FLIGHT RISK
BY
GILLIAN B SMITH





8 o’clock in the morning and the passengers were all beginning to board the aircraft. Jasmine was in the rear, making sure the galley was in order for take off. These morning flights were her favourite as it was too early for most people to have started drinking and everyone always seemed a little sleepy and subdued. Although she was still glad that she no longer had to do the meet and greet at the door, showing people to their seats.
She worked on an airplane. It was just one long tube!
There was only one possible direction people could move in to get to their seats and Jasmine felt so stupid pointing everyone the same way. The only time anyone needed to be told where to go was if she was working on one of the jumbo jets and there were people to be seated upstairs. But they were always the first class passengers and usually already knew, so even then her job was pointless. Much better to be back here out the way, she would be meeting everyone soon enough when she served the first round of drinks.
She was feeling a little out of sorts this morning and was annoyed at herself for it, when in actual fact there were so many reasons for her to be happy. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful summer day and she was working with her best friend Erin, which was a very rare treat for them both. Thankfully after today she had two day leave, which she really needed as she had been on for the last ten. And her boyfriend Jeremy was coming round tonight as well, which was something that used to always make her happy.
But just lately, seeing Jeremy wasn’t exactly the joyous occasion it had once been, and she thought that might well be what was affecting her mood. Especially as she had decided that tonight was the night that she was finally going to talk to him about where their relationship was heading.
They had been together for two years but no one would ever have guessed. Everything was just as it had been right at the start and Jasmine had decided that they could not carry on this way any longer. Jeremy was going to have to tell her that some changes were going to be made, she wasn’t just going hang around waiting on him anymore. She wanted to move forward with her life, not be stuck in the same place forever.
But she was very much dreading it already, Jeremy wasn’t exactly a fan of meaningful discussions and she had a pretty good idea about how he was going to react. She was trying very hard not to think about it and get on with her day, but it wasn’t all that easy.
Just then Erin poked her head round the curtain.
“I think your man’s just boarded,” she told Jasmine excitedly.
“My man?” Jasmine asked, she knew it wouldn’t be Jeremy as she had already seen who was captaining this flight. She thought she probably knew who it was Erin was talking about but wanted to be sure.
“Yes you know, your mystery man, the one that keeps turning up on all your flights.”
“He’s not my man,” she told Erin rather abruptly, “we just seem to keep bumping into each other.”
Erin had already noticed that Jasmine wasn’t quite her usual self this morning so didn’t take offence at her curt manner.
“You know what I mean,” she told Jasmine, “and anyway I don’t know what you’re bothered about I wouldn’t mind him being my man, he’s totally gorgeous.” Erin was almost drooling.
Jasmine had a quick look out to see if Erin had been right and saw her mystery man taking his seat. He was actually very good looking and she knew exactly why Erin would be attracted to him. He had one of those almost annoyingly flawless faces, each feature looking somehow sculpted and perfectly placed. She thought he was probably somewhere in his early thirties and looked like he regularly worked out. His suits were always very smart and expensive looking and his wavy, sandy coloured hair was styled in a way that she knew could only have been done at a top salon. He looked very much like he belonged in first class but surprisingly, like today, he wasn’t always seated there.
Jasmine could clearly see what Erin was thinking as they both peeked out round the curtain watching him, but she didn’t think it would be a very good idea for Erin to get too carried away, and decided she’d better try reining her in before she got herself in trouble.
“Steady you, he’s married,” she told Erin with a warning look.
“How do you know?”
“He’s wearing a wedding ring!”
Erin made a disappointed face then shrugged.
“Oh well plenty more fish in the sea I suppose.”
Jasmine shook her head, Erin’s ability to change from one minute to the next never ceased to amaze her. Her Northern brusqueness always made Jasmine laugh, and it was what had made them become such close friends over the years. She was a complete breath of fresh air compared to some of the stiff upper lipped Southerners that Jasmine had grown up with. The two of them had such fun whenever they were together and knew almost everything about the other one’s lives.
“So how many flights is that he’s been on of yours now?” Erin asked.
Jasmine though for a second trying to remember.  
“This makes the eighth.”
“In how many months?”
“I started really noticing him about six months ago, although even then I thought there was something about him that looked familiar.” It was getting really quite strange, nothing like this had ever happened to her before. It wasn’t as if she worked on the same flights all the time, she chopped and changed and flew all over the world, and it look to her as if he did the same. So it was pretty amazing they kept ending up flying together. Her the flight attendant and him the passenger.
“Have you spoken to him yet?” Erin wanted to know.
Jasmine shook her head.
“Not really, I mean we always say hello and ask how the other one is. We’ve joked a little about bumping into each other again, and he always asks me what meal I would recommend, but we’ve never really had a proper conversation.”
“Well I think you should, it’s weird not to. The two of you keep getting thrown together, you never know maybe fate’s trying to tell you both something.”
Jasmine laughed, “I doubt that very much. I’m attached and so is he, so why on earth would it bother.”
Erin was a great believer in fate and was not happy about Jasmine’s dismissive attitude.
“Maybe he’s as miserable in his relationship as you are,” she almost spat out, and before Jasmine had even had a chance to respond she’d spun on her heels and had returned to the passengers, leaving Jasmine open mouthed and not quite sure what she had done to upset her friend.
She didn’t exactly have much time to dwell on it though, it was almost time for departure and there was plenty to do. She was the senior flight attendant and needed to know the doors had been checked, the passengers had been counted and everything was as it should be. As the plane began to taxi towards the runway she gathered her staff and started the safety demonstration.

No matter how many flights Bill had been on he still paid close attention to the safety talk. It wasn’t that he was a nervous flyer or even that he thought that he would ever have to use the information that he was being given. In fact he had flown so often, and been involved in so many minor incidence, that he felt it would probably take a pretty major disaster to get his heart racing, even just a little. But he did feel that if the cabin crew were going to the effort of standing in front of him, doing all the daft action, and looking like idiots then he should at least play his part and watch.
He sat up in his seat and turned his attention to the front of the plane. But as soon as the voice came through the PA system he suddenly lost all interest, it was her. He would recognise her voice anywhere now, and he could hardly believe he was on her flight again.
He started looking about but couldn’t see her, although he actually had no idea where the announcements came from. He kept looking throughout the take off, and as soon as the seat belt sign was switched off, he saw her emerge from the front of the plane. Her long shiny black hair was tied back in a ponytail and he was sure she looked even more tanned than the last time he’d seen her a couple of weeks ago. She was one of the very few air stewardesses that actually suited the red and white uniform, the nylon jacket and skirt looking almost stylish on her slim yet curvy frame. She was coming down the aisle towards him and he wasn’t sure why but he suddenly felt nervous and self conscious. Maybe it was because after the last time he had seen her, he had told himself that if they were ever to meet again then he was going to talk to her. He was going to introduce himself and have a real conversation with her. It was stupid not to, in any other situation he would have spoken to her months ago, he wasn’t even sure what it was that had been stopping him.
She was getting closer and he was desperately trying to think what it was he was going to say. She was right next to him now and looking directly at him, she smiled, her whole face seeming to light up. He’d always assumed her eyes were blue, but today for the first time, he noticed that they were actually almost violet. She nodded at him, and then she was gone, straight past and he had said nothing. What on earth was wrong with him?
She was a very beautiful girl, but that didn’t usually make a difference to him. He had chatted up beautiful girls before, although admittedly not for a while, and possibly none quite as beautiful as her. He wondered if maybe it was something to do with the fact she was working, not that it had never stopped him before. He’d chatted up waitresses, bar staff, even air hostesses before, but she always looked so focused and busy and he was worried about interrupting her.
Maybe she was just too young and beautiful for him. Maybe he was just too old for all this carry on and had simply lost his touch.
The stupidest part of it was that he didn’t want to chat her up. He had no interest in starting a relationship with her or asking her out on a date. He didn’t even want to engage in a little harmless flirting, he felt like that part of his life was very much over. But he had been travelling the world now with work for more than four years, mostly on the same airline as they were who his company had a corporate account with. And he had hardly ever seen the same air hostess more than two or three times, and that had been with months and months in between. This girl, on the other hand, had been on so many of his flights for the last six months that he had lost count, and it felt wrong somehow not to speak to her. But he simply couldn’t work up the courage. And the longer he waited, the harder it seemed to become.
Which was why last time, he had promised himself that it would have to be the next time, or else it was going to be too late.
She was serving the tea and coffee now and was almost at him. This was going to be his chance!
“Coffee?” she asked, she remembered he always took coffee.
“Yes thank you.” His heart was pounding and he felt so stupid – just say something – he told himself – anything, just ask he how she’s doing, just speak!!
But she beat him to it.
“And how are you doing this morning?” she asked as she put down his napkin and cup.
“I’m fine thank you, how are you?”
“Completely knackered,” she laughed, “this is my tenth day on in a row. But thankfully I’ve got the next two off.” She placed the little cake down in front of him and he searched his brain for something witty or interesting to say but came up totally blank.
“Well I hope you enjoy them.” He knew it was totally lame and desperately tried to think of something to add but it was too late. She was already moving on to the next row.
“I’ll maybe try and catch up with you later, if I get a minute,” she asked hopefully looking back over her shoulder.
It was the first time she had spoken to him like he was anything more than just another passenger, on a flight of so many, and he felt wonderful. His face immediately split into a huge grin.
“That would be really nice,” he told her. And totally meant it, his bumbling, inept, lack of conversation wouldn’t be as disastrous as he’d thought if he was going to get the chance to make it up to her later.
She smiled back at him and then turned to carry on serving the rest of the passengers.
He was quite near to the back of the plane and she only had a few more rows to serve before she disappeared off into the galley. He watched as she pulled the curtain over and turned back round in his seat.
He was very surprised when a second cup of coffee appeared on the tray in front of him, and even more surprised when he looked up and saw her smiling down at him. She’d managed to find a spare minute a lot quicker than he’d thought, but was very pleased.
“Thought you might like another cup,” she said, “I can get you another cake too if you want.” Even though it hadn’t been very long since she had last served him everything was already gone.
“This is great, thank you so much. The coffee is more than enough.” He took a sip, “I might actually start to wake up with this one.” He was trying to give her an excuse as to why he had been so non responsive earlier.
“I know what you mean I’m definitely a two cup girl as well.”
“I think this one probably makes my fifth,” he confessed.
“Five, wow, and it’s barely nine o’clock. Mind you I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody eat or drink as fast as you do.” It was the truth most of the time, before she had even finished serving the rest of the passengers, his tray was cleared and ready to be collected.
He laughed, “I think someone once said to me, it’s not so much that I eat food, it’s more like I inhale it.” Now she laughed, “I’m Bill by the way,” he said offering her his hand, “I should have introduced myself before, sorry I’ve been very rude.” She took his hand and smiled.
“Not at all, it’s been a funny situation, the way we keep bumping into each other. I’m Jasmine, but then you probably already knew that.” It was clearly printed on her name badge.
“Or is it Jazzy, that’s what I’ve heard people call you a few times?”
She looked a little embarrassed and smiled awkwardly.
“Jazzy was the nick name I came up with at school and it’s kind of stuck. But I think I’m really getting a bit old for it now.”
“So what would you rather be called then?”
“I think I’d prefer just Jazz to be honest.”
Jazz, he liked that, it suited her, although so did Jasmine. It was exotic and beautiful just like her. He could almost picture her on tropical beach at sunset, wearing a bikini and grass skirt. Her long black hair flowing down her back, with a flower tucked behind one ear.
He quickly pulled himself back to reality and tried to concentrate on what she had been saying – her name, she didn’t like it, she felt she was too old to still be called “Jazzy”. He thought that was right and very unusually a reply instantly popped into his head.
“I know how you feel,” he told her, “some of my relatives still call me Billy, it makes me feel like I should be wearing short trousers and a school blazer.” Jasmine laughed again, a very pretty, infectious laugh that lit up her eyes and made him want to hear it again and again, “Or even worse than that my great aunt calls me Willy.”
“I can’t imagine why you’d prefer Bill,” she joked.
“Yeh well it goes better with my second name too, Benson. Bill Benson a little bit of alliteration.”
“That’s like me I’m Jasmine Johnston, well actually I’m worse I’m Jasmine Jennifer Johnston. If you can believe it.”
“Well I’m Bill Bryce Benson, and it’s nice to finally meet you properly Jasmine.”
“You too Bill, it’s nice to have a name to put to the face.” They were both smiling, then Jasmine gave a sigh, “Well I suppose I should really get back to it, plenty to do. But if there’s anything you need just let me know.” They gave each other one last smile before she headed off.

He’d done it at last. He’d finally spoken to her. Although he did realise it had been her that had initiated it, but he wanted to believe if she hadn’t then he would have. Of course now they would never know but at least he could tell himself that she’d simply beaten him to it.

Back in the galley and Erin came to help Jasmine.
“Glad to see you decided to take my advice,” she smiled triumphantly.
“What advice?” Jasmine asked.
“You decided to speak to mystery man at last.”
Now she understood although she didn’t know why Erin should be quite so pleased about it.
“Yes well I though you were probably right, it was a bit strange we had never spoken after all this time.”
“So what did you both say?”
“Nothing very exciting…” She filled Erin in on all the details of the brief conversation she’d had with Bill as Erin listened intently.
“That was nice of him to apologise for being rude,” Erin said once Jasmine had finished.
“Yes especially when he really wasn’t being rude at all.”
Jasmine had been hoping for a while that Bill would speak to her. She was on so many different flights all the time, with so many different people, that it was always nice to see a familiar face. She of course already knew what his name was, she had looked it up on the passenger manifesto months ago. Although it had given his full name of William. She’d wondered if he shortened it and had thought he would possibly go by Will, but actually she though Bill suited him much better. She’d thought about maybe asking him before about what his job was that had him flying all over the world, but it seemed a bit forward of her and she hadn’t wanted to appear nosey. She’d tried to sort of give him openings into starting a conversation by giving him little extras now and again, like two packets of nuts or a double dessert, but he’d never followed her lead.
She’d thought maybe that he had simply not wanted to be bothered and so had never pushed him. Or maybe he had no interest in talking to ‘just a flight attendant’. Whatever job he had it was obviously something quite important or senior. But today for some reason, possibly because of Erin, or maybe because she felt like she had been subtle for long enough, but whatever it was it was she’d known that the time had come for her to just go for it. At least she would know once and for all if she should leave him alone in future, or if their coincidental meetings could become something that they would both enjoy.
“So what next, do you think he’ll ask you out or something?” Erin asked.
“What?” Jasmine was a little shocked. She had been hoping to possibly get to know Bill a little better so that they could maybe share a conversation on the plane should they meet again. But the last thing she had thought of was that he would ask her out. He was married after all. “Why on earth would he do that?”
“Because it’s your fate,” Erin told her and could see Jasmine was just as dismissive as she had been earlier. “And you should have seen the way he was looking when you walked away – like all his Christmases had come at once – I almost expected him to throw a fist in the air and yell ‘YES’.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes to the sky in complete exasperation.
“God Erin, you don’t half talk some rubbish at times, if I hadn’t spoken to him I don’t think he would have ever said anything more to me except perhaps ‘hello’. I told you he’s married.”
Now Erin was getting cross, she knew Jazz was in a mood today and thought she knew what it was most likely about. But she was getting a little sick of her taking it out on her, when the one who should have been getting it was off somewhere, hundreds of miles away, and probably wasn’t even giving a second thought to Jazz or the situation he had caused.
Well Erin had bitten her tongue one too many times and she was fed up of it. She was in a bad mood now too and Jasmine could suffer her for once.
“Maybe he is married, but you know better than anyone that hardly ever stops them.”
Jasmine suddenly didn’t like the way this conversation was heading at all, and wished she’d never started.
“You’re right I do know, but even I’m not stupid enough to swap one married man for another?” She gave herself a shake - why was she even trying to discussing this with Erin she already knew her opinion on this subject? “Jeremy and I are still trying to work things out and hopefully he won’t be married soon, well not to Helen anyway.”
Erin was about as fed up of all this as Jasmine was.
“You’ve been saying the same thing for two years now, when are you going to realise he’s never going to leave her.”
That was the last straw.
“Erin please I really don’t need this right now I’ve got a million and one things to do as I know do you too, so lets just drop this okay.”
Erin knew she was flogging a dead horse. She knew it was a waste of time, but still couldn’t just sit back and watch her friend being treated in such a manner. Jasmine was right though, this really wasn’t the time or place.
“Fine whatever you want,” she said, then just needed to add one last thing, “you know I’m right though, that’s why you’re getting upset.”
Jasmine refused to respond, she wouldn’t even look at Erin; she was not going to do this at work.

She did have a lot to do and for that she was very thankful, that way she didn’t have to think about what Erin had to say, or about the conversation she was going to have with Jeremy that night.
She knew Erin was right, and that she had been saying the same thing for the last two years, but that’s because it was what Jeremy had been telling her. He’d promised time and time again that he was going to leave his wife for her, and finally she had reached the point where he was going to have to do as he’d always promised, or Jasmine was going to have to walk away.
She didn’t want to, but also didn’t want to keep waiting for something that was beginning to look more and more like may never happen. Her stomach churned whenever she thought about telling him what she had decided and she felt as if she may burst in to tears or just completely go to pieces. Time and time again she had tried to have this conversation with him and had always chickened out. But tonight she knew she had to do it, she had to tell him, and he had to choose. She wasn’t going to wait any longer.

Jasmine tried to spend the remainder of the flight as much out of everyone’s way as possible and was glad it wasn’t a long one. She was doing a stock take back in the galley when a figure appeared at the door way. Passengers were always coming through to get drinks or with other requests so she wasn’t surprised.
“Can I help you Sir?” she asked without even really looking up.
“No, I’m fine just stretching my legs.”
It was Bill, and now she was the one to feel nervous and self conscious, just as he had before. And just the same as him, she too didn’t really know why. They’d had a nice little chat earlier and this was what she had been hoping for, that they would get the chance to talk some more. She blamed Erin for putting the idea in her head that Bill was going to ask her out. It really was the last complication she needed right now.
“You don’t mind if I hang out here for while do you, I’m getting a bit of leg cramp stuck in my seat.”
She tried to tell herself to stop being silly, he was just a nice guy who most likely felt the same as she did, and that it was daft for them to keep seeing each other all the time but never really having a proper conversation. Now he was probably trying to do something to rectify the situation, just as she had earlier. So why was her heart beating a little quicker than normal?
“I don’t mind, I’m just counting bottles and cans and boxes of nuts,” she told him hoping he couldn’t see the way she was feeling.
“Oh well I wouldn’t want to disturb you,” he almost turned to leave. But Jasmine didn’t want him to.
“No, it’s fine really, you won’t disturb me. I’d enjoy the company.” It had been a lonely flight so far for Jasmine the opposite of how she had pictured it. She had been so excited when she’d found out she was going to be working with Erin today, she’d thought they would have such a laugh like they used to when they had both started so many years ago and could hardly believe it had turned out this way. She really didn’t want to be on her own any longer.
“Well as long as you’re sure,” he said.
“I’m sure.” He stood watching her for a second and she thought she had better start the conversation or else they would both be standing in silence. “So I’m guessing its work that gets you travelling all over the world,” she asked.
He almost heaved a sigh of relief; he’d made himself come back here and had so hoped that he would know what to say to her once he’d arrived. But his brain had taken its usual vacation whenever she was around and he was so glad she had spoken first.
“It is, I work for Hammond Hotels I’m sure you’ve heard of them.” Jasmine nodded, “And as you probably know they’ve got hotels all over the world. I have to go round visiting them all and make sure everything’s running smoothly. But what about you, I always assumed air hostesses…”
“Flight attendants,” Jasmine interrupted with a little smile.
“Sorry, I thought flight attendants were put on the same route. Well at least for a little while, but I see you on a different one every time.”
“You’re right we usually do have set routes, but my job is a bit different. I get put on flights if there’s been a problem with the crew, or with routine, or even just one member of staff, and I’m sent on to sort it out. Or there are times when I just have to fill in when there’s no one else available.”
“So you’re like a trouble shooter, just the same as me? You go in. assess the problem, then find a solution.”
“Yeh that’s about right, so that’s what you do too?”
“Yep, quite funny isn’t it? But I suppose that’s how we keep ending up on the same flights. Sorting out everyone else’s problems.” This was getting a little strange, he wondered what other similarities they were going to discover.
Jasmine was quite proud to tell him she was more than just a normal flight attendant. The fact that actually her job was quite similar to his, made it even better. He would know the responsibility involved, and realise she was capable of more than just serving people and pointing them towards their seat.
“You must either love travelling or love your job to be away from home all the time,” Jasmine said.
“It’s the travelling definitely, or at least it used to be,” Bill told her, “I always dreamed of seeing the world, unfortunately all I see at the moment is more or less the exact same hotel, just in different countries. The only thing that changes is the view out the window. It’s not quite the way I had hoped it would be.”
He looked sad and Jasmine felt a little sorry for him.
“That’s such a shame,” she said, “especially when there’s just so much out there to see. It’s what I love the most about my job. I feel so lucky getting to go to all these different places all the time. I became a flight attendant when I was eighteen and thought I already knew a lot about the world, I had always wanted to travel, but what I have learned over the past nine years by visiting all these places and just paying attention. It really is unbelievable.”
So she was twenty seven then, he worked out, younger than he’d thought as she always seemed to be the one in charge. He didn’t think he had ever seen someone looked so enthused and excited talking about their job before and felt hugely jealous. She’d done exactly as he’d always wanted to, what he had hoped his job would have helped him do. She’d travelled the world and seen it all. Where as for him, instead of enjoying going to new places, he was starting to hate travelling, when before it had always been his first love.
“Maybe I should have become a flight attendant; it sounds a lot better than my job,”  he joked, although there was a little truth behind it.
“Well it does have its draw backs, but then I suppose so does your job. I can’t imagine your wife can be very happy about you being away so much.”
“My wife?” Bill looked confused. And so was Jasmine.
“That is a wedding ring you’re wearing isn’t it?” Bill looked down at his hand and spun his ring. Jasmine could almost feel the sadness coming off him.
“It is a wedding ring,” he said at last, “but my wife … em…” He knew Jasmine was waiting but he wasn’t quite sure what to say, “I don’t really think my wife minds me travelling all that much.”
“Really?” Jasmine found that rather hard to believe, she couldn’t imagine any wife being okay with her husband being away from home all the time.
“She pretty much leads her own life. She has her friends that she spends all her time with, and her mother practically lives at our house. I think when I‘m home I‘m probably just in the way.” He gave a little laugh but Jasmine didn’t think he found it funny at all.
She immediately wondered just how much of what he had said was true, or was it just a pick up line to get her to feel sorry for him. She was loathed to admit it, but it had worked, and she did feel sorry for him. He just looked so genuinely upset when he spoke of his wife and suddenly she desperately wanted to make him feel better.
“I’m sure that’s not true, I’m sure she’s always really glad to see you.” She remembered her own childhood vividly and couldn’t help but share, “My dad was a pilot, so was away a lot, and my mum was always so excited when he was going to be home for a few days. She’d have the house looking perfect, and me and my brothers were under threat of death to be on our best behaviour. She would put on her best dress and do her hair and make up to get all ready for him.”
She was smiling and Bill thought it must be a lovely happy memory for her.
“Well I certainly wish it was like that when I went home; it sounds like your mum really loved your dad.”
The smile on Jasmine’s face faded as she continued to look back into the past.
“I think she thought if she made everything perfect enough, then he wouldn’t want to go away as much.” Suddenly she snapped back to reality and realised she had said far too much, “Sorry, I’m not sure what happened there,” she gave a little laugh of embarrassment. Her mouth had run away with itself as it so often did, it had gotten her in so much trouble over the years because she could never seem to control it. “I suppose I should be getting on with it, not too long until we land now.”
Bill could see she was a little embarrassed and wished he knew what to say to assure her there was no reason to be, but again his mind had gone blank. Still he couldn’t just go now without saying something.
“Are you staying in Rome for your two days off or are you going back to the UK?”
Jasmine was grateful to Bill for changing the subject but she couldn’t help but feel a little wary of his enquiry. She was even more annoyed with Erin for saying Bill was going to ask her out, because now it seemed to be clouding everything and was making her doubt his intentions. All she had wanted to do was enjoy having a pleasant conversation with a nice guy, so she tried to push her fears to the back of her head and just carry on as if they weren’t there.
“It’s a quick turn around for us,” she told him, “then straight back home. How about you how long are you staying?”
“Two days, two weeks, who knows?”
“And you don’t know where or when you’re off to after that?”
“No idea.”
“Yep your life sounds very similar to mine,” she laughed.
“Well I hope you’ve got someone waiting for you back home who’s happy to see you.” She was such a beautiful girl there was no way she would be single. But she was shaking her head so maybe he was wrong. “No, no one!” he was very surprised.
“Not even a cat.”
He supposed just like him the job wasn’t exactly conducive to maintaining a healthy relationship but still he felt sorry for her. He knew travelling the world could be quite a lonely way of life, but unlike him he thought she deserved better.
Before either of them had a chance to say anything else the announcement came on for all passengers to return to their seats ready for landing.
“I’d better go then I suppose,” Bill reluctantly motioned to his seat.
“Captains orders, but thanks for keeping me company and hope you get home soon.”
“And I hope our run of coincidental meeting hasn’t come to an end.”
“Me too.” They smiled at each other again one last time and Bill returned to his seat.
He sat down cursing himself. They had been in the same place all those times, when he could have spoken to her and spent time with her, but he’d done nothing. Now he knew what he had been missing he felt like such an idiot.
He wasn’t quite sure if he should have said what he had about his wife, but it was more or less the truth and he couldn’t think of what else to tell her. Something about her seemed to scramble his brain and he said almost the first thing that came to mind. He hoped he hadn’t revealed too much, they had only really just met and he didn’t want to scare her off.

Jasmine was feeling confused, she was glad Bill had come over to talk to her and she had enjoyed it, but she didn’t know why she had opened up so much to someone who was almost a complete stranger. She was worried now about what he would think of her.
She was sure it was just because she was so nervous about tonight. That was probably why Erin had upset her so much earlier as well. She had voiced all of Jasmine’s deepest fears and made her even more scared about facing Jeremy later.
She was petrified that he was going to refuse to leave his wife and that she would be left all on her own. That was why she had taken so long to build up the courage to set down her ultimatum. And just the thought of it all was making her feel rather vulnerable and a little off centre.
That was probably why she had been so susceptible to Bill’s sob story too. She was well used to being chatted up, being fed lines about how men’s wives never understood them and normally she would never fall for it. She was annoyed at herself for feeling sorry for Bill, and annoyed at him for being just the same as all the others. Now that he was no longer standing in front of her, with his big brown puppy dog eyes, looking so sad, and instantly making her want to make everything better for him, she could see what his real game had been. She’d wanted to get to know him and possibly become friends, as they seemed to be flying together so often. But now he had just shown her that there was very little chance of that happening, she didn’t even know why she had ever thought it could. Were guys really all the same, after only one thing? Were they really all just cheats who didn’t care about their wives sitting waiting for them at home? She was sure her dad had never been like that, was he now an extinct breed?

They landed and the passengers all alighted. She noticed Bill was in no hurry and suspected he was hanging back to talk to her again, but after having been desperate for him to do just that for so long, now she wasn’t sure she wanted him to. He was coming towards the door and part of her almost wished she could run away. What if he did ask her out? She had told him there was no one waiting for her at home, what if he had taken that to mean she was single and available?
She really hoped that he didn’t, there was still a tiny part of her clinging onto the hope that he was going to prove her wrong and that somehow they could still be friends. It was a lonely life travelling all over the world, and it would be so nice to have someone who knew what it was like to chat to now and then. If he asked her out and then she turned him down, as she would have to do, then things were bound to become awkward whenever they bumped into each other in future.
“I hope you have a nice couple of days off,” he said to her as he reached the door.
“And I hope you have a good stay in Rome.” He smiled and she could see he was getting ready to say something else, she was dreading what it was going to be. He took a deep breath as she held hers.  
“If you ever fancy staying at a Hammond’s hotel when you’re     travelling, just mention my name and I’m sure I could arrange some sort of discount for you.”
She released her breath, that wasn’t nearly as bad as she had been dreading.
“Thanks, that would be a lovely change from the usually places I end up.” And she actually meant it, of course when she was working she had to stay where ever she was told to, but she quite often took advantage of the fact she didn’t have to pay for flights and she travelled a lot. It would be good to be able to stay in a nice hotel, instead of the discount places she usually used to save some money.
Bill was pleased to see she did actually look happy about his offer. He dug his business card out his pocket and handed it to her.
“That’s my office in London, if you just let me know what country you want to go to and when, then I can get it all sorted for you. If I’m not there then can leave a message with my secretary. And I really do mean it, you always look as if you’re rushed off your feet, I’d love to think I could arrange a nice break for you.”
Jasmine was really touched, although there was a little voice in her head saying it was just a way for him to get her to call, but like earlier he just looked so genuine. He looked like he really did want to do something nice for her, and that made her feel so wonderful. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had thought of her, and wanted to do something just to make her happy.
“Thank you so much, I’ll definitely give you a call,”  she told him. If it turned out that he was just doing it to try and get a date, then she was sure she would quickly work it out, and then she could tell him thanks but no thanks. But if it was a valid offer, then she certainly didn’t want to miss out.
“Great. Well then I’ll look forward to hearing from you, goodbye for now.”
“Goodbye and thank you for travelling International Airlines we hope to see you again soon.” It was the standard farewell they were all supposed to say to the departing passengers, and occasionally did. But she had said it to Bill with a grin on her face, and he took it in the humour she had meant it in. He laughed and then turned and walked away down the tunnel.
She felt slightly sad watching him go, she wasn’t really looking forward to the return flight with Erin still cross with her and of course there was nothing enjoyable ahead in her evening plans. She wished she was getting off the plane with him and staying in Rome, surely that would be a lot more fun. Unfortunately there was a messy plane to get in order and another load of passengers to board then look after, so any thought of a spontaneous holiday had to be put out her head.

Thankfully Erin felt as bad about their fight as Jasmine did, and apologised before they had even left Rome. So the journey home was much better and a lot more as Jasmine had pictured it. They were able to have a bit of a giggle and a gossip about their friends and the passengers. Erin did ask what she had been talking to Bill about but didn’t push her on the subject and she didn’t mention Jeremy at all, which Jasmine was very grateful about. She was nervous enough about tonight without Erin putting more doubts in her head.