Family Ties

”

We fell silent, and I automatically checked the sky around us. The other airplane was right where it should’ve been, but the radio called with another traffic report from Center. I searched the vector and spotted the new plane.

“Thank you, sir,” I told the controller. “Two Five Echo has traffic in sight.” I turned to Christy. “Sorry, we’re getting into more congested airspace, so I need to fly with all my attention.”

“Okay. You probably need both hands too.”

She didn’t release me immediately. Instead, she raised my hand to her lips and kissed it gently. Then she closed her eyes. She inhaled slowly as she rubbed her cheek against the back of my hand.

I smiled when she opened her eyes. “Hold that thought,” I said quietly.

She nodded and folded her hands demurely in her lap. Her nipples, however, sent an entirely different message. I smiled to myself and then turned my attention to the business of flying.

We landed at DeKalb-Peachtree about twenty minutes later. I parked by the self-serve fueling station and reached over Christy to release the door latch.

“This is it,” I said. “Are you ready?”

“You’ll do fine,” I said with a smile. “They’re going to love you.”

She climbed out of the cockpit, and I resisted the urge to pat her firm little bottom. I climbed onto the wing after her and jumped to the ground. Mom and Erin were waiting for us inside the FBO. I waved, but their eyes immediately went to Christy, who saw them and nervously smoothed the front of her jeans.

I gave Mom a hug and then Erin.

“You owe Mom,” Erin whispered. “Big time. Susan too.”

I hid my confusion and gestured to Christy. “Mom, Erin, this is my girlfriend, Christy. Christy, this is my mother, Beth. And my sister… um…

“You’re such a dweeb,” Erin said.

“Nice to finally meet you, Christy,” my mom said smoothly. “Paul’s told us a lot about you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Christy said. “Paul’s told me so much about your family.”

I wanted to laugh. Hysterically. Two of the most important women in my life were lying to each other, just so I didn’t look like the jackass that I was.

Mom and Christy made small talk about school and art, and I realized that Wren must have been a major conduit of information to Susan, who’d fed it to my mother.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I said, “but I need to refuel the plane. Hey, Erin…

you wanna come with me?”

I gave her an insistent look.

“Oh, right,” she said in a monotone. “I’d love to.”

I kissed Christy and left her to talk to my mom. Erin and I headed out to the plane.

“I wasn’t,” I said as I bent over the wing and opened the fuel door.

Erin berated me with a sisterly lecture, but I only listened with half my attention.

“Yeah, I know,” I said when she wound down. “I’m a dweeb, a doofus, and a dork. Now, tell me what Mom knows.”

“Hold on… Mom and Susan must have talked about her.”

“Probably. But… um… I haven’t been listening as much lately. Like, not at all.”

“Seriously. It… didn’t seem right.”

“Don’t tell me you have a newfound respect for Mom’s privacy.”

“So? We’ve been getting along better since the Night at the Limelight.”

“No kidding.” I grinned at her capital letters. I did the same thing.

“Shut up. And tell me about Christy. She’s totally gorgeous. Wow! And tiny! She’s like a little doll. How much does she weigh? Ninety pounds?”

“What’s she like in bed? Does she like girls?”

“Erin, whoa! You seriously need to get laid, don’t you?”

“Why? Are you offering? Is she into that? Cool.”

I rolled my eyes and closed the fuel tank. “Come on,” I said. “Let’s get back before Mom and Christy run out of lies to tell each other.”

Mom smiled when Erin and I returned to the waiting area after I paid for the fuel. Christy was in a good mood too, just short of bouncy.

“We’re fueled and ready to go when you are,” I said. I picked up Mom’s suitcase and a zippered dress bag. I gestured for Erin to hand me hers as well.

“Would you like to ride up front?” Christy asked her.

“No, but thank you. You can sit with Paul.”

“Actually, it’d make my life easier if you did,” I told Mom. Then I felt the force of three curious looks. “It’d help with trim,” I explained quickly.

“To balance the load.”

“Did you just call us ‘the load’?” Erin said.

“I’ll be happy to ride up front,” Mom said with a smile.

“Yeah, okay. Cool,” Erin said. “Christy and I can talk in the back.”

Mom joined in the conversation before we even took off, and the three of them got to know each other for real. They talked about school, life, and growing up in the Navy. (Mom’s father had been a career officer too.) I flew the plane and kept my mouth shut, even when Mom and Erin started telling

stories from when I was a boy.

Susan met us at the Lancaster County airport.