Rayford stepped out of the cockpit and saw Hattie and Tony talking quietly.
"Hello," he walked over to them and they both looked up with a smile. "I thought I'd take a sun up stroll. How are our passengers?"
"Everything seems to be in perfect order Captain Steele," Tony replied.
"I'm glad."
He leaned over and whispered to Hattie before he excused himself. Hattie brushed her hand down Rayford's arm when Tony was far enough away.
"I wondered if I'd see you before we landed." She said softly. Acknowledging it would be his first response to her touch, Rayford gently put his hand on Hattie's waist. Her eyes sparkled as he focused on them.
"Of course I'd come find you," he said. He'd taken Hattie for dinner many times in the last several years, but this time was different. This would be when he'd ask her about beginning a relationship. It could be the final crack between him and Irene, but he'd felt their marriage was over for years already. Although he would be four thousand miles away, he wouldn't have to tell Irene. Could he have the best of both worlds? He knew it wasn't fair to Hattie, but she knew he needed to stay married for Ray Jr. As long as he took a breath and relaxed, he'd be able to figure it all out.
"Ray? Captain Steele?" Hattie asked softly. He was pulled back to reality and saw her worried expression. "You look pale. Are you alright?"
He cleared his throat and shook his head. "Long flight," he finally managed to get out. "I'll get some breakfast before we head to the hotel... Want to join me?"
"Why Captain," she blushed, but smiled smugly, "you've never been so nervous asking me to join you for a meal. Do you happen to have more than eggs on your mind?"
Rayford refused to confirm or deny her accusation. He didn't want to show her his feelings until he was sure what they were.
"I should go back into the cockpit and see that Chris can handle the plane."
Hattie chuckled and touched his shoulder again before she walked away. Rayford tried to push the thoughts of Irene, Chloe and Raymie out of his mind as he watched Hattie walk away.
"How was everything?" Chris smiled as Rayford slid into his seat.
"Fine, just fine." The rest of the flight was routine, but Chris and Rayford were still tired after the landing.
"I'm ready to get some sleep." He admitted.
"So am I," Rayford said carrying his flight bag, "but I need to get some food first."
"I'd join you Cap, but you'd have to carry me to the hotel."
"Get some sleep Smith. I have no intention of carrying you anywhere." As he walked through the terminal, Hattie walked up behind him.
"I think first officer Smith can take care of himself," she smiled.
Rayford reached for her bag and deliberately brushed his hand against hers in the process. They found a quiet restaurant not far from Heathrow to eat. After they were seated and ordered a bottle of red wine, he took his hand in hers.
"Hattie, I've done a lot of thinking lately- about my life, about us..." He took a breath and looked into her eyes. "I'm ready to start a relationship with you. We've known each other for years and I've grown to know you. I'm attracted to you."
Hattie smiled softly, but looked at the table. He could hear her feet move under the table before she cleared her throat.
"I'm attracted to you Rayford," she paused, "but is this just because of Irene's devotion to the church? If she wasn't so into her faith would you still love her? Am I just a-"
"Hattie," Rayford said squeezing her hand to stop her. "This had nothing to do with Irene. Yes, her obsession might have put a bigger wedge between us, but there's no future for us. I love you Hattie. I love you. It's been hard and taken a while to sort everything out because I didn't want to hurt Raymie or Chloe, but I'm tired of hiding it."
"Ray," Hattie blushed unable to speak. "I never realized."
"I didn't want you to because after my children, you are the next person I didn't want to hurt. I care about you so deeply, I have a long time." Slowly, he leaned up, reached across the table and kissed Hattie for the first time. Her sweet lips were better than he'd imagined and he could smell her perfume It took a few more sniffs before he realized it was a bottle he'd purchased for her.
Rayford groaned irritatedly as he laid in bed. Hattie raised her head to look at him as her hand remained on his chest.
"Is something wrong?"
"I was going to call Irene and tell her when we landed. That's all she asked of me when I left yesterday." He picked up his cell phone and dialed home. Rayford stared at his wedding ring as he waited for her to answer the phone. He had been unfaithful. Things were so far south he wasn't sure they could repair things, but he knew he'd always been faithful and that was gone. Her voice was so cheerful when she answered the phone that he wanted to get sick.
"Late flight? You thought you'd land hours ago."
"Things got caught up and I had dinner with the crew before we got some rest to avoid jet lag."
"Okay," she said. That was another thing to get Rayford. She was always so trusting even when she had no reason to be anymore. "Well, I need to go get Raymie. We'll see you when you get home. Remember you promised Raymie you'd go to church with us Sunday."
He groaned loudly. "Do we have to discuss this overseas now Irene?"
"It's for your son! Besides it couldn't hurt you to go every once in a while," she sighed. "Never mind, I didn't say anything. We'll see you in a few days."
"Yeah."
"I love you Rafe."
Rayford paused unsure of what to say. He didn't want to mumble an "I love you" that he wasn't sure he meant anymore, especially not with Hattie leaning against his arm.
"Bye Irene." He hung up and sighed. Rayford felt Hattie rest back against his chest and run her fingers down his bare skin. He'd had the miles between him and his wife and the courage to suggest a relationship with his senior flight attendant, but did he have the ability to live a double life back in Chicago? He knew he was about to find out.
