Safe Flight, Captain

“Captain Tanner, your passengers are waiting for you.”

George Tanner froze.

The wind coming through the restaurant doorway swayed the roses in George’s hands.

He met my gaze and bided his time before uttering, “What did you call me, Millie?”

I stayed silent.

Tammy Cotwold’s whimpers ensued on the other end of the line.

“George, Liam won’t stop crying for his father. I can’t calm him down. He even locked himself in the bathroom…”

George clutched the phone while swallowing hard.

He turned to me.

I looked him in the eye.

This was the very restaurant we came to right after getting our marriage license seven years ago.

He had reserved a table by the window.

George wanted to make up for the seventh wedding anniversary that he had missed.

According to him, he wanted to slip the wedding ring back onto my finger.

However, he had already reached for the car keys.

This scenario was no different from the last and the ones before.

George would drop everything and leave the moment Tammy started crying.

The server was taken aback when I handed the ring box to him.

“Isn’t this worth a lot, ma’am?”

I chuckled.

“Yes.

“It cost me seven years of my life to realize how worthless it is.”

Color drained from George’s face.

“Millie, can you stop making a scene in public?”

“Making a scene?”

I slung my bag over my shoulder.

“George, your wedding ring has been sitting around Tammy’s neck for twenty-three days straight.

“I didn’t storm into her office or confront you at the airport. Heck, I didn’t even breathe a word to your crew.”

“I just have enough today.

“How am I making a scene?”

George’s brows furrowed.

“I was only giving her something to help her get through her fear of flying.

“Tammy lost her husband in a plane crash. You know that.”

I nodded.

“I do.

“But is that a reason for my husband to be lent to her?”

George was stumped.

Tammy’s trembling voice came on the line.

“George, I don’t want to cause a fight between you two. I’ll be fine. I’ll just take Liam to the hospital…”

George tensed up.

“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right there.”

Cautious of another snide remark from me, George murmured, “Millie, today is a one-time situation.

“Go on inside and order something to eat.

“I’ll be back once this is sorted out.’

I looked at him.

My mind wandered back to my visit to the ER for an IV drip three months ago. That was what he told me too.

“I’ll be back once this is sorted out.”

That day, I was in so much pain from the gastric bleeding that I could barely speak.

The nurse held my phone and asked, “Do you want me to contact your spouse?”

I bobbed my head.

Once the call connected, Tammy’s voice boomed.

“George, Liam craves your cooking.”

George’s voice then took over.

“Millie, get yourself treated in the meantime. I’ll be there in a bit.”

That night, he didn’t show up.

The next morning, he sent me a photo of his cooking.

“Liam had extra helpings. He’s in better shape. Is your stomach still causing issues?”

I stared at the text message for a long time.

My response was brief.

“No.”

Since then, I saved his contact as Captain Tanner.

It wasn’t out of spite.

The newly saved contact name served as a reminder to me.

He was a captain responsible for every passenger’s safety.

The only thing he wasn’t was my husband.

Met with my silence, George assumed I would just give in as I always had.

He reached out to run his fingers along my hair.

Be a good girl.”

I took a step back.

His hand was left hanging in the air.

“George.”

I called out his name.

He paused.

Reaching into my bag, I pulled out some papers and slapped them against his chest.

“Sign the divorce papers when you’re on your way back.”

As his eyes fell on the cover of the document, he went pale.

“Are you for real, Millie?”

Tammy went quiet on the line.

Seconds later, she broke into sobs.

“George, am I the reason you’re getting divorced? I knew it. I shouldn’t have come back…”

Her weeping threw George off.

He looked at me, his eyes smoldering with fury.

“Can you stop pushing me?”

I grinned.

“I’m not pushing you.

“I’m setting you free.”

George gripped the papers, his knuckles white.

“Millie, I don’t have time to deal with this drama.”

Turning on my heel, I strutted to the streets.

He yelled from the back, “Where are you going?”

I didn’t look back.

My phone buzzed, notifying me of a text from my attorney.

“I’ll see you at the county clerk’s office tomorrow at nine.”

George gave chase, only to be stopped by Tammy’s voice on the phone.

“Liam cut his hand, George! He’s losing a lot of blood…”

George stopped.

I heard the car door opening.

George said, “I’ll be back. Then, we can have a talk.”

I hailed a cab.

Before I slammed the door shut, I stared at his silhouette from the rear-view mirror.

He stood there, holding the divorce papers in one hand and the phone in the other, still connected to Tammy.

The driver asked, “Where to, young lady?”

I gave an address.

My voice was so raspy it didn’t sound like my own.

“The hospital, please.”