A Home for Christmas

“Whoa!” said a deep voice, and a pair of firm hands grasped Shelly’s shoulders, steadying her as she started to topple.
“Oh! I’m so-sorry!” she stammered.
She stared at a broad chest and had to tilt her head back until she met a set of deep blue eyes. It was the man, the one from the counter, but her assessment of his height and stature seemed woefully out-of-place now that she was standing close to him. He was at least a foot taller than she was, and after their collision, she was even more aware of his muscular build.
“No, it was my fault. I should have been in my seat.” His smile was kind and open. “Are you all right?”
Looking into his eyes, Shelly was surprised by how familiar he was, which made her more unsteady. She shifted her weight, and the man released her shoulders.
“I’m f-fine,” she said.
“Well, I’m sorry to have interrupted your work.” He stepped out of the aisle and sat in his seat. “Let me buckle myself in so I don’t get into any more trouble.” His smile grew wider, and she couldn’t help smiling in return, her unease fading.
“I appreciate that, sir.” She checked to make sure he was fastened in then continued her walk down the aisle. Every seat was full, and many other customers gave her tight smiles in what she perceived as an attempt to hide weariness or flight jitters.
Safety check finished, she sat in her flight seat and buckled in for takeoff, happy to have a moment to herself to gather her thoughts. At her core, she preferred quiet solitude; however, her job required an outgoing, friendly persona, and she often assumed this pretense as part of her professional demeanor. Sometimes the strain of working in customer service necessitated quiet time to recharge her batteries, and this was definitely one of those moments.
As the plane lifted into the air, her mind drifted to when she ran into the man in the aisle. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been drawn to a passenger, or if it had ever occurred before. The sense of familiarity he caused haunted her, and the memory of his intense blue eyes floated around in her head.
The plane soon reached cruising altitude, and the captain announced it was safe to move about the cabin. Shelly and the other flight attendants headed to their respective locations to pass out refreshments. Her heartbeat quickened as she anticipated another interaction with the man. It took additional effort to maintain her calm and friendly attitude as she made her way down the aisle of passengers. The closer she got to him, the more her palms sweated, and her stomach tightened into knots.
Finally, she arrived at the man’s seat. Once she had taken the orders of the others in his row, she gestured toward him.
“What can I get you?” she asked, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
“I’ll have a coke, with a little extra ice if you don’t mind,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m a bit tender after our encounter earlier.”
She laughed. “We have a first aid kit, if it’s that bad.”
“No, no, it’s not quite to that level.” He chuckled and then gave her a quick once over. “Although I’m surprised you aren’t bruised from the collision. I’m a pretty sturdy guy.”
“No harm, no foul,” she said. “I’m stronger than I look.” She grinned at him and handed him his coke with extra ice. His fingers were warm when they brushed hers, and his kind blue eyes held a hint of mischief in them. “Tell me if that’s not enough ice for you.”
He winked at her, his eyes crinkling as his grin broadened. “I’m sure this will do fine.”
She began to move on to the next row when he cleared his throat.
“Before you go, what’s your name?” the man asked, then hesitated. “You know, in case I need to contact you for insurance purposes.”

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