I smiled back, Zevi’s calm tamping down the irritation that had started to bubble up again — and that I’d been trying so carefully to hide. After all, I didn’t want the boy I was taking home to meet my parents to think I got upset so quickly

I heaved a big sigh, fluttering the bangs I’d so carefully styled that morning. After eight hours of anxiety and frustration, they had started to wilt. I snuck a quick sideways glance at Zevi, to see if he showed any signs of annoyance.

Serene smile on his face, he was breaking open his third bag of candy. He turned to me, offering the open bag before he took any.

“You want some? I know it’s not much. I guess we should have packed actual food, right?” Zevi said with a chuckle as he poured the candy into my waiting palm. It was 2 p.m. and all we’d eaten since breakfast were bags of pretzels, candy, and any kosher food we could muster up from the kiosk at LaGuardia airport.

I smiled back, Zevi’s calm tamping down the irritation that had started to bubble up again — and that I’d been trying so carefully to hide. After all, I didn’t want the boy I was taking home to meet my parents to think I got upset so quickly.

I placed a few of the candies into my mouth, letting the chocolate coat my tongue and slide down my throat, immediately soothing my nerves. I eased back into the stiff chairs surrounding the departure gate, glancing up at the monitor leveled above the desk where two gate agents clicked away on their computers.

Flight 1297 to Cleveland

Departure 6 PM

On Standby Tamar and Zevi

I glanced down at my cell phone, for the third time in the past five minutes. 2:08. I caught my sigh before it escaped my mouth, and slid down in my seat, closing my eyes. If only we hadn’t stopped for bagels on the way to the airport….

Eight hours earlier

“Hi, Tamar! Here, let me get your suitcase for you.” Zevi had just pulled up in front of my brother’s house, his chipper voice echoing in the silent streets.

“Thanks, Zevi.” I stifled a yawn as I climbed into the front seat of the car, wondering how Zevi could be so cheerful at 6 a.m. I’m barely able to get out a word before my morning coffee, which I had yet to have.

We only had a couple hours until the flight to Cleveland, where Zevi would be meeting my parents for the first time. Zevi and I had been dating for a few weeks and we were both more than ready for him to meet my parents and possibly take the next step. If we get to the airport on time….

Always one to be at the airport hours before a flight, I was getting anxious about the timing — and at Zevi’s nonchalance, especially after he suggested we stop to get some breakfast on our way out. Making some quick calculations in my head, I knew stopping would slow us down significantly. Yet if we managed to make it a really quick trip, we could still make it to the airport on time. After picking up some bagels and pastries, we were then finally on our way. Thankfully, there was little traffic so early in the morning, although I still found myself glancing at the clock every few minutes, my unease growing. We couldn’t miss this flight!