Lee Dawson - Blood Under the Bridge

W aiting at the airport for a lover is overratedElena Donovan Copeland decidedespecially if it was the fourth time in a month. She sat on the hood of her little inferno red Cherokee SUV watching the planes come in and ignoring the odd glances of passersby. Her car held too much heat for sitting inside while she waited for the plane to land. The setting sun provided little relief to this May day; summer was well underway in west Texas.

She closed her eyes and listened to voices around her speaking in Tex/Mex, which included a few words like trucka for truck, which exist only along the border. Ellie would miss that when she moved to Denver. The Franklin Mountains, which everyone used as a compass pointing due north, were already shadowed. Lying against the windshield on a blanket enabled her a complete view of the sky and all incoming planes. She disregarded the first few as coming in from the wrong direction before one came in from the north. She patted her belly. Papis almost home.

The giant arrival screen announcing all the planes statuses flashed an update on Michaels plane, and Ellie stowed the blanket in the backseat. She pulled around to the pick-up area where he stood looking oh-so-cute.

Despite all the signs warning cars about stopping for more than a few minutes, she jumped out of the car. Her flip-flops flapped against the concrete as she hopped a little when he approached, and she almost ran the last few steps into his arms. He dropped his briefcase and wrapped his arms around her. She barely came to his shoulders but could reach completely around his ever-shrinking middle. His rumpled suit hung off him, and she wondered how much weight hed lost. The man lived off Cream of Wheat when she wasnt around to feed him.

After a moment he touched her face, wrapping one of her long dark curls between his finger and thumb. Soon? he said.

Soon, she promised. When Michael had taken a job in Denver after finishing his masters, Ellie had decided to stay with her grandmother in El Paso until they could find a house. Theyd lived their married life in Dallas where theyd met at college, but she wanted to birth the baby around family.

Move along, an airport security guards gruff voice pulled them out of their reunion. She shot him a dark look for interrupting their barely minute-long embrace. Chill, hombre. A pregnant woman wont be your biggest threat today. El Paso stood in spitting distance of Mexico and the airport took that very seriouslynot to mention the increased security since 9-11.

The guard looked ready to argue, but Michael grabbed her elbow and quickly opened the passenger seat, ushering her in. Were on our way.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her always pacifist husband. Lord knows, his peaceful ways kept their marriage intact. How was your flight? she asked.

Michael took off his glasses and tucked them in the visor; the lenses were for close-up and not driving. Too long. Sorry, my phone died, and I couldnt call you. He reached across to touch her belly. Hows my daughter?

Ellie leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. Your son is fine. Hes been kicking me ever since we parked. Either he likes you or he likes planes.

Maybe she just likes to go for drives.

Theyd been talking like this ever since theyd heard the heartbeat. Ellie was relieved Michael was happy with whatever sex the baby came out as. Being this close to the border, she knew too many machotes, the so-called macho men, who didnt see the value in a girl.

He pulled out, and she closed her eyes against the sun and drifted off.

Ellie.

She opened her eyes to an unfamiliar area. Going by the many warehouses and empty lots, it was an industrial zone. The streets were quiet, all the workers long home this late on a Friday night. Where are we?

Michael smiled sheepishly. I missed the on-ramp, and I thought Id pick it up on the next street over.

Not knowing any better than him, she said. I think its best to turn around. Ellie reached out to rub the back of his neck. She loved the feel of his shorn sandy hair where the barber buzzed him. Abuelita said dinner would be ready whenever we got home.

By the time shed heard brakes squealing, it was too late.

The collision smacked Ellies head into the side window before springing back. Michaels hand shot in front of her as the rest of him slammed into her shoulder. His window shattered before the car screeched to a stop. For a moment, neither of them moved.

Michael sat up and shook his head, releasing bits of glass. Only his seatbelt and the console had kept him from being in Ellies lap. She shook her own head, but more to break through some of the confusion. Her skull throbbed and it took a moment to separate that pain from more important considerations. She felt her belly, willing the baby to move; there was a small shift. At least there was no pain.