C1 1

“You don’t like flying, I suppose?”

Teri barely heard the voice next to her through the noise pounding in her ears. “No,” she replied with difficulty. “If I could avoid it, I wouldn’t fly at all.”

The voice laughed. “Don’t be afraid. We’re not going to crash.”

Teri glanced painfully over at the seat next to her on the plane, in the direction of the voice. “If you say so . . .” She didn’t seem to be convinced.

“I fly all the time,” the woman said as she looked at Teri with interest. “And so far, I’ve never yet fallen out of the sky.” She laughed again.

“There’s always a first time,” Teri replied sullenly.

“You’re right.” The woman still eyed Teri. “But not while we’re in the air. What do you say?”

“I need to listen to my CD to calm down. I’m sure it’ll make me feel better, soon.” With trembling fingers Teri tried to plug the headphones into the device she had on her lap, but she couldn’t make it connect.

“May I help?” Her neighbor’s steady fingers reached over and grasped hers, taking the plug from Teri’s hand and inserting it into the MP3 player’s tiny hole. “There. Now you can distract yourself.” She smiled at Teri.

Teri felt as though she had to apologize. “You don’t know what it’s like . . .”

“No, I don’t. I’m never scared,” the other woman explained. “But there’s no shame in it if you are, you know. If you need any help, just let me know.” She held out her hand to Teri. “My name is Gina. Gina Lichtenburg.”

Teri was too confused to take her hand right away and her fingers still trembled when she finally did. “Thanks,” she said. “Teresa Dengler.” She grimaced. “But no one calls me Teresa. Everyone calls me Teri.”

“It fits you better anyway.” Gina Lichtenburg gave her a friendly smile. “You’re much too young to be called Teresa.”

Teri shrugged. “There are definitely different opinions about that.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Gina Lichtenburg’s smile deepened. “Are you flying home to see your family? For Christmas?”

“I . . .” Teri gulped. “I don’t have any family anymore. My parents died in a plane crash.”

“I’m so sorry. Now I understand why you don’t like to fly,” Gina nodded. “I understand it very well.”

“Yes, I . . . it’s hard to stop thinking about it when I’m on a plane,” Teri confirmed. “But sometimes I have to fly for business. This time my company sent me to New York and now I’m on my way home.”

“What do you do?” Gina asked.

“I design furniture,” Teri said. “Actually, I’m an interior designer but I could never find the furniture I had in mind to for the space I was planning, so I started to design it myself.”

Gina smiled approvingly. “Very creative. I’m not like that at all.” She laughed. “I just buy the furniture that’s out there.”

“Well, there’s lots of it,” Teri said. “For every taste. I’m just very particular.” She smiled wryly. “I’m sorry, Gina – I really need to listen to my hypnosis CD now, otherwise –”

“Have fun,” Gina replied with a smile. “If you fall asleep I’ll wake you up before we land.”

“Fall asleep?” Teri raised her eyebrows. “When I’m flying, not even a hypnosis CD can help me relax that much.” She put the ear buds in her ears, leaned back and closed her eyes.

Gina watched her thoughtfully as the plane was gliding over the clouds. She didn’t expect to meet somebody on this flight who interested her the way this woman Teri did. Teresa . . . Come on . . . impossible . She smiled slightly.

To be honest, she had to admit that she didn’t even want to be interested in anyone in that way right now. She had to break up with Claudia first, anyway.

And she didn’t want to get involved that way. Not that quickly, anyway. Sex . . . yes, but no relationship, nothing emotional. It always ended with a disaster. How often had she experienced this and how often did she promise herself to stop getting involved? And yet she did it again and again. There were simply too many attractive women to try to ignore them all.

She looked through the window, and then at Teri again. Why did she always have to smile while looking at her?

Teri’s eyelids twitched. She was probably trying to get into some kind of trance so she could make it through the awful ordeal of the flight.

Gina shook her head slightly. This was something she really didn’t understand. She loved challenges. As for fear . . . she didn’t know fear at all, so she had a hard time grasping the feeling even theoretically.

But maybe she should have let it overtake her at least once. It might have helped her avoid falling for one or the other of the women. On the other hand

. . . she smiled, amused . . . not everything she experienced because of her fearlessness was all bad. Just the opposite.

But right now

. . . she sighed inwardly. She had to leave Claudia and she knew it wouldn’t be easy. Claudia stuck to her – and to the comfortable life that was part of Gina’s money and lifestyle – like a barnacle. Claudia wouldn’t give her up that easily.

Gina figured it would be the best to pay her a settlement. But did she really want to do that? And if so . . . how much would be enough? Claudia was pretty sophisticated.

Gina leaned her head back and let the clouds drift by, watching Teri out of the corner of her eye. Unlike Teri, she found flying to be very relaxing. She probably would never have gotten enough sleep if she didn’t travel so much. On solid ground she was constantly way too busy to sleep.

After a while her eyes closed automatically and the clouds became pillows for her sweet dreams. She slept and glided through places that had nothing to do with her daily life.

Teri tried hard to concentrate on the voice in her ear buds, and to forget where she was. The man’s deep, sonorous voice was calming and should’ve helped her, but today it seemed to be harder to let the hypnosis sink in.

Maybe she was so keyed up because of the excitement before the departure. It had been so hectic. She arrived at the airport at the very last minute and had to run through the terminal like an Olympic sprinting champion in order to catch the flight. Not being the athletic type, the spurt not only caused her heart to pound wildly in her chest, but the fear she had of flying seemed to multiply and explode; she was still trying to recover.

The woman next to her, however, had something calming about her. As her fingers had touched Teri’s to take the headphones, Teri had felt a natural serenity, a complement to something she was lacking.

Gina Lichtenburg seemed to be so self-aware, so confident. A woman who knew what she wanted, and most likely got it.

Usually Teri didn’t fly business class. This was an exception – the New York company she was working with apparently booked business class all the time. Teri was pleasantly surprised when the flight attendant had shown her her seat.

It was nice. The seats were much bigger and more comfortable, and the service attentive. And flying tourist class, she wouldn’t have met the woman sitting next to her.

She sighed. It was no use. The CD wasn’t working for her. Well, it wasn’t really a CD, either, but she still called it that, even after she transferred the file to her MP3 player.

She opened her eyes. Maybe she could concentrate on something else to distract her. She always reserved an aisle or middle seat so she wouldn’t have to look out of the window. She let her eyes wander.

Her neighbor sat by the window and of course, she didn’t seem to mind at all. Because of the wider seats in business class, Teri was sitting pretty far away from her.

But as she looked over to Gina’s seat, she couldn’t help glancing at the partly cloudy sky outside, and startled, she held her breath. She gasped quietly.

In less than a second, the flight attendant was at her side. “Can I bring you something?”

Teri turned away from the window, facing the woman in her neat uniform. “No. No, thank you, I . . .” But then she remembered that in the first class, drinks were free. “A glass of whiskey, please,” she said quickly. “With soda.”

“Certainly.” The flight attendant nodded and turned around to get the drink from the galley.

Teri avoided looking at her sleeping seatmate again. Unlike Teri, she seemed to find flying relaxing.

Teri sighed deeply. If only they had landed already . . . To walk on solid ground again . . .

The flight attendant returned. She opened the small folding tray in front of Teri, and set down the glass of whiskey. “Anything else?” She gave her a professional smile.

“No.” Teri shook her head. “That’s all, thanks.”

“Call me if you need anything,” the flight attendant offered courteously. She walked slowly down the aisle, keeping an eye out to see if any passengers required her services.

If I have to fly, maybe I should make sure to fly first class from now on, Teri thought. The service compensates for quite a few things.

But not for her fear of flying. She reached for the whiskey and grabbed the glass with both hands when a tiny, almost unnoticed turbulence caused the plane to shake a bit.

“Is it still that bad?” Gina must have woken up.

“Yes.” Teri didn’t look at her so she wouldn’t have to see the window, or rather, the void beyond. She held on to her whiskey. If it continued like this, she’d probably still be holding the glass without having taken a drink, when they arrived in London. “Please don’t mind me. I don’t want to ruin your flight.”

“You’re not.” Gina leaned over. “But whiskey is a good idea.” She looked up and waved to the flight attendant.

“Miss Lichtenburg?” The flight attendant’s eyebrows were raised in inquiry as she walked up to them.

“A whiskey, please,” Gina said.

“On the rocks,” the flight attendant replied.

“Yes.” Gina smiled lightly. “As usual.”

“As usual.” The flight attendant gave Gina and then Teri a strange look, and disappeared.

“It seems you fly so often that you know every flight attendant,” she guessed.

“Yes, I –” Gina cleared her throat, “know her.”

Teri was so anxious that she didn’t immediately realize that the comment had a double meaning, but it slowly dawned on her that there was more to it. At least the way Gina said it.

“I’m sorry,” Teri said quietly. “I can’t look at you while we talk. It’s the window behind you.”

Gina turned around and looked outside. “Ah, right,” she said. “Should we go somewhere else? We could drink our whiskey at the bar.”

Teri breathed a sigh of relief. Her mind worked slowly, or she might have had the same idea. Of course, the tourist class she usually booked didn’t have a bar, so perhaps it wouldn’t have occurred to her that there was one on the plane.

She got up and almost bumped into the flight attendant who was arriving with Gina’s whiskey. “I’m sorry,” Teri said automatically. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” the flight attendant replied, gazing at Gina, who now stood behind Teri. She added, “Not for this.”

“May I have my whiskey, please?” Gina asked, and followed Teri into the aisle.

The flight attendant held out her arm a little bit so that Gina could take the glass. “Of course . . . Miss Lichtenburg.”

“Thank you, Katja.” Gina took the glass and shot the flight attendant a look that was hard to read.

“Always my pleasure.” The attendant seemed to want to say something else but then turned away to attend to a gentleman signaling her.

At first Teri was a little nonplussed as she observed the conversation, but then she began to understand. “You know each other better than I thought,” she remarked, amused.

“Yes, I . . . yes.” Gina walked past her towards the bar. “As I said before, I fly often.”

That’s not the only reason, Teri thought. If I were feeling better, I could be sympathetic to the flight attendant. Gina was very attractive. Tall and dark, she strode confidently in front of Teri as if nothing could stop her.

Teri’s gaze fell upon Gina’s well-shaped butt, which was accommodated by extremely well-cut flannel pants. Every muscle and every tendon was where it should be. Maybe I should get some photos of her and use them next time, instead of the hypnosis CD , Teri thought. That seems to work better. All of a sudden she felt surprisingly chipper, considering that she was on a plane.

“Here we are. There’s no window,” Gina said as she leaned against the bar. “Is this better?”

“Much better.” Teri leaned next to her. “You must think I’m silly.”

“Not at all.” Gina eyed her carefully. “I admire how you deal with your problem.”

Teri shrugged. “It’s really not something to be admired for. If I look at you . . .”

Gina shrugged, too. “I’m not scared. That makes it easy.”

“It would be nice to be able to walk onto a plane without being afraid.”

“As far as I know, there are desensitization classes you could take,” Gina said. “Have you ever considered that?”

“I don’t fly that much. Whenever possible, I go by car or train.” Teri sipped her whiskey.

“That’s difficult, across the ocean.” Gina laughed and took a long drink. Suddenly, her glass was almost empty. Just the ice cubes jingled.

“Yes, unfortunately.” Teri took a deep breath. “Every minute we’re getting closer to landing. That’s what I tell myself over and over.”

“Are you taking another plane from London?”

“No, I’m staying there. I work for a London-based company.”

“England is probably more appropriate for your job,” Gina assumed. “It has everything from period furniture to contemporary style.”

“Yes.” Teri nodded. “That’s why I did an internship in London during college, and then I somehow got stuck in the U.K.” She laughed. “It was good for me. Except for the flying part.”

“Good for you,” Gina said. “And London is supposedly very . . . exciting. Soho, for example.”

“Yes, Soho . . . that’s not quite my preference.” But it was the only place for some things, and Teri had tried those, too. “You don’t know Soho? And you are such a jet-setter?”

“Yes, it’s kind of strange. I’ve been to London often, of course, but most of the time it was just a stopover. On the way to another destination.”

“That’s indeed strange,” Teri said. “But maybe you don’t like the weather there.” She smiled.

“You’re right, it’s not my favorite.” Gina laughed. “I’m on my way to southern France. It’s a lot warmer there.”

“At Christmas,” Teri said. “England has nice and warm days during other seasons. The southern coast of Cornwall, for example. In the summer it’s almost like being in the Mediterranean.”

“Yes, the Gulf Stream, I know.” Gina nodded. “Maybe I should try it some time.”

“Definitely in the summer,” Teri supported the idea. “You can even get a sunburn then.” She laughed.

“With you?” Gina asked with an undefined glance.

“What?” Teri was taken by surprise.

“I meant,” Gina cleared her throat, “are you going on vacation there, sometime?”

Teri swallowed. “Yes, absolutely.” She nodded. “I love the English coast.”

“Then I would consider it, maybe,” Gina said. “It’s certainly not as boring as Marbella or St. Tropez.”

Teri laughed. “You can’t really compare it to those.” She shook her head. “Boring . . . well, I wouldn’t say that, but I’m easy to please. I don’t need much. Just some quiet, the sound of the ocean . . .”

Gina smiled. “You sound pretty easy to satisfy.”

Teri smiled as well. “I know I’m boring. I’m just not very exciting to talk to.”

“It depends how a person defines exciting . You are definitely completely different from the women I usually meet.”

Teri looked back at business class. “Like that flight attendant, for example?”

“Oh . . . her . . .” Gina fell silent. “You think I’m a terrible seductress, don’t you?”

“That’s none of my business,” Teri said, “but since you’re asking: true, I think that probably there are not many opportunities you let pass.”

“And is that why you would never go out on a date with me?” Gina asked.

“Oh . . . um . . . that’s a little unexpected.” Teri eyed Gina. Not that it didn’t appeal to her . . . She changed the subject. “What do you do for a living?”

“My job?” Gina looked as if she didn’t understand the question.

“Yes, well, there has to be a reason you’re traveling so much. Your job requires it. Or am I wrong?”

“My job,” Gina suddenly appeared to be embarrassed, which wasn’t like her at all. “It’s normal to have a job, right?”

Teri looked at her with surprise. “Yes, sure. A person has to make a living.”

“Unless it is inherited,” Gina said. “I guess that’s my job: heiress.”

“Heiress.” Teri was completely stunned. She really never met anyone like Gina before. “So that’s what you do? You just travel from one place to the next?”

“Yes. Always chasing whatever events are happening. Of course it’s taking longer now, without the Concorde.”

“You flew on the Concorde?” Teri was impressed.

“Frequently,” Gina said. “It was the fastest connection.”

“And the most expensive.” Teri sighed. No, the jet-set life was not her cup of tea. So Gina was a member of the high society , the people who traveled to the most popular places just because they were momentarily de rigueur . And because they had the money and nothing else to do.

“To make sure you don’t think I’m totally stupid,” Gina continued, “I actually went to college, and graduated. From the Sorbonne.”

“Now I’m really impressed,” Teri said. “In French?”

Gina smiled. “Yes, in French,” she confirmed. “One of my nannies was from France, another was from England, and of course I had one from Germany as well. That’s how I learned the languages at an early age.”

“Of course,” Teri repeated, shocked. She didn’t have one nanny, let alone three. She had been raised by her mother, without any hired help. Like most people , she thought.

“I’m sorry,” Gina said, feeling guilty. “If I’d had any idea that you’d be so stunned by it, I wouldn’t have mentioned it.”

Teri cleared her throat. “I’m not stunned. Just surprised. I don’t normally fly first class, and I just don’t get to hear such stories very often.”

“As a designer of furniture I’m sure you come in contact with British high society,” Gina said. “Maybe even with the royals.”

“Are they among the people you know?” Teri asked.

“Prince Harry . . .” Gina started, but then she stopped. “No, not really,” she continued. “Don’t worry. I don’t run around in those circles.”

“That’s a relief,” Teri said.

“I understand your sarcasm,” Gina agreed. “I overwhelmed you with all of this. Can we start fresh?” She made a funny face.

Teri laughed. “You probably raised my prestige several degrees. The British are very snobbish. If I tell anyone about you –”

“Do you want to do that? Mention me?” Gina interrupted her.

“I don’t know. Would you mind?” Teri winked at her.

“Are you flirting with me?” Gina asked.

The corner of Teri’s mouth twitched. “On a plane? I can’t imagine that. I’m way too nervous to do that.”

“You are flirting,” Gina stated flatly. “And a little excitement . . .” she looked at Teri and grinned, “is not a bad start.”

“Flirting is one thing. But don’t expect too much. It’s just a strategy to help me overcome my fear of flying.” Teri stopped short. “And it works,” she continued, amazed. “I almost forgot that there’s just air below us.” She shuddered. Mentioning it, the fact suddenly hit her again.

Gina put her arm around Teri. “Easy,” she said. “Calm down. It’s not much longer now.”

Teri felt Gina’s warm hand on her shoulder and admitted to herself that she would’ve liked to feel more. But to Gina she was probably just a road gig, and she deserved better than that. If Gina hadn’t met her on this flight, it would’ve just been another woman – or the flight attendant. No, she didn’t want to be included in that cast.

“Thanks.” She reached for Gina’s hand and pushed it gently away. “I can manage.”

“Okay.” Gina seemed to be disappointed but not discouraged. She pulled her hand back and leaned against the bar. “Another whiskey,” she said to the steward. “And add more ice cubes.” She pushed her empty glass in his direction.

“Please, don’t be offended,” Teri said. “I’m just not that . . . spontaneous.”

“It’s not a problem.” Gina took the glass the steward had refilled. After taking a sip, she continued: “I’m just not used to being rejected. To be honest, that actually has never happened to me before.”

“I believe that.” Teri smiled.

“Why?” Gina asked and leaned even more against the bar. “Why do you think that?”

“Well . . . You’re attractive . . . and rich . . . and –”

Gina interrupted her musings. “Thanks for the ‘attractive,’ but rich is enough, believe me. The rest isn’t that important.”

“If that’s the way you see it,” Teri said doubtfully.

“I don’t see it that way,” Gina explained, “it’s more the others who do.”

“You mean the women you normally meet,” Teri assumed.

“I don’t usually meet them by accident,” Gina told her readily. “They come to the parties attended by people who have money, and they come for only one reason.”

“Doesn’t that . . . turn you off, a little bit?” Teri asked. “I mean, if you know that a woman only hits on you because you’re rich?”

“Actually . . .” Gina put her elbow on the counter and gazed into the distance. “I haven’t given it much thought. It is what it is. It’s something I’m used to.” She finished her whiskey and slid her glass towards the steward, again. “What’s it like in your circles?” she asked over her shoulder.

“In my circles?” Teri laughed in disbelief. “Yes, in my circles.” She shook her head. Nothing like that had ever happened to her before; someone who didn’t know what it was like among regular people. “The significance that your crowd gives to money — for us average people, it’s probably looks. Appearance plays a huge role in erotic charisma.”

“The aphrodisiac effects of money can’t be outdone,” Gina was holding another full glass in her hand. “Believe me.”

“I believe you. I just can’t comprehend it. Money doesn’t mean anything to me. That is, of course it means somethin g to me. I live a good life with the money I earn. More than good. But I’m not rich, and I don’t need to be.”

“That’s hard to believe. Most people I know wouldn’t have a clue how to live if they weren’t rich.”

Teri shrugged. “That’s understandable. I was glad when I didn’t have to depend on government handouts anymore.”

“Handouts?” Gina asked without understanding.

Teri laughed. “During my college years I received financial aid to cover living expenses. It’s available to those who don’t come from a rich family. Of course, you paid for college out of your own pocket.”

“Let’s talk about something else.” Gina smiled at her. “Where in London do you live?”

Teri shook her head, astonished. “You’re impossible,” she said, “and I won’t tell you. Do I have to repeat that I’m not very spontaneous?”

“It wouldn’t have to be that spontaneous,” Gina said. “I could stay in London for a few days. I won’t miss anything in Monte Carlo.”

“A few days?” Teri laughed again, feeling even more distanced. “Let it go, Gina, it’s not going to happen. You don’t even get it.”

“Apparently not.” Gina frowned. “A few days aren’t enough? You want more?”

“Yes.” Teri looked at her seriously. “Much more. And really, time has nothing to do with it.”

Gina gave her an amused smile. “I don’t give up that easily. Challenges appeal to me.”

“I don’t qualify as a challenge. Because you just won’t succeed. You better ask your flight attendant again.” She nodded towards the young woman who was just looking at a passenger’s expensive watch.

“Flight attendants are easy because they’re often only in the city for a few hours. So things have to happen fast,” Gina explained, unmoved. She finished her whiskey.

“Then you really should speak to her,” Teri suggested. “She’ll fit your needs perfectly.”

An announcement suddenly came through the loudspeaker, interrupting their conversation. “This is the captain speaking. If you care to look down you’ll see London in all its glory. Enjoy it. We’ll be landing in fifteen minutes.”

The purser came on next and asked the passengers to stay in their seats and fasten their seatbelts.

Teri left her glass on the counter and turned around to return to her seat. Gina had to get past her to get to her own seat by the window, and their bodies touched, just for a moment.

Teri felt a tingling that showed her the remarkable difference between gut and head. What she had said to Gina had been rational and she’d meant it, but even the slightest touch caused her to have very different feelings . . . totally irrational feelings.

Gina didn’t seem to have that problem. She sat down and buckled up without looking at Teri.

Teri sat down and fastened her seat belt as well. She started to tremble slightly. Every time she flew, landing was the worst part for her. Until the machine was on solid ground and had stopped moving, she constantly feared a crash.

Gina looked at her. “Should I hold your hand? Would that help?”

“No.” Teri gulped. “No, it’s okay. Thank you.” She closed her eyes, but as the plane approached the runway, it was getting worse with her eyes shut. She felt that they were getting closer and closer to the ground. But they weren’t – they were still way up high . . .

Her hands cramped around the armrests until her knuckles turned white. Horrified, she opened her eyes again wide. It was a little better, at least, to face her fate with her eyes open.

Gina put her hand on Teri’s. “I’m here,” she whispered. “And do you remember? I’ve never crashed. You’re safe with me.”

If she hadn’t been so tense, Teri would’ve laughed. Gina really had a cute sense of humor. But she certainly had no idea how Teri felt.

Gina’s hand pressed Teri’s fingers tightly. “Everything’s okay,” she continued quietly, “don’t worry. Everything’s fine. We’ll be on the ground shortly.”

Teri exhaled sharply and closed her eyes once more. How much longer was this going to take?

Her heart seemed to be jumping right out of her chest, and for an instant she saw herself lying on the ground, shattered limbs covered in blood. She heard a click and felt the armrest lifting.

“Come here.” Gina had released her seat belt and pulled up the armrest between them. “I’ll hold you.” She put her arms around Teri, pulling her as close as possible. Teri’s seatbelt was so tight that it hurt.

Gina’s arms embraced her, strong and protective. Although Teri still panted with fear, she felt better.

At that moment the plane landed with a jolt. Teri cried out.

“Sshh, sshh.” Gina held her tight, stroking her hair. “He’s applying the brakes. We’re on the ground and we’re safe.”

Teri’s heavy breathing slowed down while the brakes worked on halting the plane’s forward motion. They finally came to a stop at the gate.

People around them were clapping, laughing, getting up, and impatiently collecting their belongings so they could disembark. Teri’s breathing hadn’t quite regulated itself yet.

Gina kept stroking her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Eventually Teri realized that she was lying in Gina’s arms and she sat up quickly. “I’m sorry,” she said, still panting. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to impose on you like that.”

“Don’t say that.” Gina laughed. “I wish this kind of nuisance would happen more often.”

Teri slowly recovered. “I think you get it more than enough,” she replied, a little spitefully. She just wanted to get out. With trembling fingers she fumbled for the seatbelt, and opened it.

“It always depends who it is, though,” Gina replied, following as Teri made her way to the exit.

“Anyway . . . That was uncalled for.”

“I didn’t think so.” Gina laughed again. “Don’t take it so seriously. It was an exceptional situation. And now that we landed everything’s alright again.”

“Exactly,” Teri said. “It’s like we never met. You can just forget all about it.”

“I certainly will not.” Gina walked behind her as they stepped into the tube leading to the airport building.

“But I want you to forget it!” Teri stopped walking but was propelled ahead immediately by the passengers behind them pushing to get through.

“Why?” Gina asked. “It was nice. Even though nothing happened.”

“I’m sure it will be a different story when you tell it to your girlfriends,” Teri snapped. As always when her feet touched solid ground again, she felt that her behavior on the plane had been embarrassing and stupid. She wanted to block out everything that was in any way connected to it.

“May I tell you a secret?” Gina asked. “I don’t have any girlfriends. At least not outside the bedroom.”

“Which is just how you want it, I’m sure,” Teri replied curtly. “And now leave me alone, please. I’m looking forward to the drive home, and taking a hot bath.” She gave Gina a grim look. “And you certainly won’t join me for that.”

“What a pity.” Gina grinned. “I was just fantasizing about that.”

“Stop talking to me like that!” Teri stood still again. They had crossed the passenger bridge, and no one was pushing her now.

“Okay, I am stopping.” Gina raised her hands. “Just let me imagine it, though.”

“I can’t stop you from doing that, unfortunately,” Teri snapped again, and continued walking to the exit.

“What’s so bad about it?” Gina asked. “Fantasy is harmless.”

“I’m not so sure.” Teri gave Gina a quick, tired look. “But you’re probably right. I’m still upset because of the flight. I’m always intolerable afterwards. I’m sorry.”

“Forgiven.” Gina smiled. “May I at least ask you to have a cup of coffee with me? That should be allowed.”

“Oh Gina . . .” Teri slowed down. “I’m tired, I’m exhausted, I want to go home, and I don’t want to talk to anybody.”

“Especially me,” Gina guessed.

“Yes, if you really want to know,” Teri confirmed. “Especially you.”

“At least you’re honest,” Gina said. “That’s something I’m not used to, either.”

Teri shrugged. “Why should I lie? It’s not worth it.”

“Not worth what?” Gina took the opportunity right away.

“I’m really way too tired to discuss this now. Besides, you know exactly what I meant. Who else, if you not you?” The corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

“We’ve known each other for just a few hours and I’m henpecked already,” Gina said, a little amazed. “This has never happened to me before.”

Teri smiled even more. “For someone who can afford anything and experience everything people can only imagine in their wildest dreams, there are lots of things that never happened to you.”

“I just realized that for the first time.” Gina sounded really baffled.

“Then it’s about time.”

“Teri.” Gina took hold of her arm lightly so that Teri could decide whether she wanted to stop walking or not. She stopped. “I don’t want it to end like that, the flight . . .”

“What else is there to talk about?”

“You said you expect much more,” Gina looked at her inquiringly, “and I want to know what you mean.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Teri replied. “It’s nothing you can buy with money.”

“Ouch. That was rough.” Gina took a deep breath. “But I can’t even disagree with you. During the flight I thought about a way to get rid of my current . . . companion, and the only thing I could come up with was to offer her a financial settlement.” She smiled lightly. “I’m sure she would appreciate it, though. She’s not as modest as you are.”

“You met her at a party for rich people only?” Teri guessed. She started walking again. Despite sitting during the long flight, she could hardly stand. She felt the tiredness of working so hard for the last few days, as well as the exhaustion of dealing with her fear.

“Yes.” Gina smiled. “That’s usually how it goes.”

“For you.” Teri sighed.

Gina gave in. “Okay, here’s a suggestion. You take your hot bath and sleep in, and tomorrow we’ll meet at Piccadilly.”

“Why should I agree?” Teri asked.

“Please, Teri . . .” Gina pleaded. “Give me a chance. Don’t just judge me by my bank accounts.”

Teri laughed lightly. “Don’t tell me about them, I don’t want to know.” She considered Gina’s suggestion. It was quite tempting. Not only because Gina was enticing, but because Teri had dreaded the upcoming Christmas holiday for a long time. The lesbian community held Christmas parties for singles and other lonely hearts but the mood there wasn’t really very festive-romantic. And even if a date were to come out of it, it wasn’t usually a relationship that lasted very long. It was more or less a temporary solution for the holidays.

It’s really not so different from what Gina’s doing, she thought. You meet at parties for a specific reason. To meet a woman. With our without money. “Okay,” she said. “Because it’s Christmas time.”

“Like an early Christmas gift?” Gina laughed.

“If that’s how you want to see it . . .” Teri nodded a goodbye. “But now I really need to get home.”

“At noon?” Gina asked. “At the fountain?”

Teri had started walking and turned around for a moment. “Yes. I think I’ll be awake by then.”