Here and gone forever / Guster
They ended up in the hotel restaurant, seated by the window where they could keep one eye on the weather and another on the clock. Having decided almost immediately what he would order, Denton appreciated the opportunity to study the woman before him more closely as she read the menu.
By instinct and trained observation, he was certain there was more to her than met the eye. She tried to appear plain, but there was something about the shine in her amber eyes that indicated a very different persona. It was little things that spoke volumes to Denton. Others might see her in the traditional New England jeans, navy sweater, and button down oxford. Denton noted the Oxford was a salmon color, so unique that he had no idea where she could have purchased it. However, it was the handcrafted earrings, and delicate gold bracelet that spoke to him.
After exchanging several biting comments about the menu items, they each ordered a highly over priced hamburger. The snow continued to swirl as they sat in a moment of awkward silence. Denton’s mind raced for something to talk about not wanting to raise any of the standard polite conversation topics such as weather or reasons for traveling. He was relieved when Kate asked about the book he was reading.
“Well, to tell you the truth, I’m not really impressed with it. I finished the one I brought an hour ago. I’m reading it only because it was the best I could find at the newsstand.”
“I understand. I was in the same …plane.” Kate smiled relaxing a little. “I should learn to bring thick books to airports, something like War and Peace, perhaps.”
“Maybe Anna Karinina’s a better idea, War and Peace might be considered a terrorist issue.”
“Good point, but I’ve already read it.”
“Crime and Punishment?”
“That too, sorry.”
“Winds of War? Shogun?”
“Looked boring...” Kate tipped her head sideways. She’d never met a literate military surfer.
“I don’t know. They looked boring to me too. Harry Potter?” Denton stared at her, intently keeping his face neutral. “He gets a bit whiny, but it’s not boring.”
“You’ve read it?” Kate couldn’t keep the intrigue out of her voice.
“Sure. You?” Denton leaned toward her, resting his forearms on the table with a slight twitch of a smile. Instinct and observation told him the woman before him was smart and he liked the idea that he was surprising her.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I have.” Kate answered sharply, drawing herself up a little straighter. She was starting to wonder if he was simply making fun of her.
“So who’s your favorite character?” Denton gave her his most sincere and warmest grin, having noted her annoyance.
“Professor McDonagal.” Kate answered cautiously.
“I, myself, am rather partial to Snape. I know he seemed like a bad guy, but I really don’t think so.”
The waiter placed two dry hamburgers with wilted lettuce before them.
“Looks wonderful doesn’t it?” Denton smirked when the waiter left and snapped his napkin into his lap.
“Well Bruce, that’s because it’s not just a plain old hamburger, it’s a steak burger!” Kate answered her voice still a little crisp, unsure if he was toying with her.
“Mmm.” Denton murmured swallowing his first dry bite. “It is rather wooden. What do you think, Delta, pine?” He asked watching her swallow her first bite.
“No. Oak maybe.” Kate answered seriously. “Definitely a hardwood.”
“Hard would be the best description.” Denton answered quickly without a hint of smile.
“Difficult to find others.” Kate shot back wondering if he’d continue.
“Especially in a snow storm.”
“Perhaps this is a job for Lassie?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Or wolf?”
“Don’t remind me, the little boy who cried wolf is on our plane.” Kate took another bite.
“You think his name’s Peter?” Denton scowled as if seriously considering it.
“I think his name’s Damian.” Kate muttered.
“No. That was people muttering damn him.” Denton paused, “sorry, that was kind of harsh.” He flushed a bit.
“Harsh, but true.” Kate laughed, easing Denton’s concerns.
“The truth hurts?”
“The truth will set you free, Bruce.”
“You really believe that, Delta?” Denton turned serious.
“Yes, actually.” Kate paused. “You don’t think so?”
“I think truth, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.”
“So truth is subjective? Not absolute?”
“Facts are absolute. Truth is perspective.” Kate scowled as Denton continued. “If I believe the snow is made of soap flakes, I can sit here and tell you that and it IS my truth. But is it fact?”
“Law of non-contradiction.” Kate frowned. “Nothing can be both true and false, so…”
“But for the person who believes, it IS true and not false. Besides…” Denton interrupted her.
“But since in reality it is not true, then…” Kate cut him off in the same manner.
“Then the perspective of truth changes in the face of undeniable facts. Still no contradiction. But still a relative truth.”
“But only in being truthful does an individual get freedom, a clear conscious – something cannot be true in the face of contradiction.” Kate shook her head, growing slightly disturbed upon realizing this was in kind to the conversations she often had with her brother and father. “Only by recognizing and seeing the truth can you make the best decisions and behave with … integrity.” She said with conviction.
“Oh, I think you’re completely wrong and confusing things.” Denton shook his head and leaned back in his chair. “For one thing, call it truth or fact – just because a person recognizes it doesn’t mean they will, can or should make a good decision.” Denton leaned forward and continued quickly before Kate could interrupt. “Truth or fact – it’s been snowing here steadily for hours. They should cancel our flight and send us out in the morning. Have they done it? And don’t tell me they’re not seeing the so called truth here, Delta,” Denton continued, “because they do keep postponing. Every other airline is canceling their flights. We’ve all been hearing about wolf’s fur for hours…”
“And that’s just my point.” Kate interrupted, leaning forward to rest her arms on the table also. “They’re not accepting the truth and it’s ridiculous. If they accepted the weather, we wouldn’t have been hanging around on hold for hours.” Kate checked her watched. “And speaking of which we should get back.”
After brief discussion, Denton let Kate pick up half the check, sensing it would make her more comfortable. Their previous conversation melded into the absurdity of airline decisions. The weather had not let up and while it seemed unlikely that the plane would be taking off, they found passenger’s boarding at the gate. Denton and Kate fell into line silently, the tension of the passengers palpable.
“We’re really going to be able to take off in this?” A nervous woman before them asked the attended as she checked the ticket.
“Oh weather is just one of those things. Everything will be fine.” The attendant smiled and reached for the next passenger’s ticket that happened to be Kate’s.
Kate smiled and took a few steps into the loading tunnel to wait for Denton behind her.
“See, a perfect example, of how not accepting the truth can be …disastrous.” Kate shook her head, wondering why she was getting on this plane when all good sense told her to stay on the ground.
“I’m sure she believed she was telling the truth.” Denton hefted his carry-on over his shoulder and reached to take Kate’s from her hand without asking. “This will be fine, Delta.” His free hand reassuringly stroked her back and guided her toward the plane since they were starting to cause a back up.
“And is that your truth?” Kate snipped back nerves making her sound angry.
“You bet it is.” Denton grinned. “We should be in the back on the left.” He nodded as they entered the plane.
“We?”
“I asked the stewardess for the seat next to yours when they did all that rearranging.”
“I see.” Kate’s voice was blank as she stopped before their seats. Under other circumstances, she probably would have been pleased that he had seen to it to sit near her, but the surprise at actually boarding in the snow had rattled her greatly.
“Over? Under?” Denton asked gesturing toward her bag and shaking Kate back to reality.
“Under, thanks.” Kate said taking it from him. She hadn’t remembered allowing him to take it.
“Not a problem, Delta.” Denton swung his bag over head easily and settled into the aisle seat next to her. Kate was staring out the window.
“Gez, Bruce, do you really thing this is a good idea?” Kate turned to him looking pale. “What are we doing here?” She glanced back out the window and Denton leaned over her to do the same. He wanted to sit next to me, she realized feeling the warmth coming off his body along with a faint smell of sun and beach and her heart skipped a beat. This is just nerves, she told herself. “Do you think they’d let me off?” She asked aloud.
Denton leaned back into his chair calmly. He glanced around and sighed.
“I don’t think you have to worry about it, Delta. I think this is an exercise in economics. I don’t believe we’re going any where tonight. But if they put us on the plane and give it the old college try, they can try not to have to compensate us for having to spend a night in the airport.”
“And what college did you go to?” Kate took a big gulp of air, her heart was pounding out of her chest.
“University of Maine.” That Kate made no comment, told Denton just how nervous she must be. He smiled at her and took her hand in his. Holding her hand tightly, he laced his fingers through hers and rubbed her arm softly with his other hand. “Just breathe Delta. I’m telling you it’s going to be fine.”
“You know Bruce, that’s not my truth.” Kate laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. She was on a plane, in a blizzard, holding hands with a stranger. A surfer dude no less. Albeit a smart one she chastised herself, beginning an inner debate about all of the reasons why she should not be attracted to him, while acutely aware of his touch.
“Wait a minute…” she turned to him, his words finally registering. “Maine?”
“What, you got a problem with Maine too?” Denton grinned at her.
“No. What do you mean, with Maine too?” Nervousness and attraction started to turn to anger.
“You know, you don’t like beach boys, you’re surprised at Maine… you must be a mountain girl?” Denton laughed.
“Who said I …” Kate’s eyes flared through her squint, as she begin growing more annoyed, but stopped short as the plane lurched a bit. Uncontrollable she tightening her grip on Denton’s hand.
“Ow, maybe I should say mountain lion?” Denton laughed.
“Lioness.” Kate glared at Denton who sat seemingly perfectly clam, despite being seated in a plane in blizzard with a strange woman clutching his hand. “I’ve lost my mind.” Kate sighed at the plane shifted again and she tried to focus on blowing out a deep breath slowly.
“I’m telling you Delta, there’s nothing to worry about.” Denton checked his watch. It was 9:15 p.m.. “In fact, by ten you’ll be back in the terminal with a whole new set of concerns.”
“Oh is that true?” Kate asked snidely.
“That’s a fact.” Denton laughed so hardily the people in the neighboring seats turned to stare.
“I could learn to hate you.” Kate said matter-of-factly at 9:55 as they were disembarking off the plane. The flight was cancelled and there was now an irritated mad rush to reschedule and find rooms for the night.
“Do you live close enough to go home?” Denton asked casually ignoring her comment.
“No. It’s at least an hour in good weather.” They had reached the terminal again and Kate took her bag back. “I need to make some calls.” Kate glanced around the terminal assessing which task to take care of first.
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