Coffee Shop Romance

Chapter 9

It was several hours later that I once again felt his finger upon my nose. This time he was lightly tapping it. I stretched and smiled at him sleepily. "You just don't learn do you Mr. Wood?"

"Heh, well...I thought maybe you'd like to know that we are about a half hour from landing. If you want to go to the bathroom and freshen up a little."

"Very thoughtful of you." I smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek before grabbing my purse and making my slow way to the lavatory. I couldn't use crutches on the plane, so I was glad that our seat was only a few rows behind it. I could feel his gaze on my back, as if waiting to see if he needed to catch me should I stumble. How sweet he can be. I thought. Once inside I grimaced at my appearance, long hours on the plane had taken the body out of my hair, and made my eyes duller from the lack of sunshine. Appling make up and brushing my hair I felt I could finally be ready to meet this crowd that Elijah had flown half a world away to see. When I got back to my seat I noticed that he had switched chairs and was sitting by the window. I pinched his thigh, causing him to jump up enough that I could slide into my chair.

"Not very nice of you." He said smiling.

"Well...I've never seen New Zealand from the air! I want to get my first glimpse" I whined at him. He rolled his eyes at me playfully and laughed when I leaned into him. "Awe come on Ewijah! You gotta admit that it was exciting the first time you saw the country from the air!"

He laughed and pushed me back into my seat. "Alright, alright! You can keep the window seat." He patted my head as if I were a child, then handed me a lollipop out of my purse.

"Thank you!" I smiled at him then sat back in my seat to watch the clouds. The sun was beginning to rise, lightening the sky around us. It was beautiful.

Elijah watched me stare out the window. I could feel his gaze, but it didn't bother me. His gaze swept over my face, taking in the wonder in my eyes as we started our decent below the clouds. Wow...I don't have to work for her attention, she's not uncomfortable around me in the least bit...I don't think I've ever been this comfortable around a woman before. And I’m certainly not this touchy feely with a woman I've only just met...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we thank you for flying New Zealand Air. We are beginning our decent now, and should be landing within the next fifteen minutes. Flight Attendants please begin landing procedures."

I felt him lean over me and look out the window. I laughed and poked him in the side, "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." He ignored my poking and focused on the view outside the window. He didn't speak again until the plane was landing on the runway. "Are you ready to meet them...again?" He smiled slightly, but I could tell that he was nervous.

"Hey...I'll be fine. I managed to handle them once, I'll just think of that as practice for the real event."

Elijah smiled and put on a cap and sunglasses as we stood up to exit the plane.