by Jane Lewis
“Good. I wouldn’t expect you to have anything less.”
Ruth Ann crossed her arms. “What about you? What are your plans when you graduate? Law school or medical school?” She locked eyes with her sister and picked up a secret vibe. She was holding something back.
“Neither, I haven’t decided yet.” Lisbeth opened the lid on the pot of beef stew, picked up the spoon, and stirred.
Hattie said, “I don’t understand you girls. Why do you have to go to school? What’s wrong with finding a nice young man so you can get married? I want you to live close to me so I can enjoy my grandchildren.”
She didn’t want to hear her mother’s lecture. “Lisbeth, I’m going upstairs to unpack. Come with me. I might need some help.”
Lisbeth sat in the barrel back chair next to the bed watching her sister. “So, how is it? Must be exciting to live in a big city.”
Ruth Ann closed the bedroom door. She sat on her bed trying to decide how much to tell. “Lonely most of the time. We work all day, running lines and rehearsing. Memorizing takes most of my time. I’m learning technique, diction, how to be funny, when to be serious. The time spent away from class is always with other students. I rehearse with people trying for the same part I am. It’s intimidating to say the least.”
“Have you met any boys?” Lisbeth twirled her hair around her finger.
She lowered her voice. “Don’t tell Ma, you know how she gets her hopes up. I’m dating a boy named Ronald. I like him. He kisses good.”
“Make sure all you do is kiss. You got away with leading the boys from here on. Atlanta’s not Saplingville.” Lisbeth leaned in the chair and crossed her arms.
“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself. What do you know about Frankie and Audrey?”
Lisbeth shook her head, “I feel sorry for him. He’s a nice man, but trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes. We haven’t seen him since she left. Victor told us she was married to another man, so their marriage wasn’t legal. He said Frankie didn’t take it well. He’s embarrassed. I think he should be glad she’s gone. Nothing but trouble, that one.”
She placed her suitcase under the bed. “I’m glad she’s gone, too. So tell me, I know you’ve decided what you want to do after you finish school. Let’s hear it.”
“I won’t tell Ma about Ronald if you don’t say anything about my plans. I’ll tell them when I’m ready.”
She climbed to the middle of her bed and sat with her legs crossed under her. “Deal, spill the beans.”
“I want to be an airplane pilot, like Victor.” She gave her sister a smug grin.
Ruth Ann’s mouth dropped open. “An airplane pilot? Why? I mean, I don’t mind riding in the plane. I sure don’t want to fly the thing. How many women fly airplanes anyway?”
“You’ve heard of Amelia Earhart, haven’t you?” Lisbeth rolled her eyes and stared at the ceiling.
“Of course, I have, dummy. She’s an exception.”
Lisbeth stood and stared out the window. “No, you’re wrong. There’re lots of women pilots. Some are better than Victor and Frankie. Remember when Louise Thaden won the Women’s Air Derby in 1929?”
She calculated the numbers in her head. “Wait, you were nine years old then.”
Lisbeth gazed at the heavens. “Victor was in the United States Army Air Corps learning to fly bombers. I decided if Victor could fly, I could too.” She turned toward her sister. “I heard the news about the race on the radio. Last year I did research for a report. Found out there were nineteen female pilots flying from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio. They faced many obstacles. Some airplanes were sabotaged by jealous men. They continued on with fifteen completing the race. If these women can fly, I can too.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “Boy, Pa was upset when I told him I wanted to be an actress. I can’t wait to hear what he says about your plans.”
Lisbeth sat on the bed next to her sister. “You promised not to tell. I’ll tell them when I’m ready.”
“Make sure I’m home. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
“Did Ma tell you Victor and Dottie are having a party for you at their house tomorrow?” Lisbeth stood to leave.
“No, she didn’t mention it. Who’s coming?”
“Mostly family.”
“Sounds like fun, I’ll be down in a few minutes.” She hoped Frankie would join them. She had to see him. So much had happened to both of them in the last two months. She heard Hattie’s call to supper. She had lots of stuff to tell them about school, leaving out the part about necking on a park bench with a boy.
Chapter Five
Ruth Ann, Lisbeth, Jacob, and Hattie arrived early to the party so Hattie could help Dottie with the food. Ruth Ann took the deviled eggs from her mother handing them to Lisbeth.
She held out her hands. “I’ll take the congealed salad.”
Her mother refused. “No, I’ll take this, it might slide off the plate.”
She ran to the front porch taking the seat on the swing next to Dottie. She kissed Carol Ann and Jack Andrew on the forehead. Both babies wanted her. She took them from Dottie, holding both became a challenge. Carol Ann tangled her hands in her hair, and Jack Andrew dove straight for her earbob.
Dottie reached for her little boy. “One at a time. They’re eight months old now. They won’t be still.”
She sat the baby girl in her lap facing her. “They’ll be walking soon. You’re going to have your hands full.”
Jack Andrew squirmed wanting to climb in her lap.
Jacob wrestled his grandson from Dottie. He lifted him over his head. “How’s my big boy doing?”
Dottie smiled at her father-in-law. “Thanks, Pa. He’s getting so strong, I can hardly hold him when he wants something.”
Jacob settled the baby on his hip. “Head strong. Stubborn. Just like his daddy.”
Ruth Ann spotted Uncle Walter and Aunt Delores pull in front of the house in their old Ford truck. Her uncle used it for all his farming chores. The wooden boards on the bed of the truck were scratched, but the old truck still looked good. She passed Carol Ann to Dottie and ran down the steps into the yard.
She opened the door for Delores. Her aunt enveloped her in a big hug. “How’s my little Ruth Ann? We’ve missed you.”
Walter made his way around the truck. “We’re so proud of you, going off to the big city by yourself.” He lifted the crate of food holding it so nothing would spill.
Delores linked her arm through Ruth Ann’s. “I think my husband’s a little jealous. He’s only been to Atlanta twice in his life.”
“I’m homesick.” She walked close to her aunt breathing in the scent of the lilac perfume the old lady always wore.
Delores smiled at her niece. “I hope you’re making friends.”
“I spend at least ten hours a day with my classmates.” She didn’t consider all of them friends. “I like most of them.”
Her aunt pulled her closer. “Sounds like a lot of work. Do you like it?”
“I love the work.” She heard a car door close and watched Dottie’s daddy, Avery and his wife Annie exit a shiny new car. “You go in. I’ll say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Lester.”
She skipped toward the street. “I’m glad you could make it. Nice car.”
Avery ran his hand over the hood. “Nineteen thirty-five Plymouth. Arrived yesterday. The boss let me drive it for the weekend. He thinks the more I know about the cars, the easier for me to sell ’em.”
“Welcome home, Ruth Ann.” Annie gave the pound cake to Avery.
Avery escorted the two ladies. “How’s school?”
“Fine. I auditioned for a play this week.”
“Good luck. Hope you get the part.” Avery stepped back and let the women climb the stairs to the porch.
She held the front door open for the Lesters while she gazed into the house. Lisbeth sat on a blanket playing with the twins. Her brother stood at the kitchen counter slicing a baked chicken. She eased
to the kitchen. “Victor, thanks for having this party for me. I’ve missed y’all. Is everyone here?”
He separated a drum stick from a thigh. “I invited Frankie. I don’t know if he’s coming. He likes a party, if for nothing else but the food. I reminded him yesterday.”
She set out glasses and filled them with ice for the tea. “I’d like to see him.”
He put the knife on the counter and stared at his sister. “Be nice, okay?”
“I’ll be nice if he is.”
He picked up the knife and continued to carve. “Neither of you can be nice to each other. Don’t mention Audrey.”
She poured tea in glasses. “I won’t.”
Everyone held hands while Jacob blessed the food and thanked God for their many blessings.
As soon as he said ‘Amen,’ Dottie cleared the way. “Guest of honor first.”
Ruth Ann grabbed a plate. She milled around the kitchen counter getting a little bit of everything. A knock on the door caused her stomach to churn.
Victor greeted his guest, “Frankie, glad you could make it, man.”
A grin bloomed on her face. She stood in the kitchen door and watched.
Frankie patted Victor on the back. “Thanks for inviting me.” He grabbed Jack Andrew, lifted him over his head and guided him through the air like an airplane. The baby laughed while his twin crawled to him and used Frankie’s leg to stand. He scooped Carol Ann, holding one child in each arm. They both pounced on his face. He shook his head and blew air threw his lips. Both babies mimicked him.
She took her plate to the parlor, sat on the couch, and hoped Frankie would join her.
Victor reached for Carol Ann and cradled her in his arms. “Let’s put them in their high chairs so we can fix our plate.”
Frankie placed Jack Andrew in his seat. “The food smells good. The women in your family are the best cooks in the world.”
He joined Jacob in line. “Evening, Mr. Douglas.”
“Frankie, glad you could join us to welcome my daughter home.” Jacob placed a piece of chicken on his plate.
“I’m proud you asked me. How are you feeling?” He took a plate from the stack.
“I’m better than ever. Ned’s a great help at the drug store. He runs the store like I do, couldn’t have found a better partner.” Jacob spooned a small amount of every vegetable on his plate.
“I hope Victor feels the same about me at the airfield.” He filled his plate with food and topped it off with a biscuit and piece of cornbread.
“Victor couldn’t have found a better person to help him run Andrews Field.”
“Thank you, sir.” He walked to the kitchen table where Walter sat alone. “Mind if I join you?”
Walter scooted his chair over to give Frankie plenty of room. “Not at all. I saw you flying the Jenny last week. A very impressive Cuban Eight.”
He grabbed a glass of iced tea off the counter. “I hoped I was far enough away from the farm. I didn’t disturb anything, did I?”
“No, I was repairing the fence by the lake and saw the show. Impressive. I haven’t seen those aerobatics since your time with the flying circus.”
Frankie put his fork on his plate. “I needed to clear my head. Flying the Jenny’s like medicine to me.”
Walter stood at the dessert table surveying the pickin’s. “You shouldn’t give the matter anymore thought, none of us are. We’re your friends, Frankie. We’re here for you.”
“Thanks, Mr. Andrews.” He ate his food and rubbed his last bite of bread on the plate to sop the bean juice. He poured a cup of coffee to drink with his pound cake and made his way to the parlor. He placed his cup on a table and stood to eat his dessert.
Lisbeth patted the seat next to her. “Frankie, sit with me.”
He grabbed his cup placing it on the coffee table before he sat. “Lisbeth, how are you?”
Lisbeth surveyed the room. She lowered her voice. “I need to talk to you about something. Confidentially.”
He sipped his coffee. “I’m listening.”
She put her hand over her mouth and whispered, “I want you to teach me how to fly.”
Frankie set his plate on the table. He turned to give her his full attention. “I see. What do your parents say about this? I remember your father wasn’t happy about Victor’s choice of profession.”
“They don’t know…yet.”
“Don’t you think we should get their permission first?”
Lisbeth clasped her hands. “I guess.”
“I’ll talk to Victor. You talk to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas. I’ll do all I can to help you, if that’s what you want to do.”
Lisbeth smiled a toothy grin. “Thank you. I knew I could depend on you.”
Ruth Ann watched her sister talk to Frankie. What are they talking about? The conversation appeared serious until Lisbeth smiled like a Cheshire Cat. What’s going on?
She’d find out before she left to go to school tomorrow. Frankie avoided her which gave her the opportunity to admire the handsome, rugged, fit, and rough around the edges man. She liked his red hair and freckles and his towering presence. She compared him to Ronald, total opposites, but Ronald liked her so she would keep her options open. She didn’t think Frankie would be out searching for another wife any time soon.
****
Ruth Ann put on her pajamas and walked down the hall to Lisbeth’s bedroom determined to find out about the conversation with Frankie. Lisbeth sat at her desk writing a letter.
She sat in a chair waiting for her to finish her scribbling. “What did you talk to Frankie about?”
Lisbeth folded the letter and slid it in an envelope. “Jealous?”
“No, I’m not jealous.”
“I watched you chase him around the house. You put on quite a show.” She opened the drawer, found a stamp, and licked it.
“That obvious?”
“Yes.” She placed the stamp on the envelope.
“I must have looked stupid.”
Lisbeth faced her sister. “You did.”
“What were you talking about?”
Lisbeth gave Ruth Ann a huge smile. “I asked him to give me flying lessons.”
“Why’d you ask Frankie? I would think Victor would be your first choice…he is your brother.”
“Of course, I want Victor to teach me. He’s military trained and does everything by the book.”
Ruth Ann sat on the bed. “Yet, you’re talking to Frankie, not Victor.”
“Frankie learned from barnstormers who fly by their gut instinct. It’s like playing the piano. People who play by ear put their heart into their playing. Pianists who rely on music often sound stilted because they’re thinking too much about technique to let the music flow from their heart. I learned to play by ear, listening to Ma, then I started lessons. I add the music I hear in my head with the music on the page to create my own sound.” She stood and twirled around with her arms spread. “I want it all, the technical and book knowledge combined with the instinct of a stunt pilot.” She sat on the bed beside her sister.
“I understand, my acting coach says I think too much. Acting isn’t so much about intelligence as getting your intelligence out of the way to enable the creative side of your brain to take over. I can see where instinct would help with technical knowledge in flying an airplane.” She stood gazing down at her sister. “Good luck, if it’s what you want to do with your life.”
“I want this more than anything. Nothing’s going to stop me.” Lisbeth stood and turned the cover down on her bed.
She tiptoed to her bedroom. Everything and everyone had changed. Lisbeth wanted to be a pilot. Frankie married a woman who was already married, and Ruth Ann realized her plan of moving to New York wasn’t what she wanted.
Chapter Six
Frankie ground coffee beans for his morning pot of strong coffee. Closing his eyes and breathing in the smell, he remembered his mother’s kitchen. He added an extra scoop to the basket like she taught him. The water bubbling
in the knob of the percolator transfixed him. He stared into the glass ball and saw Ruthie’s face. He shook it off and poured a cup of coffee.
He placed several strips of bacon in an iron skillet and sipped his coffee while the meat sizzled. Taking fresh butter Delores made, he slathered a slice of bread and slid the pan in the oven. Next, he cracked an egg into the hot bacon grease, letting the egg cook on one side before flipping to make his egg over easy.
Going to church flitted through his mind. He and Audrey didn’t attend church. She wanted to stay home on Sundays or fly in his plane. She didn’t like to be around people, now he understood why. He planned to get into the routine of church, but today wasn’t the day. Ruthie would be at church with her family. Last night he avoided her, arrived late to the party, and hung with the guys, except for Lisbeth. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas were going to be shocked when they learned she wanted to take flying lessons. He didn’t know any female pilots, but Lisbeth would succeed at anything she did.
He drank a second cup of coffee while he washed dishes. A knock at this early hour surprised him. He peaked out the window before opening the door. “Victor, come in. What’s going on? Why aren’t you at church?”
“I would be, but I got a call from a client. They want me to take them to Macon today. I need you to fly Ruth Ann to Atlanta. You can take the Beechcraft Staggerwing.”
His stomach knotted, and his breakfast churned. He swallowed willing his food to stay where it was. “Why can’t I fly the client to Macon and you take Ruthie?”
“They asked for me. What’s wrong? You always jump at the chance to fly the Beechcraft.” Victor stared at him.
He didn’t want to cause trouble with his job, his boss had enough stress. They had more work than both of them could do, but Victor couldn’t afford another employee. The flight wouldn’t take long, and then she’d be in Atlanta out of his hair. “You’re the boss.”
“Thanks, buddy. Pick her up at the house at two o’clock.”
Frankie smiled and did a little bow. “Will do.”