"What Taylor? What's happened?" I demand.
"Sierra Bravo had mechanical issues but fortunately it was close enough to the airport that they made a successful emergency landing. Other than a little whip lash and shock everyone on board is fine but the aeroplane is grounded until further notice so they may have to travel back by road if no other flights are available" he sighs.
"Was it sabotage again Taylor?" I feel panicked and want to speak to Christian urgently.
"At this stage it is under investigation and NYPD are looking into it as well as SPD this end. Of course NTSB will also be involved." he nods "Mr Grey said he would call as soon as he is finished at the hospital and police station"
"Good, how long do you anticipate that to be?" I ask.
"Uncertain at this stage but soon hopefully and I am to stay here with you until he calls" Taylor looks a little uncomfortable.
"Thank you Taylor, please help yourself to some food and drink as I am sure you have been too busy" I point toward the kitchen.
Our mood has been soured by Taylor's news but at least we know they are all ok. Kate and I start talking and I tell her that I really believe Elena is behind this, not actually doing the sabotaging but paying someone to do this and Kate readily agrees with me but we also know that every available resource is being utilised to trace whoever is doing this.
The phone rings and I practically jump on it
"Hello, Christian is that you?" I almost shout.
"Hey baby, it's me, calm down, I'm ok, Elliot is ok and so are the rest of the team" the line is crackling "we are carrying on with business but be back on Saturday instead of Friday ok pumpkin?"
"Oh Christian, I am so relieved, love you, will you put Elliot on for Kate?" I ask.
"Sure baby, will call tomorrow, get some sleep and love you too" I can almost hear him smile.
I hand the phone over to Kate so she and Elliot can make sure the other is fine, she is lightly sobbing and I imagine Elliot to be gently telling her to be calm, all is well and he loves her. She eventually smiles and wishes him a goodnight before putting the phone down.
"Oh boy" I say as we hug each other.
"I think I need to go to bed Ana, sorry is that ok?" bless her.
"You and me both, I feel exhausted now so sleep well and call me if you need anything" I tell her, she nods and head down the corridor to the spare room.
"Goodnight Taylor" I remember he is still in the kitchen.
"Goodnight Miss Steele, call me if you need anything"
"I will Taylor" I smile and turn toward the bedroom, sleep doesn't take long to come take me but it's a restless dream filled sleep, it's a mix of airports, aeroplanes, Aspen, babies, Elena and Christian telling me it's all going to be ok.
I don't look or feel particularly refreshed and when Kate appears fifteen minutes later, she looks much the same. We both nibble at breakfast, Gail is trying to encourage us both with kind words but I don't think I can truly relax until Christian is here at Escala, lying next to me and Kate tells me she feels the same.
The phone rings and I practically dive on it,
"Is that you Christian? Hello?" I shout
"Hey pumpkin it's me, are you ok? You sound frantic" concern is evident in his voice.
"Everything is fine; I just needed to hear your voice, to make sure you are alright" I sigh in relief.
"I'm fine baby, a little sore but good and Elliot is fine too" he reassures.
"You have no idea how glad I am to hear that Christian"
"I can tell baby, well we are heading out to the development this morning so you have a good day and I will talk to you later" he blows a kiss down the phone and is gone.
"They are both fine and heading out to the site this morning" I tell Kate.
"Great" she says "now I have to get ready for work, not that I am really in the mood today"
"Me neither but I am going in to keep busy really. I will let Taylor know we will be leaving soon" she nods and heads toward the guest room. I phone to Taylor and tell him we will leave in the next hour, at least it gives him time to co-ordinate who on the security team is doing what. I have a shower and put on a new maternity outfit; I have given up on dresses or skirts and gone for the more comfortable trouser suit option and when Kate and I return to the kitchen a while later, it seems she has had the same thought.
Taylor arrives a short while later, he explains the routine for this journey; Taylor will drive us both then Kate will be dropped off first with Sawyer as an escort into the building, he will follow behind us. Then I will be dropped off at SIP with Taylor escorting me into the building and Sawyer on boundary patrol. I will be really glad when this is not necessary anymore.
Sophia is surprised to see me "Good morning Miss Steele, how are you?"
"I'm fine thank you Sophia, just here for a few hours, could you ask Vicky to come and see me in an hour's time please?"
"Of course Miss Steele, can I get you anything?" she asks.
"I wouldn't say no to a decaf coffee but only if you are heading that way" I smile.
"No problem, back shortly"
I settle into my desk and begin the arduous task or sorting, replying, answering e-mails and finally reading. My coffee arrives and is gone in a matter of five minutes and lunch time beckons. Sophia goes to the deli and picks up a sandwich and another drink for me as well as something for Taylor who, as ever, waits patiently for me to finish without complaint.
I have arranged with Kate and Taylor to pick her up at about 4pm and by that stage I am very ready to go home. Sawyer goes into the building to bring her out and she gets into the car and immediately kicks off her shoes and sighs.
"Oh that was a horrible, horrible day, talk about discrimination" she continues "they asked me to go to The Sudan to cover the civil war, accompanying famine and casualties. I was like, err that's not going to happen, I am not allowed to have all of the necessary vaccinations and anti-malarials are contra-indicated when pregnant so I had to say no I couldn't go and that was greeted by a round of huffs and puffs" she tuts in frustration.
"I'm sorry Kate, I know you would have liked to have gone but its ok to be disappointed you can't go honey" I try and placate her.
She sighs, rests her head on the back of the seat and closes her eyes.
"Did you talk to Elliot today?" I ask
"Yes I did this afternoon and they are making some progress but Christian is wary as usual so slow progress" she giggles "Elliot said he wished he would take his thumb out of his ass and take a risk" we both laugh and nod in agreement, only his brother could get away with saying something like that.
Escala looms closer, Sawyer does his checking first bit and we can go up, Gail, well I could kiss her for the help she gives. Food is ready, she has kept it light but very nutritious, just perfect really, Kate and I readily eat; lunch really seemed like a long time ago. We flop onto the couch afterwards in exhausted satisfaction.
"I don't know how you manage Ana, I'm 8 weeks behind you, only carrying one baby and I am totally spent" she smiles.
"I am totally spent honey and I am lucky I can work from home as I think I would have caved from the pressure otherwise" I admit honestly.
"Yeah, it's all about having sex with the boss and getting time off" I poke my tongue out at her and laugh.
"Have you thought of names yet?" Changing the subject hastily.
"We are debating a few for each; we have a short list but not got any further yet. What about you?" Kate asks.
"We have names, they kind of clicked straight away so unless the ultrasound prediction is wrong we are sorted" I smile as neither of us I going to disclose our names to the other.
"Oh that reminds me, my parents have invited Elliot and I over next weekend, you and Christian too. They think it's fascinating that two friends get involved with two brothers. The only problem is they are having some of the house renovated and don't have space for us to stay but thought we could book into a hotel nearby"
"That sounds great Kate, I will check with Christian when he gets back and let you know" I say.
"No need, Elliot apparently cleared it with Christian this morning and just need to check the hotel chosen is good with Taylor" she tells me.
"Oh that's great, did you have a hotel in mind?" Kate reaches over to the coffee table and pulls a couple of brochures over of very swanky hotels.
"I thought this one as it has a spa bath, queen beds, speciality restaurants and very nice grounds, what do you think?" Kate asks me.
"That looks fantastic" ouch so is the price but I don't think Christian will mind "Let's make a reservation and then give the details to Taylor to check out" I am so gonna love this.
Kate is on the phone making reservations, when she gives me the nod I call Taylor, give him the details and he says he will check it out and let me know.
I think this is the first time in ages I have felt like a glass of wine, not that I would but it would slip down very nicely right now. We chat for a little longer; Kate tells me a little more about her parents, I have met them several times before but a while ago and some things have changes. Her Dad owns Kavanagh Media Company for forty years and has run it very successfully. Her brother, Ethan is a news correspondent like Kate but he is more involved in war stories, old and new and lives most of the time in Paris but comes home quite frequently. He is unmarried but Kate thinks he has a Parisian girlfriend as 'Sabine' has been mentioned more than once in, let's say more than in a colleague way.
Kate's Mom is an administrator working at Kavanagh Media, her brother also used to be a reporter before he got injured by an IED in a war zone so now has a desk job but occasionally covers local stories so it really is a family business.
I talk about how I wish my Mom was different, less aloof and easier to talk too. I tell Kate I can talk to her or Grace much easier than I can to my own Mother. There is so much that I could and would like to share with her especially with the twin's arrival in the not too distant future, my relationship with Christian, her relationship with Frank and everything in between but that will never be and I find that really sad.
The last few hours have flown by, it's been great having Kate to talk too, she has agreed to stay another night seeing as Christian and Elliot won't be home until Saturday morning some time but bed is calling and work again tomorrow. We hug each other, I tell her I am so glad she is here and we go our separate ways to bed.