Hannah stared out of the window of the plane idly and yawned. Her wedding had only been the day before but it felt like a lifetime ago.
She rang the hostess bell.
“Yes, madam?”
“Could I have 50 bags of peanuts please.”
“Um…ok.” The hostess disappeared.
“What are you thinking about?” Chris asked.
“How tight you are for only getting me a 72 carat diamond.” Hannah muttered.
“Please, Hannah, let's not start our married life on a sulk.”
“Hmm.” Hannah was about to say something when the plane's loudspeaker came on.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we're sorry to tell you that due to storms in and around the Bahamas we will be making an emergency stop in Florida.” The speaker clicked off.
“Isn't Florida completely in the wrong place for an emergency stop?” Asked Hannah.
“Now, come along, Hannah, I'm sure they know what they're doing.”
Hannah thought about her experiences with airline staff in 'Book One' and shook her head. “Hmm.”
The air hostess returned and dumped all of the peanuts down on Hannah's air-tray. Chris looked from her to the peanuts then back to her again. She took the packet off the top of the pile and opened it up.
“What are you thinking of now?”
“The fact that you need mind-reading skills so I wouldn't have to waste precious time talking to you when I could be eating peanuts.”
Chris, looking hurt, turned his head to gaze out of the window where it looked like they were passing over a large expanse of desert. It could have been a load of naked jaundice people or simply yellow clouds but Chris wasn't really looking hard.
“Oh. I'm only kidding! I love you really!!” She hung onto his arm whilst still eating peanuts.
“Could I have that in writing?”
Suddenly the seat-belt sign came on. Hannah yelped.
“It's ok, it's only turbulence!” Chris said.
“That's not what the marriage councillor said!” Hannah got up out of her seat. “I'm going to find out what's really going on here.” Hannah turned on her heel and fled, treading on Kate Moss's foot in the process. She burst into the cockpit.
“What's going on here?! Why are we going to Florida instead of the Bahamas?!”
The guy in the pilot's seat turned around.
“Hi, Hannah.”
“JIMMY!”
“Yes. Come on, you didn't think I'd let you have a book without me, did you?”
“You weren't in 'Book Three'.”
“Yes, well.” Jimmy turned the steering wheel and honked his horn. “OI! Bloody seagulls.”
“But…wha…I thought you were banned from flying!”
“Ha. They can't stop me!” He cackled evilly before grabbing hold of the wheel and narrowly avoiding a Boeing 747 coming the other way.
“Why are we going to Florida?”
“Because of storms in and around the Bahamas.”
“No, why are we REALLY going to Florida?”
“There REALLY are storms. That's why.”
“Oh.” Hannah was taken aback. “I thought you were kidnapping me and taking me to some island somewhere…”
“God, no. I'm over you.” Jimmy smiled. “I've found someone new.”
“Who?” Hannah demanded. “Who?! Who is it? It's not Natalie Imbruglia, is it?!”
“No.” Jimmy smiled at the co-pilot's chair. It turned around slowly.
“CHARLIE!” Hannah gasped.
“Yes!” He cackled. “Jimmy's mine! All mine! He's realised the error of his ways.” He looked at Hannah in disgust. “You dirtied him.”
“No wonder things didn't work out.” Hannah smirked. “So, was this a dawning realisation or just the fact that you couldn't get and keep any ladies?”
“You be quiet, loser!” Charlie said with a gay lisp that was quite quaint.
“Me? Loser?” Hannah laughed. “Oh, I think not.” She flung open the cabin door and dragged Charlie down the aisle. She stopped by Chris and let the competitiveness sink in.
“Ahh.” Charlie stood back. “You're going to get it!” He opted for a kung-fu position.
Hannah threw back her head and laughed. “Don't try me, I know kick-boxing, self defence and judo.” Charlie grimaced.
“Why were we fighting anyway?” Charlie said, suddenly confused.
“Hmm.” Hannah thought – they were both with the men they loved – no problem. “Good point, you started it.”
“No I didn't.”
“Just accept that my husband is far sexier.”
Charlie muttered something under his breath.
“What was that?” Hannah teased.
He muttered it again.
“What?”
“YES!!” Charlie stormed back up the aisle and slammed the cabin door.
“What are you thinking of now?”
“What are YOU thinking of?!” Hannah asked, exasperated.
“Um…” This ended the conversation.