Baggage

Maggie saw Giovanni as soon as he entered the airport waiting room. She hid behind her magazine,

Ever vigilant, she always tracked people’s comings and goings, strangers or not. She did this wherever she happened to be. Being seated in an airport waiting area with three loading gates, this habit kept Maggie busy. Her magazine was a prop. She’d hadn’t turned a page for an hour.

Is everyone in the world flying today?

Of the hundreds coming and going, Giovanni was actually a known entity. She preferred to not talk with him. She hadn’t seen him in years. Not since their fling. Seeing him stand there, gave her more a chill than a thrill.

But that was an over-statement. She always tried to course-correct when catching herself in an unprovoked adrenaline rush. He wasn’t a threat. Just old news.

Read that book years ago.

Maggie peered over the top of the magazine. She watched as Giovanni toured the aisles.

Yes! He didn’t see me.

~

His tagalong in tow, Giovanni sighed as he scanned the sea of humanity filling every last seat.

I only need one.

No seats were visible.

Restless children ran back and forth. Musical giggles cut through the muffled roar of ventilation fans. They punctuated the fidgets and sighs of hundreds of people. A few people talked. Most scanned their phones or listened to I-pods. Random PA announcements startled but offered little information.

After suffering the indignities of the TSA process, Giovanni only wanted to sit.

Rest is impossible in these places. Deep slumber is a great invitation for someone to walk off with one’s luggage.

He couldn’t imagine perusing even one more souvenir shop, magazine rack, or seat in the bar.

He kept one eye on the airport staff. Increased activity at a gate would signal that seats would be vacated. Giovanni began strolling up and down the rows. He knew patience reaped benefits. When seating became available, he would pounce.

He spotted Maggie when he when two rows away.

Who else would hide behind a magazine, under a baseball cap pulled low? The cap tipped him off. He bought it for her years ago, when they were close. But her eyes cinched it. Who else could have those eyes? When they met, there was no denying it. He’d never seen eyes like hers, so blue, so deep, so warm… so vulnerable.

Giovanni feigned nonchalance. Betraying no recognition, he kept moving. He didn’t care if a seat never opened. He’d stand for hours if it meant he could talk to Maggie again.

Taking his time, thoughts streamed through his brain.

Must be her. Can’t not be. And some people don’t believe in destiny.

Of all the two-bit joints in the world, she walks into this one. Luckily, this isn’t Casablanca. I’ll be boarding my flight soon.

What if she’s on my flight? Could be interesting. And if her seat’s next to mine? Better still.

We have history. Lots to talk about. Unless…’

What if? Don’t go there.

~

Maggie knew he’d spotted her. She gave up hiding.

What are the odds? Years gone by. In a different city. I’d expect to run into the pope, before Vanni. Is he stalking me? After all this time? Some people just won’t quit. What did he think I meant when I said ‘leave me the hell alone’?

Giovanni stopped in front of Maggie and stared down at her.

In no hurry, she looked up from her magazine. “Should I call security?”

“Hi Maggie. You’re so dramatic. That was long ago. I was stupid. Not dangerous. You know that.”

She had no appetite for dredging up old arguments. “How did you know me?”

“The hat.”

“Oh, the hat. Of course. Gotta lose that.”

“No point now.”

“Right, too late. You found me.”

Remaining seated, she made no show of greeting him.

Giovanni said, “Two old friends amidst hundreds of strangers. Shame to spend the time alone.”

She scanned the vast room, looking anywhere but at him.

He tried again. “I can stand here all day. Or at least ‘til our flights board. Can’t we make peace?”

“Again, why?”

“Unfinished business. I expect we’ve both learned a few things since we parted ways. Hate any lingering bad blood.”

Maggie’s face changed. She engaged. “Okay. Fine. But will you do me a huge favor?”

“Of course.”

“Watch my stuff so I can go pee?”

“Okay. But I want to talk. Don’t hide out in the bar.”

“I’ll be back.” She pointed at her luggage. “Collateral…”

“Right. But… they could call my flight any minute.”

He helped her stand.

She said, “I’ll hurry.”

Giovanni sat. His urgency to be on his way conflicted with his desire to prolong their reunion.

People milled about. The PA squawked. His flight wasn’t mentioned. The children had gone away. No one missed them.

Maggie’s returned quickly. Giovanni stood when she approached.

She settled heavily. “Whew! No line.” Looking up at him, she said, “Thanks…”

“Your flight delayed?”

“Yeah. Seems like hours. Yours?”

He nodded. “Where are you off to?”

“Italy… You?”

“Japan.”

“Oh… well…” She looked relieved.

Giovanni checked the time. “I hope you know, by now, it was all a misunderstanding.”

“No, Vanni, I understood perfectly. You were… or are, a creep.”

“You know that’s not true. Yes, I didn’t handle the break up well. But that was it. Incident, not character. We had good times, you and I.”

Maggie paused and nodded. “But you scared me.”

“I know. And I’m sorry for that. But that was years ago. I would never hurt you.”

Her face softened. “I know.”

Maggie went silent. She couldn’t be curious about Giovanni’s life.

He said, “The hat looks good on you.”

Maggie startled into the present. “Right. The hat. How…?”

“I bought you a souvenir at that baseball game. Glad you kept it.”

“Oh! That was hilarious! What were we thinking?”

“We had fun. I tried explaining the game. And you did everything possible to get it wrong.”

“Remember? Laughing hysterically while making up ‘new, improved’ baseball rules?”

He laughed.

Maggie continued. “Like, the outfielders must carry Lacrosse sticks…”

“And…”

She stopped him. “And then throw the ball into a basket suspended from a goalpost.”

“That’s right! People sitting by us kept yelling at us to shut up.”

“Making us laugh even more.”

Giovanni could hardly talk. “…And we weren’t even drinking…”

They took some time to recover from their laughter.

He smiled at her. “I had you gasping from laughter most times we were together.”

Maggie smiled, relaxing into the warm memory. Her mood lightened. She looked more at ease.

People came and went. The seat next to Maggie opened. Giovanni claimed it. He leaned in.

“I wish…”

“What?”

“I wish that never happened back then. Let’s keep it in the past. I wish we could start again. Seeing you brings back the good times.”

Maggie sobered. “Vanni...”

“I know. Too much time gone. Lives diverged.”

“I’m going to Italy.”

“I know. But that’s my wish.” He looked about. “No shooting stars in here.”

Maggie couldn’t argue.

Giovanni sighed and sat back. “Here I am, looking to the future when I should be enjoying what we have here and now.”

She nodded.

He looked into her eyes. “I hoped we could reconnect… You know, in the time we have left.”

Maggie looked concerned. “Wait… Are you sick?”

“Not sick. But our flights… Who knows when one of us will be leaving?”

Maggie checked the time. She looked exhausted.

Giovanni said, “My time with you was the happiest of my life.”

Though sad, Maggie smiled. “Mine too.”

“Then why can’t we…? Oh, never mind.”

Frustrated, Giovanni stood up. His pent-up energy and gestures reminded Maggie of a marionette. He looked ready to explode. He sat heavily. Maggie recoiled.

Giovanni leaned in. “What if we tore up our tickets, right now?” He held his, prepared to rip it. “One… two… Mag, you’re not holding your ticket.”

“Vanni, I’m flying to Italy.”

“You getting married?”

“I can’t…”

“You a spy?”

Stifling a laugh, she gave him a look.

The PA blared, announcing Maggie’s flight for boarding. After a moment, they stood. Giovanni helped gather her things. He joined her in line.

“I’ve missed you, Maggie.”

“Me too. I’d forgotten the fun we had.”

This is too difficult.

Giovanni pleaded. “Don’t go.”

Maggie touched his arm. “Van, you’re leaving too.”

“Go with me.”

“We’ll get together later, when we get back.”

He scrawled his number on a scrap of paper. She folded it into her purse.

It was time. They hugged and she turned away.

She’ll never use it.

Giovanni watched her go into the loading ramp. He looked at the display of departing flights. His was down on the list. He sat in the first vacant seat he came to.

~

Maggie found her seat by a window. It felt good to be on her way. She looked out at the terminal.

So close…

She dug in her purse for the number Giovanni gave her. She set it on the fold down tray.

The video display demanded her attention. Soon, the plane began to taxi. After the announcements, the plane took off. Maggie always loved the moment the plane went airborne.

A flight attendant offered her a beverage. Maggie drank her soda and watched the clouds pass by. She looked for a video to watch and dozed.

The flight attendant came up the aisle collecting empty cups and waste. Maggie handed her the cup, the empty almond package and a crumpled napkin.

“Whoa!” Maggie asked the attendant to return the paper. It had Giovanni’s number on it.

She pulled out her phone and entered the number into her contact list.

Never know… Don’t want to lose it.