Last walk down the aisle

The flight attendant looked up at them with a feeble smile.

“You go first, Col,” said Liv, scratching her cheek.

“It’s okay, sis,” said Colin. “We’ll see you in Greece. Thanks again for offering the villa.”

“You sure?” Liv hesitated.

“Of course! Besides, Bruce has already gone in so you’d better catch up.”

As he watched his sister walk onto the plane and take the left aisle, he reached out to put his arm around Dana’s toned waist. He gasped as his fingers rubbed against unfamiliar skin. Besides him was a shorter woman he did not know. Horrified, he removed his hand, banishing it into the curls at the back of his head.

“I’m so sorry. I.. I…”

The short woman next to him barked at him in a language he did not understand and he turned bright red.

“Lo siento. I’m so sorry,” was the best Colin could manage.

In the plane’s entrance, the bored flight attendant was now doing her best to dodge the selfie radius of a young woman tightly clad in shaping active wear.

“Dana,” said Colin, running to her. “The most embarrassing thing has just happened to me.”

“Just a minute! Let me post this. How do you spell Mykonos with those funny Greek letters?”

Conscious that they were holding up boarding Colin grabbed her shoulders and steered her down the aisle, in the opposite direction his sister had disappeared into.

Liv slid open the door to the cabin. Two seats that could recline fully rested by the window. Opposite, was a wall full of drawers and cabinets held shut by clips and bands. From experience she knew her belongings would be already stowed in there.

“You took your time.”

Bruce had already turned his seat into a bed and was holding up two glasses of champagne. Liv accepted one and took a large gulp.

“Aren’t you going to cheers first?”

“Oh, how rude on me. I’m sorry Bruce. I just-”

“Not a problem, I’m here for it.” He pressed the attendant button and grinned at her. “This will be a fun journey.”

“I guess,” said Liv. She picked up the pile of plastic wrapped complementary items from her seat. “How long is it again?”

“Ten hours or so.”

Liv found a facemask. It’s back displayed instructions in picture form with the occasional Greek sentence. She tossed it aside.

“That seems long,” she said.

“It’s Europe, honey. Of course it’s a long trip. But they have all the movies you want, a fully stocked bar and even a shower. Did I mention the fully stocked bar?”

Liv ignored the wolfish grin and looked through the cabin window. The tarmac beyond was dull, hard, and soon it would just be water.

“Colin, Colin, we forgot.”

Colin had been clutching the arm rests on either side of him. That was the only thing that stopped him from jumping at Dana’s sudden alarm.

“My facemask, Colin. We forgot. We said we’d get it in the duty free but we didn’t.”

“Geeze, Dana, you scared me,” said Colin. “Does it matter? I mean, they’ll have some in Greece.”

Dana flung her back into her seat, hard enough to knock the knees of the man behind, who grumbled about the lack of space.

“Sorry,” said Colin, glancing at Dana and then the at man behind. Already, he was uncertain how they were supposed to last nine hours and forty eight minutes like this.

“It matters,” said Dana, “because my face will be all puffy and ugly when we get there. It’s going to waste an entire day of good photos.”

Colin put a hand on her firm thigh. He squeezed it but she pulled it away.

“We’ll just take photos the next day,” Colin said. “They’ll be plenty of time. Besides, aren’t you happy I’m taking you on this trip.”

Dana crossed her arms.

“I thought Bruce was the one taking us on the trip,” she said.

“Geeze, Dana.”

It was Colin who slumped back this time, provoking another outburst from the man behind.

“Bruce might be getting the villa,” he said. “But do you really think you’d be invited if you weren’t with me? Besides, it’s not like he’s letting us sit up there with him. You’re stuck back here with the seats I got you.”

Colin turned away from Dana. Outside, the heavy and unnatural steel wings obscured most of the view.

The plane took off and the airport became a grey patch indiscernible from its surroundings.

As Liv plumped her pillows the captain’s voice came through on the overhead speakers. Turbulences were going to be frequent during the flight and passengers were requested to keep their seatbelts on, whenever possible.

“Just our luck. Colin’s going to love that,” said Liv.

Bruce appeared not to hear. He was deep in thought, staring out the window. Liv contemplated his lewd smirk.

“She’s pretty isn’t she,” Liv said.

“Huh, what?” he snapped his head round and frowned at her, irritably.

“Colin’s new girlfriend, she’s pretty don’t you think?” Liv picked up a magazine that had been stowed in a box opposite her and began to flick through it.

“I suppose.”

“You suppose? Come on, she’s hot.”

Liv paused on a page that advertised sun cream. A golden woman sporting a yellow bikini that revealed her abs was smouldering up from the page.

“Come on, Bruce. She basically looks like this?”

She flung him the magazine. He bent over to pick it up.

“Maybe, but I can’t say I’ve seen- how shall we put it- quite this much of Dana.”

Liv snatched the magazine back and snapped it shut.

“Well then I guess you haven’t been on her Instagram,” she said.

“Liv, for heaven’s sake. She’s half my age!”

He glanced at the empty champagne glasses resting on the unfolded tables and up at the attendant button. It blinked accusingly off so he pressed it.

The seat in front of Dana had been reclined so she had to drop her shoulders to be able to burrow into the seat pocket.

“In answer to your question, I’m not sure where his money comes from,” Colin was saying. “Though he does own a few companies.”

“Really?” Dana’s fingers felt around the paper sick bag and the instructions card before she succeeded in identifying what might be a magazine. “Like what?”

“Oh nothing special. It’s mostly just stores and property. It’s not like he’s built anything from the ground up. Still, it does mean my sister and I live very different lives.”

Dana pulled out her magazine except it had some meal deal combo advertised on the front cover.

“Seriously, it’s only a stupid menu? I bet your sister doesn’t have to put up with this, wherever she is.”

She threw it aside and sulked up at him. Then Dana said:

“Does it not bother you, her sitting up front while you’re stuck all the way back here?”

Colin shrugged. He could swear the plane turbines were oscillating more than before.

“You get used to it, I guess. It’s always been this way ever since she met him. If it’s not seats on a plane its something else, like the size of her house. Though sometimes, I suspect it bothers her more than it does me. The money’s not really hers, you see.”

He chanced a look away from the turbines to see if she was still interested. She was.

“They have this prenup,” said Colin. “If they divorce she gets nothing. Messed up, right?”

“So messed up. Does she want to divorce?” Dana asked.

“We’ll never know, that prenup is almost impossible to void. Besides, it’s not like she’s going to give up her lifestyle. Though it does mean he gets to do whatever he likes.”

There was a ring and the fasten seatbelt sign came on again. Colin groaned as he grappled with his buckle.

Bruce opened the door forcefully. In her haste to pack it away, Liv almost dropped her phone onto the floor.

“I’m afraid, I might have spilt some,” said Bruce as he walked back into their cabin and handed her the Martini. “The fasten seatbelts came on at the worst moment but I’m glad the bar stayed open.”

“That’s good,” said Liv. She reached again for her phone. It was inside her bag and probably locked. Still, she felt for the button on the phone’s rim and pressed it. Better not to risk the email still showing.

“Anyway, I was thinking about what you said, about your brother and that girl, Dana.”

Liv took a sip from her cocktail hoping to eject the tension from her shoulders.

“And?”

“It’s simple, I’m afraid,” he said. “She’s much too pretty for him.”

“Come on,” said Liv, thumping her cocktail onto the table besides her. “Colin’s not bad looking.”

“I never said he was. But he’s a sales rep for a car company. A girl like Dana wants a real man.”

“And you’re saying Colin is not a real man?” Liv glared at him.

“Are you saying he is?”

Liv looked away.

Bruce chewed on the olive from his drink.

“I suppose real man was harsh,” he said. “What I really meant was rich man.”

“I can’t believe this is only the first time they invite you to go away with them,” said Dana.

“They have before but it’s just-” Colin flung a hand in the air.

“It’s just this time they’re paying for the villa,” finished Dana. “That’s generous of them. And kind to invite me too, considering they only met me for the first time a couple weeks ago.”

It had been a dinner round their house. Dana had never seen a kitchen so big and you could get lost just on the ground floor.

“But you have to admit it’s a little weird,” she said. “This trip. Like, we’ve only been seeing each other for a few weeks. Why do they want us both to come? And why is now the first time they invite you?”

“I don’t know,” said Colin. “Does it even matter? I get it’s a bit weird but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Don’t you want to be on this trip?”

Dana sighed.

“Can we just get drinks?

“Sure,” said Colin though when he opened the flight menu with its colourful price tag shapes, he winced at the bright star above the prosecco.

The initial buzz of the alcohol had worn off, leaving them with a choice between getting drunk or wallowing and waiting for the inevitable headache.

“How about I get them to bring us a bottle?” suggested Bruce.

Liv stood up and carefully unpacked a complementary airline bath robe. It was thick and rich to touch.

“Suit yourself,” she said, “I think I’m going to explore the plane.”

She laid the robe carefully on her reclined bed and left.

Bruce watched the doors shut behind his wife, reached over to the table on her side of the bed and opened the magazine with the sunscreen advert. There was a slight resemblance to Dana, though it was maybe just the style of makeup. He ran his fingers along the upper half of the model’s bikini. Did Dana have larger breasts? That tight sports jersey she had been wearing today did made them jut out. He smiled to himself, glad to have booked a villa with a pool. He would ample opportunity to answer his question.

Outside the cabin, Liv glanced around her. Her cabin door was indeed shut. She pulled out her phone and re read the email.

Hi Liv- yes, it can be a close relation. I want to remind you that video evidence won’t be enough on its own. A court can dismiss it as taken without consent.

She logged out, something she only recently had taken to doing. It did mean she had to enter her password each time but it made her feel safer. She headed towards the back of the plane, exchanging a nod with the air hostess as she walked past.

“Hello, look who’s here,” said Colin.

Dana looked up and gave a small wave.

“What are you doing back here?” she asked.

Liv glanced at the drinks glasses on their unfolded tables which had no drops running down their sides. They had been empty for some time.

“I thought I’d spend a bit of time with my baby brother. Dana, would you mind if we swapped places? I know it might be inconvenient for you but Bruce has just ordered a bottle of champagne. Hopefully that makes up for it.”

The girl gaped at her.

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Also feel free to take any of the free stuff. Even the bath robe, I have no intention of using it. If you want it, it’s yours.”

“Thanks so much!”

She was practically skipping as she ran off.

“How are things back here, Colin?”

“Cramped and sweaty.”

“I’m sorry. I know how much you dislike flying.”

He shrugged, still watching the turbine engines.

“Would it help if I got you another drink?”

“Please but none of this,” he waved at the tall glasses in front of them.

“I know.” She ordered two glasses of whisky. Her brother succeeded in wrenching himself away from the window to offer her a smile of thanks.

“How’s Dana liking it so far?” Liv asked.

Colin pursed his lips and rubbed his arm.

“Loves it. Which is great, of course. Only I wish she would seem more happy at spending time together rather than. You know. That.” He pointed to the aisle where Dana had excitedly disappeared from. “Anyway, what about you and Bruce?”

Liv shook her head.

“Much the same.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Colin waited but when Liv opened her mouth it was only to close it again without saying anything so he took it upon himself to fill the space.

“You know, I may not have much but I’m happy. You were too, once. We didn’t fly first class when we were kids and we turned out okay.”

“If you’re talking about my prenup, just say it,” she said. “That’s a difficulty not an impossibility. You see-”

But before she could say any more the air hostess appeared. It was not one Colin recognised nor was she bringing their drinks.

“Ma’am,” the air hostess said to Liv, “you asked me to let you know immediately if I heard anything… unexpected in your cabin.”

“Yes, thank you. Colin, let’s go.”

Liv rose and strode up the aisle. Confused, Colin jostled after her.

“Sorry, sorry,” he muttered as his hands inevitably knocked into people’s heads as the plane cruised.

Bruce could not believe his luck. He’d been indulging in a daydream, millions of miles away from his wife when there was a knock on the cabin door and it cracked open.

The girl who peered in was much younger and fitter than his wife. She also had materialised straight out of his mind.

“Liv said it was okay if I came in for a bit. I hope that’s alright.”

“Please, by all means,” he said, waving Dana in.

Bruce reached for the bottle of champagne in the ice bucket. He filled her glass too quickly and it overspilled. She giggled and then shrieked as she ran her hand over the bath robe laid out on the Liv’s bed.

“It’s so soft.” She held it up and pressed it to her cheek. “Do you mind? Liv said I could have it.”

“Why would I mind? I have my own one.”

His jaw dropped when he realised what she meant. She lifted her sweater off. Underneath was only a bra. And not a sports bra, but one that cupped her breasts and lifted them firmly. They were definitely bigger than those of his tanned model.

She giggled again when she caught him staring.

“You like?” she said.

“I do.”

He leaned forward and rested his fingers on the back of the bra. He shot her a quick look and when he saw no objection, Bruce unclipped the bra and leaned forwards. He felt himself harden as he kissed her.

There was no hiding when the door flew open. Colin came in first, mouth open in disbelief.

“Dana? What’s going on. I don’t understand. I mean, Dana, you’re…”

Bruce swore as Dana scrambled for something to cover up with.

Liv pushed her brother gently aside to make space for her to walk in. In her other hand, she held her phone, flash on and blaring into him..

“Liv…” said Bruce and Liv said nothing.

In the silence his grin waned. She was so calm, so calm, so very calm. Why wasn’t she reacting? Was she… smiling? His eyes scattered around, desperate for an explanation. Dana had thrown the bath robe over her face whilst stretching it down to cover her waist. Bruce could hear the whimpering sounds from under the robe as Liv laughed.

“Ah Bruce, how predictable. I suppose you think I don’t know about the others either,” she said. “You were always so careful not to leave traces and witnesses. Particularly live witnessed. It’s made me wonder. Did you know I need one to trigger the infidelity clause?”

Her eyes bore into him and suddenly he was falling. It was like the plane had been shot down mid flight. Oxygen masks would fall from the ceiling at any moment. He did not know how long he stayed like this. Time had collapsed. All he knew is that the oxygen masks were staying put.

At last, Liv turned to her brother who, jaw still on the floor, had not moved. She put a hand on his shoulder, cradling it. “Come on, Col, let’s leave him to his harlot. I owe you an explanation.”

And with that, she walked away down the aisle, one last time.