Safe Flight, Captain

The day I found out that my pilot husband, George, had given our wedding band to his widowed childhood sweetheart as a talisman, I changed his contact name to Captain Tanner. When I was suffering from a severe stomach bleed, George got a call from Tammy, saying that her son had woken up from his sleep, missing his late father. Without another word, George walked out on me. He promised to be there for my follow-up appointment, but he was quick to change his flight for Tammy because she was afraid of the thunderstorm while at the airport. I snapped a photo of my medical evaluation and texted, “Have a safe flight, Captain Tanner.” It was the same old reply. “Quit acting up. Tammy and her son have had it tough enough.” Later, he booked our favorite restaurant to slip the ring back onto my finger in celebration of our seventh wedding anniversary. Before we could get inside the establishment, the call from Tammy came in. “George, I’m scared. Can you pick me up? Liam said that you’re the only father he’s got…” George took one look at me and opened his mouth to explain. I handed the ring box to the server. “Please dispose of this for me.” I then turned to him. “Captain Tanner, your passengers are waiting.” Chapter 1 “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.” Chapter 2 The lights along the hospital corridor were blinding. The doctor read my charts, his expression grim. “You can’t keep putting off the treatment. “It’s time to get you admitted.” I clutched the strap of my bag. “I’ve got plans tomorrow morning. Would the afternoon work?” The doctor snapped his head up at me. “What’s more important than your life?” I didn’t answer. The nurse murmured at the side, “Did you come here alone, Ms. Living?” I nodded. She glanced at my ring finger. “You should call your next of kin.” I slipped my hand into my pocket. “I don’t have family.” The nurse didn’t press further. While I was put on an IV drip, George called me three times. I left them unanswered. By the fourth call, I hit decline. George sent me a text. “Liam’s arm is fine. It was just a little scratch. “Where are you? “Don’t threaten me with divorce, Millie.” I stared at the screen. Everything just felt so pointless. That was George to me. The moment Tammy needed him, George would be the first one out of the door. When it came to my matters, George simply told me to stop being dramatic. I switched off my phone. Just as I closed my eyes, the lady in the next bed leaned closer to me. “Did you have a fight with your husband, girl?” I said nothing. The woman sighed. “Don’t let a man take you for granted. “The more understanding you are, the more he assumes you’ll never leave him.” I smiled. “I’m walking away tomorrow.” The woman was shocked. “You’re actually divorcing the guy?” “Yeah.” “Can you really bring yourself to do it?” I watched the fluid fall, drop by drop, through the IV line. It took a while before I said, “Even if I can’t bring myself to do it, it won’t change anything. “He has already given up on us.” George found his way to the hospital at eleven at night. He opened the door and walked in, bringing the cold draft with him. His sleeves were rolled up, showing the bit of blood on the back of his hand. The blood wasn’t his. It must belong to Liam. Spotting me in the infusion chair, George furrowed his brows. “Is it your stomach again?” I didn’t even look up. “Captain Tanner, done with your duties?” His face fell. “Must you take that attitude?” I met his gaze. “How am I supposed to talk to you then? “Should I thank you for making time out of your busy schedule to visit your wife?” George choked on his words. He put down a takeaway box next to me. “I bought you food.” I stared at the container. The logo was familiar. It was from the restaurant on the south side of town. It was Tammy’s favorite place for chicken soup. I uttered, “I don’t like carrots.” George paused. He peeled back the lid, and a cloud of steam rose. Sure enough, it was chicken soup with carrots. George looked mortified for a second. “I forgot.” I bobbed my head. “Yeah.” It had been seven years. The fact that I didn’t like carrots slipped his mind. Still, he remembered that Tammy couldn’t have sugary drinks. He never forgot that Liam was allergic to citrus. George kept in mind that Tammy had to take half a melatonin before a night flight. Yet, it was so hard for him to leave carrots out of my food. George placed the lid back on, his tone of voice softening. “Millie, I didn’t mean to abandon you today. “Liam is just a child. “Tammy just moved back, and she doesn’t have anyone around.” I asked, “Doesn’t she have parents?” “Her parents live out of town.” “No friends?” “She’s sensitive. She doesn’t like bothering anyone.” “So she doesn’t have coworkers?” George stopped. I finished the sentence for him. She does. “But she chooses to burden only you.” George looked annoyed. “Can you not assume the worst of her?” I looked at him. “Can you stop acting like nothing hurts me?” Silence hung heavily in the room. A lump seemed to catch George’s throat. There wasn’t a peep from him. I ripped out the IV needle and held a cotton swab firmly against the puncture wound. The nurse hurried over. “Excuse me, but your drip isn’t finished yet.” I replied, “I’m done.” George put his hand out to stop me. “Don’t be stubborn.” “Tomorrow at nine.” I didn’t break eye contact with him. “The county clerk’s office.” His arm went stiff. “I won’t be there.” I took the divorce papers out of my bag. “You will.” George scoffed. “What makes you think I’d sign the papers?” I flipped to the last page. His signature was already there. George stared at the signature, his expression broken. “What is this?” I answered, “You signed this last minute. “You said there were too many ownership transfer documents, so you asked me to go through them and mark the places where a family member needed to sign. “You didn’t even look at the file. “You scrawled your name right there and then.” George snatched the papers. “Did you set me up, Millie?” “Yes.” I was quick to own up to it. George was stunned. I dumped the cotton swab into the trash can. “You had your chance. “I checked with you three times if you were sure you didn’t want to read the file. “You told me not to bother you. Apparently, Tammy was waiting for your call.” George’s chest heaved. “Divorce is not a game.” “It’s not a game to me.” I grabbed my jacket and stormed out. George was right behind me. “What do you want from me?” I came to a halt at the end of the corridor. Spinning around, I looked at him. “I want you to show up on time tomorrow. “For once, don’t make me wait for you.” Chapter 3 Punctuality wasn’t George’s strongest suit with me. His call came through at a quarter past nine. “Tammy passed out. “I need to get her to the hospital. “Give me half an hour.” I stood in the lobby. In my hand, I clutched the ticket number. The numbers on the digital display shifted quickly. Couples emerged from the service desks. Some cried. Others had big grins on their faces. The clerk called out, “Next. Number 38.” I glanced at the ticket in my grip. It was number 39. I spoke into the phone, “I’m done waiting.” George panicked. “Millie, Tammy’s unconscious.” “Dial the emergency line.” “What did you say?” “You can always call an ambulance.” I uttered with composure, “You’re a pilot, not her personal paramedic.” He spoke in hushed tones, “Don’t say things you’re going to regret later.” Before I could say anything more, Tammy’s frail voice drifted from the line. “Just leave me, George. “Millie’s been waiting for you. She’s going to be upset. “I can handle it on my own…” George blurted, “Stay still.” He then turned to me. “Hear that? She can’t even stand up straight.” “Oh, I heard her.” I added. “She sounds pretty tough to me.” Just as I hung up on him, George shouted my name. I had enough. When my number was called, I approached the desk by myself. The staff member reviewed the document. “I’m sorry, but we can’t process this without your husband’s presence.” I nodded. “I know.” “Then…” I slid my phone across the counter. “He signed a power of attorney.” The clerk examined the document for a while before calling over a colleague. The pair murmured to each other. I sat on the chair, my palms clammy. It wasn’t out of fear that the process would fail. I simply fear that George might show up. The last thing I wanted was for him to ask me with a frown, “Millie, are you ever going to let this go?” The sound of his voice might make my resolve waver. Ten minutes later, the clerk pushed the paperwork back across the counter. “Everything is in order. We can file the petition today. “Come back in a month to finalize the divorce.” I tightened my grip on the filing receipt. It was a thin sheet of paper. Yet, it felt sharp enough to sever a part of my life. As I stepped out of the building, George’s car pulled up right outside. He got out of the car with a menacing look. “Did you actually go through with it?” I slipped the receipt into my bag. “Yes.” Tammy was in the front passenger seat. She looked pale, and a thin necklace hung around her neck. Dangling at the bottom of the chain was my wedding band. Caught in the sunlight, the glare was blinding. Tammy unbuckled her seatbelt frantically when her gaze fell on me. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Millie. “George lent me the ring. “I was so terrified last night that I forgot to return it.” I met her gaze. “Give it back now.” Tammy’s arm froze. George pulled a scowl. “Quit giving her a hard time out in the open street, Millie.” I smiled. “I was only asking for my belongings back. Does that count as giving her a hard time?” Tammy’s eyes went red. “I’m sorry. “I didn’t mean to. “The ring got me through a thunderstorm flight. It’s the only thing that keeps me grounded while I’m in the air. “If you mind it that much, I’ll take it off right now.” While talking, Tammy reached up to unclasp the necklace. She fumbled with the clasp, her fingers trembling, but failed to unhook it. Liam popped his head out from the back seat. “Papa George, don’t make Mommy take it off. “She’ll be scared." Papa George? Those words made my heart stop. George heard Liam. He didn’t correct the boy. Instead, George turned around to calm him down. “Now, now, Liam. “Mommy is going to be just fine.” Tammy sobbed with her head down. “No, it’s fine. I’ll remove it now. “I can’t be the reason you and your wife are falling apart.” George caught her hand. “Don’t.” George turned to me. “Millie, it’s just a ring. “If it’s a ring you want, I can get you another one.” I stared into his eyes. Seconds later, I let out a chuckle. “George, do you even know what’s engraved inside the ring?” His lips parted. No words came out. I answered for him, “It bears my dad’s initials. “The band itself was made from a gold bar my father left me before his passing. “I chose to use it for our wedding band because I thought you would step into his shoes and love me as he did.” George turned completely pale. Tammy was taken aback. I put my hand out. “Give it back.” Tammy bit her lip, as if she had suffered the greatest hurt in the world. “George…” At last, George said solemnly, “Give it back to her.” Tammy’s tears rolled down her cheeks. She unclasped the chain and returned the ring to me. I took the ring, not to slip it back onto my finger. Instead, I marched to the trash can near the entrance of the county clerk’s office. George lunged forward. “Millie!” I dumped the ring. The metal hit the inside of the can, making a clinking noise. Tammy snapped her hand over her mouth. Liam shrank back into the backseat in fright. George reached into the can to fish it out. I stopped him. “Don’t bother. “It’s filthy.” His arm froze midair. His eyes were terrifyingly bloodshot. “Your dad left that for you.” “Yeah,” I replied. “All the more reason to cut the last thing that connects us.” The words hit him like a blow. Weeping in the back, Tammy said, “Don’t do this, Millie. “It’s all my fault.” I shifted my attention to her. “Of course, you are to blame.” Tammy went stiff. I approached her. “You knew he was married. “Yet, you still called him in the middle of the night, during thunderstorms, when your kid was running a fever, and even when you needed to change a lightbulb. “Weren’t you trying to prove that he would ditch me the moment you called?” Tammy’s face went white. George stepped out in front of her. “That’s enough.” I looked at the man who came to her defense. In seven years of marriage, I had never seen such hostility in George’s eyes. I bobbed my head. “It is enough.” I turned on my heel to leave. George grabbed my wrist. “Millie, we’ll talk at home.” I broke free from his grasp. “That’s not my home anymore.” His voice tightened. “What do you mean by that?” I opened the cab door. Before sliding into the seat, I looked back at him. “I already moved out last night, George.”