Sometimes fate changes things.
"Attention passengers' flight 1091 to Miami Florida has been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience."
The announcement went on but Lisa Reisert wasn't paying attention. Cancelled? She supposed she should have expected it; the weather outside had only become worse after she had checked in to the airport.
But what on earth was she suppose to do now? This day had been long with enough the funeral. Lisa had the routines of her daily to return to, this encumbrance just wasn't welcome. Now there was a whole new list of things to do, she needed to find a new flight home, she needed to call Cynthia, make sure things would be taken care of until she got back, she needed to call her father…
"Wonder never cease huh?" Lisa turned around to look at her Tex Mex seat mate. Jackson Rippner smiled at her as Lisa looked down at her drink.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. It's just with the flight cancelled-"
"I understand."
Lisa folded her hands in her lap, "So what you going to do now?"
He shrugged, blue eyes downcast as he thought, "Go with the flow I suppose."
Nodding Lisa let her hand hover near her drink, she knew she needed to go and get things in order but at the same time she didn't want to leave Jackson. He was so nice, so charming. Lisa hadn't been able to help the hope that same how they would get seats together on the plane. Now that the flight was cancelled that hope was gone.
Should she strike up a new conversation? Should she just get up and leave?
Lisa stood, straightening her skirt she began to reach over to her purse to pay for the bay breeze. "Well it was nice meeting you, I'll just-"
"Let me." Jackson said, suddenly coming out of his stupor.
"No. It's fine." Lisa began feebly. Jackson wouldn't let her however and as he paid for both of them Lisa stood awkwardly.
"So, "Jackson said turning back to Lisa. " What's your plan now?"
Gathering her carry on luggage and purse Lisa frowned. "I'm not sure yet. But I do have some …"
A cell phone ring interrupted Lisa, but it was Jackson's.
"Calls?" Jackson finished for Lisa as he pulled out his cell. Lisa nodded as Jackson checked the screen.
"Well I guess I have one too, but stick around okay?" When Lisa hesitated he asked again. "Okay?"
Lisa finally relented as Jackson gave her a small smile and strode away, he held up a hand to motion that he would only be a moment.
With her cell phone in her hand Lisa sighed. Cynthia was going to flip. She knew she was. Slowly she dialed and reluctantly put the phone up to her ear as she looked past Jackson at the other passengers of flight 1019.
"Lux Atlantic Resort this is Cynthia."
"It's Lisa I've got some bad news."
Cynthia's perky voice dropped down a peg. "Oh, what is it?"
"My flights been cancelled so I won't be in for awhile. You're going to have to see Keefe fully settled in yourself as well for the duration of his stay. I'm sure he won't be here long." Lisa paused, and hearing nothing, took Cynthia's silence to be shock, "You'll do fine, we've been preparing for this. Keefe's staff is nothing like the Taylor's'. "
Hearing only the background noise of the hotel Lisa held back a laugh, " I promise you Cynthia-"
"No, its okay, I'm just… I'm scared." Cynthia sighed but then her voice grew perky again, "Your right, you've told me everything I need to do and I can do it!"
Checking her watch Lisa thanked her lucky stars that Cynthia was taking this better then she thought, "I'm glad Cynthia, well I'll try to check in again. I'll call back when I'm home."
"Good luck."
With a click Lisa hung up before dialing her father. As he picked up Lisa steeled herself, she'd been rather short with him before. But she hated being asked if she was okay, of course she was.
"Hey my flights been cancelled." Lisa said with out a preamble, "So I won't be home for awhile. And yes I'm okay."
Joe's warm, amused voice came in crystal clear, "I know Leese. So you know when you will be back?"
"Not yet, I was just about to go get some information or well something." Lisa said, relieved at her fathers reaction.
"Well keep me informed. Maybe it's a good thing your flight was cancelled; now I can pick up from the airport."
"But you lost your wallet." Lisa reminded him. She waved at Jackson who had finished his own call and was striding toward her.
Chuckling Joe coughed then said, "Yes your right, have a good evening. I love you."
"Love you too." Lisa said hanging up. Jackson stood silently next to Lisa, his arms folded.
Lisa turned to Jackson; she really needed to get going. She may not have been looking forward to the red eye flight, hell she had been dreading the flight home. But at the very least she would have been home.
"Honestly, it's been a pleasure. I had a wonderful time, but I ought to go find a new flight home."
Jackson nodded and smiled, "Sure, mind if I walk with you? I'd like to get out of here too."
Slightly uncomfortable Lisa nodded. They had to split up some time, but thus far nothing had happened she was bent on never letting herself… No she couldn't think like that.
"So what do you do?" Lisa asked as they maneuvered their way through the airport.
"I'm a manager. Government overthrows, high profile assassinations, the usual."
Lisa nodded, it had been awhile since she had really got into the flirting game but she could handle a few minutes of it. "So are you a spy or something?"
He shook his head, smiling lightly, "Nah."
"Hmm, hit man?"
Now Jackson laughed, "I'm a lousy shot."
Lisa took another stab at it. "Hmm, the Mafia?"
"The money's shit."
Lisa frowned a little at that. She generally wasn't too fond of swearing, she could handle it from people she knew. But Jackson she barely knew.
Nodding, Lisa sped up a little. "Um, okay, so why don't you just tell what you do?"
Jackson who had smiled at Lisa's obvious discomfort moved with little effort to catch up to her. "I already did."
"Okay, what you do is your own business. Just as long as your not…"
Jackson looked at her puzzled. Lisa stopped and sighed, she didn't want to get into trouble in the airport. "Hijacking a plane or something."
"Ah, no I'm not suicidal."
Lisa nodded her head again, tucking a curl behind her ear. She began to walk again, "That's good."
Jackson who had been watching Lisa move away from him with obvious amusement now caught up behind Lisa. "You know your right, most of the time it is my own business. But as fate would have it, my business is all about you."
Lisa stopped dead in her tracks, fear running through her. She knew she needed to run, scream, and get away from this crazy stranger. "What did you say?"
"You heard me."
Steeling herself Lisa began to move again calling after her, "Your right, I'm out of here."
"Alright, but I think first you should look at this." As Lisa turned to him, Jackson tossed a black item at her.
Catching it with the tip of her fingers Lisa felt as if all of time had stopped. It was her fathers wallet.