The little red headed girl sat quietly in the window seat as the plane loaded with more passengers. Looking out the window, she was able to watch the other aircraft land and then more leave for takeoff.  

She was seated up close to the front so that the flight attendants could make sure she was ok. Being a seasoned flyer, she was the calmest passenger on the plane that day. 

 After her parents divorced and her father moved to California from New York, every 2-3 weeks she would fly back and forth on the weekends to visit her father.  

Young Marigold Manchester was no stranger to airports, airplanes and people that were scared to fly.  

She liked airports.

As Lillian came thru the jet bridge and got closer to the aircraft doorway, she paused and with her right hand, she held onto the doorway of the plane. After a moment of reassurance from a flight attendant inside, and grumbles from people behind her, she cautiously stepped over the threshold. It was the 75-year old’s first flight.  

Lillian was a well put-together senior citizen with faded strawberry blonde hair cut fashionably and clothes that accentuated her fit physique.  Having never married, she was not necessarily still looking for a man, but more liked to be able to be considered just in case an eligible bachelor came down her aisle.  

Lillian took her reserved seat beside the young girl.  

Taking a tissue and a small makeup compact out of her purse, she dabbed some sweat from her forehead and looked in the mirror to see if her makeup was running down her face like she’d been running a marathon.  

Watching her every move, the little girl spoke up 

‘I dread that’.  

‘What do you dread, dear?’.  

‘I dread growing up and having to look perfect all the time’.  

‘Well, normally I’m not that concerned but, well, this is my first time to fly. And I’m afraid that I’m as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.’.  

And laughter broke out loudly on the front row of that airplane between the old lady and the little girl.  

‘Hi, I’m Marigold’ she said as she extended her little hand to the lady.  

‘Well, Marigold, I’m Lillian. And I already feel better. I’m glad you’re here’.  

‘I’m glad to be here!’ she replied.  

They sat and exchanged life stories awhile and soon the pilot announced they’d be pulling away from the gate and lining up for their departure soon. There was a little jolt as the plane began moving. And Lillians posture changed as she saw the flight attendant closing the plane door.  

Marigold didn’t say a word, but she reached over and offered her hand to Lillian.  

Lillian hesitated at first, and she wasn’t sure why, but she laughed and took the little hand for comfort.  

When it was their turn to take off, Marigold leaned up and told Lillian every thing that was happening and how it would go. And it did.  

Soon they were cruising at 30K feet.  

Marigold told her the story of why she was a frequent flyer at a young age and that her father was born in New York, but now lived with his new wife in California. 

Lillian paused, not sure exactly what to say because this child was a precious little girl that she’d have given anything to have had as a child when she was younger. And she couldn’t fathom this sweet little girl living on opposite coasts and all this travel.  

As they continued their flight, Lillian shared her story of needing to travel to be with her sister who lived in California now and was in poor health.  

As the plane made its way across the country, Marigold began playing with her iPad and Lillian thumbed through a magazine she’d picked up in the airport.  

As usual for most of the time when Lillian was around children, her mind drifted off to what her child would have looked like now.  

She had gotten pregnant when she was 17 and that was unheard of back then. She had went to live with some relatives until the baby was born then moved back home to New York. 

The baby boy was taken from her at birth, and she never saw him. She knew letting him go to adoption was the right thing to do for the baby, but she still grieved over it daily, especially when she was around other children.  

They were a reminder of what she gave up.  

Much more soon that Lillian expected they were landing, and she was breathing a sigh of relief.  

Exiting the plane thru the jet bridge, Marigold asked Lillian if she’d like to meet her father. She said she’d love to meet the father of such a wonderful young lady.  

Parting thru the waiting crowd, Lillian yelled ‘Dadddy!’ and a tall handsome man stepped thru the crowd smiling and bending down to catch his baby girl as she ran to his waiting arms.  

After clearly seeing Marigold’s father, Lillian stopped walking and for a few seconds, she stopped breathing.  

Lillian and Marigold’s father locked eyes and simply stared at each other for a minute, saying nothing.  

After the awkward, Lillian cleared her throat, regained her composure and walked forward. 

Marigold was smiling and happily said ‘daddy, I want you to meet Lillian. She’s coming to California to be with her sister who is very ill. But she’s from New York like us. She’s been a lot of fun on the plane sitting beside me. We laughed a lot. And it’s funny because we laugh a lot alike!’.  

‘Hi, Lillian. I’m Edward Manchester, Marigold’s father’ he said as he extended his hand.  

And at that moment when she touched his hand and they both smiled, all of her wondering since she was 17 stopped.  

For Edward Manchester had the most beautiful head of red hair.  

And Lillian’s smile.