She watched as the door slowly closed behind him, then looked back at John. His wide grin was contagious, and she started to laugh. He joined in, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and squeezing before stepping away.
“I didn’t know we had an audience. Sorry.” He looked sincere, although he still had a broad smile.
“It’s okay. He’s a sweetheart—only grandfather I ever had.”
“I’m glad you had someone to fill a void. I had a grandfather, but he wasn’t as much fun as Mr. Nolan. Anyway,” he said, glancing at his watch, “I’ve only got a few more minutes with you, and then I’ll have to head to the trolley.”
“Okay, but I’ll miss you.” She went up on her toes and brushed a light kiss on his lips. “Before you go, I wanted to tell you that I’ve thought about your question, and you’re right. I should meet the man and form my own opinion. I should give him a chance to tell me his side of things. Besides, it might answer some of the questions I figured would never be answered.”
A grin slowly spread across his face. “I’m glad to hear you’re willing to face the unknown.” He gave her a squeeze. “And I will be there with you, every step. I just hope you get all your questions answered.”
She ran her tongue along suddenly dry lips. Was she making a bad decision? What if her father didn’t like her, or what if he got angry with John for telling her the truth after he’d promised to keep the man’s secret?
With a deep breath, she mentally forced her worries to take a step back. This was a case where John knew more than she did, and she needed to trust him.
“Well, from what you’ve said, he doesn’t know that you’ve told me about him, so what’s the next step? What do we do now?”
Chapter Sixteen
In the back seat of the taxi on the way to the airport, John sat next to Hannah, silently sharing encouragement and strength with an occasional smile and a squeeze when her cold hands started to fidget. She had never looked more stylish than today in her navy-blue, mid-calf suit with white piping that flattered her slender figure and brought out the blue in her eyes. The large-brimmed hat hid most of her thick, dark hair, but small wisps curled around her ears adorned with small pearl earrings.
The lady was a class act, and he wanted her in his life. He’d never felt this way before, and, hopefully, she felt the same.
“How do they know those big things will stay up in the sky?”
He chuckled, sobering when she quirked her mouth to one side and frowned. “Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you. It’s just that everyone asks the same question about planes. Look,” he said, meshing his fingers with hers, “I could give you a history in the science of aeronautics, but let’s just say that the concept is similar to how birds fly, and birds rarely fall out of the sky. Contrary to what people think, it’s safer to fly than it is…” He stopped mid-sentence, stomach tightening. How insensitive could a guy be? He’d been about to say flying was probably safer than walking down the street, but that comment would have dredged up her mother’s recent death. “Well, safer than any other mode of transportation that I know of.”
She remained silent, staring at him for several moments before speaking. “I guess if it were highly dangerous, you wouldn’t fly, right?”
“Exactly. Now, don’t worry about that and just enjoy a new experience. After all, isn’t that what life is all about?”
“I thought it was about a man and woman working together for a better future and raising kids that will be upstanding citizens and a contribution to society.”
He turned slightly in the seat to get a better view of her. “That’s very philosophical.” He chuckled when she smiled and shrugged. “Honey, I know you’re nervous about meeting your father, and I don’t blame you, but just remember that he loves you.”
She stared at him, gaze screaming skepticism, but she remained silent and just nodded.
The air terminal was bustling, but it didn’t take them long to hand their two small cases over to the porter and line up to board. He held on to her hand, her nails digging into the back of his being the only outward sign of her trepidation at this new experience—and no doubt, the meeting with her father when they reached New York.
“This terminal is busier than I expected.”
“Flying is expensive, but saves a lot of time. Probably most of these men are flying for business reasons. Did you have anything to eat this morning?” She shook her head, but he doubted she was even conscious of lifting her free hand to press against her stomach. “Well, if you’re hungry later, they serve water and sandwiches on the plane.” Another thought crossed his mind. “Oh, and here’s a stick of Wrigley’s. Chew half of it when we get ready to take off to help keep pressure from building up in your eardrums. Then as we land, you should chew the other half.”
“Okay.” The gum disappeared into her purse. “Do you collect the baseball cards that comes with some of the gum?”
He nodded. “I never did before, but this year, the Goudey Gum Company started a History of Aviation series, so I’m hoping to get them all. There’s supposed to be ten in the series. Who knows, they might be worth a lot of money someday. With Hughes breaking all kinds of flying records and another long-distance flight planned for next year, his card will be very popular.”
Arriving at the counter, he pulled the coupon book from his pocket and handed it to the agent.
“Two flying to New York City.” The young man glanced up and smiled. “We have a great DC-3 all lined up. I’m sorry that this flight doesn’t have sleeping berths, but the seats are padded and very comfortable. Is this your first flight?”
He watched Hannah nod and even manage a tight smile despite her breathing already coming a little more rapid than normal. But she was facing her fears, and he couldn’t be more proud of her.
“Great. You’ll enjoy the experience, and I hope you fly with us again soon.”
“Thank you, sir.” He turned his attention on Hannah. “We don’t have long to wait. Do you want anything?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. So, we won’t arrive until about noon tomorrow?”
He led her toward two seats along the wall where they could watch the other passengers until their flight was called. “That’s right. It’ll take about twenty hours or so, but we land a few times for fuel, and we’ll be able to stand up and stretch. I was hoping to get a flight with sleeping berths, but there wasn’t one like that available. Sorry.”
“That’s okay. I know this flight must be horribly expensive, and I imagine having a bed and all would cost even more.”
He didn’t want to think about how much this flight was costing for two tickets. He’d be scrimping and saving for a year to replace his meager savings that had just been depleted. But she was worth every dime.
The conversation lagged as they watched passengers arrive and depart. He held her hand, squeezing it every so often and smiling when she glanced his way.
“You know,” she said, gently waving her free hand to indicate the terminal, “I find it interesting that people can come to an airport and then fly to all different parts of the country. It’s like a wheel hub, and planes fly out in all directions like the spokes in that wheel.”
“That’s exactly what it’s like. In fact—”
“The flight for New York is ready to board,” the agent behind the counter called out. “Would all passengers with passage on that flight please proceed to the door on my right and walk to the plane parked straight ahead.”
“That’s us.” Hannah sucked in a deep breath.
He nodded. “Are you nervous?”
She hesitated. “A little bit, but since you’re with me, I know everything will be okay—not just during the flight,” she added, glancing to him with a slight smile, “but tomorrow after we get there.”
He stood a little taller. How had he gotten so lucky? Even after admitting his sins to this woman, she still trusted him to have her best interest at heart. What had he done to deserve such loyalty?
A smiling young woman in a tailored uniform greeted them. “Good afternoon,” she said, shaking their hands. “Welcome to the flight. I hope you enjoy being our guests.”
“Thank you.”
John followed Hannah as they climbed the steps that had been rolled up to the plane and found their seats.
“You know, I’m beginning to get a little excited.” Her smile became less tentative as she took in every detail of the interior. “And we even have a little round window so we can watch the birds.”
He grinned and nodded, but refrained from telling her the plane would be flying at about twenty thousand feet above the ground, far above the birds and up among the clouds. No need to worry her sooner than necessary.
John noticed that other than the air stewardess, Hannah was the only woman on board. She kept busy watching the men on the ground adding fuel and putting the small amount of luggage aboard. She no longer looked nervous—until the pilot started up the two big engines. That’s when her body tensed and her eyes widened.
“Hold my hand. It’ll help hold the plane together if things get shaky.”
Her gaze immediately shifted to glare at him, just before she punched him on the arm. “Brat,” she whispered.
He didn’t bother to stop the chuckle that slipped out as he reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “Guilty as charged. But just so you’re forewarned, it will be a bit shaky and probably even bumpy at times. It’s normal, so try not to let it scare you. I’ll be right here beside you all the way.”
She nodded, and he reminded her to chew half her gum as he put his piece in his mouth.
Her eyes closed when the plane began to roll forward. John tried not to stare, but the urge to see how she was handling this new experience was overwhelming. Her lips pressed together into a straight line, and her chest rose and fell with each shallow breath. The roar from the propellers as they revved for takeoff echoed off the walls of the cabin, creating a constant, loud hum that might seem noisy to her, but, according to what he’d been told, was a great improvements over flying only a few years earlier.
John relaxed his head back against the top of the seat, bracing for the gradual increase in speed and then the surge that would lift them into the air. The plane was now scooting down the runway at a good clip, but he would have been able to tell just by the increase of Hannah’s grip on his hand, and how her rounded fingernails dug into his skin.
“Can you count to ten?”
“Hm?” She opened her eyes and turned to stare at him.
“Can you count to ten?” he repeated.
She gave him a disgusted frown. “Of course, why?”
“I just wondered. Oh, and by the way, we’re off the ground.”
Her head jerked around, and she stared out the small portal. “Hey, we are. Oh, and we’re getting higher. And look at all the houses. They’re getting smaller. This is fascinating.”
The pressure on his hand decreased as she focused on the world outside the plane.
So far, so good.
At least until they had to land. That would probably be another tense time—unless she was sleeping, of course.
He had to smile at her child-like captivation while she sat straighter in the seat to look down at the city as it grew smaller and smaller below them. Thankfully, she was enjoying the thrill of flight and putting concerns about meeting her father on hold. He, on the other hand, had betrayed Vince and broken a promise.
John didn’t fear dire consequences, but being disowned and no longer welcome was a definite possibility.
Hannah might be gaining a father, but he stood a good chance of losing one.
Chapter Seventeen
John’s gaze focused on the crunch of cars and bicycles clogging the road and slowing their progress in getting from the airport to the hotel, but his thoughts focused on the upcoming meeting. Had it only been a week since he called to warn Vince about their visit? It hadn’t taken long to leave the message…
“I’m flying in for a quick visit next Saturday afternoon…and I’m bringing a skirt.”
Leo had chuckled. “Ah, Johnny-boy. You work fast. Coming home to get the old man’s approval?”
“No. I already know he won’t approve. Just tell him. Thanks.”
He’d hung up on the lieutenant before the other man could say anything else. There was nothing else to say.
He swallowed, glancing over to Hannah.
Not surprising, Vince hadn’t bothered to call him back. He’d gotten the message, and John already knew the man’s opinion.
He pulled the hankie from his back pocket and wiped his sweaty brow.
“How much longer before we arrive at the hotel?”
“It won’t be long now. You were rather quiet on the flight. Are you all right?” He fanned them with a folded newspaper.
“Sure, I’m fine, just hot and tired—and maybe a little anxious.”
She had slept a few hours during the night when they dimmed the cabin lights, but twenty hours of flight time would leave anyone tired. At least she was talking more now.
“What did you think of your first airplane flight?”
“Oh,” she began, her eyes widening as she turned to look at him, “I thought it was exciting, although long.” Then she frowned. “The plane looked huge from the outside, but I only counted twenty-four seats. It was a lot smaller inside than I’d imagined.”
“Really?” He’d never thought about it, just taken the size for granted.
She nodded. “It felt like they’d packed us in that cabin like sardines in a can, then hurled us all into the air.”
The comment took John by surprise. His deep laugh boomed out, causing the cabby to glance at them in the mirror.
“I gotta say, I was impressed by the air stewardess, though. She looked very nice in her uniform. But can you imagine having a job like that where you have to be a nurse, no taller than five-foot-four, no more than one-hundred and eighteen pounds, and single? I qualify.” She chuckled. “Except the nurse part, so I guess I won’t be applying to work for the airlines.”
“That’s good. I’d hate for you to be gone all the time, flying all over America.” He smiled, remembering her child-like wonder at seeing clouds up close. He’d gotten to see everything from a different point of view while seated next to Hannah.
The uneventful flight, even with landing for fuel five times and taking off again, had helped settle her nerves, but if her widened eyes were any indication, the taxi ride to the hotel had wiped away any chance of calm. Instead, it had apparently renewed her fears—maybe even her doubts about coming.
He couldn’t begin to imagine her thoughts at the moment, but growing up believing her father was dead and now getting closer and closer to meeting him for the first time must be wearing her nerves to a frazzle. He wanted to assure her everything would be fine, but they would both know his words were empty promises. He settled for taking her hand. Only a much higher power knew how the meeting would go.
A loud horn drew his attention and held it while two drivers exchanged opinions of each other in a shouting match. Tempers seemed to be as hot as the heat rising up from the sun-baked asphalt.
Beside him, Hannah frowned and stared down at their linked hands, her mind probably conjuring up scenes of murder and mayhem like the sensational stories plastered on the big screen where she worked, or the newspaper headlines. He didn’t blame her for being nervous; he only hoped she didn’t hate him when the day was over.
She twisted in the seat to face him, sliding her hand from his and clamping her fingers around his wrist. “This is a mistake. I never should have come.”
Her short nails dug in, surely leaving crescent dents in his skin, but his focus was on the look of terror that had transformed her face. Her eyes constricted even as he noticed a movement of one hand lifting to cover her stomach.
&
nbsp; “There’s no need to panic,” he told her, keeping his voice low and calm. “You have nothing to fear. You’re the one in control here,” he assured her. “He’s the one on trial, not you.”
“If I’m in control,” she whispered, eyeing the back of the driver’s head, “why is my heart pounding so hard and the blood rushing past my ears so loud I can hardly hear my own voice?”
She removed her hands and sat back against the seat. Her posture reminded him of a plank of wood.
“Honey, we’ve come all this way. He’s waiting for you—for us. I’m right here with you. Just remember, he may be your father, but you don’t owe him anything.”
“But he’s a mob boss—a criminal,” she hissed out between gritted teeth, her voice barely above a whisper to keep the cabby from overhearing.
Her eyes closed and her hands clenched into fists. As if praying for strength to face the enemy, her lips moved, but no sound came out.
A remembered Sunday school story about David versus Goliath came to mind. Yes, Vince would probably seem like a real life Goliath to her.
Whatever her divine request, it must have been granted as her shoulders slowly relax, and she eventually opened her eyes.
“Hannah,” he said, then frown slightly as he brought her cold hands to his lips. “Your hands are like ice.” He rubbed them between his as he continued. “Listen to me. You are strong. Stand up to him. He cares about you—deeply. He won’t push you. You’ve kept a lot of your feelings to yourself about having a father, but I doubt he’ll try to change your mind. He’ll leave it up to you to accept or reject him.”
“How can you be sure about that unless you’re one of his…one of…them.”
Her words hissed out with force, hitting their mark like a slap to the face. “No!” John reached for her hands, but she withdrew, clutching them both together in her lap; her lips tightened into a thin line. “No,” he repeated, his voice a hoarse whisper. “I’m not connected with him.” Even without raising his voice, his frustration sent the words out with anger-driven force and conviction. “I flew to Los Angeles from Mobile, Alabama, not from New York.”
When Truth Takes Flight Page 17