3 months later…

Julie was is her office working late as usual.

Kit, who was a co-worker, who had become close to Julie over the past couple of months, came in.

"Hey Julie you got a sec?"

"Sure" Julie said without looking up from her work.

"Julie have you ever thought of having anything to do with hockey again?"  Kit asked.

"No."

"Do you ever think about it?"

"No." 

"Oh, because see, I was wondering, the Islanders are playing and East Coast Automation gave us season passes.  Would you ever consider going?"

"…No."

"Oh, ok."

"Well they are in your name.  So would you mind if I went with someone?"

"No."

"No, like no I cant use them, or No, you don't mind?"

Julie snickered and looked up for the first time since Kit entered.

"Go ahead and use them Kit."  She said with a smile.

"Thanks Jules you're the best."

Julie froze; she had not been called 'Jules' since the ducks…

Kit left without noticing.

//No, do not even think about it Gaffney.  You are not going!  Besides, you will be in Paris this week on business//

"Ms. Gaffney?" Julie's admin called over the phone intercom. 

"Yes Karen?"

"I have all your travel arrangements for Paris.  Would you like me to come in and show you?"

"Sure that will be fine."

"I know you hate flying commercial aircraft, but your father will be using the Jet."

"Oh don't worry about it, I like it just fine, I rarely do it so it's alright"… "Okay so I will be returning in 3 days on the 15th?" 

"Yes that is correct.  First class of course, your flight departs at 2pm their time." 

"Okay, thank you.  Is that all?"

"Yes it is."

"Thank you, Karen.  Have a good night, thanks for all your hard work, just in case I don't say it enough."

"Oh, my pleasure.  Goodnight Ms. Gaffney.  Have a good trip."

"Goodnight."

*****

"Okay Dean, here are your travel arrangements.  Don't worry everything will be great."

"I'm not worried.  Everything will go as planned.  We'll have that company signed no problem."

"Great.  Will you have any problems at the airport?"

"No, I speak fluent French."

"You do?"

"Yes.  I took it for about 6 years, two in HS and 4 in College."

"Wow, I knew you could speak Spanish and German, but I didn't know you knew French."

"So, I have stop in JFK, and then on to Paris?"

"Yes, but it's just for loading and refuel, you may have to get off the plane for security purposes, but I don't think so."

"So, I will be leaving Paris when?"

"Your plane should take off at about 2pm their time."

"On the 15th correct?"

"Yes, that is correct.  With the stop in NYC again."

"Ok."

"Is that everything?  No more questions about this?"

"Nope."

"Great, well have a great trip."

*****

"Now Boarding flight 2035 to Paris, France 1st class at this time."  Announced the flight attendant.

//That's me.//

"Thank you Ms. Gaffney, enjoy your flight."

"Thank you."

//I thought I didn't mind commercial flights, but on second thought, it is going to be a really long flight…//

….Many hours later…

"Les dames et les Messieurs bienvenus à Paris…"

//Finally, I am so sick of this plane!// 

//Baggage Claim to the right, okay//

"Mr. Portman?"

Julie heard a voice call.

"Mr. Portman?"

//Oh wow, I haven't heard that name in…//

"Mr. Portman…"

//Oh there is my bag!//

"I'm Mr. Portman"  Julie heard.  She whirled around to see whose voice that was; because she could swear, she knew that voice. 

//It's not possible, he's dead!//

She ran through the crowd but saw no one she recognized, not even the man that was calling for that name.

//I guess I am just tired, I didn't get any sleep.  Besides… he is dead//

"Hello James."

"Hello Ms. Gaffney.  Here let me take those for you."

"Okay, thank you."

"Home?"

"Yes please, I need some sleep, and some food."

//Shake it off Duchess get it together!  Just 3 days and we can go home.//