Delayed Encounter

Gena sat in the metallic chair with her back pressed to its dismal cushion. Her hips and lower back ached from the lack of padding and she could not help recrossing her legs yet again. She sighed as she drew her backpack closer to her side and switched the hand holding her open book.

She was trying to read, but the uncomfortable seat was connected to two more on either side of her and none of the chairs had an arm rest or a barrier between the seats. It meant there was nothing between her and the mother with her young son on her left or the overweight man on her right.

The child—that had to be no more than two—kept getting on and off of his seat with a toy trunk in hand and making vroom-vroom noises. The kid's mother had long since given up telling the youngster to sit down and remain quiet. It would have been a hopeless cause anyway judging from the way the boy was wide-eyed and blabbering at the truck he ran along the back of the chairs.

On her other side was the large man who was actually taking up two seats and had no guilt in doing so. His oversized fountain drink sat dangerously close to Gena's backpack and every time he shifted in his half-slumbering position, Gena found herself praying it would not tip over.

Gena unhooked her legs before pulling her backpack onto her lap. There was no way she was going to get any reading done on this layover. She had even less hope of doing so while on the plane, but what could she do about it?

She moved her bookmark from the back page and inserted it into the portion she was sure she had reread five times. Maybe there was a coffee shop or magazine stand nearby. She leaned forward to stretch her back then glanced at her watch.

So much for that idea. It was past 2:00am and there was no way anything would be open in this minute airport.

The bench bounced as a small shoe kicked her side. Nope, she would not get any sleep here. Seriously, did the woman give her kid caffeine before sitting down?

Across the aisle from her, Gena watched as the couple with two teenage boys stood. The younger of the teens proceeded to claim the four vacant seats as a bed, while the other three moved to the floor and spread out. Gena half-smiled as the mother cast her an apologetic glance.

No one was happy about the sudden storm and delay it had caused, but it was unsafe to fly and there were no other flights scheduled to arrive or depart until noon the next day. Unfortunately, every hotel within the town's perimeter had already been booked with earlier cancellations. Those unlucky enough to not be included in that group were given a bagged meal and left stranded in the airport.

Which is why it pays to take the more expensive flight with fewer stops in small towns.

Gena yanked open her backpack and shoved her book aside of her laptop. She would not sleep tonight even if there was ample space--not in this environment. There were too many people and it was too public of a place. Maybe she should see about refilling her water bottle just so she could move around.

She dropped her bag on the floor between her feet and stood. Almost every chair in the vicinity of gate ten was filled with someone or something. If she left her spot now she may never get it back. Her eyes moved to the snoring man next to her before they found the rambunctious child. Her loss would not be that great.

Water, she decided, then... well, we'll see.

Gena shouldered her backpack and stepped over the legs of the couple and older teen before she wove her way through the mess of people. Beyond the designated waiting area to her left was the restroom and water fountain. She clutched the strap of her bag as she pulled out her teal thermos. Along the wall outside the rest room people stood or sat. A few had cords plugged into the walls as they simultaneously charged and used their phones.

Gena took her refilled water bottle to the end of the row and sat on the floor with her back pressed to the wall. A slender woman with dark hair sat next to her with her phone in hand. The gold bracelet on her wrist caught Gena's attention as it flickered in the light.

"This is the pits, isn't it?"

Gena's gaze shifted to the woman's face.

"I mean, we can't go even anywhere because of the storm."

"Yeah," Gena agreed, "not exactly the way I planned to spend today."

The woman snorted. "Uh, no, not really." She continued to scroll through whatever was on her phone.

Gena took a sip of water then pushed the thermos into the outer pocket on her bag. Her eyes ventured to the woman's bracelet again. The gold chain was linked with small hoops and every fifth one help a small gold charm. There was an open rose, a pair of skis, a dolphin, and a medallion with the initials "TC" on its face. They jangled as the woman dropped her phone to her lap.

"So how did you get stuck here?" she asked.

Gena glanced up. "Oh, uh." She cleared her throat. "I was actually on my way to a funeral."

The woman's face softened. "I'm sorry."

"We weren't close," Gena said as she shook her head. "I'm just the only one in the family able to make an appearance."

The woman nodded.

"How about you? What were you off to before all of this?" She waved at the loitering crowd.

The woman's fingers turned the bracelet on her wrist exposing another charm in the shape of a dove.

"I was actually going to a funeral as well," she said.

"Oh," Gena bit her lip. "I'm so sorry. Were you... Did you know them well?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah." The woman raised her phone again and clicked through more images.

Gena's eyes moved to the gold bracelet. There was something about it that kept drawing her attention. A dolphin, a dove, and... TC. Why does that sound familiar?

Gena's gaze traveled from the charms to her lap. There was an elusive fact tugging at her mind to be noticed, but her weary brain was not willing to grasp it.

Next to her, the woman dropped her phone with a frustrated breath. "Ugh, this night is just never going to end." She held her device up and blinked at it. The charms tinkled with her movements, glinting in the overhead light.

Gena swallowed her unease. There really was nothing else to do but sit around and waste time, so why not start a conversation? She could ask about the bracelet. The woman next to her might even enjoy the distraction.

"Uh, sorry for interrupting," Gena began, "but do you mind if I ask you about your bracelet? It's very lovely."

The woman flicked her wrist then dropped her phone. Her left hand stroked the gold band. "Thanks."

"Does it have any significance? I mean, the charms. Do they stand for anything?"

The woman rotated the band on her wrist until the dolphin was on top.

"I'm sorry for asking," Gena said when it was clear there would be no response. "I was just trying to start a conversation."

The woman released a heavy sigh. "I know. It's just that... I was going to a funeral." She rotated the band until the initials were face up. "And it's for the woman that made this."

"Oh... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to pry." Gena fished out her water bottle and took a sip.

"It's fine. I'm just going to miss her." She flipped a portion of her dark hair over her shoulder then stared at the bracelet again. "She was quite talented."

Gena nodded, not sure how best to continue the conversation or if she should just give up. The mystery of the bracelet haunted her thoughts, but the woman clearly knew the artist well. The last thing I want to do is make her feel awkward or get emotional in this place.

She pushed her water bottle back into her bag and scanned the hall. More people were finding places to lie down—backpacks, jackets, and arms becoming makeshift pillows.

"This was her symbol and favorite animal."

Gena returned her gaze to the woman's wrist. The dolphin and dove were on either side of the initialed medallion.

"She liked the dolphin because it symbolized play and having fun," the woman continued, "but she also liked the dove because it was a reminder to be kind and peaceful in that play." Her thumb settled on the initials.

"I can tell she meant a great deal to you."

The woman nodded then swiped her eyes. "Yeah, well, I was in a bad place for a while and she was always there to listen. She helped me through some really hard stuff." She gave Gena a weak smile.

"What was her name?"

"Tally... Tally Collins. She went by TC most of the time. You can find her work online... or rather you could've found it. I don't know what will happen to her business now that she's... now that she's gone." She clutched her phone again.

TC... Gena mused. Collins... mom was a Collins... Her eyes widened. Tally Collins...

"Talitha?"

The woman's head shot up. "What?"

"Tally," Gena began. She tried to curb her excitement. "You said her name was Tally, but is that short for Talitha?"

The woman's brow furrowed. "Yes, but no one ever called her that."

"We did," Gena said with a wry smile. "Or rather my family did because we didn't know her that well."

The woman's face was awash with confusion.

"I'm sorry." She faced the woman more fully. "My name's Gena. Talitha Collins was my aunt. She was mother's older sister. The two of them never really got along very well so I never knew who she was or anything about her." She waved at the bracelet. "I never knew she made jewelry. I didn't even know she liked dolphins."

She folded her hands and pressed them into her lap. Her distance from her aunt made this conversation easy for her, but the woman before her had known Talitha personally and talking about her would not be as easy.

"I'm sorry." Gena took a long breath then looked into the bewildered eyes of the other woman. "Look, I know that this is not the best time or circumstance to be asking questions about her. I mean, I don't even know you—"

"Carrie," the woman said as she brushed aside her hair. "My name's Carrie. What do you want to know about her?"