Damon’s father was nothing like I thought he’d be. I’d imagined a tall, handsome, broad-shouldered man, the perfect companion to Carolyn’s lush elegance. The reality was short, stout, and going bald. Still, Reed Bramwell was a powerful man, born into a wealthy family and married to an even wealthier one. And his intelligence was obvious from the moment we shook hands.
He and Carolyn made an odd-looking couple, though. She was taller and ten years younger and looked more like a trophy than a wife, although she clearly loved him. They loved their children too, and had some decidedly middle-class ideas about how to raise them so they didn’t take their wealth for granted.
They didn’t give Damon an allowance, for instance. He received a paycheck instead, because he worked at the inn. He was also saving money to buy his own car. Alexa didn’t work because she was too young, but she had to volunteer at least ten hours a week. She had to choose the causes as well, so she and her mother spent time at the local food bank and a nearby veterans’ hospital.
On the subject of flying, Reed asked me about the cost of an instructor and plane rental. He asked about the cost of buying a plane instead, of fuel and hangar expenses. He even thought about the hidden costs, like insurance and maintenance. He picked my brain for nearly thirty minutes as we finished our meal and two very expensive bottles of wine. At the end of the inquiry, he sat back and looked at his son and then his wife.
“What do you think?” he said.
“I think he’ll have to choose between flying lessons and a car.”
“The lessons,” Damon said immediately.
His father’s eyebrows went up.
“I… might be able to help,” I said into the silence. “I don’t have my instructor’s rating, but now’s a good time to get it.” I glanced at Christy, who nodded immediately. “I need to get a twin-engine rating as well. My father’s buying a new plane,” I explained. “I can do both at the same time. Damon will still need ground school and to spend time with an actual instructor, but I could get him started in the meantime.”
Damon anxiously watched his parents.
“He says you’re a good teacher,” Carolyn said.
“And we’d pay for your time,” Reed insisted. “Your expenses, too, of course.”
“Well, let’s talk about that,” I said.
He sensed a deal in the making and sat forward. “What do you have in mind?”
“You have an inn that my girlfriend and I—” I stopped abruptly and looked at Carolyn.
“That’s okay. We knew you weren’t married.” She nodded at my left hand. “No rings. And… you don’t act like a married couple, even newlyweds.” She and her husband shared a smile. Then she winked at me.
“So it’ll be our little secret.”
“Thanks. Christy’s family…”
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them,” Carolyn said. “Besides, Marianne said you’re more or less engaged.” She smiled deferentially. “I hope I’m not speaking out of turn…”
“No. We’ve talked about it, though.” I glanced at my sunny little flower.
“We haven’t made it official.”
“Paul’s a bit old-fashioned,” Christy said with an entirely straight face.
“He wants to talk to my father first.”
“Old-fashioned, of course.” Carolyn suppressed a grin. She knew exactly what we were doing at the inn, even if some of the specifics might have shocked her.
“Anyway,” I continued to the older couple, “you have an inn that my girlfriend and I like. Your son wants to learn to fly. I have the plane and the knowledge and the time to teach him.”
Reed thought about it and looked at his wife. “Trade for flying lessons?
Let him keep saving for a car?”
“If he’s willing to work extra on the weekends,” she agreed.
“I am!”
“It’s high season,” she told him, “so you’ll probably have to help at the shop as well.”
“I will!”
“You can’t let your grades slip, either,” his father said.
Alexa watched the whole exchange and spoke up, “I’ll help.”
Five sets of eyes turned her way.
She stuck out her chin, a diffident girl trying to appear grown-up. “If I can fly too.”
Her parents were clearly flummoxed.
“How old do I have to be to get my license?” the girl asked me.
“You can start training any time, but sixteen for your student certificate.”
Her face predictably fell, so I leaned toward her and said in a low voice, “It’s fourteen for gliders and balloons. And with the mountains around here, I bet there’s a thriving glider community.”
Her eyes lit up and she looked at her father. He’d managed to turn his shock into amusement. He glanced at his wife, who took longer to recover.
She gave an unsteady nod.
“Well,” Reed said as he reached for his wineglass and sat back. “Looks like we’re going to have two pilots in the family.”
Christy danced into our room when we finally returned to the inn. She spun and leapt for the pure joy of it. I hung up our coats and watched until a familiar look flashed in her eyes and she ran toward me. I caught her easily when she leapt into my arms. She wrapped hers around my neck, kicked up a heel, and kissed me.
“You were wonderful! And I loved the look on Alexa’s face when you told her she could fly gliders. Are they easier than regular planes?”
“I don’t think so. You really have to know how thermals and air currents work. You can’t just add power and climb if you get in trouble. But the FAA says you can fly ’em at fourteen, so…”
“Well, you can fly me any time.”
“Sounds like someone has sex on the brain.”
“Oh my gosh, yes! I could hardly sit still through dinner.” She kicked her dangling feet to prove it. “All I could think about was what you’re going to do to me.”
“What d’you mean?” I teased.
“Ugh! You just like me to say it, don’t you? You don’t care whether I feel guilty or not—and for the record, I don’t.”
“I do care how you feel, but you’re right, I like to hear you say it.”
“I know. That’s why I do it.” Her cheeks turned rosy and she grinned. “I like it too. It makes me feel naughty.”
“You like feeling naughty?”
“I like feeling naughty with you.”
“What about Wren? Don’t forget her.”
“Oh my gosh, no! I mean, of course I won’t forget her, but we don’t do anything really naughty. Not like you and I do. And I definitely don’t tell her things.”
“Why not? No, hold that thought. This is turning into a longer conversation.” I set her on her feet and led her around to one of the armchairs in front of the unlit fire.
“Sorry,” she said, “I know I get heavy.”
“No, it isn’t that.”
“I’ve lost a few pounds, but still…”
I sank into a chair and guided her onto my lap. She kicked off her shoes and tucked her legs under her.
“Hold on,” I said, “you’ve lost weight?”
She grimaced and studied her hands. “I don’t eat when I get busy on a project. I forget. And… I don’t eat as often when I’m with you. I don’t wanna miss a moment we’re together.”
I ducked to meet her eyes. “We’re going to be together for a long time.
You need to eat. Do I need to start carrying bunny food in my pocket or something?”
“Carrots and celery, maybe. Only, they’d probably go limp in your pocket.” She grinned. “I can think of something else that goes limp in your pocket, but that’s okay. He gets hard whenever I take him out.”
I ignored the hint and kept after her, “Bunny, you need to eat.”
“Yes, sir. I liked the candy bars, but they’re too sweet for all the time.
Maybe granola bars instead?”
“Will do. Now, where were we?”