Loving All of Me by Naleighna Kai & Stephanie M. Freeman

Author:Naleighna Kai & Stephanie M. Freeman [Kai, Naleighna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781952871498
Publisher: Macro Publishing Group

CHAPTER 14

Joy had always wanted to take a trip on the Starlite Amtrak Train from California to Seattle. The fact that Ali had put things in place to make it happen in style warmed her heart. Their flight to LA was filled with conversations about the best parts of their careers and families. Joy checked in a few times to find that Jason was fine, and Lyric had actually stayed put with Ernie and Donna. Joy finally allowed her misgivings and concerns to subside and focused on enjoying her time with Ali.

They walked through the corridors of the Los Angeles train station, past the ticket offices to the elevators to the upper level which landed them in the Metropolitan Club.

“Aren’t you glad that I’m a cheap date?” Joy teased.

“Just because you preferred to have an inexpensive and very unusual breakfast,” he said after finishing a bite of pretzel dog. “doesn’t mean you’re cheap.”

“I was only joking.”

“I know,” he said, chuckling. “These still aren’t better than a Chicago Dog.”

She held her hot dog out, saying, “True. True” and Ali tapped his to hers as if they were toasting to a good time.

Boarding time was in two hours, so they waited in the private club that was a perk of business class and sleeper car travelers. Ali had purchased two business class seats situated near the dining car, right above the cantina for casual dining, and just a car over from the sky deck.

“Why this particular train?” Ali asked, as they pulled out from the station.

“When I was younger, Ernie and Donna would take me on the Metra,” she replied, settling into the comfortable leather chair in the nearly empty business class. “We’d ride the regular lines sometimes, but these trains were different. Wider and more comfortable seats, quiet conversations, the movement of the train was … comforting. So different from the CTA, public transport.” She glanced out the window taking in the beauty of the ocean waves. “No music blaring or folks trying to sell me CDs, batteries, items boosted from different stores. No children wailing or having to hold my book bag close to me because it could walk off without me. The Metra passengers were working people, resting, planning their day, sleeping, reading. The difference mirrored my life. Ella’s house was like the CTA, and the new life that I had in the building with people who actually loved me was like the Metra.” She gave him a wide smile. “I was on the internet and saw an advertisement for this train, and it seemed like the ultimate ride.”

The call for the train made the mass of people grab their items and head out to board. The windows on the ceiling skydeck curved into the framework, allowing perfect views of the scenery views changed from sandy beaches and oceans to woodsy plains covered by green grass, mountains, cows grazing, horses galloping in the open terrain, to snow-covered evergreens so tall they touched the clouds. She had wanted this trip at least once—but time never permitted.

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