Chapter 44

As the plane lifted off, Jon stared out the window, wanting to be anywhere but there. The noise and activity around him didn't register. Even when Richie plopped down in the seat next to him, he didn't take his eyes off the window. His mind was elsewhere, it was back in a little kitchen with a pretty dark haired woman who wore a pink camisole and black pants with smudges of flour on them.

"Hey man, how's it going?" Richie unbuckled his seatbelt and stretched out his legs while he waited for Jon to respond. When he didn't Richie nudged his leg, "hey." Jon finally turned his head, "oh, hey man." Richie studied his friend, "you okay bro?" Jon shrugged his shoulders, "yeah, I guess."

"You wanna talk about it?" Richie had a feeling he knew what was bothering Jon, but he knew that Jon wouldn't talk unless he was ready, so he didn't push.

Jon sighed and shifted in his seat. "It was harder to leave this time than it has been man." Richie pursed his lips in thought, "is it this Cilla that you've been seeing?" Jon turned and looked at Richie, "yeah, I love her and it about killed me to say goodbye to her earlier." Richie's eyebrow winged up in surprise, "you only just met her what, a week ago and you love her, are you sure about that?"

"Two weeks ago and yes, I'm sure." Jon was a bit miffed at Richie's seeming disbelief that he could feel like this in so short a time.

Richie raised his hands in defense, "okay, sorry. It's been so long since I've seen you like this, I forgot what you're like." Jon slanted a look at Richie, "and how's that?" Richie smiled at him, "miserable. Cheer up man, we'll only be gone six weeks and we have these wonderful inventions called the cell phone and e-mail." Jon gave half a laugh, "gotta love technology, but I don't have her e-mail address. I don't even know if she has one. She just got a new computer a week ago and I don't know if she has that set up yet." Richie rolled his eyes at Jon, "ask her when you call her later."

The rest of the flight passed in relative peace. The guys talked quietly amongst themselves before they all dropped off into sleep. When they arrived in Dubai, Jon hardly had a chance to think about Cilla, it was just go, go, go nearly from the moment their plane landed. When he finally had a few minutes to breathe he sat down on the bed in his room and took a look around, noticing for the first time the pink box on the table.

"Oh Sweets what did you do?" he wondered as he walked over the picked the box up. There was an envelope tucked under the string, his name across the front written in her pretty script. As he lifted the flap a there was a knock on his door. Slipping the note in his pocket he opened his door to find his band mates, pink boxes in hand, standing there. "What?" he asked as he ushered them in.

David set his box down on the table, "who is Cilla and why or how did she get this stuff to us?" Jon looked at his friends, Richie was the only one who knew about Cilla. "Cilla Preston is my" he paused searching for a word more fitting than 'girlfriend' but none came to mind. "Girlfriend and she owns her own bakery, Queen of Tarts. If I had to guess, I'd say she talked to Paul and that's how we all ended up with these little care packages."

David nodded, "so this stuff is safe to eat then?" Jon took David's box, "it's better than safe and if you don't want yours, I'll be happy to take it off your hands." David grabbed his box back, "you've got your own, back off man."

Anxious to read his note and to see just what she had put together for him he tried to rush his friends out, but they wanted to know about Cilla. He sighed and sat, he'd have to read her note later. He told David, Tico and Hugh about Cilla, answered their questions and put them at ease about the gift she had so thoughtfully sent. "I guess she just wanted us to have a little piece of home" he told them. "I honestly don't know. I am as surprised as you are."

After he had answered all their questions, they cleared out, heading back to their own rooms to dig into the special treats sent from home. When Jon closed the door behind them he dug in his pocket for the note and sat heavily on the edge of the bed. Tapping the note against his chin, he slid it from the envelope and began to read.

Jon,

Surprise!I thought you and the guys might like a little taste of home while you're away. Keep an eye out, you may find other pink boxes along the way. Tell Paul thanks for me for his help and not spoiling the surprise.

I miss you. I hope your shows go well. Travel safe.

I love you.

Cilla

Jon lay back on the bed, a smile on his face as he glanced at the clock, wondering if it was too late to call Cilla.