The Pilot's Redemption

The Pilot's Redemption Part 9

Chapter 9

   Charles was awakened by a duffle bag being dropped on him. He had forgotten his heavy it was. As he sat up he wiped his eyes to see Carol standing over him. "Get up. We leave in one hour." Carol was already dressed and ready to go. Charles reached for his phone and saw the time was 7:23 am. Along with a message from Anthony saying it was showtime. "You were always the early bird out of the two of us Carol." Charles yawned and stretched as he made his way to the shower. As he stood letting the warm water wash over him the door opened and Maria spoke out "Sorry, Carol wanted me to give you towels. Yours were, how did she say, yours were not good…not right…OH they were not there. You didn't bring any." Charles poked his head out of the shower. "Well yeah, I wasn't planning on staying here. I was at a hotel before I came here….tell her thanks."

  "Oye, eres más linda de lo que imaginaba" Maria stated as she placed the towels on the rack and left. Marcus stood outside of the bathroom noticing Maria flirting. "Just don't try to fuck him Maria, he's taken. Then again, that never really stopped you before." Maria rolled her eyes and she closed the door and yelled at Marcus. "Oh Dios mío, you must bring that up every single time. I was just being nice." The back and forth continued as Carol poured a shot and downed it in one gulp before taking Charles' keys and slamming the door. Charles finished his shower, got dressed and headed for his car.

    The drive to the airport was mostly quiet. Carol gazed out the window sighing ever so often, Charles straining to find the words to say. Finally Charles broke the silence with a question. "Those two argue that much all the time?" Carol cut her eyes at Charles, then back out the window. "Not always." Charles could feel like there was still tension between them. He didn't want to push his luck with trying for more conversations so he stayed quiet the rest of the way.

   When the two arrived at the airport, Aura stood waiting in front of the plane. "Aura, should've known Anthony would send you to babysit. It went so well last time" Charles remarked. Aura let out a little laugh then turned her attention towards Carol. "So, you're the hero pilot? I am charmed to meet you. Wish the circumstances were different though. Rest assured, I hold you in high regard." Aura extended her hand and Carol looked at it, then over at Charles and finally back at Aura. Aura's eyebrow raised. "Oww smart and gorgeous, I'm starting to notice a trend with the women in your life, Charles." Aura made her way to the aircraft followed by Charles and Carol. Aura boarded first and checked the entire plane top to bottom. Charles and Carol ran their checks and one everything was ready to go, they both boarded.

   Once the plane took off, Aura put in her earphones and laid across the seats and dozed off. Charles looked at Carol as she looked back at Aura. Once she turned around Carol punched Charles in the arm.

"Ow! What the hell Carol?" Charles said as he rubbed his right shoulder.

"Oh shut up. You deserve worse. How could you? You know everything I went through and you jeopardized my job. And for what? Some ass?"

"You were never supposed to have your job be in trouble. Nor were those people supposed to be in danger. It was going to be simple, you go away on vacation, I take over your flights, then I let-"

"You let an inexperienced, no-licensed liar endanger hundreds of people? You could've checked. Or better yet, you could've just asked your BEST FRIEND!"

Carol took a deep breath and let it out. "You were the one person I could to about anything. ANYTHING! No matter how bad it got, I knew I could count on you to be there and make some stupid ass dad joke to make me smile. Not gonna lie, it hurts because it's you. Had it been anyone else, ANYONE else me and you would've been laughing about it as we drank our favorite drink, an Old Fashion. I would be giving you crap for not finding love, you'd be giving me crap for being your captain and putting my job first. I miss that. I really hate that I lost my best friend because of this."

   In that moment, Charles felt the full force of everything he had done. In all the years he's known Carol not once did she bear her soul like this. He could see a tear roll down her cheek. He had spent so long running that he never stopped to think about how exactly was Carol feeling? He let out a sigh. "Carol, I miss my best friend too. I can't apologize enough to you for everything that happened. These last few months have been hell. Going from one town to the next, sleeping in motels with drug dealers and hookers outside, to getting involved with Anthony and lying to Robyn but none of that was as bad as not having my best friend to tell it to. So please, know that I mean it when I say I'm sorry."

   There was a long silence before someone spoke again. Neither one knew what to say or how. Finally, Carol broke the silence. "Why did you get involved with Anthony?" Carol questioned. Charles had to laugh at himself. "Honestly, I missed flying. It was the only thing that mattered to me during that time. I know I couldn't go to any other airline as I was public enemy number one with any form or flying. Not to mention being grounded meant I couldn't even if I had the chance. I guess Anthony picked up on my desperation and that's why he chose me. I didn't even go looking for him. He just showed up at my door with an offer and money. I never knew what I was transporting. Anthony's way of making sure if I was caught, I couldn't tell them anything."

   It was a smart move by Anthony. One that both Charles and Carol had to admit. Neither one of them wanted to do this job, but to keep the ones they care about safe, they had to. Charles and Carol took shifts flying. Not saying too much to one another as finally, the airport came into view.