Last Flight Read online

  For their body clocks, it was two o’clock in the morning. Robbie was now fast asleep in his mother’s arms, and Emilia was nodding herself. Logan never slept on planes. He never could. He didn’t fancy not being aware if they plummeted to their deaths into a mountain.

  ‘Ford.’ He whispered in her ear, so as not to wake Robbie. ‘You look exhausted. Do you want me to hold your boy? So, you can get some proper sleep.’ She went defensive and tightened her hold on her baby. Trusting someone else with her child was not something she did, not after her own childhood experiences. ‘If any issues arise, I will tell you straight away. No harm will come to the boy.’

  ‘You might be trying to kidnap him.’

  ‘On a plane? Thousands of feet in the air?’ He smirked but understood her worry.

  Finally, she agreed to let him hold him, passing him over carefully. It was off to see Robbie in a man’s arms. None of the men at work were interested and Anthony only held him on his hip. No one had ever held him so tenderly before. Logan seemed to be transfixed by him, Emilia smiled at them both, then finally got some sleep.

  Robbie started to stir in his arms. He stretched his little limbs and his eyes opened. His face turned to confusion when he realized it wasn’t his mum staring down at him. He started babbling.

  ‘Looks like you’ve had enough sleep.’ He smiled, it was odd. He never thought he would find a stranger’s baby so cute. His own family, of course, but not a random stranger. Robbie had tufts of dark brown hair and brown eyes. He clearly didn’t take after his mother, she was all blonde and green eyes. He started babbling again and reached up to grab Logan’s face.

  ‘Oi,’ he laughed. ‘What are you doing, little troublemaker.’ Robbie laughed with him. The plane started to shake violently. It was only turbulence, but Logan didn’t care what it was. ‘Bloody hell.’ He didn’t know what to do, he was terrified. Robbie was still in his arms and he couldn’t hold onto anything. He didn’t have the heart to wake Emilia, she was too exhausted. The planed shook again and the seatbelt sign pinged on. Emilia stirred from her sleep.

  ‘Oh dear.’ She saw Logan’s panicked face and took Robbie from him. ‘I’m so sorry.’ He said, grabbing onto the arm rests and trying to ease his breathing.

  ‘It’s fine, I didn’t want to wake you.’ He chuckled nervously.

  ‘Oh, don’t you worry about that.’ She said, slapping his arm gently. ‘He’s my responsibility. Jesus, I bet you think I’m an awful mother. I never pawn my child off on strange men. Never. You just seemed so genuine, and I was so tir-’

  ‘Woah, love. Calm down. I can assure you. I don’t think you’re awful, not one bit. You’re just exhausted. Is there anyone to help you?’ He asked, not sure if he was prying too much.

  ‘A father you mean?’ He nodded. ‘No.’

  There was an awkward silence between them which seemed to last forever.

  Twenty minutes later, Emilia blurted out.

  ‘He took off. Robbie’s father. The minute I told him, he packed a bag and left. Didn’t even bother to sneak out at night.’ Logan was taken aback. He couldn’t believe. Who would ever want to leave such a beautiful little family?

  ‘I’m so sorry, he sounds like a wanker. Excuse my language, but he does. Who would leave a beautiful woman like you? Idiot.’

  ‘I was the idiot.’

  ‘Did you know his father well? Or was it a one-night stand sort of thing?’ That was maybe a bit too personal.

  ‘I knew him well. It’s a long, sad complicated story. Maybe another time.’ Which was ridiculous. There would never be another time. They were just two strangers passing in the night.

  ‘I’m accustomed to wanting to keep those stories private, love.’ As he was about to ask another question, Robbie started whining.

  ‘I think he’s hungry. Urm, I’m still breastfeeding.’

  ‘Oh.’ He stuttered. What did he do with this information?

  ‘It’s just… if you’re not comfortable with it, I’ll go to the bathroom.’

  ‘Don’t be absurd. That dingy toilet is no place for a baby! I’ll just… read the flight magazine until you’re finished.’ He smiled, giving her a wink.

  ‘Are you always a gentleman?’

  ‘Only most of the time.’ He gave her a suggestive look, which made her laugh. Was he flirting? No, why would a single, handsome man like him be flirting her, a single mother? Though she had to admit to herself, if they were in a different time and setting, she was sure they would have tumbled into bed together.

  ‘I’m weaning him off soon, it’s all getting a bit much.’

  ‘I understand, love. My sister-in-law weaned her around this age.’

  Robbie had had his fill and was soon sleepy again. Logan was a gentleman like he said and kept his eyes averted to make Emilia feel more comfortable. She had clearly had trouble in the past if she was considering going to that disgusting toilet to feed him.

  ‘Is the lad feeling better?’ He smiled, placing the magazine back in the seat. It wasn’t of much interest, selling overpriced alcohol, perfume, and cigarettes.

  ‘Seems so. Thank you for being so understanding.’

  ‘Don’t mention it.’ He waved a hand away, looking down.

  She grabbed his hand, ‘I mean it. Some people are assholes about it.’ His eyes shot to hers. The blue pierced through her, he looked vulnerable and closed off at the same time. She offered him a small smile, and he laughed then blushed. She giggled at him.

  ‘Can you make all men feel like a teenage boy with a silly crush?’

  ‘Most.’ She winked.

  Robbie stirred in her arms.

  ‘Two hours left.’ Sighed Emilia, though she felt rather sad about it. She would never see this man again. They had discussed movies, music, TV, the less personal elements of their lives. Although she did tell him she was in foster care all her life, and he told her that his brother was in the Navy but hadn’t seen each other for three years, due to him being in America.

  ‘Seems a shame.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, we clearly get on great, yet we will never see each other again.’ Was he a mind-reader? ‘We have similar interests, yet we just happen to be two strangers on a flight.’ Both of them felt a strange sadness that this was the first and last time they would ever meet.

  ‘Why don’t we just treasure these next two hours?’ She suggested. He nodded in agreement. With an hour left, they chatted and sat in comfortable silence, until Robbie started to stir. He was a bored eight-month year old.

  ‘Shall I take him for a walk up and down the plane?’ He asked. ‘It might settle him before we land – and me.’

  ‘Be my guest.’ Logan picked up Robbie and stood up. Robbie lay on his chest and he bounced him up and down, causing him to giggle.

  ‘You’re such a good boy, Robbie. Shall we go for a little adventure on the plane?’

  Emilia watched them both walking up and down the aisle, people around her were pointing and whispering, ‘aww isn’t that cute’. She wondered what it would be like. His father being in the picture. Would Daniel have walked up and down the plane to settle him? That wasn’t worth thinking about. Daniel wasn’t here. Logan was.

  ‘Prepare for landing.’

  Logan brought Robbie back with a happy smile. He kept him on his knee for a little while longer until the seatbelt sign came on.

  ‘Oh, do you know where the Turner hotel is in London?’ She asked, how was she ever going to cope here?

  ‘Aye, love. My brother is picking me up, as he’s on leave. Would you like a lift to the hotel, I’m sure Adrian won’t mind?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t want to intrude.’

  ‘You won’t be. Taxis can be so expensive. It would be my honor, to know you and Robbie are safe.’ He beamed. ‘Plus, then I get some more time with you.’ He winked.

  They had landed with little trouble and Logan was happy to be coming home, it’s what he had wanted for the last six months, but he wasn’t sure how welc
ome he would be, after packing up and leaving so suddenly. His family assured him that he would be welcomed with open arms.

  He assisted Emilia with getting her luggage off the conveyer belt, just being a gentleman, he had said, when she gave him an odd look.

  ‘Right, shall we go and see my brother?’ He beamed. He had talked a lot about Adrian on the flight, about how their parents died early, so their aunt took them in, but she was a very busy, no nonsense woman at the time. He also told her about how Adrian joined the Navy and climbed the ranks.

  They pulled their luggage along, Robbie now in a carrier on Emilia’s chest, and walked to the car park. Adrian was leaning on his car, a blue Audi. When he saw Logan, he ran over to him and swept him into a big bear hug.

  ‘Logan!’ Emilia felt awkward watching the embrace, she didn’t want to pry on such a private moment. ‘I never thought I’d see you again.’ She noticed that Adrian’s voce was softer, tinted with other accents, whereas Logan’s was rougher. She also noticed Adrian looked like the gentler man, he was clean shaven with lighter brown, curly hair. They had the same piercing eyes, but Adrian oozed authority, he towered above Logan in height and had more muscle in comparison, though he was well built too.

  ‘I know, I’m sorry. I should have visited when you were on leave.’ He looked ashamed of himself, it was so obvious who was the eldest. She never imagined Logan looking so guilty.

  ‘You had things on, Logan. Anyway, you’re being awfully rude. Who is your friend?’ He smiled at Emilia. The two brothers hadn’t even spoken for years apart from a quick text asking when he wanted picking up, and Adrian was already telling him off.

  ‘Oh, this is Emilia and Robbie. He smiled at the little boy. She waved shyly, and Robbie laughed at Adrian and stretched out his arms.

  ‘Is there a massive part of your life I have missed, bro?’

  ‘Oh, no! We met on the flight.’ Shot Emilia. We’re not together, and Robbie is just my son.’ Adrian breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Thank God, I didn’t think he would keep that big of a surprise.’

  ‘Can we take Emilia to her hotel?’ Asked Logan, moving swiftly on, before he got a romance talk. He didn’t want to deal with Adrian’s lectures about finding a nice woman and settling down. He tried that, she broke his heart.

  ‘Of course, hop in.’ He smiled.

  ‘I’ll get the bags.’ Said Logan, taking Emilia’s and his own, then hoisting them into the boot. He joined her in the back of the car and gave her a shy smile when they made eye contact. ‘You okay, love?’

  ‘Couldn’t be better.’

  Chapter Two

  Adrian pulled up outside the Turner hotel. Logan gave Emilia a hand with her stuff, then walked her to reception. The hotel was nice, at least Anthony had the decency to give her a nice place to stay.

  ‘Well, this is it.’ He scratched his neck. ‘It’s been a pleasure, Ford.’

  ‘It has.’ She smiled, they both took an awkward pause. She made the next move and gave him a hug, as best as she could with a baby strapped to her. ‘Thank you, for everything. You made this transition a lot easier.’ She kissed him on the cheek and he blushed.

  ‘Just being a-’

  ‘Gentleman.’ She laughed, releasing him. He said goodbye to Robbie, who was shaking his dinosaur toy.

  ‘Enjoy the toy, mate.’ He smiled, giving his hair a ruffle. He stood up straight and smiled.

  ‘Goodbye, Emilia.’

  ‘Goodbye, Logan.’ She watched him walk out of the hotel. He looked back partially, then turned away shyly when he knew she was watching.

  Logan walked to his brother’s car and joined him in the front, but he didn’t start the car.

  ‘What are you doing? Let’s go.’ He said.

  ‘You like her.’ Adrian’s teasing grin made Logan roll his eyes and tut. Now was not the time.

  ‘What? Don’t be absurd.’

  ‘I haven’t seen you smile at a woman like that in years, if ever.’

  ‘You haven’t seen me in years.’ He pointed out, but Adrian ignored his comment.

  ‘Go and ask her on a date.’

  ‘She wouldn’t say ‘yes’, she has Robbie. I’m sure a man is the last thing she wants. Plus, she’s beautiful, and way out of my league.’ He said.

  ‘True. But just go and ask her, or we aren’t going home.’

  ‘You’re such a stubborn arsehole.’ He sighed, getting out of the car and slamming the door. Adrian didn’t miss the skip in his step as he hopped the step.

  ‘What do you mean you don’t have my booking?!’ Stressed Emilia. This was fucking ridiculous. How could she not have a booking, she was supposed to be here for six months.

  ‘There are no rooms available, miss.’ The receptionist answered.

  ‘What am I supposed to do? I have an eight-month-old! Are you sure, it was booked under an Anthony Ross.’ The receptionist searched her computer, then shook her head. As she sighed, she spotted Logan in the corner of her eye. ‘Thank God, Logan! My room hasn’t been booked and there’s no vacancies. I haven’t got a clue what to do.’

  ‘Shit, that’s not good. Have you tried ringing work?’ He asked, thankful Adrian had sent him back in after her.

  ‘Anthony isn’t picking up. Shitty job.’ She was panicking, this was a highly stressful time and she didn’t know a thing about living in London. At that moment, Robbie started to cry. ‘No, no, not now Robbie. Please.’ She had dialed Anthony again, still no answer.

  ‘Here,’ Said Logan, offering to take Robbie. She nodded to him in appreciation and went to the window trying to get through to Anthony. He bounced him gently up and down. ‘Hey, cheeky man. Shh, be a good boy. Mummy is just a bit stressed.’ He rocked him back and forth, eliciting a giggle. ‘Yes, that’s better. Oo, look, it’s your dinosaur.’ More giggles. ‘Yay! That’s better. Happy Robbie!’

  Emilia returned. No luck. It would be late in New York, but she had nowhere to go. She spotted Logan and Robbie laughing. He was such a natural with him, it made her heart swell.

  ‘No luck. Anthony’s probably out partying and sleeping with half of New York. I don’t know what to do.’ She sighed.

  ‘This might be odd. But, urm. Well, I have a spare room, in my apartment. Maybe…’

  ‘Oh! Logan, we barely know each other. And I’ve accepted enough charity off you. I can’t burden you like that. I bet all you want to do is see the back of me.’ He scratched his neck with his free hand, that was his tell.

  ‘Well, actually, I came back to ask you on a date.’ He looked at Robbie to avoid her gaze.

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘It was stupid asking. Adrian made me. Well, I want to, but I know you have more important things to think about.’

  ‘No, urm. Well, of course I do, but I mean… a date might not be dreadful.’ She smiled.

  ‘My dates are usually quite dreadful, I mean, not my plans. Just, Fiona, Adrian’s wife, used to set me up with her work friends and they just didn’t get me.’ She understood that. She had had a fair few dates where the men had no real interest in her. They just wanted to get her into bed. Not that she wanted much else either.

  ‘Well, I obviously need to get settled first. But, maybe one day, we can go on a date.’ She smiled.

  ‘Does that mean you’ll take my spare room?’

  ‘I guess it’s the best offer I have.’

  Logan couldn’t believe, was she really taking him up on his offer?

  They arrived at his apartment. They joked in the car about how Logan was supposed to ask for a date, not for her to move in, the pair just laughed and said they were doing things the unconventional way. Logan and his family lived in a quiet area outside London which had nice houses that were newly built. He had explained they had to move to a quieter area, to make it more comfortable for their aunt. She was too stressed in Kensington, her Alzheimer’s not helping.

  Fiona was waiting for Adrian and Logan in the front room with her children. As soon as they saw Logan, they
leapt onto him, screaming and cheering that their uncle was back. Emilia stood nervously at the door, she felt uncomfortable, she felt like an intruder, though Logan could not have tried to make her feel more at home.

  ‘Uncle Logan!’ They cheered. James dived on his back and Ellie hugged his neck and place kisses on his face. ‘We missed you!’ Judy, Logan’s aunt smiled from her armchair and beckoned him over.

  ‘Hello, Adrian! I’ve missed you an awful lot.’

  ‘It’s Logan, auntie.’ He smiled, Adrian had warned him about her condition.

  I know what I meant, you boys look so alike.’ Adrian came into the room, escorting Emilia with the bags.

  ‘I don’t look anything like that ugly toad.’ Said Adrian, placing down the suitcases.

  ‘Wow, she looks like a princess.’ Smiled Ellie, shyly from behind a blanket looking up at Emilia.

  ‘I forgot you got married, Logan, really is my Alzheimer’s kicking in. Ellie, she’s not a princess. This is Logan’s wife.’ Said his aunt.

  ‘Oh, no. Auntie, no. This is Emilia. Not my wife.’ He laughed. Emilia was shocked, they were such a lovely little family.

  ‘Be quiet, Logan. I remember your wedding day.’ That struck Emilia. Had he been married and divorce? ‘You had a lovely blue theme like the sea.’

  ‘Urm, auntie. That was my wedding.’ Said Adrian, showing her his ring. ‘See, Logan has no ring.’

  ‘Oh, you’re not Fiona. Where is she?’

  ‘I’m right here.’ She chuckled. It was easier to make light of the situation then leave everyone in a poor mood.

  ‘In my defense. You two girls look quite similar.’ Everyone in the room looked from Emilia to Fiona, bar Robbie who was looking at the ceiling.

  ‘She has a point.’ Said Adrian.

  ‘Emilia has green eyes.’ Said Logan.