The Wait Is Over

Eastbound and Down

Lindsey and Emily are in their seats awaiting take-off for their flight to Atlanta. They had a layover in Los Angeles and were able to contact their respective clubs concerning the itinerary for the upcoming week. Emily needs to report tomorrow, but won't begin training until Thursday, while Lindsey is to report in Orlando on Thursday, but won't take the field until Friday. Their seat companion has yet to arrive, so the two of them begin discussing logistics.

Emily: When are you leaving for Orlando?

Lindsey: Late afternoon on Wednesday.

Emily: So we'll have two nights together before you go.

Lindsey: And I'll be back two nights later. Can't tell you for sure what time, though.

Lindsey plays with Emily's hair. Emily takes Lindsey's hand and kisses the back of it. Wrapped up in themselves, they don't see who is coming down the aisle toward them.

Christen: I wasn't expecting to be flying out with the two of you, but I guess Boca was able to coordinate our flights.

Emily: Pressy!!!

Emily climbs over Lindsey and gives Christen a hug in the aisle. Lindsey scoots over to the window seat, with Christen taking the middle one and Emily on the aisle. Lindsey reaches over and shoulder-hugs her national team teammate.

Christen: I looked at the NWSL transaction page online this morning. There was a lot of business done at the end of last week.

Lindsey: Yep. Kristie Mewis off to Chicago, Abby Dahlkemper and Moe going on injured reserve, Kyah Simon coming back to the States on loan, and our three moves.

Christen: Shame what's happening with Atlanta. Does anyone know where Moe and Kelley are right now?

Emily: I talked to her Thursday, before the attack. I'm hoping they got out of Birmingham and are settled someplace off the grid.

The flight departs Los Angeles on its way to Atlanta.

Christen: I get why some people choose to stay under the radar about their sexuality, because for all the people who will love you no matter what, there are others who believe they have the right to take offense at it and wish to punish you for it.

Lindsey: That's one worry I have with us going to the south. In Portland, everyone at the Thorns and in the community were really supportive when we started being more "out" as a couple.

Emily: You were loaned to Atlanta, right, not traded?

Christen: Yes. Mia and the club's GM weren't interested in dealing me outright,but they understood why I needed some time away from LA, and Atlanta's situation fit in with what I was looking for time-wise.

Emily: With Moe out a few weeks with the facial injuries and Kelley retiring, the club needed help both in front and in back.

Christen: It also doesn't hurt that you're from the area and hopefully will be able to help the club turn around public opinion of it.

Emily: I'm not sure what I can do. After all, I am just like Kelley and Moe when it comes to being a lesbian. Does the club know that?

Christen: I'm sure they do and will have your back, if you read how Boca took on the press when they asked about the club hiding information about KO's private life just to sell tickets.

Lindsey: We're going to try and see each other as often as possible this season given our playing schedules, then attempt to get one of us to the other club for 2023.

Christen: You'd have better luck getting yourself to Atlanta than her to Orlando. If the club is banking on her to take the sting out of what's happened this past week, then they will fight tooth-and-nail to hang onto her.

The beverage cart comes to their row.

Karen (flight attendant): Would you care for anything to drink? Wait, you're Christen Press! I HEARD you were coming to Atlanta, just from the dads talking at my daughter's soccer game on Saturday. They were wondering why you'd leave LA after only one season.

Christen: I'm not leaving LA for good, just going out on loan to the Storm for a couple of months to help them get through a rough time.

Christen introduces her seatmates, then orders an orange juice, Emily asks for a Sprite, and Lindsey goes for a screwdriver.

Karen: It's a shame what some people will do in the name of "family values". My daughter looks up to Kelley, because she's a bit on the small side but fierce as heck. Her retiring is bound to affect the team's play on the field.

Christen: Well, Emily and I are hoping that we'll be able to help the team out.

Emily: Are you from the Atlanta area?

Karen: Yes, we are. We go to a few Storm games a season. I saw that Morgan Brian is going to miss some time because of injury, but the description of it was confusing.

Lindsey: We haven't talked to her since Thursday, but what we know is that she suffered a black eye and some scrapes as the result of an attack on her and Kelley in Birmingham on Friday morning.

Karen: Why would anyone want to hurt her?!

Emily: Same reason why they tried to hunt them down in town earlier in the week. They think that what Kelley and Moe are doing is sinful and they want to stop it.

Karen: People should let others live their lives how they choose. Can I get some autographs for my daughter?

Christen: We'll do better than that. When we land in Atlanta, I'll get your contact information and have the club send you a gift pack. Ours in LA included tickets for a game, food vouchers, a jersey, and other merchandise. Emily and I can sign some of the items before it gets mailed out.

Karen: That would be wonderful! It was nice meeting you, and enjoy the rest of your flight.

Lindsey: Looks like you're going to have a hard time not being noticed in the ATL.

Christen: Yeah.

Emily: So why are you REALLY coming to Atlanta??

Christen: I have some affairs to take care of on the east coast, and being based in Atlanta will allow me to deal with them.

Lindsey: Don't you mean "affair", as in you and Julie?

Christen: Guilty as charged, Linds. Being away from her isn't working out for me and I need to know if she will ever leave Zach for me. That's why I wanted to go east and hopefully to a team where the two of us could meet up a few times while I'm on loan.

Emily: Does Philly play Atlanta at all while you're there?

Christen: Yes, the last game of my loan period.

The in-flight movie begins. It is "Despicable Me 6". Lindsey falls asleep against the window, but the other two stay up and watch it. As the movie ends, the plane begins its descent toward the airport and the end of the trip.

Christen wakes Lindsey and the three of them prepare for the landing. Once at the gate, the plane opens to let its passengers off. Karen hands Emily one of her husband's business cards as she exits the plane.

Emily: Watch your mailbox. We'll get the package out to you as soon as we can.

Karen: Thanks. I'm sure Aubrey will be surprised.

Christen picks up her rental car and everyone loads in for the trip to the hotel. Emily will go with Lindsey to Marietta in the morning to see her family and to get settled.