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friend on Gwen’s All2gethr list had offered to introduce her to a top fashion magazine editor. She’d get herself a meeting at one of the NY fashion bibles while she was there - even if she had to sleep over in a foyer.
     

    Gwen was sprucing up her hair when the engine noise interrupted her thoughts once more, growing from a whine to a roar. Deep breaths . It’ll be okay, she thought. Please Lord above, let it be okay...
     

     
     

    Jo and Max peered behind the curtain separating the cabin from the cockpit entrance. A small crew prep area lay between them and the cockpit door. It was dark inside, save for a red LED light set into the solid, shiny door. Jo looked at a wall-mounted numerical keypad next to the door.
     

    “Very high-tech,” Max said, pressing his fingers against the door and peering into the red light. “All very mysterious isn’t it? Not even a flight attendant.”
     

    “Yeah, you’d think they’d have a representative on board.”
     

    Max glanced back at the cabin. “Well, we’ve got the cartoon Alligator for company I suppose - cool.”
     

    He mimicked the creature’s waggling jaw with his hand. They laughed together, bathed in the intimate glow of the red light.
     

    Jo caught a guilty flicker in Max’s eyes as he smiled at her. Easy tiger. The thought was intended for herself as much as it was for him. Remember he’s too young. Yeah, much too young for an old single mum like you. On the cusp of thirty she was far from old of course, but thinking of herself this way kept Jo out of trouble - usually.  

    From the way he was looking at her, Max clearly didn’t think she was an old maid. His face flushed a little and a question started to form on his lips, when the Alligator’s voice piped up again in the main cabin.  

    Saved by the bell, thought Jo.  

    “Please take to your seats, return them to the forward position and fasten your seat belts.”
     

     
     

    Dave grinned at Jo, his eyes filled with boyish excitement, as she sat in her allocated seat opposite him. Max kicked back, clicking his seatbelt as Gwen returned from the bathroom, looking pale.
     

    “You okay?”
     

    Gwen nodded, a little subdued. She sat down and fumbled with her safety belt. Max leaned over to help her tighten it. Gwen blushed and stuttered her thanks like a lovestruck teenager. Jo watched Gwen surreptitiously, and rolled her eyes.
     

    “This is it,” the Alligator proclaimed, “Get ready for the trip of your lives.”
     

    “ Fucken ’ A!” Dave exclaimed, in a not-too-convincing American accent, leaning toward Jo to get her attention.
     

    Jo smiled at him politely. She’d noticed how much of a shine he’d taken to her already and didn’t want to give him the wrong impression. After all, his slightly flirty demeanour was at odds with his online profile - all kisses and cuddles with his beautiful blonde fiancée. Jo figured it must be the drink that was making him ‘fresh’.
     

    Fair enough, if he gets hammered and lays it on too thick in New York I’ll just remind him about his wedding , Jo thought . That ought to do the trick.  

    The screens flickered off and the jet began to roll forward, taxiing along the runway. The lights dimmed as the jet engines dipped, then roared into life. The whole cabin trembled, fittings creaking slightly as the plane thundered along the runway. The jet’s nose lifted skyward and they were airborne. The Challenger’s landing gear retracted with a distant clunk and Deppart Airlines Flight D-665 soared gracefully into the evening sky.
     

     
     

    Jo watched the city shrink to the size of a model village as they climbed into the clouds. Soon, the view out of the window became a swirl of cloud vapour . Climbing further still, the plane began to level out, engines reverting to a constant, low hum.
     

    Ding ding . At the sound of the start-up chime, the computer screens flickered back to life with the jovial green face of the