by Jane Lewis
She didn’t want to lie or hurt his feelings. “Sounds like we both had a nice Christmas and New Year. I can’t wait to start work on the play. Did you rehearse any while you were off?”
He put his arm around her shoulder. “No, did you?”
She laughed and shook her head. “I didn’t either.”
Ronald gathered her in his arms while his lips searched hers. He moved his hands along her body. A surge of emptiness filled her gut. With Frankie she felt loved, but with Ronald she felt dirty and ashamed. She placed her hands on his cheeks and stared. Desire emanated from his green eyes. She had to stop. “I’m tired, and I need to get organized for school. Thanks for the ring and driving me.”
Ronald ran his index finger down her nose and smiled. “I’m tired, too. See you in the morning, beautiful.”
After Ronald left, she sat and relived every single moment she spent with Frankie. She started at the beginning when she attempted to seduce him to the last night when they went to the picture show. She prayed he understood when her mother gave him the note. He had to know she had no choice but to go with Ronald. The next couple of months away from him would be torture but Frankie promised he would see her play and she would put on her best performance.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Frankie showered and shaved and put on his best blue jeans and shirt. He grabbed his leather jacket and drove to Ruthie’s house. He loved her more than his own life. The last two weeks gave him hope for a future with her. He parked in the gravel drive and made his way to the house.
Hattie opened the door and met him on the porch. “Ruth Ann’s already gone to Atlanta. I’m sorry you drove over for nothing.”
He peered inside the house, expecting to see Ruthie. “What do you mean, gone? Did Victor take her?”
She closed the door and crossed her arms against the cold. “No, Ronald stopped by this morning to get her. She’s gone.”
“Gone, did she say anything about me? We made plans for me to fly her.”
She shivered from the cold. “No, she didn’t say anything. I’m freezing. I’m going in the house. Sorry for your trouble, Frankie.”
He stomped to his car. What the hell? The bitch used me. Same old Ruthie, wanting to have a good time. Did she seduce me and lead me on to practice for one of her plays? How could I be so stupid? First Audrey and now Ruthie, what a fool.
He angled his car toward the tavern. He wanted to get drunk and forget what happened this week. He could still taste Ruthie and the smell of her perfume lingered in his car.
He settled at a table with a pitcher of beer. He gulped down the first glass and poured another. He wanted to believe in Ruthie. The way she kissed him and allowed him to love her proved she had feelings for him. Didn’t it? He should have told her he loved her. Stake his claim. Taken her to the justice of the peace and married her before she had time to leave him. Actions speak louder than words, and she left with the dandy. No call. No goodbye. No kiss my ass.
Several women joined him throughout the afternoon, but they didn’t stay. He bought them drinks and smiled as they flirted. As the day wore on, he switched from beer to whiskey. When the ladies discovered he wouldn’t take them home with him, they left his table. Frankie stood to leave. He weaved to the door knocking over chairs. He reached for the door handle of the car. He stumbled and fell. A man helped him to his feet. He left his car and wandered home.
Deputy Riley’s police car rolled down the street. Frankie slowed as the car headed his way.
Shit, this is all I need right now.
Adam Riley stopped. He got out and leaned on the top of the car. “That you, Frankie?”
“Yeah.”
“Need a ride?”
“Nope.” He stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk.
“Are you drunk?”
“As a matter of fact, Mr. Deputy Adam, jerk face, Riley, I am splifficated.”
Adam leapt around the car and opened the door. “Get in.”
Frankie ignored him. “You ain’t arrestin’ me. I done nothin’.”
“Not arresting you, taking you home. Get your ass in this car.”
He squinted and tried to focus on the man. “What the hell? Sure, take me home.”
Adam opened the back door of the police car.
He glared at the deputy and stumbled into the seat.
The lawman turned the car around and headed toward the drunk’s street.
Frankie’s head bobbled, his body followed as he slid on the seat.
Adam peered in his mirror. “Frankie, sit.”
He jerked his body straight. “Who the hell are you?”
“You’re in a police car. I’m taking you home.”
He stared at Adam bidding his eyes to focus. “Jerk face, yeah, thanks, man.”
“Deputy Riley to you.” Adam said with authority.
Frankie slurred his words. “Yep, Deputy Riley. You were always a little man who wanted to bully people. I beat your ass in the fifth grade.”
“You beat my ass in the ninth grade, too.” The deputy stared into the rear view mirror, a look of disgust on his face.
He put his head in his hands. “I did, I did. I’m sorry, didn’t mean to hurt you. Did I hurt you?
“Yeah, you did.” Adam turned the car onto Frankie’s street.
“Now, you got a badge and car. Important man, still a jerk face, though.”
Adam stopped the car in front of Frankie’s house. “You’re home. Need any help?”
“No, man.” Frankie ran his hand over the door until he found the handle. “I got it. I got it. Thanks, sorry, thanks, man.
He stumbled on the front steps and grabbed the rail to steady himself. He searched his pocket for his keys, but they tumbled out of his grasp. He got on his hands and knees searching. He found them, still on his knees he inserted the key into the lock. He crawled in the door and climbed to standing holding to the wall before he slammed the front door. He spun around several times until he focused on the door to his bedroom. He placed his hand on the wall for support as he weaved his way to the bed.
He woke to a blinding light shining in the window. His head felt like someone had a hammer pounding on it. He jumped out of bed and raced to the toilet. After getting rid of everything in his stomach, he soaked a wash rag with cold water and rubbed his face and neck. He needed coffee and stumbled to his kitchen. He ground the coffee beans and opened the drawer to scoop the grounds. He fumbled with the percolator spilling grounds on the counter. “Son of a bitch.” He sat in a chair and held his head in his hands. “What the hell did I think I was doing with Ruthie. Son of a bitch.”
Frankie had to get sober and fly. He needed the sky more than he’d ever needed it in his life. He bathed, put on clean clothes, and trudged to the bar to get his car.
Mr. Andrews helped him ready the Jenny and prop it off. He took off and did a lazy eight and waved to Mr. Andrews. He headed in the direction of Atlanta. What the hell am I doing? I don’t even know where she lives.
He continued flying, and soon, he arrived at Candler Field. He landed the Jenny and went to the restaurant. He sat in a booth and ordered a sandwich. The airport buzzed with activity. He enjoyed watching people come and go. He made two decisions. He would not run after Ruthie like a dog in heat, and he’d never let anyone make him mad enough to drink like he did yesterday. He swore off liquor for good.
Frankie paid his bill, bought gas for the Jenny, and headed to Saplingville.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Al poured Frankie a cup of coffee. “Well, I see you and Miss Priss had fun at the New Year’s Eve Party.”
Frankie drank a swig and put his cup on the floor. “Yes, we did.” He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and placed it on the table with a matchbox. “She played me.” He reached for his coffee cup.
Al tilted his head. “Whatcha mean, played you? She acted like she could eat you for breakfast.”
He held his cup with both hands. “I mean, she ain’t changed. Still th
e same ol’ Ruthie. Must’ve been practicing for one of her plays.”
“What’d she do?” Al straightened in his chair.
Frankie drank a big swig of coffee, letting it burn his throat as it went down. “We’d planned for me to fly her to Atlanta Saturday afternoon. When I got to her house, Mrs. Douglas informed me Ronald drove her to school. She knew he would drive her back, why’d she lie to me?”
Al drank the last drop of coffee in his cup. “I don’t get it. I ain’t never wrong about these things, and that girl…that girl, she loves you. There’s more to this story than what you know. Can you get in touch with her?”
“I don’t know how, and I’m not gonna try. If she wants the dandy instead of me, let her have him. She’s nothing but trouble anyway.” He lit his cigarette and inhaled the smoke into his lungs.
“Yeah, but you love her, don’t you? She’s the first one you couldn’t tame, ain’t she?”
Frankie remembered all the times Ruthie had played him for a fool. “This is the last straw. I’m done.”
Al saw Victor arrive and gathered their cups. “Never say never, and don’t forget you work for her brother. He might be able to shed some light on this if you ask him.”
He tapped his cigarette, ashes tumbled to the floor. “Not going to involve Victor, he’s got enough to deal with. I’ll handle this my way.”
****
Frankie and Lisbeth walked toward the Cessna. “Today we’re going to practice landings.”
Lisbeth jumped up and down. “I wondered when you would teach me how to land.”
“Let’s fly around about thirty minutes and review what we’ve done, then work thirty minutes on your landings.”
Lisbeth grabbed the clipboard and started the check list. “How did it feel to land with people standing on the wings?”
He had so many fond memories of his time in the flying circus. “Back then, I had more bravery than smarts.”
“It’s not how Victor tells it. He says you were the best barnstormer ever.”
“I enjoyed it, and I had the safety of others to consider. That’ll make you nail a three-point landing.”
Lisbeth finished the check list, and they settled in their seats.
Frankie observed how she checked the gauges and started the plane like a seasoned professional. “You take off; let’s see if you remember what I taught you before Christmas.”
The plane headed down the runway and lifted into the air. When they were flying at a safe altitude, she said, “I’m glad you and Ruth Ann got together. I’ve never seen her so happy.”
He didn’t want to involve Lisbeth, but he had to know. “Did she mention Ronald? She wanted me to fly her to Atlanta, but when I arrived at your house, Mrs. Douglas said she left with him.”
“I wasn’t home. I was under the impression you flew her. Ma didn’t mention anything to me about Ronald.”
Frankie changed the subject. “You’re flying real smooth now. Remember when you first started and how you had to struggle to keep the plane steady?”
“Yes, I do. It feels like second nature now.”
Lisbeth changed course and headed for the runway.
He instructed her on landing the plane and the first landing the wheels bumped the runway but she kept the plane under control. “Real good for a first try.”
Lisbeth made a smooth take-off. She flew around in a circle and headed for the airstrip.
He was impressed with the next landing. “Excellent.”
She smiled and shut down the engine. “I’ll do my solo flight before you know it.”
Ruth Ann and Lisbeth are as different as day and night. How can they be sisters? “Lisbeth, you’re the best student I’ve ever taught. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks Frankie. I’m honored you think so.”
****
Frankie sat at his desk making a list of supplies he needed to repair a customer’s plane.
Victor grabbed a chair and sat. “Hey, man. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you. Great to see you and Ruth Ann together.”
He put his pencil down. “Yeah, well, it didn’t last long.”
Victor rolled his eyes, stared at the ceiling, and let out a breath. “What’d she do this time?”
Frankie hesitated. “Victor, I don’t want to get you involved in this.”
Victor crossed his arms and gave him a questioning look. “I’m involved. She’s my sister, and wild as she is, I love her. I’ve never seen her so happy.”
He decided he’d better tell Victor the truth…well, most of it. “I arrived at her house Saturday afternoon, and your mother met me on the porch, said Ronald drove her to Atlanta.”
“I’m sorry, man. She didn’t mention anything to us about him coming to Saplingville. In fact, she didn’t mention Ronald at all to me or Dottie. You are going with us to Atlanta to see her play?”
Frankie grabbed his pencil and started writing. “No, I don’t think I’ll be able to.”
“I hope you change your mind. I don’t blame you for being angry, but there may be more to the story. We haven’t heard her side, yet.” Victor stood and placed the chair against the wall.
He kept his temper in check, blood’s thicker than water. “If she tells you any different, you can let me know.”
Victor headed to his office. “I will.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Frankie worked long hours and took on a few more students. He stayed busy in an effort to forget about Ruthie. He hated to admit Ronald beat him. He missed her, and he’d never forget how it felt to hold her in his arms and glide across the dance floor. Sometimes he regretted he’d stopped her when she seduced him at the hangar. At least he would know what it felt like to possess her body. He wanted to marry her, make love to her every day of their life. She was the last thing he thought about before he drifted to sleep and the first thing he remembered each morning.
Victor purchased a Stinson Trimotor which held ten passengers. Frankie worked on Sunday afternoons selling rides in the airplane. The first Sunday five people paid for a ride. A man and his son stayed behind asking about the plane, wanting to see the engines and how the plane worked. The father said if he had money, he’d take flying lessons and the son talked about joining the service so he could learn to fly. Frankie wanted to give the man his two dollars back, but the sharecropper, a poor but proud man, wanted a better life for his son, and this once in a lifetime experience would show him there were possibilities beyond their little town.
The next Sunday, he had eighteen people standing in line when he arrived. He took the plane up twice to accommodate everyone. Since then, he had a steady stream of customers and flew the plane at least three times each Sunday. He kept the plane in the air for thirty minutes and let the passengers see their town from the sky.
Frankie arrived at work Monday morning and headed to Victor’s office. “Morning, boss. Here’s your seventy-five percent from yesterday’s plane rides.”
Victor studied a map and motioned for him to sit. “How many yesterday?”
He sat in the chair facing his boss. “Twenty-five.”
“Man, I figured we’d have two or three each Sunday, never dreamed you’d have to take it up three times.” Victor folded the map.
“It’s a great ship. I love to fly it.” He nodded toward the map. “Planning a trip?”
Victor opened the top drawer of his desk and retrieved a piece of paper. “Here’s a list of companies I’m contacting and offering our services. You may be flying the company heads to meetings and such. You interested? I’ll pay you extra.”
Frankie studied the list. “Sure, the more flying time I have the better I like it.”
“You’ll have to stay over in a hotel if their meetings go for a few days. I know what a homebody you are.” Victor pulled out the telephone directory.
“No problem. I’ll handle it.” He passed the list back to his boss.
“Thanks. I knew I could count on you. I’m using the plane this weekend
to take everyone to Atlanta to see the play.” Victor stared. “You comin’ with us?”
He struggled to keep his face from showing any emotion but he felt the blood rise to his cheeks. “No, I won’t be able to make it. Y’all have fun. Who’s going?”
“Everyone except Walter, Delores, Avery and Annie. Delores refuses to fly, and Walter doesn’t want to leave her. Avery and Annie are staying at our house with the twins. Ruth Ann will be disappointed if you don’t come.”
Frankie’s lips parted, and he closed them. He couldn’t say what he wanted. “Y’all have a good time.” He couldn’t see her with Ronald, his heart was already broken, he didn’t need her to stomp on it, too.
On Friday afternoon, Frankie and Al readied the Stinson Trimotor for the weekend. Frankie checked the mechanical end of the plane, and Al cleaned and polished the interior.
He climbed in the pilot’s seat while Al cleaned the windshield on the co-pilot side. “You’ve got it looking good in here. Victor’s family will be mighty impressed.”
Al ran his rag over the instruments encased in glass. “I think you should go. Check out what she’s been doin’.”
Frankie’s heart pounded in his chest. “I know what she’s been up to. I don’t want to see her with the dandy.”
Al continued to clean. “You’re mad and you’ve got reason to be but I think there’s more to this story than meets the eye. You’ll never have any peace until you know.”
He jumped to the ground. “Guess I’ll never have any peace.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ruth Ann stood in the wings and willed her hands to stop shaking. She inhaled a long, slow breath and felt her diaphragm expand. She exhaled all the air from her lungs and started again. She’d be fine once she stepped on the stage. She glanced through the crack in the curtain searching for Frankie. The lights were dim in the theater, and she couldn’t see anyone. She stood back stage listening and waiting for her entrance. She said a silent prayer.
The moment her foot hit the stage the fear disappeared, she and the universe were one. Only when Act Four ended and the actors were called on stage for a curtain call did she gaze at the crowd. She spotted her family clapping and waving. Frankie was not with them. The curtain fell, and the actors dispersed to their dressing rooms. She shared a room with five other girls, excitement and energy from the performance permeated the space. She stepped out of her period costume and hung it on a rack with the others. She dressed in her street clothes and shoes and raced out the door.