Author Note:

Once again, you're pretty much getting two updates in one day. I know that many of you were waiting eagerly for this, so here you go!

Thanks, as always, for your reviews! I'm starting to get messages that people are recommending this story to friends and fellow readers – wow, I'm flattered! I still can't quite believe that this many of you are reading this – much less telling others to read it and flagging as a "favorite" story. Seriously. Y'all honor me.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Troy?"

"Yeah?"

"It's Ryan. Listen, she just went through security and I checked that her flight was on time. So, the timing should still be alright."

"Did you talk to the gate agent?"

"Yeah, and she said that you sound like a sweet boy and that it shouldn't be a problem. She'll make sure that it all gets to her flight. And here's the number you have to call – 852-774-0321. I think she said that it's the phone in the first class galley or something."

"And we're sure that it's going to get me to the right people?"

I could hear Ryan sigh through the phone. "Troy, I promise that JFK gate agents are not usually on my list of accommodating people. If this woman wants to help you, let's just run with that, eh?"

I laughed a little and admitted, "I just really want this to work."

"Trust me, so do my wife and I," Ryan laughed. "Troy, I know that we haven't seen each other in, you know, a while, but I have literally never seen my sister like this. Not even when she was in love with you the first time."

"Really?"

"Seriously, man," Ryan affirmed. "Listen, I'm about to head down into the subway and I'm going to loose you completely, so let me just say good luck and I'm sure that Shar will call me and fill me in."

"Great, man, thanks."

I clicked my phone shut and checked my watch. A flight from JFK to LAX usually took about five and a half hours. That should give me enough time.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we've now reached our cruising altitude…"

The flight attendant droned on about seemingly nothing and I went back to the packet of information that I had been pouring over for since we had taken off. It was a proposal for a model program that I could use when I went into high schools to teach about international sex trafficking. Some things I liked and some things I didn't, but over all, it was just beginning to feel real. This was my new job. This is really what I was going to do.

I had splurged and bought a first class seat, for the simple reason of more room to spread out my folders for the five and half hour flight. The businessman seated next to me must have thought I was nuts a few times as I began to cry a few times as I read statistics that should not be real. For instance, the average age of a prostitute in Bangkok is 9. Average. I almost threw up on that one.

"Miss Evans?"

I looked up to see the flight attendant standing over me with a small box. "Yes?"

"I was instructed to give this to you."

I accepted the box in confusion. "Thanks."

"Absolutely. If you need anything further, please let me know."

If I need anything further than the creepy anonymous box? Awkward.

It seemed to be a standard airline meal box, so I wasn't quite sure why I had been given it…

… Until I opened it.

Snuggled inside the box was a stuffed elephant from Amani – just like the one that I had picked out for Orville, actually – and a few bags of Kenyan tea. Also, a note.

So you're away from home for a few sleeps. I thought maybe I could send some stuff along on this flight that could make the transition a little easier. If you ask the flight attendant, they've agreed to (well, I hope they have – if not… ask really nicely and use those bargaining skills I know so well) brew a cup of chai for you. Take a deep breath of Orville (that's what I've named him)… the next time you smell that cologne, it'll be on me. I can't wait.

I love you.

I stuffed my nose into the elephant – sorry, Orville – and sniffed as strongly as I could. Troy must have bathed this thing in his cologne, but I could also faintly detect the deep woody smell of Gracia. He had no idea how much… Oh gosh. I just…

"Miss Evans?"

I blinked up through tears and noticed the flight attendant hovering, "Yeah?"

"Would you like me to make that tea for you?"

I nodded and surrendered one of the bags.

"Excuse me," the woman across the aisle spoke up, "I just wanted to say that I was already on the plane when your boyfriend called to explain what was going on and I don't know you at all, but please hold on to that one."

I laughed, "Trust me, ma'am. I plan on it."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The TV says that she's been landed for twenty-four minutes.

Twenty-four bloody minutes.

Where the hell is she? Is she shopping the airport boutiques? Is there possibly anything more important than me?

Wait. Door opening…

Negative, Ghost Writer.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Stuck on tarmac. Will physically walk to you myself soon.

I had sent the text a few seconds ago and was just about to put the phone back in my bag when I felt it vibrate again.

Do it. Right now. Grab Orville and make a run for it.

I giggled and typed quickly.

Just be prepared for me to tackle you when they finally let me off.

"Is that him?" My new friend Nancy asked me. I grinned at her and nodded. After the delivery of my first package (yes, first, there were more), I began to tell her the story of Troy and me, realizing that it was really every bit as romantic as wonderful out loud and to other people as it was to me.

No problem. Tackle away.

I chewed my lip for a few seconds before coming up with the reply back.

I would prefer if you were shirtless when I got off the plane. Can you arrange that? It just might save time.

I can't believe I sent that.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I double-checked the text before I casually made my way to the bathroom. Slipping into a stall and sliding my t-shirt over my head, I snapped a photo and hit 'send'.

She wants to play dirty, well then bring it on, Blondie.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Holy hell I have to get off this plane right now.

I was about to type something when the captain announced that our gate had opened and we would be taxiing into place in the next few minutes.

My joy overfloweth, isn't that what Dinah always says?

Literally, I swear that my skin is the only thing keeping me from going everywhere at once in sheer excitement.

Stay put. We're taxiing.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Stay put? Does she think I just whipped my shirt off in the middle of the airport?

Well, lovenug, the picture was taken in the bathroom. Did you really think that I had added exhibitionist to my list of hobbies since I left Kenya?

I sent the text off and then laughed out loud at her reply.

Girl can dream, can't she?

I love this woman.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I bid goodbye to Nancy and Brenda (the flight attendant who made me promise to email her the rest of the story) and made my way up the jetway and into the airport. It had been a long time since I had flown into LAX, so I searched for the signs that lead me to baggage claim.

He promised that he'd be just on the other side of security. I grabbed my phone and sent one last text.

Off the plane. Get ready, boy. I'm coming.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Flowers. Check.

Large/Slight obnoxious sign? Check.

One last text message.

Gabs. It's go time.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I saw all of the paraphernalia that he had purchased before I even saw him. I broke through the security doors laughing right out loud.

"Really, Bolton? Was all of this necessary?" I called to him as I began to walk – as slowly as I could make myself – towards him. I wanted to savor this moment. Savor his eye contact and the fact that the man had literally brought a dozen African violets with him to the airport. Savor the sign that was hanging on the wall next to him that read "karibu hawa ya moyo" which is one of the most grammatically awful sentences in Swahili, but transliterated means "Welcome Fervent Love of my Life".

He was casually leaning on the wall – with one foot tucked up behind him – and he was wearing one the shirts that he wore a lot in Africa. It was this deep brown that made his eyes just… pop… and well, yeah… "It's not everyday that you manage to tear yourself away from that continent and come home to me."

Yeah, about that…

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I'm hoping that she's walking this damn slowly because she loves drama or wants to savor the moment or some crap like that. Well, if she's not going to run to me, I'm not going to run to her.

She stopped about three inches in front of me and pulled Orville out of the pocket of her hoodie. "Troy, I…"

Really, we're going to talk about the elephant first?

I pushed myself off of the wall and placed my hands on the back of her head. By the time my lips found hers, her hands were under my shirt.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

You know all of those awful romance novels that your mom tells you never to read but you do anyway? Where they talk of "drinking in each other's mouths" and crap like that?

It's true. It's possible.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I pulled back and moved my hands down to her waist. Pulling her closer, I whispered, "Hi."

"Hi," she giggled a little back. She leaned in to kiss me again – and who am I to stop her? – but pulled away quicker this time.

Her eyes dwelled for a minute on the sign. "Do you want to know how wrong that is?"

"Nope, I'd rather we just assume that you know what I'm trying to say and appreciate the fact that I had to go out and buy a Swahili-English dictionary and that's how much I love you."

She shrugged, "I can live with that."

"Baggage claim?" I asked, reaching for her bookbag (that had been dropped on the ground while I ravaged her mouth. You heard me right. Ravaged. That's how I roll.) and started to walk.

"Hold on."

"Yeah?"

"Before I loose this moment," she began and produced Orville again. "You did not have to and I know you're going to say that you wanted to but you need to know that in my wildest dreams and fantasies which are pretty extensive I just never imagined that anyone would go to those lengths and you're just amazing and I need you to know that."

I pursed my lips to keep from laughing. "Don't forget to breath, love."

She slugged me in the arm and we gathered up the flowers and sign and her carry-ons and starting following signs for baggage claim.

"Hey," she turned to me suddenly. "Do we have plans right now?"

I shook my head, "None specific."

She grinned. "Excellent. Then when we get to your car, I'll drive."

"You haven't driven a car in like four years. I'll drive. But you can tell me where we're going."

"Fine."

"Which is?"

"What?"

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there."

"Still in charge in America I see."

"Ice Queens don't die, they just thaw slightly."

"Fair."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&