Garry’s at the end of his tether. He’s waiting at Glasgow Airport to meet his friend Will, on their way to a holiday in a Scottish Highlands hotel. Now there’s a ten-hour delay to incoming flights, the seat in the lounge is more like an instrument of torture, and he’s beyond tired of airport food.
He’s also dreading having to apologise for the pass he recently made at Will, his colleague at a London bank, under the influence of too many beers and a long-held crush. Now Will’s been offered a new job offer on a continent thousands of miles away, Garry realises it may be the end of their close friendship—let alone anything more.
To add to Garry’s stress, he’s treated to the company of Emily and Max, two young people who think he needs educating in the ways of the world. Struggling with their well-meaning help and the startling mess from spilled ketchup and noxious-smelling sweets, he’s encouraged to re-examine how he feels about Will and to decide what kind of journey he’d really like them to take together.
First Edition published by Amber Quill Press/Amber Allure, 2010.
The airport lounge... not the most exciting place on earth, especially when you're waiting for a flight delayed by 10 hours. Not, perhaps, the first place one thinks of when they think romance (well unless like me you watch a gazillion Christmas films where there are inevitably snow-delayed flights and meet-cutes) but this short story captures a sweet story of friends to lovers - even though only one protag is present for a majority of it!
It's really a story of self-examination (of feelings people, a physical self-exam might be a bit much in an airport waiting area. Might.). Garry, stranded at Glasgow airport waiting for his BFF Will is contemplating the last time he saw Will and what it means for the future. Will is moving on, just when Garry realises it's the last thing he wants Will to be doing. Procrastination, examination, regret, fear... these all guide Garry's thoughts over the long wait.
Garry's not really a kid lover so of course he gets lumbered with two whilst waiting. Two kids who pass on sage advice in the manner only kids can, all offered in a sticky surrounding of sweets and junk food. It's cute.
I kinda had to look t'other way and not delve into the 'why is this man making friends with feeding these strangers kids and not trying to find their parents/family/the police' and just accept it as part of the story. It's sort of given a vaguely satisfying explanation at the end if I squint a bit and blur the edges and remember it's just a story.
As long as I didn't examine that premise too much I could enjoy the story as the cute, sweet, funny friends-to-more story this is. If you like cute shorts then go for it, a great read for a Sunday afternoon cuppa break.
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