My Mom's Lover

Chapter Five-1

Chapter Five

Spreading the Word

The application came in less than fifteen minutes. I printed a copy for my reference and filled it out online. It was long and comprehensive. Two hours later, I transmitted it to Mrs. Rivers and received notification that she had gotten it. Before I told everyone what I was doing, I wanted to make sure she approved it. I waited another hour and my phone rang. Thinking it was her calling me back, I answered it immediately. It was Melanie instead.

“Is that really Alex, Stephanie?”

“Yes, sister, his building, his suite, and the most awesome thunderstorm ever.”

“He really lives there?”

“Yes. It’s only twenty minutes from the airport.”

“Nice. When do I get to meet this guy?”

“I don’t know exactly when I am going back but when I do, you can come visit us there.”

“How did your layover go?”

“I had to leave early. Weather issues up here.”

“Bummer.”

“Yes, it was. We didn’t get to spend the night together.”

“That must have been very disappointing.”

“You have no idea. Are you going to be there a while or do you have to fly out again soon?”

“I’ll be here a couple of days at least.”

“Good. I’m expecting the airline to call with my new schedule and I need to get off the phone. Let me call you back, okay?”

“Okay, Steph. Did you say new schedule?”

“Yes, I put in for that route more often. They are going to a five-day per week frequency and I want some of those runs.”

“You’re not telling me everything. I’m your twin sister and I can tell. What are you holding back?”

“All should be answered very soon now. I don’t know more than that right now. I should know this afternoon.”

“All right. I’ll wait, but don’t forget.”

“I won’t. We’ll talk later.” I felt relieved that I didn’t have to tell her yet. I waited for Mrs. Rivers to call back. Until I spoke with her, I wasn’t going to tell Alex, Mom, or Melanie anything.

I went through my apartment and made lists of things I would move. My clothes of course but it came furnished when I moved in and the furniture was not mine so that wouldn’t be a problem. I had an escape clause in my contract that let me out of it in the event of a transfer. I would load up my car which was almost new and head south maybe with a small trailer for larger items if I needed it. Could I get Alex to come to me and make the trip together? I would consider all that. I felt the need to talk with him before things started to happen. She finally called.

“Stephanie?”

“Yes, Mrs. Rivers.”

“I have reviewed your application and sent it to the appropriate people here, so they can review it too. It turns out they were postponing things until we found the people we need to do this. We want to get you down there quickly, so you can meet the others and see our layout. We are going to lease the equipment with our partner and expand our operations. Can you go for training next week?”

“Sure. How long will I be there?”

“Plan to stay the entire week.”

“When do you want me to leave?”

“Your training will begin on Monday morning so fly down on our Friday or Saturday flight. Take uniforms and some comfortable clothing. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Mrs. Rivers. I must tell some people my plans and decide how to get my things down there and I will get back to you with the details.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be waiting. And thanks again Stephanie.”

“My pleasure. I hope to get back to you before the end of the day.”

As soon as the call ended, I called Alex. He answered quickly. “Alex, it’s happening. I’m coming back to you this weekend and will stay a week while they train me for my new position.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“No, I’m not. They are transferring me to DFW International and promoting me to lead flight attendant for our operations there. I have already applied, and it turns out they needed me and were just waiting for the right people before they started officially.”

“It’s going to happen.”

“Mrs. Rivers said my training would begin on Monday morning at the airport and in uniform. I’m coming, Alex. Are you sure you still want me down there with you?”

“Yes, Stephanie, I want you more than ever. Will you be able to stay with me?”

“I’ll ask. None of those details have been worked out yet, but I want to if my place in the bed is still available.”

“You know it is, right beside me. Steph, this is great!”

“I must tell my Mom and Melanie knows something is up. She doesn’t know what though. You might get to meet her soon. She loved the photos.”

“Both of you? I don’t know if I can handle the two of you together.”

“Don’t be getting any ideas, my dear. You are mine and I am not sharing you. She is going to love you though plus, she is two inches taller than I am.”

“Must have been something in the water when you guys were growing up.”

“Very funny. How would you like to fly up here and drive back in my car? I’ll need transportation when I move there.”

“Sell your car, ship your things, and fly to me. We’ll buy you another one when you get here.”

“Are you sure, Alex?”

“Yes, I am serious. The lead flight attendant should have a nice car. I know some people who can help us out. Find out if you can stay here with me and let me know when you will arrive. I can’t wait.”

“I’ll call you back soon. Goodbye for now.”

I called my Mom. “Well, Mom, it’s happening.”

“Tell me about it Stephanie.”

“The airline is transferring me down there and promoting me to lead flight attendant for that location. I go for training next week.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Congratulate me and wish me well.”

“My daughter is taking the road I wouldn’t take. Congratulations and best wishes. Have you told Alex?”

“Yes, I just got off the phone with him.”

“Melanie?”

“No. She called, but I didn’t know anything for sure, so I am to call her back and let her know.”

“Where are you staying during your training?”

“I don’t know yet. Alex wants me to stay with him of course but my schedule might not allow me to do that. I have a feeling there will be a hotel and shuttle service in the mix. We’ll have to wait and see. I am also to call my supervisor back when I am ready with the details.”

“Do you know when they want you there permanently?”

“Soon. They want to begin expanded operations when the personnel are on board.”

“Keep me posted, Steph. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will, Mom. Goodbye for now.”

I waited a few minutes and called Melanie.

“Hi, sis!”

“Hi, Steph. Have you heard anything?”

“Yes. Do you want it all?”

“Please, let me have it.”

“I am being transferred down there and they are promoting me to lead flight attendant in the Dallas hub. I go for training next week and don’t know if I will return here at all. Alex wants me to stay with him, but that is still undecided. I am going to sell my car, ship my stuff down there, and fly to him very soon.”

“OMG, Stephanie. It all happened so fast.”

“Yes, they have been looking for the right personnel, so they can begin. Now they have me. It’s on.”

“What are you going to do about a car?”

“Alex knows some people who can help us find one. I am going to get a new one as he says befitting my new position.”

“Have you told Mom yet?”

“Yes, I just got off the phone with her.”

“What did she say?”

“She congratulated me and wished us the best. I told her I can come visit from there as well as if not better than where I live now.”

“How did this all happen, Steph? A man to love who loves you, a new job, a new city? Where did you find the magic?”

“Magic happens, even to us. I just found something I liked and wanted and went after it. I captured Alex’s heart in less than three hours because he needed me. I decided what I wanted at work and asked for it. I had no idea they were planning this all along. Now, I am going to my man and I am on my way in my career. When the time comes, things happen, and I was ready.”

“I feel there is something new in you dear sister. I like it.”

“I smile a lot more lately. I can’t wait to see you again to show you why.”

“You are going to be very busy for a while.”

“Yes, I am. But soon, when I settle in, you must come see us.”

“I will. What has happened to you makes me wonder about myself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe I can get off all these transpacific trips and get on with a major carrier in the States.”

“If that is what you want, check it out. I did and look what it got me.”

“You had an extra incentive, though. Someone down there loves you.”

“Yes, he does. If it weren’t for him, none of this would have happened.”

“Did I hear you say he is taller than you?”

“Yes, Melanie, in fact he is taller than you.”

“Wow. I haven’t been out with a man in forever who I didn’t have to bend down to or wear awful looking flats for. It must be nice.”

“Aside from his extreme good looks and his amazing smile, it was the first thing I noticed about him. Are you going to unblock him and talk to him now?”

“Do you think he would understand?”

“Yes, Melanie. I am sure he would. Introduce yourself again and tell him how happy you are for us.”

“Talk to him like he is a relative because he soon will be.”

“I will. All the best, sis.”

“You too. Now I must call my supervisor and arrange my trip next week. She wants me to be there Monday morning to begin so I will fly down there either Friday or Saturday. I’ll have my cell phone as always. Keep in touch.”

“I will. Goodbye and congratulations again.”

“Thanks.”

I called Mrs. Rivers back and told her I was set and asked for an itinerary, lodging information, and transportation. She asked if I wanted to stay at the hotel or had made other arrangements. I told her as soon as I got my schedule for the week I would decide and that I had another alternative that I might want to take advantage of. She understood and promised to get all the pertinent information to me no later than early morning tomorrow. I told her that would be fine with me. I checked my uniforms and sent a couple of them to the cleaners with some other things. I took flats but really wanted to wear heels at times, so I packed them too. My preparations were progressing well. I still had several days to take care of things. My excitement grew with everything I did to get ready for the flight I was about to take to my new life. I wanted to talk to Alex again and felt that he would call soon.

My phone rang. As I hoped, it was Alex calling. “Hi, Steph. I had to call again. Do you know anything more?”

“I have told so many people so many things I have forgotten what I told you.”

“Not much,” he said, “and I have about a million questions.”

“Such as?”

“When are you coming?”

“I won’t know the specifics until later today or tomorrow morning. I will fly down on either Friday or Saturday, so I will be ready for training Monday morning.”

“Have you told everyone?”

“I told Mom and Melanie who is coming to visit us soon. She wants to meet you. I told her to get in touch with you and talk. She is afraid you are mad at her for blocking you when she thought she was protecting Mom from the guy who broke her heart.”

“I was never mad at her because I understood.”

“She hasn’t had very good luck with men in her life and is suspicious of all of them.”

“Maybe we can show her a better way.”

“When I told her what I was doing, she mentioned trying to get off the long flights to East Asia and trying to get something domestic.”

“You two are very close, aren’t you?”

“Yes, we always have been.”

I paused a moment. “Alex, are you sure this is what you want? I guess I need some reassurance.”

“Stephanie, I know this is frightening, it means your whole life is about to change. We found each other and fell in love. You came to visit me but didn’t even get a chance to spend the night. We planned to see if you might have any options down here. It’s all happening. Let me ask you something. When the storm came directly at us, were you frightened?”

“I was terrified.”

“But we went through it, with the lightning lighting up the sky as if it was day, the thunder rattling our windows. We sat on the love seat looking at it all so close to what was going on outside. The two of us got through that storm together.”

“Yes, we did. You put me in the path of something I had never seen and stayed with me until the storm was over.”

“I did it because I love you as I have never loved before and I still do. Whatever happens, I will never leave you. Just as we got through the storm together, we will make our new lives together. There is nothing to fear dear Stephanie. Our lives together are going to be wonderful.”

I was crying. What he said touched me. I believed him and knew I was doing the right thing. He was one amazing man, and I knew I was going to him and my new life.

“Thanks, Alex. I feel better now and wish we were together, so I could hold you.”

“Be patient, dear Steph, it won’t be long now. You have done very well with this. I love your courage and your boldness in going after what you want. Come to me soon.”

“I will, Alex. As soon as I can get there. Good night my love. When I see you again, you are going to get the biggest kiss of your life.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Steph. Until tomorrow.” I turned my phone off in the knowledge that he still wanted me, and my fears vanished. I was going to my man.