Broken Wings of Mercury

By Eduardo Camacho

Bathroom mirrors were scratched and smudges turned reflections to a funhouse. She adjusted the small bow for her blonde hair then the new glasses over frosty, blue eyes. Red lipstick applied thin lips that accented a perky smile. A lone stripe on her jacket for every ten years as a flight stewardess with number two looming next year.

Daisy Lemond walked passed the terminal where frustrated travelers sat down, checking their watches and one by one asking when would their flight leave. She worried also as her cat waited for her in Wisconsin since yesterday morning. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was almost completely shut down as winter storms marooned many to chairs and benches. The signs read “CANCELED” with each turn as the staff tried to keep busy.

Los Mariscos Restaurant’s pink neon glow blazed by the windows as the night rumbled with thunder.

“Might as well,” she sighed even though the anxiety put hunger on hold.

The hostess welcomed her at the front and offered a booth. Daisy noticed the entire dining room was empty which echoed the apartment back in Madison.

“You know what I think I’ll take a booth if that’s ok?” Daisy said.

“Sure, not a problem,” the hostess led her beyond the oak and marble strip as glasses shimmered on top and liquor of every hue sat behind the bartender.

“Hello there, what are you havin’ today?” The waiter asked.

“Um, I don’t know,” she said. “Do you have a wine list or anything?”

“Sorry, no wine,” the waiter shook his head. “Sangrias are great here.”

“Well, I’ll take one then,” she agreed and watched as he worked his way to the bar. Looking around the room reminded of Las Vegas when Elvis filled the lounges and the air smelled of cigarettes and bourbon.

At the entrance, a silhouette walked over to the hostess and she pointed to a table. Closer and closer, the uniform buttons sparkled and the navy blue blazer clung on the young pilot’s frame. He sat at the far end of the dining area where he laid his hat before running fingers through his hair. Hard, brown eyes searched the list of drinks.

“Here you go.” The Sangria setting on the bar snapped her out of the trance. She thanked him and took a long sip as the alcohol content amazed her senses. A cough escaped her lips while she patted her chest as if to calm the fire.

The waiter was over to the stranger’s table and ordered a drink from the menu before reclining on the chair. His face finally broke free from the shadows and revealed a familiar face.

“Cody?” Daisy whispered. For a year, she handled his flights since joining Mercury Airlines. After hours of rain and wind, she was glad to know someone at the airport. She moved toward the table as the lightning outside distracted him.

“Good evening, First Officer Reynolds,” Daisy said in full stewardess mode.

“Daisy, you know you can call me Cody,” he laughed.

“Mind if I take a seat? Unless you’re expecting someone?”

“Not at all since the flight has been cancelled.”

“I know,” she nodded to share in the disappointment. “They say the storm’s not going to leave till early tomorrow hopefully.”

“I sure don’t trust the weatherman,” he said. “We’d get that bird off the ground at least tonight if the rain would stop.”

Daisy drank her Sangria and nearly choked again on the burning liquid of her untested throat.

“Too strong?” Cody smiled as he followed with a glass of Jack Daniels.

“Sorry, I make a poor drinking buddy.”

“Better job than Rita.”

Daisy raised her eyebrows like the name deserved a reason for being there.

Rita was a nurse from New York who worked at the veterinarian’s office and adored pets. Her strict beliefs kept her away from all corrupting influences, especially alcohol. She left for Chicago two years ago to pursue a degree and become a veterinarian herself.

“Are you planning on moving to Chicago?” Daisy said.

Cody shrugged his shoulders as if a pesky fly rested on them then looked down at his glass. His smile returned after a moment. “Enough about me. Got anyone back where you come from?”

“If you mean, Brownie, my cat then yes I do.” Daisy winked.

“Fair enough,” he said. “Here’s to the people in our lives. Salud!”

After a quick tap of each other’s glasses, she took a bigger sip than last that caused a bigger gasp.

“I think I have had enough,” she said then put the drink aside.

Cody laughed and finished his drink as quickly as a blink of his eye.

They sat and talked about things that led them to commercial aviation. She got out of high school, worked a few odd jobs here and there before needing a better job for a college degree. He joined the Air Force as a fighter pilot but failed to grade well enough to enter the program. They switched to their regular lives as the storm raged from the windows.

“I didn’t know you had a college degree,” Cody said.

Daisy shook her head and recounted her mom as she took care of her after being diagnosed with cancer. She quit college to take care of her despite the prognosis. Mom passed away years later so she stayed as a stewardess.

“Sorry,” Cody mumbled. “Didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

“Oh, it’s ok,” Daisy touched his hand. “I’ve got the memories and she would want me to move on. What did you do in the Air Force?”

Cody flew a few missions before realizing the military career went nowhere and left with honors. Mercury Airlines recruited him through a recommendation by his commanding officer.

“That’s my illustrious career in a nutshell,” Cody sighed. He turned around to get another glance of the weather. “Looks like the rain is starting to ease up.”

“You think?” Daisy said. “We’re still stuck here in Florida.”

“Mind splitting on a rental car and get away from this airport for the night?”

“Sure.”

Cody grabbed the check and paid for both their drinks and exited to the nearby Hertz. The yellow sign shined across the heavy rain and darkness of the sky. Daisy stood under the canopy with their luggage while Cody ran and used the newspaper as a makeshift umbrella. The wait reminded her as a teenager standing at the doorstep for her date to go to the drive-in.

The aluminum shine of the Lexus caught her eye as the car pulled up in front. Smoked windows rolled down to unveil Cody behind the wheel and signaling her to come in. She squealed as the raindrops cool touch tapped behind her neck and down the back. Both laughed at their futile battle with the pouring weather and near soaked clothing.

A motel emerged after a few miles on the road and Cody parked at the available lot then left once again to the front desk even though the newspaper was soggy. She changed the radio station while he was away. After ballads from Foreigner to Sting, he raced against the splashes of precipitation from the puddles. He tapped the window and she pushed a series of switches on the door before finding the right one.

Cody’s wet face looked like chiseled marble with his cheekbones and chin next to his sharp eyes. “I asked the guy and they only got one room. We can try another place but there isn’t another one for ten miles.”

Daisy checked her watch and the thought of another long trek to more possible bad news. “Let’s split the room. We both need to get back to the airport soon for the flight.”