Chapter 79

A limo was waiting in the parking lot the next morning when I stepped off the elevator of my apartment and onto the curb. The driver took my bags, slid them in the back, and then opened the back door for me. After he was in the driver's seat, I instructed him to take me to Casey Roger's apartment and gave him the address. Frank had given me all of the information before I left the night before.
We pulled up in front of an apartment a few minutes later that reminded me of the Somerset Apartments, where Logan and I had lived long ago. I quickly brushed the thought aside, determined to focus on Casey and to make this trip a positive experience for her. Casey was waiting out front, holding a guitar with a suitcase at her feet. Her long brown hair fell over her shoulder when she bent down to pick it up. I slid out of the backseat and took the suitcase from her.
"Hello," I said, extending my hand. "My name's "
"Alyssa Case?!" she gushed as her eyes flew open wide. "Oh my God! Are you really Alyssa Case?"
I smiled. "Actually, that was my stage name. My real name is Alyssa Collins, and I'm your escort to New York."
"Wow," she said, shaking my hand vigorously as her bright brown eyes danced. "It's nice to meet you."
She reminded me too much of myself at her age: filled with dreams and stars in her eyes. "It's very nice to meet you, too," I said, giving her a warm smile. "Our flight leaves in an hour, so we'd better get going."
She was wearing jeans with slits cut artfully down the thigh, strappy high heels, and a light blue shirt. She looked me over, dressed in a dark blue business suit and pumps, but my sun-streaked blonde hair was smooth, down over my shoulders. "I don't think I'm dressed appropriately," she said, panicked.
I smiled and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "You're dressed just fine. Besides, I'll take you shopping when we get to New York."
She smiled and seemed to relax a bit. I was amazed at our immediate connection.
"Come on. Let's go," I said as I led her to the limo where the driver was waiting, holding the door open. "We don't want you to be late for your first gig."
She giggled and slid into the back as I followed.
Before long, we stepped onto the plane and the pilot greeted us at the door. "Welcome, Ms. Case and Ms. Rogers. We hope you enjoy your flight."
"Ms. Collins," I corrected, smiling.
The flight attendant guided us to our seats in first class. "I can't offer you anything now, but I'll be around after takeoff." She gave me a wink.
"No problem," I said as I clicked my seatbelt into place. "Thank you."
Once we were settled in, she smiled and went to greet some other passengers.
I looked over, and Casey was biting her nails as her eyes shifted nervously about the cabin.
"Is this your first time flying?" I asked in a soothing voice.
She nodded. "First time for everything," she replied as she bit off another nail.
I smiled as I gently lowered her hand. "You want to have some fingernails left when we get to New York."
She laughed, and then folded her hands in her lap and twirled her thumbs.
"Just try and relax," I said, smiling as I gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "We'll be there before you know it."
She nodded, and then turned her attention toward the window and waited for takeoff.
"Please fasten your seatbelts," the pilot's calm voice came over the loud speaker. "We appreciate your patience. We will be leaving shortly."
Casey looked over at me and forced a smile.
I reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry. You'll probably end up loving flying."
She chuckled as she shook her head. "Not likely."
I laughed. "Well, if you're going to be a musician, you need to get used to it for long-distance gigs."
"Did you fly a lot?" she asked, sounding like a small child.
I shook my head. "No. I traveled mainly on a bus with my band, driving from city to city."
She smiled. "Right now, I think I'd like that better."
I laughed as we chattered on and, finally, Casey seemed to relax a bit.
Soon, everyone was seated and the plane taxied toward the runway. Casey grabbed the armrests, and I gave her hand a gentle pat. A moment later, the plane raced down the runway, pushing us back against the seats. Within minutes, the plane lifted off the ground and tilted upward through the white clouds, and then finally leveled off.
"Look!" I said, pointing out the window. White, billowy clouds were hanging in the sky below us.
"Wow!" Casey said as she looked out the window. "It's as if someone just placed them in the sky."
I smiled. "I told you you'd like flying."
She laughed. "Yeah. If you can get past the takeoff."
I laughed, not wanting to tell her about the landing.
Casey amused herself with looking out the window, and I closed my eyes, leaned back against the headrest, and let out a deep breath as my mind drifted back to Logan. Over the past few years, I felt that I was finally beginning to move on, thinking of Logan less and less. But this trip to New York was quickly bringing everything back, as if it had happened yesterday.
I looked past Casey out the window to the bright blue sky with white puffs of clouds dotting the horizon, and my thoughts wandered back to the last time I saw Logan.
I looked over at him and touched the side of his face. "I love you."
One corner of his lips curled into a smile as he looked directly into my eyes. "I love you, too."
"Please fasten your seat belts," the pilot's calm voice sounded over the loudspeakers. "We will begin our descent shortly."
I jumped, snapping me back to reality. I realized that I must have fallen asleep and had missed the beverage service. I looked over at Casey, and she had two drinks on the tray before her.
She looked over and saw that I was awake. "I hope you don't mind," she said, holding the tiny bottle over her plastic cup, trying to squeeze out one last drop. "You were asleep, and I needed something to help me relax."
I reached over and patted her hand. "No worries," I said with a shrug, and then smiled. "Besides, I think you needed it more than me."
She gave me a weak smile.
"I'll take that, miss," the flight attendant said, smiling as she reached across me for her empty glasses.
Casey just about jumped out of her skin, letting out a little yelp. "Oh! Thank you," she said as she handed over her empty glasses and tiny bottles.
The flight attendant bit her lower lip, suppressing a smile. "I am so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you."
Casey forced a smile, but I intervened. "It's all right," I said, and then lowered my voice. "This is her first time flying and she's a bit nervous."
The flight attendant smiled as she gave me a nod and then turned her attention back to Casey. "Well, you're doing great. Hang in there. We'll be landing in New York soon."
Casey nodded, and the flight attendant went on to assist a cute elderly couple in the row across from us.