The Barnstormer

by Jane Lewis

  “I didn’t know. I thought you liked to fly.” He unfastened his seat belt.

  “I do, after we’re in the air and before we land.” She waited for him to come around and help her out of the plane.

  His Ford coupe sat alone in the parking lot. He put her suitcases in the car and headed into the hangar. “I have a couple of things to do before I take you home, I won’t be long.”

  She followed him. She roamed the building to make sure Al wasn’t hiding. “I’ll wait in here with you.” Her heart raced with excitement while her stomach quivered from nerves. She wanted to kiss him, wanted him to kiss her.

  Frankie stepped to his desk and studied a piece of paper.

  She followed him, took the paper out of his hand, and placed it on the desk. She captured his hands and placed them around her waist.

  He stepped back. “What’re ya doin’?”

  She tiptoed and put her hands behind his neck and pulled his head toward her. She kissed him. The touch of his lips sent a shock wave through her body. He took control and devoured her mouth in a demanding kiss. She reveled in his scent. He smelled like musk, spice, motor oil, and the sky. The stubble of his beard felt rough on her lips, his strong arms enveloped her, crushing her to him. His nearness and the feel of his erection against her belly gave her nerve and confidence to do what she did next. She placed her hand on his swollen shaft and tugged upward until she was at the top, then she squeezed. Her pulse raced, her entire body filled with a want of something new and foreign to her.

  Frankie scowled and stared into her eyes. “You play with fire and you’re gonna get burned. You wanna do this?”

  She stepped aside and met his glare with one of her own. She stared into his eyes, their souls mingled in a dance.

  Frankie let out the breath he’d been holding. “No, I didn’t think so. I’m taking you home.”

  The room spun around her, and her legs gave way. His strong arms lifted her.

  His eyes filled with water and his hands trembled. “Let’s go.”

  He kept his arm around her as they approached his car. He opened the door, helped her in the seat, bent at the waist, and gave her a gentle kiss on her mouth. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to kiss you.”

  She searched his eyes, lost in the moment. “Probably as long as I’ve wanted to kiss you.” She settled in her seat. She didn’t open her eyes until the car stopped in her driveway. He escorted her to the front porch, depositing her suitcases by the door and left.

  ****

  Ruth Ann couldn’t sleep. She relived Frankie’s kiss, the feel of his hard body against hers and the recognition that in his arms was where she wanted to remain, always. She couldn’t believe her nerve. She’d never felt faint when Ronald kissed her, but she couldn’t even stand without Frankie’s help. What did he think of her now? She felt embarrassed, but she wasn’t sorry. If she did marry Ronald, at least she knew what kissing Frankie felt like. It was all she ever dreamed of and more. What would making love with him be like? If she settled for Ronald, she would always wonder.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Frankie kept his confusion at bay until he delivered Ruthie home. He deposited her at her door and drove to Joe’s Tavern, he needed something to calm his nerves and relax him. She had him wound as tight as a tick on a dog’s back. God, he wanted her. He’d loved her for so long. What kind of sick game did she play now? If he was another man who didn’t love her like he did, he would have taken advantage of her on his desk. Maybe she was already spooning with Ronald and wanted to compare the two of them. Ronald makin’ whoopee with Ruthie made his stomach lurch. The bastard better keep his hands off her.

  He had to get control. They had advanced to grown-up games. More was at stake now, like his livelihood. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Victor’s trust.

  ****

  Sunday morning, Frankie dressed for church, he’d almost lost his religion last night and needed the solace God could give. He’d prayed about the situation and felt led to stand his ground. He would see how she reacted this morning. He arrived at church as the first song ended. Lisbeth played the piano, and Victor directed the singing. The Douglas’ gathered on their pew, he sat in the vacant space next to Ruthie. She glanced and smiled. He wanted to kiss her sweet lips. He smiled in return. He craved the touch of her hand, but he would stay cool and see where she led him.

  Pastor Lowe advanced to the entrance of the church to shake hands with people as they exited. Ruthie’s friends peppered her with questions.

  Frankie walked toward his friend. Victor shook his hand. “Good to see you at church today.”

  “I thought since it’s almost Christmas, I better come.”

  “Join us for lunch at Uncle Walter’s house. Aunt Delores always has more than enough.”

  “Thanks, I’d love to.”

  Frankie made his way to his car. He started toward Ruthie, but she gossiped with her friends. She raised her hand to wave goodbye. He hesitated and climbed in his Ford.

  Ruth Ann climbed in the back seat of the car with Lisbeth and threw her purse in the floor.

  Lisbeth reached for the handbag. “What’s the matter with you?”

  She grabbed the bag from her sister. “Nothing’s the matter.”

  Lisbeth squinted her eyes. “So, Frankie sat with you this morning?”

  “It was the only seat available.”

  “No, it wasn’t. I can see everything from the piano, and he entered the church searching for someone. When he saw you, he headed straight for the pew, like you saved him a seat.”

  “I did not save him a seat.”

  “I saw how you smiled at each other.”

  Ruth Ann rolled her eyes and screeched. “Oh, for goodness sake, will you shut up.”

  Hattie faced the rear seat. “Girls, I’m not having this today. Ruth Ann’s here two days and y’all are already fighting like cats. Stop. Now.”

  Jacob parked next to Victor’s car.

  Lisbeth spotted the Model A Ford. “Frankie’s here.”

  Ruth Ann climbed from the back seat. “So?”

  Lisbeth hurried to walk beside her sister. “So?” She dug her elbow in her sister’s side. “I know you like him and he likes you. Admit it.”

  Ruth Ann pushed her sister and ran into the house.

  Hattie and Dottie helped Delores put dinner on the table while Ruth Ann and Lisbeth held the babies.

  Frankie watched Ruthie as she played with Carol Ann. He eased toward them, and Carol Ann stretched her arms.

  She handed her over. “Here, she wants you. I’m glad you came for lunch. I watched you leave, and I thought you didn’t want to see me.”

  He raised the tiny girl over his head. “She likes to be high so she can see everything.” Frankie lowered the baby in his arms and winked at Ruth Ann. “After yesterday, you’re all I’ve thought about.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” She placed a kiss on the baby’s cheek. “No, both of these kids love you.”

  “It’s because I see them more than you do.” Frankie inhaled a slow breath to steady his nerves. “Would you like to go to a movie with me this afternoon?”

  “Is this a date?”

  He smiled and lowered his voice. “Do you want it to be a date?”

  “I don’t know.” She stared into his eyes. “Do you?”

  Frankie’s stomach sunk in his belly, would she turn him down? “Let’s say two good friends are going to see a movie together.”

  She put her hand on his arm. “It’s a date… I mean its two good friends going to see a movie.”

  After lunch Ruth Ann dried dishes and placed them in the white hutch. “Ma, I’m going to the picture show with Frankie.”

  Hattie wrinkled her brow. “Did he ask you out on a date?”

  “There’s a movie I want to see. Frankie agreed to take me.”

  She put her thumb and index finger on Ruth Ann’s chin and twisted her face toward her. “So now you’re seeing two boys? What about Ronald?
What would he say about this?”

  She jerked her head from her mother’s grasp. “What Ronald doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” She headed toward the door.

  Hattie called after her, “Ruth Douglas, come here.”

  She stopped. “What’s the big deal?”

  “When did you and Frankie become buddies?”

  She ignored her mother, marched from the kitchen, and grabbed her purse off the table. “Frankie, I’m ready.”

  He said goodbye to everyone, hugged Delores, and thanked her for the delicious Sunday dinner. Ruthie waited in the passenger seat. He entered the car and glared. “You act like you’re embarrassed to go out with me. You didn’t tell anyone goodbye. What are you pouting about?”

  “I got into it with Ma.”

  “What about?” Frankie started the car.

  She searched her purse for lipstick. “Mother-daughter stuff. You know how she is.”

  He did know. It took a lot to ruffle Hattie’s feathers, but when you did, she’d put you in your place. He eased the car down the road and headed to town. He couldn’t believe his luck. Instead of sitting behind Ruthie watching her have fun with her other boyfriends, he would sit beside her, holding her hand.

  They sat on the last row of the theater. The movie started, and Frankie put his arm around her. He loved the way she snuggled onto his shoulder. He watched her get lost in the picture. He concentrated on one thing. Her. Toward the end of the movie, he kissed her. She responded, and he wanted to cry out. It felt so good to have her close to him, kissing him. The lights glared, he stopped kissing her and removed his arm from around her shoulders. “Let’s get a milkshake before I take you home.”

  Frankie parked in front of the Tastee Drive-In and waited for the car hop. “What flavor do you want?”

  She studied the menu board. “What flavor are you getting?”

  “Strawberry.”

  “Good. I’ll get chocolate, and we can share.”

  Frankie grinned, she always wants everything. “Sounds like a good idea to me.” He raised her hand to his lips.

  The carhop sashayed over with the milkshakes, and Frankie payed him. He handed her his strawberry milkshake so she could get a taste before he gave her the chocolate. “How long are you going to be here?”

  She smacked her lips. “The strawberry’s delicious. I’ll be here two weeks.”

  He watched her enjoy the chocolate milkshake. “I hope we can do this every day while you’re here.”

  “Don’t you have to work?”

  He realized he wouldn’t get to taste the chocolate milkshake when he heard Ruthie’s straw suck air. “Victor says we won’t have to work on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. We don’t have too much work, so I’ll have some afternoons off. Victor’s having a New Year’s Eve party at the hangar for our customers and some friends. Do you want to go with me?” Frankie handed the rest of his milkshake to her.

  She finished the strawberry shake. “I’ve never gone to a New Year’s Eve party. Ma always makes me go to the Watch Night Service at church.”

  He smiled as she finished off the shake. God how I love to please you. “With Victor and Dottie throwing the party, your mother shouldn’t worry about you.”

  “They’re at the church until after midnight anyway, who’s keeping the babies?”

  “Avery and Annie will stay at Victor’s house with them. I know Dottie needs a break; those kids are a handful. Time to get you home. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll do something when I get off work.”

  She handed him her empty glass. “Sounds like fun.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Frankie escorted Ruthie to the front door. She trudged ahead, and he made no moves to hold her hand. He wanted it to appear they were just friends returning from a movie. Sure enough, the curtain fluttered, Mrs. Douglas watched from the window. “I had a good time tonight,” he said in a soft voice.

  “I did too,” Ruthie whispered. Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “Yes.” Frankie opened the screen door.

  She grinned as she closed the wooden door. She glided upstairs and let out a sigh of relief that her mother didn’t confront her. She opened a drawer and found her flannel gown and dressed for bed.

  Lisbeth opened the door and barreled in. “So, you and Frankie, huh?”

  She shifted her back to her sister to slide off her brassiere and tossed the gown over her head. “We saw a movie at the picture show, no big deal.”

  Lisbeth fell on the bed and gazed at the ceiling. “Oh, yeah, it’s a big deal. You know you love him, and he’s always been crazy about you. About time, I say. Although Ma’s furious. She’s been fussing all afternoon. Thinks you’re leading two boys on. She’s the one who liked Ronald, the rest of us not so much. Pa’s pleased but he won’t say one way or the other but I can tell. He even told Ma to mind her own business.”

  Ruth Ann sat on the bed. “He did? What’d she say then?”

  “She made me leave the room, but I stood at the door and listened. She said you were her oldest daughter and she would not have you flitting around with two boys at a time and people talking about you like you were a whore.”

  “She said whore?” She stared at her sister, she’d never heard her mother say anything but ‘John Brown’ when she got mad.

  “Yes, I tiptoed to my room, but I heard Pa yell, ‘shut your mouth, Ruth Ann is not a whore.’”

  “What happened then?” she whispered.

  Lisbeth sat in the chair and pulled her legs under her. “I sat in my room reading when Ma came upstairs. I heard her crying, and she slammed the bedroom door. Pa proceeded to their room, and they made up. I played the piano so I wouldn’t hear them. Ma fixed us supper and acted like nothing happened. I think she’s having trouble accepting the fact her two girls are grown. Well, you are, and I almost am. I think she hoped you’d marry Ronald, and she wouldn’t have to worry about you anymore.”

  Ruth Ann sat at her dressing table and brushed her hair. “I know what she’s worried about. She thinks I’m going to get knocked up. I found their marriage certificate. Victor was born seven months after they got married, but don’t tell her I told you. She doesn’t know I know.”

  Lisbeth stood and put her hands on her hips. “You mean she and Pa? Before they were married? That explains everything. Since you left, she preaches the same sermon to me. Lisbeth, be a good girl, don’t let the boys take advantage of you. Boy, you think you know your parents.”

  Ruth Ann jumped from her chair and pinched Lisbeth’s arm.

  Lisbeth slapped her hand away. “Ouch, that hurt.”

  She put her hand over Lisbeth’s mouth. “You’re talking too loud. You know Ma has ears like a bat. Please don’t say anything to anyone. Victor has to know. But they’ve been married twenty-six years and love each other dearly.”

  Lisbeth nodded and rubbed her arm. “I know, now I understand Ma and why she worries.”

  “Ma and Pa loved each other, and they got married and had us. I admire them. I hope I’m as happy when I find the right one as they are.”

  Lisbeth walked to the door and turned to face her sister. “I think you’ve found the right one. You’ll never find anyone who loves you more than Frankie does.”

  ****

  The next morning, Ruth Ann drove Jacob’s car into town and headed to Price’s Jewelry Store. She parked on Main Street in front of the drug store. She exited the car, and the cold wind cut through her light coat, she fastened the top button and stuffed her hands in the pockets. She glanced in the window of Hanson’s Department Store and saw the perfect sweater for Lisbeth.

  First, she would find something for Frankie. She entered Price’s Jewelry Store and wandered to the men’s section. She glanced at the tie clips and tie tacks until she found the perfect one. She chose a silver tie clip engraved with a biplane. Frankie spent Christmas Day with their family every year. This year the family would celebrate Christmas at Victor’s house. She couldn’t wait to s
urprise him with a present.

  She entered the department store and bought the sweater for Lisbeth. Her shopping done, she decided to surprise Frankie at work and drove out of town to Andrews Field.

  Frankie walked from the back of the hangar as she entered. “What brings you out here today?”

  She sat at his desk. “I had to go to town and wanted to stop and see you while I was out.” She picked up a piece of paper and admired the drawing of an airplane. “You’re good, didn’t know you could draw.”

  “It’s just doodles. Glad you came by.” He lowered his voice and gazed around the hangar. “Hey, you wanna do something tonight?”

  “I do. The Christmas play’s tonight. Lisbeth’ll be mad if I don’t go. She’s playing all the music. Let’s go together.” She turned and admired some trophies on a small bookcase behind his desk. “Are these yours?”

  “Yeah, got ’em at some contests I entered when I was a barnstormer.” Frankie leaned on his desk. “I heard Victor say Jack Andrew will portray the baby Jesus. Ought to be interesting, I know he won’t stay in the manger. How ’bout I pick you up at seven?”

  She stood and moved closer. A movement caught her eye, Al stared at them from the corner of the hangar. “See you tonight.” She touched his cheek.

  He followed her to the door and watched as she got in the car and drove off. “You can come out now Al, she’s gone.”

  Al appeared from the shadows grinning from ear to ear. “Finally, you two are getting along. When did this start?”

  “I took her to a movie yesterday’s all.”

  “I sense more than a movie. When did this flighty little thing start comin’ ’round?”

  Frankie guided Al toward the front of the hangar and lowered his voice all the while making sure Victor stayed in his office. “I’m seeing Ruthie while she’s home. I don’t care who knows, but I don’t want to cause any trouble with my job. The Douglas’ are a close family, and I don’t want any of them thinking I’m taking advantage. She came on to me Saturday when I flew her home from Atlanta.”

  Al grabbed Frankie’s arm. “Came on to you. Whatcha mean?”