Blair
I hurried into the Briefing room where the flight crew was assembled. This kind of meeting was common and necessary, as we often met the crew only an hour before boarding.
" You're late," Frank Carson, the captain, with whom I had flown a few times before, warned me as soon as I entered.
" I had a little accident on the way, I'm sorry," I offered with a warm smile, using all the diplomacy I have been forced to learn since I chose this profession.
" Go meet the rest of the crew," he nodded, letting my little slip slip slip.
I followed his directions, and a little less than an hour later I was greeting the boarding passengers.
I loved this job, it was much more than flying, it was as if for a few hours I was some sort of diplomat, trained to ensure the comfort and safety of all passengers on the aircraft.
As soon as everyone was seated and the captain activated the door locks, I and a few other flight attendants began to perform the safety demonstrations before take-off.
I felt that feeling of pleasure growing inside me as the airplane took off.
I love my job.
The trip was relatively uneventful, with only turbulent instability that hit us a few hours after take-off. Fortunately, eleven hours after take-off, we were successfully landing at Istanbul International Airport to the cheers of the passengers.
" So you want to share a cab to the hotel? " Meredith, one of my colleagues on the flight, asked as we picked up the trash left behind after the passengers had disembarked.
" I'm not going to the hotel this time, I'm going to visit my parents," I explained, picking up a glass of juice from under one of the seats. “they could return everything when we passed by collecting it the first time, instead of just leaving it on the ground.”
" Really? Your parents live in Istanbul? " she ignored my previous complaint.
" Yes, they moved to my father's home country when I graduated from high school. I had decided to go to an aviation school in California, so I stayed in the United States, and since then this has been my routine," I said, pushing the cart down the aisle of the aircraft.
" Sounds interesting," she closed one of the cargo compartments that had been left open, "it's good that you got this flight, then.”
" They usually put me on a flight to Istanbul every one or two months," I explained, "We ended up here.”
We both disembarked, and as soon as we got our bags, we went side by side through the big Istanbul airport.
" My parents live in Texas, and I don't have that many chances to see them," my colleague commented.
" I am lucky in this area," I assured her as we left in search of a cab.
I said goodbye to her before getting a car to take me to my parents' apartment in central Istanbul.
It was after ten o'clock at night when I disembarked at the door of the condominium where they had both lived for ten years. I would have gone straight into the building if the doorman, a young man I did not know, had not stopped me.
" Excuse me, miss, are you a resident? " he interrupted me.
" Ohh, my parents live here. I'm Blair Ozkan," I explained, walking back over.
But to my surprise the young man moved from his post and stood in my way, blocking my path.
" I am sorry, but Mr. and Mrs. Ozkan left earlier and I cannot allow you to go up without permission.”
" Permission? Did you miss the part where I said I am their daughter? " I blinked in a daze, "I am allowed in whenever I come.”
" Miss, I've been working here for almost two months and I don't know you," he was emphatic.
" That's because I don't live in the country " I rolled my eyes " Look, I can call my father.”
" I can't authorize it without one of the two of them being present," he insisted, to my utter frustration.
Great, what does he expect? That I sit here at the door and wait for them both?
" I just spent over ten hours standing on a plane," I crossed my arms and stared at him, "do you really want me to wait for them to come back from God knows where, when I have the password to get into my parents' house?
" I'm just following protocol, miss," he assured.
" To hell with protocol, I've always been allowed up there," I raised my voice.
" Ms. Ozkan, how nice to meet you again," a familiar voice sounded, to my relief.
I turned around in time to see Yanis, one of the oldest security guards in the condo, approach our little commotion.
" Why are you still carrying that suitcase? " he smiled, while the young doorman looked disconcerted.
" But…”
" He won't let me in because my parents are not at home," I explained, staring at the man.
Yanis gave the boy a sharp look, before forcing a smile, and then picking up my bag.
" Nonsense, Samir is new here, it was just a misunderstanding, Mr. Ozkan will be overjoyed by your presence," he assured me, already carrying my luggage toward the elevator.
A smile of relief adorned my face as I left all the confusion behind. I was exhausted, all I wanted was to take a long shower and fall into bed for some rest.
I took advantage of the fact that the place was deserted and followed my plan. I didn't even hear my parents come home, only waking up the next day with the sound of knocking on the bedroom door.
" Blair? " my mother's voice sounded.
" I'm awake," I groaned, still lying there, enjoying the total darkness of the blackout curtains.
My mother opened the door to the bedroom and turned on the light as I sat up in bed.
" What time did you get in last night? You should have called us," she opened the curtains, letting the sun flood into the room, giving us a view of the bay of buyukcekmece.
" I arrived shortly after ten," I reported as I stretched my legs.
She came over, sitting on the edge of the bed, still looking at the view of the bay.
" Go get dressed, your father wants to go out for breakfast at privato," she winked at me.
Privato was a small cafe a few blocks away from the condo, my father took me there for breakfast whenever possible.
" I'll be there in a minute," I assured her as she left the room.
I rummaged through my suitcase for something suitable to wear. In the end, I chose jeans, a red turtleneck sweater, and a pair of boots to face the Turkish autumn. The temperature was not yet that low, it was about fifteen degrees and a fine drizzle was falling outside.
I proceeded to meet them in the living room, and soon we were on our way to the café. Even with the unstable weather, the streets of Istanbul were as captivating as ever, with all its contrast between old and new, West and East.
" I want to know every detail about your flight," my father warned as we walked to avoid the chaotic city traffic.
" It was the same as every other flight, Dad. You know, it's not the first time this has happened.”
" Come on, there's always something you can share," he teased me.
" You don't stop being a gossip, do you?
" Come on Ayeleen, we have a long day ahead of us," he laughed beside me, using my middle name, opening the door for me to enter the cafe.
" The closest to gossip I can tell you is that I gave a Matcha bath to a commander before he boarded," I said after we settled down at one of the tables.
" How's that? " my mother was surprised.
" I was in a hurry and bumped into him.”
" Could this get you into trouble? " my father frowned.
" Luckily he had just disembarked," I sighed, "and I gave him a package of homemade cookies as an apology.”
That information caught my mother off guard, probably because she knew that the most advanced thing I made in the kitchen was spaghetti.
" You made cookies? " Her tone was incredulous.
" Don't be silly, Lauren. Do you remember when she tried to make that macaroni? It was unpalatable. She must have bought it," my father sneered.
" Thanks dad," I rolled my eyes, "but Abby made it, I was supposed to give it to Noah.”
My mother's expression changed from incredulous to exasperated.
" See, she didn't make it," my father pointed out.
" And you don't see anything wrong with what she said? " she returned.
" You know she gets along with her friends later."
I couldn't help smiling at this little clash between my parents; although I saw them quite often, I missed being close to both of them.
BlairWe got back to the apartment in the late morning, and soon I was sitting on the balcony, looking at the view opening up in front of me.Not for the first time, I found myself thinking about what my life would be like if I moved to Istanbul, tried a transfer, or something like that. But at the same time it was hard to think about leaving my whole life behind like that, all my friends were in New Jersey, my apartment, everything. And besides, I seriously doubted whether I could get used to the conservative customs of that country. It was one thing to visit my parents there, but it was another thing to start living under that culture." Is there a problem? " Yusef asked, sitting down next to me." No, none at all," I smiled before looking down at a package in his hands, "what is it?”" I bought it last week at the big bazaar when I heard you were coming," he reported, placing the package on my legs.I busied myself in tearing open the package under the man's watchful eye, and then
DimitriIt was almost midnight and I was walking through the halls of my building dragging my suitcase. After a long thirteen hour flight I was glad to be home, walking into the apartment, I carried my suitcase into the bedroom and headed for the shower.When I got out I picked up my cell phone and went into the living room, settling down on the couch before noting the message from Blair wishing me a good flight. After I had called her two days ago, the two of us had been texting each other constantly. It was nothing major, I was just bored at the hotel on Wednesday night and asked her for directions to a bar, which she promptly answered, and I ended the night watching Wednesday Night Hockey at a sports bar near the hotel.After that, we started talking regularly. Blair entertained me with her routine in Istanbul, and when she heard that I was going back to St. Petersburg she wished me a good trip and I couldn't help but reciprocate, knowing that she would be boarding a few hours lat
Dimitri Joe did not delay me at all, and at the appointed time we were in the car on our way to the city where my parents lived, about three hours away from St. Petersburg. I didn't visit them that often, but I tried to keep in touch regularly. " Tell me cousin, how is Maria? " Joe teased me. " What I told you back then still applies, Joe. Stay away from my sister," I threatened, referring to a time during Maria's adolescence when she found herself in love with him. Joe never got involved with her, but he liked to tease me about it. I knew that despite his fame, he would never hurt his little cousin. But that didn't stop me from threatening him every time he brought it up. " I'm just saying, I saw her pictures on the internet and the years have only done her good," he insisted. " You know what else has improved over time? My aim," I glared at him, earning a laugh from the guy. " I don't think you'd have the guts to do me any harm, cousin.” " Do you really want to find out? Besi
Blair" Come on, did you see the picture? I won that one, Commander," I couldn't help but smile. I was lying on a sun lounger on a beach near San Juan enjoying my free time before boarding." Blair, we are talking about the Duomo in Milan," Dimitri returned, exuding amusement in his voice, "you have to accept that it is a good picture." I'm not denying it, I'm saying mine is better," I returned.It had been two weeks since Dimitri and I had started keeping in touch, and practically every day we exchanged pictures of the places we were, competing to see who had the best destination." It's a beach, Blair." It's a beach in Puerto Rico, Dimitri," I returned, "Caribbean. Have you ever been to the Caribbean?” A laugh rang out on the other end of the line, causing me to bite my lower lip, feeling a growing wave of excitement rising inside me. I loved talking to him, it always made my day more interesting." No, Blair. I've never been to the Caribbean." Then we need to fix that, Comman
Blair" I don't understand, we had your engagement dinner a few weeks ago," I stared at Abby.We were both seated at a table in a restaurant near the airport where I was waiting to board my flight to my next destination. Initially I left home thinking that I would board at 10 o'clock for Argentina, but in the end, due to a flight attendant who had the flu and obviously could not fly, I would board at 3 o'clock for Amsterdam." Yes, but my parents didn't like not being there and want to have a reception," she explained, "you are my maid of honor, Blair, you have to go.”I checked my cell phone for any sign of Dimitri. Yesterday he hadn't texted me for the first time since we met, and I was finding the silence strange." Did you hear me? " Abby frowned." Yes, I just think that going across the country for a second engagement dinner is overkill! " I looked away from my cell phone, turning my attention back to my friend." It's not just about that, Blair," she returned, "I have to talk t
BlairDimitri came toward me with a restrained smile on his face. My hand was wrapped around his as I held it out to greet him. My own smile was more spontaneous in his presence, although I wasn't sure how to act now that we were finally face to face." Hey commander, I almost didn't recognize you without the stained clothes," I teased him. " You're not carrying any cups, so I think my clothes will be safe. At least until we get to the restaurant," he assured him, "I'm staying at the Sheratom, do you want to go there?”The Sheratom was one of three hotels within the airport complex, which also had a train station that would take us to the center of Amsterdam in about fifteen minutes." Are you kidding? We're not staying in a hotel with an incredible city to visit, Commander," I denied." I already know Amsterdam," he laughed." But you have never visited it in my company, I assure you it will be a completely new experience," I wrapped my hand around his, pulling him toward the train
BlairWe finished eating, deciding to leave that subject aside. After splitting the bill, we were soon back on the streets of Amsterdam." What I mean is that getting married in the same church as her parents is important for your friend," he resumed the initial subject as we walked side by side." Again? " I groaned " I shouldn't have told you.”" But you did," he teased me.To my relief, I spotted something that could distract us from the subject." A market! Let's go shopping, Dimitri." I ran ahead, leaving him behind.He shook his head with a half smile on his lips before following me. I passed all the stalls, scanning the products for anything of value.This was one of my favorite parts of every trip. I loved to find souvenirs that reminded me of the destinations I had already visited, and usually it was some decoration for my apartment. Which perhaps would eventually turn me into a sort of international hoarder." Look, Commander. I need those boots! " I exclaimed, picking up a
Dimitri I was making the payment with my credit card while watching Blair with the doll and the flowers I gave her in her hands.She was so beautiful it was almost unbelievable. More than that, she was funny, intelligent and witty. Everything that I had already realized in the past few days had been confirmed in these few hours we had spent together up to this point." Do you want me to wrap the bouquet or is your girlfriend going to carry it? " The lady who attended me indicated the flowers that I was still carrying." Here, you can wrap it. But she is not my girlfriend," I explained, handing the bouquet to the woman." No? You act like a couple, maybe you should think about the possibility," she smiled, picking up a long acetate box and placing the flowers there, "a pretty girl like that doesn't stay available for long.”I just smiled as I picked up the package. I knew she was right about Blair, and if the situation was more favorable, I might try something serious with her. But I