seattle, The Present, Thursday 11 October 2012

  “You are joking? Tell me you’re joking?” Mason Glenn was not a happy man. Actually, that was the understatement of the year. Mason was furious. “You want me to do WHAT?”

  Riley ran a hand over his mouth and chin. “You heard. I want you to hire Christina’s firm as your lawyers and ask specifically for her to cover our projects in Shanwick.”

  Mason stalked around the room with his hands opening and closing into fists. “Now, why the fuck would I want to do that?”

  Riley kept calm and said, “Because I’ve asked you to. I’ll cover the cost.”

  Mason rolled his head on his shoulders and closed his eyes. “Why can’t her family do it? It’s not like Johnny’s short of money.”

  Riley sighed. “They’re already clients, Mason, and she doesn’t handle any of their work. She needs a new client – like a company owned by a rich Internet pirate baron with a penchant for trouble with the law. A guy whose reputation is so bad he needs a makeover before charities will accept his money publicly.”

  Mason took Riley’s comments as a compliment and grinned, then recovered himself. “And where her ex-husband is a major investor? What is this, Riley? I don’t understand. I-just-don’t-get-it. This whole devotion thing you’ve got going on? I mean – what is it? Does she double the clutch, do the angry dragon… shoot ping-pong balls out her cavern?”

  Mason’s silver eyes lit up and he came forward toward Riley. “Is it felching? The bronco? Or
is she just wickedly kinky?”

  The smile died on Mason’s face when he looked at Riley. Riley stared at him with cold green eyes and said with real menace, “Be very careful what the next words out of your mouth are about Christina, Mason. It’s hard to talk shit with a broken jaw.”

  Mason groaned, raised his arms up, and dropped them to his sides. “Okay, I’ll do it – not because you’ve threatened me, but because you want this. But I’m not happy about it and it’s under serious-fucking protest. Just tell me why?”

  Riley looked at him and pursed his lips. “She needs a job that brings her home until Gabby’s case is settled. We can provide that. We also need this. You know that. Your current lawyers are douche-bags. If we want our projects to work and change your reputation, we’re going to have to get a firm with a better profile.”

  Mason stared at him in disbelief. “You’re delusional. Are you trying to present this as something beneficial to me? Because you can’t stop – no you won’t stop – masturbating over Darth Martin? Unbelievable.”

  Riley shook his head. “No. I’m just pointing out facts, Mason. You know it, I know it - everybody knows it. We need this and so does she.” Riley smiled and stood up to leave. “Thanks Mason,” then added casually, “oh, and one more thing, can you wait until she’s back at her office in D.C.? Like toward the end of the month?”

  Mason stared at him in shock and then his mouth went tight. “You bastard, cock-smacking, asshole, dingus. You want to wait until you’ve gone for the winter – leaving me with the fall-out?”

  He met Mason’s eyes and smiled. Mason threw his head back and laughed, and laughed. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

  Riley raised an eyebrow. “Play nice, Mason,” but he knew he wouldn’t. Neither Mason nor Christina had ever played “nice” with one another and he couldn’t imagine they’d start now.