"Son of a bitch," I muttered under my breath as the PA announcement finished. They had just closed the airport and estimated that it would not reopen until the day after tomorrow. That would be the day after Thanksgiving. So much for being home with the family.
I dutifully called my wife and broke the news. She took it ok, better than I expected. She would take the kids to her brothers' as we had planned. I usually tolerate hanging out with her family, but her brother's wife does make it tolerable. Jackie is good looking and a bit flirty in private after a few drinks. I would miss her low cut top and the view of her cleavage as she would bend over server the mashed potatoes from across the dinner table.
Next call was to the company travel agency. Hopefully they could hook me up with a hotel close to the airport. As I waited for the agent to search, over heard the woman next to me doing the same thing and not seeming to have much luck.
"Mr Johnson, I have managed to get you the last room at the Holiday Inn."
"Thank you," I replied and hung up.
The woman next to me was starting to get more colorful in her language. I looked her over. Not too bad, maybe a little over weight.
I grabbed my bags and headed out for a taxi. Please, let there be one and roads clear enough to get to the hotel.
Thankfully there were three in line as I walked out in to the snow. Damn, it was really coming down.
"Holiday Inn," I barked as I slid into the back seat.
"Want to share the ride?" I hear from behind. It was a young female voice with an eastern European accent. I envisioned college coed.
"Sure," I replied as I turned to look.
She was definitely twenty something, tall, brunette, and with a cute face.
"Going to the Holiday Inn?" It was the voice of the angry woman from inside.
"Ya, squeeze in." Chirped the brunette.
With my overnight bag and computer bag on my lap the brunette pushed up against me, making room for the angry one.
"Hi, my name is Kati. It looks like we could be spending time together until the airport opens again," said the brunette turning to me. Maybe being stuck here for Thanksgiving will not be to bad if I can hang out with Kati.
"Hi, I'm Bill."
She turned to the angry woman, who was looking a bit more calm now.
"Hello, I am Alison. So, where are you from Kati?"
The cab was making slow progress through the blowing snow.
"I live in San Diego."
"No, before that. You accent." Alison drilled.
"Oh, I was born in Poland and moved to the US when I was ten."
"Have you been back to visit?" Alison continued.
"Ya, my parents would send us back for a few weeks every summer to visit family, and keep up our language skills. Have either of you visited Poland?" She asked turning toward me.
"No," I replied. "The closest I got was visiting Prague and then Berlin on..."
"I haven't been out of the US," cut in Alison.
"That's too bad." Kati said without breaking eye contact with me. Her deep brown eyes were magical. "What did you like best about Prague?"
"I didn't really see that much because I was on business. The old bridge across the river was interesting, with the artists and peddlers."
"That is too bad, there is so much more to see. You should go back on vacation some time."
"So, Kati, what do you do?" It was Alison again.
"I am a freelance writer and do some modeling. What about you?" Kati countered.
"I'm in sales. And you Bill?"
"I am business consultant."
The car stopped.
"I'm, but not pulling off the street. The snow in the lot is too deep and I want get home. That will be fifteen bucks" The driver didn't seem to sorry about it.
I handed over a twenty, as the women fumbled for cash. "I got it. Keep it," I said starting out the door.
Standing in the snow I turned to see Kati following me. I held out a hand as she slipped climbing out of the taxi. She grasped my hand and nearly pulled me down on her as she regained her balance.
"Thanks," she said, holding tight to my hand.
Alison had exited the other door and was coming around the back as the taxi spun it's wheels pulling away.
We trudged through the snow. Ankle deep on the street, but approaching my knees crossing the parking lot to the hotel lobby. Reaching for the door, Kati released my hand. I let the women pass in before stepping in myself.
Alison was at the counter first. Kati engaged the second staffer at the registration desk.
"Do you have any rooms free?" Kati asked.
"Alison Jackson, you should have a reservation for me."
"I'm sorry Miss, we don't have any open rooms. I can give you the numbers of a couple other hotels not to far from here," the receptionist replied to Kati.
"Ok, thanks." Kati looked a little sad, but waited patiently.
"Ms. Jackson, I don't see any reservation for you and we don't have any open rooms. Did you have a confirmation number?"
"No, damn it. I just called a couple minutes ago." She was back to being angry again.
"Mr. Johnson?" The second receptionist asked, handing Kati a slip of paper with the candidate hotel numbers.
"Yes," I replied.
"You were the lucky winner of the last room. They are cleaning it now, so it will be a few minutes before it is ready."
"Thanks." I handed over my credit card and completed the usual check in process.
