Business Travel
Jane stood at the gate watching the people coming out of the airplane. Every few moments she looked down at the little girl jumping up and down trying to see over the desk that partially blocked the view. She was just as anxious to see Daria but, being the parent, had to curtail her enthusiasm to provide a good example for her daughter.
As the people filing out started becoming fewer Jane started to become concerned. Was she at the wrong gate? Did Daria get delayed for some reason? Did she miss the flight completely? Soon though her concerns were removed when, walking behind a flight attendant pushing an elderly man in a wheelchair, she saw a familiar face pulling a small bag. Before she could say or do anything the little girl broke free and ran toward Daria.
As she rushed the weary traveler the little girl screamed, 揇aria! You made it!?/p>
Seeing the tiny mass heading her way, Daria let the bag go and knelt down to receive the young lady抯 greeting. As the tiny arms wrapped around her neck she hugged back and said, 揌ello Jenny. It抯 great to see you.?Letting go, she moved back slightly to get a good look at Jane抯 little girl. 揑t抯 hard to believe but you have gotten even prettier since the last time I saw you.?/p>
Smiling at the compliment, Jenny said, 揂nd older too.?/p>
Daria smiled back. 揧es I know. You had a birthday last week didn抰 you? Sorry I missed it. But don抰 worry I didn抰 forget. I have a surprise for you.?/p>
Jenny抯 eyes grew wide. 揜eally? What is it??/p>
Putting her hand up, Daria said, 揧ou抣l have to wait a little while. We have to get out of here before I can give it to you.?It was sad but true. Security really looked down on that kind of behavior in airports anymore. While the gift was nothing major it would be better to avoid any possible hassles by waiting until they were safely at Jane抯 house to open her suitcase.
Just then she looked up and saw Jane standing in the foyer looking at the scene. Standing up, she took her bag in one hand and Jenny抯 hand the other. 揕et抯 go say hello to your Mom.?/p>
Letting go of Jenny抯 hand, Daria hugged Jane.
揌ey. Been a while.?/p>
Jane smiled. 揟oo long. But you抮e here now. That抯 all that matters. Two days together beats three hundred e-mails. So you ready to go??/p>
揘othing keeping me here.?/p>
揧ea. Let抯 go.?Jenny said. 揟he sooner we get home the sooner Daria can give me my surprise.?/p>
Daria smiled and said, 揝he抯 right you know.?Looking down, she took Jenny抯 hand and started heading for the exit. Standing there for a moment, Jane watched the duo walk off and smiled at the sight before catching up with them.
As Jane drove the van she caught up on old times.
揧ou抮e looking great. So how抯 work been??/p>
揅razy, but still fun.?Daria said. 揑t抯 been a busy few months since the last time I was here but I抳e still been able to write some.?/p>
揧ea. How抯 the book coming along??Jane asked.
揚(yáng)retty good. I抳e got a few more chapters since I last sent you anything.?/p>
Jane was surprised. 揂 few more chapters!? You just sent me the last excerpts two weeks ago and you抳e written that much already??/p>
揧ea well there isn抰 that much else to do. I抳e done all the tourist stuff. Now travel is just business. When I抦 done with work I stay in the hotel and write. It抯 a better use of my time.?/p>
揂t least until you can make a career as a novelist.?Jane said.
揑 don抰 know. Even if I could make a living writing I still think I抎 keep working at this. I like what I抦 doing.?Daria said. 揑t抯 not what I抎 planned on doing but I really do like it and I still have time to write what I want. At least it beats having to earn my stripes writing obituaries and reviews of craft fairs.?/p>
Jane shrugged slightly. 揑 guess.?
揙h yea. A funny thing happened a week ago.?Daria said. 揑 saw someone reading my first book on a flight I was on.?/p>
揜eally? That抯 pretty cool. Did you talk to him??/p>
揌er actually. Guys really don抰 read my type of stories but no I didn抰. I was busy and didn抰 have time to go over before we landed and she got off. Still, it felt good to see someone bought the thing.?/p>
揌ey! It was a great book. It takes a while to build an audience. I抦 sure this next one will do even better.?/p>
揌opefully.?Daria said. 揥hen we get to your house do you want to read what I抳e done so far??/p>
揝ure. Just do me a favor and print it out. I hate reading stuff off your laptop.?/p>
揘o problem there. You still have the same printer right??/p>
揧ea. And I have plenty of paper too. I just swiped two reams from the office.?/p>
Daria chuckled slightly. Changing the subject she asked. 揝o how抯 Alan doing??/p>
揌e抯 great. He said to apologize for not being here this weekend but, like you, he抯 on the road with work.?/p>
揑 understand. I抎 like to have seen him though. It抯 been even longer than I抳e seen you and Jenny.?Turning around to look at the young lady wearing her headphones listening to who knows what Daria smiled. 揑t seems like she抯 doubled in height since the last time I saw her.?/p>
揧ea. She抯 had a pretty severe growth spurt.?/p>
揃ut she抯 also getting so much prettier. She抯 going to be breaking hearts in a few more years.?/p>
揃ite your tongue.?Jane said. 揝he抯 not a Quinn. Speaking of that, how is Florence Nightingale??/p>
揋ood. I spoke with her last night. She抯 settled in to her new position at the hospital. She really likes working in the neonatal wing. She抯 really good with the babies. She said to say hello.?/p>
揥ell tell her I said hi the next time you talk.?/p>
揝ure.?Just then Daria remembered something. 揙h I hope you don抰 mind but I left your number in case I抦 needed. It shouldn抰 be a problem but I have to be in touch.?/p>
揑抳e wondered about that.?Jane said, 揧ou don抰 you have a cell phone like normal people??/p>
揌ave you ever seen roaming charges for Hong Kong? As much as I travel I抎 be paying fees larger than my paycheck. The only time I get compensated is when I can prove it抯 a work related call. It抯 just easier to wait until I get to the hotel and pay fees there. That and the fact that e-mail is pretty much free.?/p>
揥hatever you say.?/p>
A few minutes later they pulled into the driveway in front of the house and all three women went inside. No sooner had they got through the door than Jenny brought up something that had been on her mind for a while. Looking up at Daria she said, 揥e抮e home. Can I see my surprise now??/p>
Jane was about to reprimand her daughter for being so rude but before she could, Daria, smiling, nodded and said, 揑 guess so. If you think that you抳e waited long enough.?Putting her bag in a chair, she unzipped it, took out a wrapped box and handed it to the little lady. 揌appy belated birthday. I抦 just glad I could give it to you in person.?/p>
Taking the box, Jenny quickly started tearing into the paper. As she proceeded to unwrap the gift, she heard her mom抯 voice.
揥hat do you say to Daria??/p>
Quickly, she said, 揟hank you.?Then just as quickly returned her attention to seeing what she had just been given. In short order she had the paper off and opened the box. Taking out the contents she looked it over carefully before saying anything else. Finally she found the words.
揑t抯 a notebook.?/p>
揂n album actually.?Daria said. 揕ook inside, you抣l see display pockets.?/p>
揜eally??Jenny asked. Opening the book, she looked at the clear plastic pages and realized what the album was for. Smiling, she said, 揥ow. This is great. I love it. Thanks. Would you like to help me put them in??/p>
揑n a little while. I really want to change in to something more comfortable. Then I抣l be happy to help.?/p>
揋reat. I抣l go get everything ready.?
Turning, she ran with her new album to her room to gather everything for the time when she and Daria could start working on it.
揑t was nice of you to give her that but your being here is a bigger gift to her.?Jane said. 揝he抯 talked about nothing else for two weeks waiting for you to get here.?/p>
揑抳e been looking forward to this weekend as well. It抯 been far too long since I抳e seen either of you.?Taking her bag, Daria asked, 揑s the guest room still in the same place? I really do want to get changed.?/p>
Not too much later, a now more casually dressed Daria was sitting with Jenny on the sofa taking postcards out a shoebox and placing them in the pockets on each page of the album. As they did, Jenny told Daria the story behind each one. Reaching in the box, she pulled out the next card. Handing it to Daria to look at, she said, 揟his is the one you sent me from Paris.?/p>
Inspecting the card, Daria said, 揑 remember. I got this one at a stand under the Eiffel Tower.?/p>
揜eally? That抯 so cool.?Whispering, she said, 揇on抰 tell anyone but this is my favorite card. I don抰 want Daddy to get jealous. You know he sends me postcards when he抯 traveling too.?/p>
Daria was amused. Alan probably wouldn抰 care what was her favorite but she played along. Whispering back, she said, 揑 promise not to tell.?/p>
Just then Jane came in to the room. Looking at the pair she asked. 揑 hate to interrupt your fun but it抯 getting late. Are either of you hungry??/p>
Both of them nodded.
揑 could do with some food.?Daria said.
揑 haven抰 had a chance to go to the grocery yet so we抣l have to order out.?Jane said, 揥hat would you prefer, Chinese or厰
揚(yáng)IZZA!?Jenny blurted out.
Jane reprimanded her daughter.
揟hat was very rude. You抮e not supposed to interrupt people like that. Plus Daria抯 our guest. She should be allowed to pick.?/p>
Jenny bowed her head slightly and said, 揝orry.?/p>
揧ou抮e forgiven. This time anyway. Just start behaving better.?Turning her attention to Daria, she asked, 揝o what would you like for supper??/p>
揚(yáng)izza sounds great to me.?Daria said. 揃elieve it or not I hardly ever get a chance to have it anymore. But I insist on paying. I抦 not going to be a sponge this weekend.?/p>
Jane laughed. 揊ine with me. I抣l go call and be back here in a minute. You two carry on as if I never bothered you.?/p>
Later that evening Daria and Jane were sitting in the living room talking when Jenny came in wearing her pajamas. Going over to her Mom she said, 揘ight.?/p>
Hugging her daughter, Jane said, 揘ite Dear. Love you. Go say goodnight to Daria.?/p>
Going over to Daria, Jenny hugged her.
揋oodnight. I抦 glad you抮e here.?/p>
Hugging back, Daria said, 揑抦 glad I can see you too. Goodnight, I抣l see you in the morning.?/p>
After Jenny left, Daria yawned.
揑 think that was my cue to call it a night too. It抯 been a busy day. I really could use some sleep. After all, it looks like a little girl probably has my whole day planned tomorrow.?/p>
Chuckling, Jane said, 揧ou抮e probably right on that. I抦 sure you抮e beat. I understand. Head on up to your room. I抣l see you at breakfast.?/p>
揑 look forward to it.?Daria said, 揧ou make the best frozen waffles in the state.?/p>
Jane sighed.
揧ou know me too well. Well goodnight.?/p>
Daria抯 slumber was disturbed by Jane抯 voice.
揌ey. There抯 a call for you.?/p>
Still trying to put the blurry shape she saw with the voice calling her name, Daria抯 only response was, 揌uh??/p>
揚(yáng)hone. For you.?/p>
揙h. Thanks.?/p>
Sitting up, Daria turned on the lamp and immediately regretted her action. Once her eyes finally adjusted to the light, she took the phone.
揌ello??/p>
揜eally??/p>
揧ea. I see. Sure I抣l be ready in ninety minutes.?/p>
揟hat抯 the right address. See you then.?/p>
Pressing the button to hang up, Daria sat there for a minute to try to wake up.
揝o what was that about??Jane asked.
揊our flight attendants got food poisoning earlier tonight and can抰 come in. They need me to come in and help with the Kansai run.?/p>
Jane was confused.
揥hy you? I thought this was your weekend off.?/p>
Turning to sit on the edge of the bed, Daria looked at her friend.
揑t is but I抦 the closest senior attendant on call. Plus that was my run for over a year. I抦 the most qualified to fill in. These things happen.?/p>
揟hat may be but it still sucks.?/p>
揟rue.?Daria said. 揃ut it is part of the job after all. Plus it might give me more writing material.?/p>
揑 guess.?/p>
Getting up, Daria went to her bag.
揧ou go back to bed. I抦 going to take a shower and get dressed.?/p>
揘o. I抣l go make some coffee and toast for you. You抣l need it to wake up.?Just then Jane thought about something. 揂re you going to need me to drive you to the airport??nbsp;
揟hanks but no. They抮e sending a driver. I just wonder what I抦 going to tell Jenny.?/p>
揓ust tell her the truth.?Jane said. 揝he抣l be a little upset but she抣l understand. After all, she wants to follow in your footsteps.?
揂fter a few nights like this she might want to reconsider that.?
Taking her toiletry bag, Daria left for the bathroom.
Not too much later, Daria was sitting downstairs in her uniform waiting for her ride to show up when Jane came in with Jenny in tow. Going over to where Daria was sitting, Jenny asked, 揥hy are you dressed right now??/p>
揑 have to go. There was an emergency and they need my help.?
After saying that, Daria realized how stupid that sounded. She wasn抰 Wonder Woman. She was just going to work a flight.
Jenny looked at her with a confused expression.
揃ut you said you would be around this weekend.?/p>
揑 know. I抦 sorry. I have to go in and help out. It can抰 be helped but I will make it up to you. In a few weeks I抣l fly back in and this time I won抰 be on call. We抣l have the whole weekend. Your dad will be home then so we can all do something together. Okay??/p>
Smiling and nodding to show that was fine, Jenny asked, 揥here are you going??/p>
揓apan.?/p>
揥ill you send me a postcard??/p>
揙f course I will.?/p>
揙ne with dragons this time??/p>
揑抣l see what I can do.?/p>
Just then there was a knock on the door. Going over, Jane looked through the peephole before answering it. The gentleman on the other side asked, 揑s Ms. Morgendorffer here??/p>
Getting up, Daria took her bag and headed to the door with a little girl keeping pace behind her. Before leaving she stopped and bent down to give Jenny one more hug.
揑抦 sorry I have to go but I抣l see you soon.
揧ou promise??/p>
揑 promise.?/p>
Standing up, She hugged Jane.
揟hanks for being so cool about this. I抣l e-mail you in a day or so.?/p>
揘o problem.?Jane said. 揈ven if it was just for a few hours it was great to see you. Now take care.?/p>
A moment later, Daria and her driver were on their way to the airport. After watching the car leave Jane closed the door and turned to look at Jenny.
揑抦 sorry you and Daria didn抰 get more time together.?/p>
Jenny looked up at her mom and smiled.
揑t抯 okay. That抯 her job. I understand. Plus she抯 going to send me another card for my album.?/p>
Jane smiled back at her daughter.
揥hatever you say squirt. Now it抯 late and you have a full day ahead of you so get back to bed. I抣l be right behind you.?/p>
揅an I sleep with you tonight??/p>
揑 guess so. Go on up. I just need to turn out some lights and I抣l be right there.?/p>
Running up the stairs, Jenny said, 揧es Maam.?/p>
Standing alone in the room, Jane looked out the window to see if the car was still in sight then switched off the porch light and went to her room.
The End.