shaking from the tips of her feet to the ends of her fingers , julie walked unsteadily into the noisy gate area , where passengers were being met by family and friends , her gaze searching wildly for a tall , dark-haired man loitering at the edge of some cheerful group , and when she did n't see him , she took a few steps beyond the gate into the terminal and faltered , paralyzed with a conflicting mixture of relief and panic .