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"Don't forget your history nor your destiny."- Bob Marley
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Chapter 23
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After a treacherous two hour drive back to Chicago in ice and snow, a world record hotel check-out and standing in a long line to get through security the sounds of crying children, weary travelers and flight attendants in phony cheery voices were like a low roar in Sam's aching head. O'Hare Airport was a madhouse with crowds of people trying to board their flights before the weather worsened.
Sam rubbed her temples, anxious to board her flight and have a cocktail. As she and Danny sat in the waiting area she was so distracted by her feelings of disappointment that it took her a moment to notice him tapping her on the shoulder.
"Hey Sam, check it out." He pointed to the television mounted from the ceiling.
On the aged TV the local news station was airing a 'breaking story'. The volume was off but the close captioning read, "the boy was rescued without incident when the father surrendered peacefully. The police, along with the help of the FBI, tracked down the father at his girlfriend's apartment….." Suddenly Charlie appeared on screen walking a disgruntled man in handcuffs out of an apartment building alongside James who was escorting a handcuffed woman who was ducking her head from the news cameras.
"They found the kid, that's great." Danny commented with his eyes on the TV. "And pretty fast, too."
Sam hummed her agreement, her eyes glued to the TV hoping for some small glimpse of Martin when he suddenly emerged holding a little boy who had tears streaming down his face. He held the toddler tightly to him and was whispering something into the little boy's ear. The teary child looked at him and nodded his head smiling. Martin grinned and quickly rushed the boy to a waiting car. Then the news footage cut to the news anchor talking about the case.
"Well, Sam, are you regretting not having that fling?" Danny asked in a tone mixed with humor and concern.
"It doesn't matter now does it?" She replied as she began rubbing her neck.
"Do you have a headache?" He asked.
"I just want to get home already." Sam replied glancing at the check-in desk hoping that they were getting ready to announce the boarding of their flight. No one was manning the desk and wanting to talk about something completely unrelated to her she smiled and asked, "So, will Courtney be on our flight?"
"Yes, she will." Danny replied enthusiastically as he slouched back into the chair.
Out of the corner of her eye Sam saw a flight attendant walk up to the microphone. "We are ready to start boarding rows 14 through 28 of flight 1013 Chicago to New York."
Danny stood up, held out his hand and said, "That's us chica. Let's go home."
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"You've got to be kidding me." Sam growled from her middle seat. She was stuck in a tiny airline seat and growing crazier by the minute knowing that she was stuck in this limbo between Chicago and New York. "Danny, can't you ask your little girlfriend what the hold up is? We've been sitting here on the runway for almost forty minutes."
"Yeah, hang on." Danny leaned into the aisle and tried to wave Courtney over.
She saw him but just held up her index finger for him to wait. Then she winked at him as she pointed to the intercom above her head. A moment later the pilot came on and announced that the conditions were too dangerous and the flight was cancelled.
Moans and groans of disappointment echoed throughout the cabin with the exception of a single blonde woman who was smiling at just how mysteriously handy destiny could be.