Lisa P Writes

Christina rubbed the red lipstick off her teeth and smiled into the mirror. She glanced over her appearance and smoothed her straight blonde hair. Round brown eyes gazed back. She smiled again into the mirror and then growled. The lipstick had stained her front teeth again. She reached for a brown paper towel and rubbed the lipstick off her lips and teeth. After she applied a new coat of clear gloss, Christina headed out of the bathroom pulling a small, black rolling bag behind her.
As she wandered down the expansive airport corridor taking in the sights and sounds around her, she noticed the vibrancy of the passengers . . . vacations gave people the opportunity to open up and express their true personalities. Sometimes for the best and sometimes for the worst, it really didn’t matter. There was a freedom in being surrounded by these people. Christina wanted to raise her hands and run; she felt free. But her vibrating phone brought her back to the moment. She reached into her purse as she stepped to the side, next to a white courtesy phone. The screen on her phone read, Mark San Francisco. Christina’s heart started racing. Oh my gaaaaawd! I love San Francisco! Christina beamed and then pushed the ignore button on her phone. She stared out the tall windows that faced a parking lot of airplanes, lost in the bright natural sunlight.
“Excuse me, do you know if there’s food down there?” A woman walking the opposite way approached her and pointed behind her.
“Yes, there’s a food court and then further down a deli,” she smiled at the woman. “There’s also a couple of pubs where you can order food. Depends on how much time you have.” She thanked her and then scurried away.
Christina dropped her phone into her purse and walked along, watching the people chatting on cell phones, texting or running to their gates. A man wearing khaki shorts and a woman in flip-flops passed by her. Vacation, for sure. It was close to freezing outside.
Christina pulled her luggage to a stool at the bar and set it close beside her feet so it wouldn’t be in anyone’s way. The bar was tight and crowded as she carefully removed her black pea coat. She tossed it on the stool and sat on it leaving her long red scarf wrapped around her neck. The man on the stool next to Christina took his eyes off the television to glance her way.
“Hey, how’s it going Christina?” The bartender asked and dropped a small square napkin in front of her.
“Hi Tyler, good. You?” Christina leaned forward against the bar. Tyler set a bottle of light beer in front of her. His blue eyes twinkled at her.
“Good, good. Where you off to this time?” Tyler folded his arms at his chest revealing a dark tattoo pattern that wrapped around his forearm. He wore a white button down shirt, but had the cuffs rolled up.
“Phoenix, for a couple of days,” Christina remarked nonchalantly and took a sip of her beer. “They’re taking me out to dinner tonight. I have to smooooooze,” she chuckled.
“Nice, get out of the cold,” Tyler commented.
“Yeah, but I’ll probably be inside most of the time, working,” Christina rolled her eyes.
“Too bad. I have a buddy who lives there and we go hiking when I’m out there . . . and it’s freezing here,” Tyler smiled. He had shaggy brown hair that had the contrived look of messy. “One sec,” he held up his finger, to indicate just a moment and then went to the end of the bar to take someone’s order. Christina picked that bar hoping that Tyler would be there. She liked flirting with him, knowing that nothing would come of it. He was a bartender.
“I live in Phoenix,” the guy next to her announced as he turned to face her.
“Is that where you’re headed?” Christina gulped, praying he would say no.
“Yes, well, not directly. I couldn’t get on a direct flight so I’m headed to Denver first. I’m Drew,” he smiled at her.
“Christina,” she waved her hand at him, relieved. She didn’t want him looking for her on the airplane.
“You from Chicago?” Drew asked as Christina nodded. “Me too, from Northbrook but moved to Phoenix for a job.” Drew took a swig of his beer and rested his elbow on the bar.
“How long ago? You like it there?” Christina turned her body to face him and adjusted the collar of her white button down shirt under her scarf. She settled in and stared into Drew’s unremarkable, green eyes.
“It’s great. I have a good job so that helps.” Drew replied. “I’ve been there now for . . . hmmm, four years now. Jeez, four years? Time flies, I guess.”
“Tell me about Phoenix . . . what do you do for fun? What’s it like not having winter? What’s it like to live in the desert? Are the summers as hot as I’ve heard? Will you ever move back to Chicago?” Christina rattled on.
“I guess you’ll find out when you get there,” Drew chuckled. Then he went into to explain to her how it was great not having winters but he did miss the change in seasons. And he missed the lush trees and green in the Midwest because Phoenix was arid and had a naked landscape. Sure, there were trees, cactus, and other scruffy plants that lent to some green and other colors but it was very different. Drew enjoyed hiking and biking and could go out to do those things any day because it was sunny and nice all the time. Summers were hot, but he recommended getting out early in the morning to beat the heat. He also took trips north the Flagstaff to cool off during the summer. Drew wasn’t sure if he’d move back, but maybe because of family. He paused but Christina just stared at him and nodded, taking in the details. Drew liked being of interest to a nice-looking female, so he continued.
“I’m a lawyer at a huge law firm. Gribbons, Smith and Kendal . . . you ever heard of it?”
“No,” Christina answered.
“What do you do?”
“Consultant.”
“You like it?”
“Yes,” Christina impatiently responded.
“What kind of consulting?”
“What else could I do in Phoenix?” Christina cut him off.
“Oh . . . “ Drew bit his lip. As a tourist, some of the things that Drew recommended were to see the Frank Lloyd Wright House called Taliesin West, visit the art museum, hike Camelback Mountain, to wander the botanic gardens and shop in Scotsdale. There were lots of restaurants but mostly chains, so it definitely didn’t have the reputation for good food like Chicago. Outside of Phoenix, if she had time, of course, Drew mentioned exploring Sedona and a trip to Arcosanti, which was a town in the desert devoted to creating a community that lived in harmony with the earth.
“It’s an eco town that they started building in the 70s and are still building. They had this vision of being ‘green’ before anyone knew what that was. To avoid suburban sprawl which is out of control in Phoenix,” Drew commented and took a sip of his beer.
“That’s so cool . . . and isn’t Sedona supposed to be a spiritual center?” Christina shifted on her chair, tuning out the bustling people around her. Phoenix was a whole new world. Time had stopped.
“Yeah, something about a vortex. Not sure. I hiked there once. It’s gorgeous,” he smiled.
“It’s so interesting. I’ll have to look it up,” Christina rubbed her hands together.
“I have a friend who knows about that stuff. I can give you my number in case you want to go explore,” Drew responded.
Christina agreed and had Drew call her so she could store his number in her phone. He told her had a nice time talking to her but that he had to go. His flight would be leaving soon. She was sad he had to leave because she wanted to hear more about Phoenix. After he left, Christina smiled to herself as she put his name in her phone, Drew Phoenix.
“When you leaving?” Tyler leaned against the bar in front of her.
“Soon. I have to get going, too,” Christina replied and laid her phone on the bar.
“Nice phone, can I see it?” Tyler asked.
Christina handed her phone to him and stood up. She pulled her coat off the chair and put it on.
““Whoa, what’s this? Adam Seattle, Blake NYC, Chad Miami, David Atlanta . . .”
“Can I have my phone back please?” Christina snapped it out of his hands.
“Just curious. Big deal, so you like guys from other cities. Anyone in Chicago?” Tyler teased.
“Look, I might want to call them when I’m in that city. I don’t know. . .I have to go,” Christina turned around quickly almost barreling over a guy. She nearly ran out of the bar, embarrassed by the situation. Only one other person knew of her little secret and now Tyler knew it, too. She’d just have to avoid him. She scolded herself the whole way through the airport corridors, down the escalator and out the door. The outside cold air nearly took her breath away as she walked towards her car, dragging her luggage behind her.

To be continued . . .