Chapter Two

There were the usual early arrivals clustered around the gate when Havana arrived. Putting on her plastic smile and avoiding all eye contact, she maneuvered her bag around them as she hobbled toward the door leading to the gangway. The typical small group of early passengers generally consisted of those who were nervous about flying, people who had arrived early to upgrade their seats, or the elderly and disabled who needed some help as they boarded the plane. Havana plastered on her gracious, assuring smile as she tried to pass them. A well-dressed man broke from the group and blocked her progress.

“Sir,” Havana said as she avoided all eye contact with him. “I need to board the plane.” Out of the corner of her eye, she searched for a security guard.

“No problem,” the man said. She looked up and saw his blue eyes smiling at her as he extended his hand. “I just wanted to introduce myself as I will be traveling with my patient. My name is Dr. Dave Sharlet,” he continued. “I’ll fill you in more on the accommodations that my patient might need after we board.” He held on to Havana’s hand for just a beat too long.

Havana couldn’t stop herself from checking his hand as she let it go. No wedding ring. Perhaps he wasn’t menacing, just a little too overeager to introduce himself.

“Any problem here?” the security guard said as he approached them.

“No, Jack,” Havana said as she turned and accompanied him to the door. Then she slipped through the opening and headed down the gangway to the plane.

Trouble, she thought. She knew her unerring instinct for falling for the wrong man at the wrong time. She was a sucker for blue eyes, dark hair, and a slight degree of danger. Best to avoid him. Difficult to do during a redeye, but manageable. Focus, she reminded herself. Just focus on your career. Forget about the electricity that raced up your arm. Just your imagination.

“Over here, Miss,” Dr. Sharlet called just as Havana loosened her seatbelt after takeoff.

“Please, sir. Stay in your seat until the pilot turns off the “Fasten Your Seatbelt sign.”

“We need your defibrillator now,” he insisted and gestured towards his patient.

Havana kicked off her shoes as she raced to get the defibrillator from the back of the cabin. “Alert the captain that we have a medical emergency and ask for additional medical help,” she called back to Pierre, who was already on the phone to the captain.

The captain’s announcement was short, “We have a medical emergency on board. Is there a physician or nurse on the plane?”

Havana and Pierre cleared out the seats around the patient. Dr. Sharlet administered CPR as Havana held the defibrillator. No other medical personnel stepped forward. The patient began to breathe, but his heartbeat was irregular.

“Tell the captain we’ll have to land immediately and get this patient to a hospital,” Dr. Sharlet said. Holding the defibrillator in place, Havana nodded to Pierre who ran down the aisle to alert the captain.

As the plane rolled to a stop after landing at Newark Airport, Havana could see the ambulance waiting on the side of the runway. She stood by as the EMTs loaded the patient onto the gurney to remove him from the plane and take him to the hospital.

“Thanks for your help,” Dr. Sharlet said, shaking her hand as he left to follow his patient. “You’ve helped me give this man at least a chance of survival. That deserves a dinner the next time you’re in New York. I’ll find you somehow,” he promised.

“Sure, that’s what they all say,” Havana murmured to Pierre.