Chapter Nine:
The Plane
"She should be here any second, why isn't she here now?" Dana stared at the empty gate anxiously. Brian stood next to her, and he would catch her eye every so often. Dana would smile at him. They would both giggle. Such were the juvenile ways of the two who'd kissed, but didn't know where to go from there. They were waiting impatiently for Meghan. The plane had been delayed by twenty minutes and now, fifteen minutes after they'd been informed of the delay, Dana was convinced the plane had crashed and the delay was a rouse to prevent subpoenas.
"I'm sure she will, but can you relax?" He desperately wanted Dana to calm down.
"I can relax when my baby sister is off of that plane," Dana explained. "I avoid flying as much as possible, planes scare me shitless."
He opted for humour. It usually worked. "So do I, but you don't avoid me!"
"Yeah, but I should," Dana smiled widely, momentarily forgetting her angst. She lolled her eyes back in her head, and exhaled quickly. 'Breathe,' she reminded herself worriedly.
"Coffee?" Brian grinned cheekily, trying to bribe her into relaxation.
"Coffee works," she accepted. "So does booze, but your option is closer and more affordable."
"What do you take?"
Dana replied mechanically. "Double cream, one sugar. And make it a large."
"Large double cream, one sugar, coming right up," Brian smiled. "You, sit, stay, relax!" were his parting instructions.
She did as she was told, and wrung her hands, refusing to abandon her fears. 'I never should have let her fly alone...' Dana was about to have a nervous breakdown. 'Poor Meg, all alone on that big plane, rapists and...' She shivered. This was too much. So she stormed over to the gate, and interrupted the two men behind the counter. "How long until the Minneapolis flight comes in?"
"Same thing I told you the last two times, miss, it comes in when it comes in, which will be about three minutes."
"Nothing has happened to the plane? No crashes, or mechanical problems or-"
Brian clamped a hand over her mouth. "Or can we just relax, and rest assured that the plane will come in?"
Dana glared. The two men snickered.
"Your coffee is on the table," he informed her, pointing at the table next to their chairs.
"You didn't have to do that." Dana was bitter.
"You were supposed to stay," Brian reminded her.
"I was nervous!"
"You were paranoid!"
"Maybe so, but-"
He cut her off again. "No buts. You have to relax."
"I can't until that mega stupid jet lands."
"Mega stupid? Holy, welcome to valley girl world, meet the newest member, Dana Commons!"
"Buzz off."
He laughed. "Oooh, I'm going to build the Dana dictionary - dinkus, buzz off, and mega stupid are the first entries."
Dana smiled at his teasing. Some people trickled down the air-bridge, and Dana leapt to her feet. "It's landed!"
"Sit!"
She sat.
"Your sister can see us, she won't die between the gate and the chair."
A little voice tugged on Brian's sleeve, interrupting the conversation. "Brian?"
The girl, Brian estimated, couldn't have been more than five, with stick straight hair rolling down her back.
"Yeah, that's me, what's your name?" This girl was adorable. Dana smirked.
"Meghan."
"Hi Meghan, how are you?"
"I'm fine."
"Do you want me to sign something for you?"
"No..."
"Well, what can I do for you?" This little girl was far more complicated then the average fan, and half the age of the average fan.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, ask whatever."
"Why are you standing with my sister?"
Dana laughed gleefully, clapping her hands, and picking the little girl up. "Good job Meghan!"
Brian realized he'd been had.
"I'm Meghan," the girl introduced, "And Dana told me to embarrass you."
It was Brian's turn to laugh. Dana was trying hard to make it seem like her sister was lying, but Meghan had the innocent look down pat. "Nice to meet you Meghan, I'm Brian."
"I know," she smiled broadly, and her bangs bounced. "I'm exhausted," she declared dramatically as they walked to the luggage carousel.
Brian elbowed Dana. "Why didn't you tell me that was your sister?" He was trying hard to be annoyed, but the situation, and Meghan, was too cute.
Dana shrugged deviously, carrying Meghan piggyback style. "You knew her name was Meghan, you should have known. Plus, you're even cuter when you're suffering."
Brian pulled the sole bag, and smiled. They could have been mother and daughter, the fact that Meghan was adopted became increasingly hard to believe. Meghan's eyes were very similar to Dana's.
The two girls were whispering reverently, and Meghan giggled loudly after a few seconds. They both looked over at Brian, and laughed some more.
'What?" he demanded, amused.
"Nothing..." they said in that tone that means the exact opposite.
"I'm sure."
"Seriously," Meghan insisted from her position on Dana's back.
"I believe you," Brian grinned widely, indicating that he really didn't believe them at all.
"No you don't, I can tell!" They walked outside, and Meghan was awestruck. "There's no snow!" she exclaimed, aghast.
Dana and Brian's expressions were blank.
"Point?" Dana asked.
"No snow, this is terrible! How do the snowmen stay?" Meghan's little world was crashing down.
"Well," Brian explained patiently. "We don't build snowmen down here." He popped open the trunk.
Meghan was thoroughly disgusted at the thought. "How is it winter then?"
"It just is," Dana gestured. "See, decorations, people are getting ready for Christmas." Meghan climbed into the backseat of Brian's jeep.
"Does it ever snow?!"
Brian and Dana exchanged looks. "No, 'fraid not."
Meghan flopped back, and shut her eyes. "I'm going to die down here! There is no snow! I brought my snowsuit for nothing!"
Dana laughed. "You brought the snowsuit?"
"Yes I did. I packed all by myself." Meghan was extremely proud of her accomplishment.
Brian grinned. Oh the possibilities. "Is the suitcase, by any chance, filled with long pants and sweaters?"
"Yes it is." Meghan was thrilled, thinking that those were the things she had been supposed to pack.
This was terribly amusing to Brian, but Dana was horrified.
"Meg..." Dana wailed. "Didn't Mommy tell you what to pack?"
"Yeah, but I packed my own things."
Dana groaned, and Brian laughed as he steered the vehicle out of the parking lot.
"Aren't you lucky?" Brian whispered to Dana, while Meghan listed the variety of winter-wear she'd packed.
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