Chapter Text
Starting over was never a foreign concept to Beth Boland. Not when her father left, not when her mother was spiraling, and not when her divorce was finalized at 26.
10 months ago Beth thought she had it all. She was married to her high school sweetheart, they were settled into a home in a good neighborhood, and despite trying her best to give her sister a hard time, Annie was also thriving. Everything eventually came crashing down during an ordinary Thursday.
Beth hummed along with the song on the radio. She was driving Dean’s car because the transmission on hers had gone out. She pulled slowly into the driveway of their suburban home. Beth stepped out of the driver's seat and pulled open the rear door and started unloading her groceries. One of the bags tipped over and the contents spilled under the driver’s seat.
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. She crouched down stretching her left arm under the seat. Grabbing the items one-by-one, Beth was reaching for her last item when something solid and hard brushed over her skin. Grasping the item and pulling her hand out from under the seat, Beth noticed it was a cellphone. Beth briefly looked over the phone before placing it in her jacket pocket.
“Annie I’m home”
Beth dropped the bags on the island and started unpacking them.
“What’s for dinner?” she asks as she starts snooping through the bags.
“The Fine and Frugal had chuck roast on sale, I’m making pot roast”
“Why don’t you wash up and help me”
“Fine” . Annie says while rolling her eyes.
Beth starts taking off her jacket when she remembers the phone in her pocket.
“I almost forgot, you left this in Dean’s car”
Beth pulled the phone out of her pocket and slid it across the island to her sister.
“This isn’t mine, Beth”
“I wouldn’t be caught dead with an Android" she says while tossing the phone onto the island.
“Oh, did one of your friends leave it by chance?” Beth asks as she pinches her eyebrows together.
“I haven’t borrowed Deansie’s car in weeks, and if one of my friends did leave it, I’m sure I would’ve heard from them by now”
“Must belong to your loser husband”
“No, I’ve talked to him earlier today, so it’s definitely not his phone”
“Well don’t leave me in suspense sis, open it up”
Beth tapped on the screen and tried to open it, but it was locked
“No go. It needs a passcode”
Annie snatched the phone out of her hands
“What’s Deansie’s passcode”
“It’s his birthday, July 20th”
Annie tapped the code and started snooping. It wasn’t long before her face dropped and she placed the phone face down on the island.
“Annie, what did you see?”
******
Those were the last normal moments of her life before everything came crashing down. The double life her husband had been hiding was in that burner phone. The mistresses, the secret credit cards, and the dating apps.
When Beth confronted her husband he tried to manipulate her into forgiving him. But Beth was just done. Their entire marriage she felt invisible and unappreciated.
“Bethie, you're overreacting. Those women don’t mean anything.”
“I don’t care Dean, I’m done. Just let me go and you can have all the mistresses and credit card debt you want”
“How are you going to support yourself and your freeloading sister?”
“That’s no longer your concern, Dean. Just let me go”
If that wasn’t bad enough, just a few weeks later, Annie revealed that she was pregnant. Beth felt like the world around her was collapsing. After one late-night chat with Ruby, Beth realized that she had to get her life together.
******
“Ruby, what the hell am I going to do? I’m getting screwed in the divorce, my teenage sister is pregnant, and I haven’t worked a real job in years”
“You’re going to do what you always do. Push through. And remember, Stan and I are here to help too.”
As much as Beth appreciated Ruby’s offer, she knew it was time to pull herself out of this mess.
******
After finalizing her divorce and moving into a small 2 bedroom apartment, Beth hit the ground running. She knew going back to college was not a realistic option, and she had no desire to go back to Dairy Queen. She thought about getting a job at one of Boland Motors competitors, but the thought of running in the same circles as her ex, made her ditch that plan all together.
“Annie, get up!”
Beth was rushing through the apartment. Blouse half buttoned, cup of coffee in her hand.
“You need to get ready. The school bus will be here in 40 minutes. I can’t drive you today, I need to get to the job fair as soon as they open.”
“Who the hell wants to be first in line at a job fair?”. Annie protested.
“Annie, Dean screwed me in the divorce and the alimony I’m getting is only covering the bare minimum. So if you enjoy having a roof over your head and eating everyday, I suggest you get up and get moving.”
******
Beth was scanning over the various companies at the job fair when a banner caught her eye.
Take Off On Your Next Adventure!
Beth approached the booth and started chatting with the woman. She introduced herself to Beth.
“Hello, I’m Anna” She extends her left hand out to Beth.
Beth gently shook her hand
“Nice to meet you. I’m Beth”
“Thinking about a career change?”
“More like a start. I just finalized my divorce and I’m looking for something…..”
Beth pauses as she tries to put it in the right words. She was more than half way through her twenties and felt like she hadn’t accomplished anything. She was a college drop out trying to start over again.
“Look, few months ago my life imploded and I’m trying to hit the reset button"
Anna nodded at Beth
“I’ve been there. I’ve started over at least a dozen times in my life. This isn’t the perfect job, but it comes with pretty decent benefits and you’ll get to travel all over the country.”
Before the afternoon was over, Beth knew she had found something that could give her and her sister a better life.
Beth breezed through the interview process and 6 week training. She did have anxiety about leaving her pregnant teenage sister for that long, but Ruby assured her that she and Stan would take good care of her.
*****
Beth was several months into her job when she was placed with the crew for a new non-stop flight to Miami. Beth was quickly moved up to first class crew. Her supervisors were impressed with her attention to detail and how she could diffuse almost any situation.
“Morning Beth”
Crystal was beaming at Beth.
“How can you be this cheery so early in the morning?”
It was just after 7 am and Beth was putting away the last of the food service for the first flight of the morning.
“I’m only a few days away from my vacation”
“Don’t remind me. You know they’re probably going to send me the worst substitute?”
“When you went to your cousin's wedding last month, they sent Myra. She was awful. Hated everyone and everything. She was worse than the passengers”
“I’m sorry”, Crystal smiled as she started prepping the cabin for first class
“Are you getting much sleep these days? I know having a newborn in the house is rough”
Beth exhaled
“I’m getting through it. I wish I could afford to take more time off to help Annie, but we need the money”
The first class passengers started filtering into the plane. Beth was standing just inside the cabin greeting the passengers as they boarded. She collected the jacket of an older woman and hung it up in the closet. She turned back around and was met with the most strikingly handsome man she had ever seen. A small gasp formed in her throat.
“Good morning, sir. Welcome aboard.”
“Morning” he said as he flashed the sexiest smile she’d seen in a long time.
She watched him settle into his seat, 2A. He was tall, cropped dark hair, and had the most piercing brown eyes she’d ever seen.
After first class finished boarding Beth headed to the galley to double check everything before taking off.
“Beth, did you see the guy in the 2nd row?”
“How could I miss him? He almost knocked the wind out of me when he said, "morning”.
“You got the safety check, Beth?”
Beth doesn’t hear Crystal talking because she has locked eyes with the man in 2A and finds herself unable to look away.
“Earth to Beth”
Beth closes her eyes and tries to recover as she turns to Crystal.
“I’m sorry Crystal, what we’re you saying?”
“I asked you if you’re up for the safety check, but you were too busy staring at 2A. I can’t say I blame you.”
“I was not staring, I just zoned out”
“You should go talk to him. Maybe ask him out for a drink? You’re divorced, not dead”
Beth chuckles to herself, she just felt like it sometimes.
“As good as that sounds, I think I’m going to pass. I barely have time to sleep, let alone go on a date”
Beth begins to blush and rubs the back of her neck. Life has been pretty lonely lately. Beth was hyperfocused on getting settled into her post divorce life and helping her sister settle into motherhood. There was very little time or interest when it came to dating and relationships. She told herself once life had slowed down, she would revisit the possibility.
“You know it’s ok to start dating and putting yourself out there, Beth.”
Beth shakes her head and takes a breath
“I’ll get there eventually, just not today. Now, let’s get this stupid safety check over”
Beth turns to face the passengers and picks up the seat belt prop as Crystal explains the procedures over the speaker. As Crystal speaks, Beth’s eyes drift back through the rows until she locks eyes with the passenger in 2A. Their eyes stay locked for several seconds before Beth turns away continuing the demonstration.
Once the plane reaches the cruising altitude, Beth and Crystal rise out of their seats and begin prepping for the first service of the flight. Beth always enjoyed this part of her job, everyone was settled and it gave her the opportunity to focus on something other than her imploding life.
As Beth and Crystal move up the first class aisle, they finally reach the second row. At first, he didn’t look up. Instead he was reading a file, sleeves rolled up, nervously chewing on the pen in his left hand.
Beth cleared her throat. “Good morning, Sir. Can I get you a beverage?”
His gaze drifted up from the file he was holding. Then drifted over her form and settled on the top half of her uniform. His eyes were warm and curious.
“What do you recommend?”
Slightly stunned by his answer, Beth blinks. “For beverages?”
He nodded slowly as his eyes swept over her facial features.
“Yeah”
“Well, uh, most people just pick something”
A coy smile forms on his lips.
“I’m not most people”
Feeling slightly frazzled, Beth begins to blush. Oh god. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Beth quickly recovers and straightens her back, squares her shoulders and begins to speak.
“We have coffee, tea, soft drinks, alch….”
“Hot Tea” he answers as leans back into his seat. “Extra strong. Think you can hook me up?”
“I’m sorry sir, but we don’t offer custom drinks like that”
With a smile still on his face he replies, “Didn’t ask for custom, just want it a little stronger than normal.”
Beth starts to stare and almost finds herself mesmerized by this stranger. Rio raises his eyebrows in response. Waiting…
Beth prepares his drink and passes it over to him. He collects the cup from her with both hands, his fingertips softly brushing hers for a second longer than necessary.
“Thank you, Elizabeth”
It was at this moment she realized that he had been gazing at her nametag earlier. Most passengers don’t even bother looking her in the eye, but this guy? He didn’t miss anything.
Beth knew she could’ve corrected him, but she liked the way her full name sounded in his
Mouth.
“You’re welcome. Can I get you some breakfast? We have a potato and bacon frittata, Chocolate bread pudding, or Greek yogurt with chia pudding”
“Just tea for me”
As she turned away from him and started walking to the next row, he casually added,
“Think I’ll be seeing you around”
As much as she wanted to turn back, she didn’t. Instead focusing her attention on the passengers seated in front of him.
The rest of the flight sped by quickly, but the warmth of his voice lingered in her head.
As she passed by his row one final time before landing, she felt his eyes on her. Curious, amused, interested.
Beth told herself he was just another passenger. That their interaction meant nothing. He probably flirts with everyone. Just another smiling face at 35,000 feet.
After the flight lands in Miami, Beth and Crystal are gathering the last of the trash left behind when she sees it. A $50 bill folded neatly beside his empty cup. As Beth reaches down to collect it, she notices there’s a small note tucked into the bill.
Thanks for the tea. Knew it’d be strong.
Whether Beth realized it or not, this would not be the last time she would see him.