Turbulence
ISBN: 978-0-9830523-1-9
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Turbulence Copyright 2010 © Sienna Mynx
Edited by The Divas Pen LLC
Cover art by M. B. Wright
Electronic book publication October 2010
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, The Diva’s Pen LLC.
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Turbulence by Sienna Mynx
For Tammy Hunter fear has become the unseen force in her life. Her choices have constantly introduced instability and ultimately cost her the precious rewards to be found in the unexpected. That is until her plane is grounded in the same airport as the man she chased from her life. Now face to face with the past Tammy has to decide. Can she learn to accept passion, love and friendship from a man who proves the unexpected and the unknown is the foundation of what true love brings. Tammy gets one night to convince the man she let get away that she'd weather any storm to reclaim the love they've always shared.
Chapter One
Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has turned on the seatbelt sign. We ask that you remain seated for the remainder of the flight…
Tammy clenched her teeth. The back of her legs, all the way around to the joints in her knees were numb from the constant drumming of her heels. She wrapped one arm around her stomach and rocked forward. Her body teemed with anxiety; though she fought valiantly to force down the irrational panic. Nothing, not even her heartfelt prayers, could stop her stomach from its Olympic summersaults. If it weren’t for the wedding, she wouldn’t be 30,000 feet in a tube of death, tossed around by air pockets that threatened to rip her transport to shreds. No, she’d be spending the evening in front of her fireplace, warming her feet, and reading her favorite mystery novel.
The plane shook violently with another turbulent jolt. The loss in altitude sent a sharp pang of dread through the center of her chest. Tammy tensed. Had the cabin pressure dropped? The contents of her stomach surged into her throat. She felt feverish though cool air blew from the vent next to the flashing seat belt light above. Tammy suffered in silence through the worst bout of airsickness she'd ever known.
“Miss! Miss?”
She opened one eye, then the other. Stuffed in his seat and pressed back against the window was a portly white man with kind eyes. He looked on with concern then covered her hand with his stubby fingers. “Are you okay? You look… green.”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” she burped, covered her mouth and blushed.
Ladies and gentleman, this is the captain speaking. Unfortunately, due to an ice storm covering Atlanta, we will be forced to land in Nashville. I apologize for the inconvenience. Please remain seated…
The passengers groaned. The plane dipped and the carriage shook again, causing several oxygen masks to drop. Many cried out in shock. Tammy would have joined them if she weren’t so afraid to open her mouth. She lurched forward. Her forehead pressed against the tray at the back of the passenger seat. She kept her hand firmly over her mouth. They would land. Soon it would be over. Tammy counted backwards, waiting for the urge to dissipate.
“Miss, are you—”
It was too late.
Desperate, she pressed the button at the center of her seatbelt. The stranger panicked, he handed over a barf bag. A baby cried. The plane shook all over, and the overhead lights blinked—fasten your seatbelt, no smoking.
It was too late.
Tammy lost it. She spewed slimy chunks into her lap. The passenger next to her yelped then gagged. The others to her right gasped loudly. Tammy, mortified, leapt from her seat. The flight attendant called out to her, but she raced up the aisle, crashing into the bathroom. As soon as she turned from the door, she puked again. There was a commotion. Rapid fist pounding rattled the frame. The sour odor of vomit on her clothes, sink, commode, and floor had tears clouding her vision.
“Ma’am, please! You have to return to your seat! Now!”
“I…I…can’t.”
“Ma’am, please!!”
Tammy sucked in deep breaths, filling her lungs. She ran water, rinsed her mouth, wiped, rubbed, and scrubbed wet tissue over her clothes as it crumbled in her hands.
She kept trying, running water, wiping, rinsing, wiping, and sweating.
“Mam! Now!”
“Okay, okay…okay,” Tammy pleaded, managing to clean most of it off. But the stench urged her to puke again. She opened the door. The woman doubled back from her appearance and the odor.
“Here…wait here,” the kind attendant said.
Tammy wanted to cry. She was so frustrated.
The stewardess offered her a wet towel and an open can of ginger ale. Relief washed over Tammy. Her nervous tummy calmed instantly. Tammy quickly worked at rubbing out the stains. She was surprised it helped. The attendant was pressed to return her to her seat. Satisfied that she was at least presentable, Tammy thanked the woman and did so. Several others gave her curious glances. The man seated next to her shot her a wary look.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry. Yes. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. First time flying?”
Tammy blew out a deep breath. “No. I just hate it. I always have. But I’ve never experienced turbulence like this before. Not good at withstanding.” She looked away, hoping that would be the end of the chitchat. How ironic and untrue her words were. It was indeed a very turbulent year, starting with her painful breakup, ending with a bucket full of teary regrets. She chose to accept a position as Editor in Chief at “LACE” magazine. Now every day she was left with that lonely decision. Sad, but true, their relationship was filled with so many highs and lows that she couldn’t seem to keep her feet on the ground. Plummeting to her death in an airplane would be a fitting end.
“It’s really bad out there,” the stranger said, showing her his blackberry that he shouldn’t have turned on. The man had looked up the weather report. Tammy rolled her eyes. Perfect, she’s sitting next to the ‘guy’ who keeps his cell phone on during the flight. She could picture it. Cockpit controls spinning out of control, the plane hurling her toward the earth and a fiery death. Tammy closed her eyes to the irrational ranting of her subconscious.
“I think you should turn that off, sir.”
“Right, right.” He nodded. He pressed the side power button on his phone then shoved it back into his side jacket pocket. “Hartsfield airport is closed. We’re landing, but I doubt we’ll be taking off again tonight.”
Tammy frowned. She prayed the man’s news wasn’t true. She had to get to the rehearsal dinner that very night. She promised Carol she would. The plane made its descent. She chomped on a stick of trident and chewed away the bitter remnants of her ‘episode’, while bracing for landing. All the while, she avoided the window that the traveler next to her stared out of. When the plane’s wheels hit the runway, then braked over an icy stretch of pavement, she prayed hard, really hard that this would not be her end. Then the tube of death began to ease to slow pace. She was alive! This was it. She was done. She’d rent a car and drive the rest of the way.