Friendly Skies Read online

  “That must have been awful,” he said as he pulled her closer to him and held her tight.

  “It was, for sure, but when you have it in your life for so long, it becomes less so, I guess. It has made me think about having my own children, and that I want to do everything I can to give them a good, loving and stable home. My mom was great about that. She had given us enough love for two parents, even though she was very busy.”

  He was thoughtful. They had both experienced loss. It was something they had in common.

  “Where is Kate now?”

  “She’s in Illinois. She became a nurse like Mom. She went to the University of Illinois, and she lives in in the same town we grew up in. She is married with two kids.”

  It had been too long since Judy had talked to Kate or Mom. Neither of them even knew that she and Greg were having problems.

  “I don’t get back to see them as much as I’d like. It’s a big trip for me, and work usually prevents me from having too much time off.”

  “I look forward to meeting them,” he said, making her heart flutter again.

  He kissed her neck and ran his fingertips under her shirt, making everything else flutter, too. The evening had officially taken a turn. They kissed passionately for some time on the couch. She had no idea how long, it felt like time stopped when she was with Jason and her ability to reason completely disappeared. Before she consciously realized it, their clothes were off and they were making love right there in the living room. After, Jason covered them with a quilt and they lay in each other’s arms, dozing off and on. Eventually, they moved to the bedroom and began again.

  She woke up to sunlight streaming in through the windows and Jason’s arms and legs entwined in hers. She marveled again at how their bodies seem to be created for each other, like two puzzle pieces. He felt her stir and nuzzled her, kissing her bare shoulder. She felt his body come awake against hers, and she realized her body also woke with desire.

  *

  Later, as Jason slept, Judy slipped out of bed in search of coffee, pulling his shirt over her head. She may not be worth much in the kitchen, but she could make a decent cup of coffee. She started a pot brewing, and took stock of his house. It was much more than a house. He had created a home. The furniture was tasteful leather, comfortable and pleasantly worn. She picked up issues of “Flying” and “National Geographic” that he had laying around, briefly flipping through them.

  She walked over to the mantle where he had some photos. One of him and his dad in front of a small plane, both beaming like they’d just located Amelia Earhart. Jason looked to be in his early 20s. Another photo was of his whole family when Jason was maybe high school age. His mom and dad, his sisters and a very young, strapping Jason. She bet he had lots of girls after him in high school, and for some reason the thought made her giggle.

  “Something funny?” A deep, husky voice said behind her.

  She gave a sharp intake of breath at being discovered, and she turned to see a very bed-rumpled Jason looking at her from the doorway to the living room. He leaned against the door frame, clad in only his sweatpants, arms crossed against the front of his chest. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. She forgot to breathe.

  She moved toward him, as he came to her. She put her arms around him and smiled into his eyes.

  “I was just looking at the family portrait you have there. And I was thinking about all the high school girls chasing after you.”

  He kissed her gently. “Well, I wouldn’t have known if that was the case. I was terribly shy and couldn’t get up the nerve to talk to a girl until I was 19. You could say I was a late bloomer, I guess.” He smiled and released her in search of his own cup of coffee.

  “So, we have the whole day. What should we do?” He smiled at her wickedly. She knew what he was thinking.

  “Oh no!” Judy searched for her phone. “I completely forgot! I usually go to yoga with Dani on Saturdays!”

  She hurriedly found her phone and about a hundred messages from Dani asking where she was. Judy sent her a quick message telling her she overslept and that she was with Jason, and she would explain later. Dani sent her response immediately. Don’t forget condoms. Judy giggled.

  “Who’s Dani?” Jason looked at her quizzically.

  “She’s my best friend,” Judy replied. “She’s practically family.”

  “Hmm. I’m going to have to meet her soon.” There was the heart flutter again.

  “Oh yes, I’m sure you’ll meet her soon. She won’t be able to leave us alone for too long.” Dani was probably going a little crazy, knowing Judy and Jason got together but not the details.

  “I have an idea,” he said. I need to go up north for a bit. I have a plane I keep in Everett and I need to check on it. Want to come with? Maybe we can take a short trip.”

  It was so beautiful out, it sounded wonderful to be in the air. Except for that whole vomiting thing.

  “Do you think it’s a good idea to put me in another plane?” She asked hesitantly. She wanted to be able to enjoy this with him.

  “Yes, I think it’s a great idea.” He put his arms around her. “I promise to check the weather,” he smiled gently.

  They got dressed and drove 30 miles north of Seattle to the airfield where he kept his personal plane.

  “Why do you keep it here?” She was curious. Seemed kind of far away to keep a plane.

  “Hangar fees are cheaper up here. I could probably ask Rich if I could keep it with the Bradford/Callahan fleet, but I want to keep business and pleasure separate.” He leveled his gaze at her. “I guess I’m not so good at that,” he said as he squeezed her knee and turned back to watch the road.

  She followed him toward the plane, marking its similarities to the one they took to Catalina. This plane was also a 4-seater and looked almost exactly the same. When they got close to it, she realized the plane was older than the plane they took to Catalina. He grabbed her hand.

  “This is an old Cessna Skyhawk, one of the first planes my dad added to his fleet and the first plane I ever learned to fly. It’s mine now, and it’s one of the great loves of my life.”

  She watched him gazing at this airplane and she knew this was her competition for his heart. She loved that he was sharing this with her, and she felt a little bit like she was meeting his family. In a way, maybe she was. She was meeting his dad in the only way she could.

  “It’s gorgeous.” Judy smiled at him.

  “I’m glad you think so. She’s been a constant companion.”

  Once again, she was struck by the confident, strong man that is so completely in his element in this world. He traded insults and quips with the guys working in the hangar, asked about flights and how busy they were, and could he get on the books last-minute. She wasn’t sure what he had in mind, and he spoke in whispers with the office workers, all the while sneaking glances in her direction.

  He was sexy as hell getting the plane ready for flight. She had thought before there might not be anything sexier than a man in the kitchen, but she was so wrong. Jason with his plane might blow her jeans right off. She felt suddenly territorial. She didn’t want any other woman to even notice him.

  “All right, I think we are good to go,” he said, opening the passenger side for her to climb in.

  “Where are we headed?” she asked.

  “Somewhere almost as beautiful as you.” He was evasive.

  “No, seriously, where are we going?” Judy pressed.

  “I love how gorgeous you look in my plane,” he responded.

  She gave up. He wasn’t going to tell her.

  Jason had that thing, that quality that all pilots have. He was organized and methodical, like her, when it came to his plane, but there was an underlying streak of wild fearlessness that made him want to take to the skies, and enough cockiness to think he could do it. He was mechanical and had to know his plane inside and out, be able to dismantle it and put it all back together again, but all the while, that urge, th
at fearlessness called to him. It was the opposite of gravity; a contained wildness that only surfaced in the right setting. It was devastatingly sexy.

  She was completely turned on by the pre-flight check.

  As the plane left the ground, she was captivated by the panoramic view of Seattle from the air. Everything was crystal clear and pristine. The mountains still had their winter snow and they were picturesque against the backdrop of the blue sky. The water was a perfect blue, reflecting the flawless sky. The plane turned and headed south.

  “So…Portland?” She ventured a guess.

  “Patience, gorgeous,” he responded. “But I need to do something.” He placed her hands on the yoke in front of her. “I need you to steer for a moment.”

  “What?! Are you crazy?” she practically yelled at him. “I don’t have a license for this!” Didn’t he remember that it was just a short time ago when she was barfing all over a different plane of his?

  “It’s okay,” he said with that annoying impassive, calm expression, exuding confidence as pilots do. “You can do it.”

  She gripped the yoke in front of her and he took his hands completely off the yoke on his side. “Use a slightly lighter touch - you don’t need to white-knuckle it. You will be fine,” he said, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

  For a few moments she tried to let herself get the feel of the aircraft, and then she felt it. She felt that she was keeping her steady as they cruised along.

  “Uh, am I flying?” she asked with some trepidation.

  “Yes, Judy, you are flying this plane.” He beamed at her.

  That was a singular moment. She would remember that moment forever. No matter what happened in the future and how they all ended up, she’d remember that for a few brief moments, Jason let her fly his airplane, and it was magical.

  “I think you’re a natural,” he said.

  Eventually he took the controls back, but not before she was bitten by the flying bug. She was starting to see what all the fuss is about.

  They headed southwest pretty much the whole time, and eventually the Pacific Ocean appeared outside of her window. At last she saw where they were going—a very small airstrip not too far from the beach. She guessed they were somewhere on the Oregon coast. Jason put the plane down swiftly, and they taxied into what was basically an airplane parking spot. As they opened the doors to get out of the plane, a kid, maybe 18 or 19 comes running out.

  “Jason, my man!” He greeted Jason with a handshake and man-hug/slap-on-the-back thing that men do. “What brings you back to us?”

  “Danny, this is my girl, Judy, Judy, this is Danny. He runs this little airstrip on the weekends. Danny and I go way back. All the way back to when he was 14 and stole my plane for an afternoon.”

  They both chuckled. She was aghast. Who steals an airplane?? Especially when you weren’t old enough to drive??

  “Danny comes from a long line of pilots and has been unofficially flying since he was 9 years old,” Jason explained. “He borrowed my girl here so he could impress one of his girls.” They both grinned.

  “It worked, too,” Danny said, with a wink. “This bird right here is magic.”

  After a few more guy-talk pleasantries, Jason left Danny with some instructions for the plane, and led Judy away from the airstrip. About a half mile from the airstrip and right on the beach was a local brewery/restaurant. All the brewery’s beers were named for pilots and airplanes; this little pocket of the Oregon coast was a haven for the aviation-minded folks. It was wonderful. Jason had brought her somewhere that was very special to him.

  “This is one of the first places my dad took me when I was learning to fly. It was also the first place that I flew us to, and then when I solo’d, I flew here on my own.” He explained over a basket of onion rings. “There is a little Inn across the way in case you want to stick around and enjoy the coast, but I like flying down here for just dinner sometimes.”

  “I love it.” She was earnest.

  It was such a neat little pocket of the coast. They had dinner and then took a walk on the lovely Oregon beach. The sun was just beginning to set and put on a spectacular show. There was no place like the Oregon coast. Large rock formations jut upward from the sea giving the beach an ethereal, ancient feel. The sand was soft and still warm from the afternoon sun, which prompted Judy to slip off her shoes and walk barefoot. It was windy and chilly; sweatshirt weather and maybe something thicker at night. Good weather to cozy up to a man and steal some his body heat.

  The waves crashed onto the beach as the evening tide rolled in. The Pacific Ocean was loud. She noticed that in Catalina, but here it was more violent. It wanted you to know it was wild and unruly. Every wave was a work of art, but also a sincere warning that this ocean was not to be trifled with. She loved this ocean. She stopped, watched and listened. Jason stopped, too, holding her hand and then wrapping his arms around her. As they watch a few surfers coming back to shore, she felt a part of her life click into place.

  “It’s getting dark,” Jason commented, breaking her out of her reverie. “We should head back to the plane.” She had been noticing the first stars peeking out in the dark blue sky.

  Jason and Danny talked business for a moment, and then without delay Jason and Judy were on their way back to Washington. They landed in Everett, and after putting his “baby” to bed, they left for home. It was getting late, and both of them were tired. Not too tired to still want each other, though.

  As they lay in bed afterwards, holding each other and drifting off, she whispered, “that was the most romantic date of my life. You might have to marry me. No one else will ever be able to top that.”

  Where did those words come from? She immediately regretted them, especially considering she wasn’t exactly divorced yet. But they were absolutely true. She couldn’t deny that.

  His arms tightened around her. “It’s all settled, then. As soon as you are divorced, we’ll be married.”

  Okay, then. On those words she drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep, content and happy.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “HEY MOM, ANYONE HOME?” Jason yelled as he let himself into the house he grew up in. He’d straightened up his plane and headed straight for home, hoping to get a good visit in with his mom before having to leave in the morning.

  Jeannette Callahan wandered into the living room drying her hands on a kitchen towel.

  “Jason! I’m so happy you’re home!” She wrapped him in a hug. “It’s been too long this time. Come in, sit, what can I get you? Coffee? Beer?” She led him to the kitchen.

  “A beer would be good, thanks Mom.” He sat at the kitchen table.

  Jeannette brought him a beer, opened one for herself, and sat down. She took his hand.

  “Jason, it’s been months since I’ve seen you. Tell me, what has been going on?”

  “It’s been really busy with the sale to Bradford,” Jason began. “Most of my pilots were out with the flu, too. I was in the air constantly this spring,” he explained truthfully.

  “How was the trip to LA and Catalina? Did you like Tommy’s business?” Jason had forgotten that he’d mentioned that to his mom.

  “I did like it. It’s a great business and I like the flying. Tommy made me a standing offer. Whenever I’m ready, he’ll find room for me.”

  He was thoughtful. Could he really go work for Tommy? Not likely if it meant leaving Judy in Seattle.

  “Hmm. You don’t really look like you want to do that. What’s the rub?” Jeannette asked.

  Jason paused. He didn’t think he’d be able to keep Judy from his mom because she’d end up figuring it out. But if he told her willingly, she would tell his sisters, and once they found out, they’d be chomping at the bit to contact Judy and try to get to know her. His mom and sisters were desperate to see him married. He sighed. He might as well face the onslaught.

  “Well, I met someone,” he said with trepidation.

  “A female someone?” Jeannette raise
d an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Mom, a female someone,” he replied flatly. “Do you think you could keep it between us and not tell Miranda and Linda just yet? It’s kind of a new thing, and I don’t want anyone to read too much into it.”

  As if that would stop his mother.

  “Oh sure, honey, this will be our secret until you say the word,” Jeannette patted his hand.

  He knew she was lying. She was already planning what to say to Linda and Miranda to make them keep it a secret.

  “Tell me about your girl.”

  He couldn’t stop himself. Everything came spilling out. He hadn’t told anyone about Judy. He didn’t see the point when they’d failed to contact each other after Catalina Island, but now, well, now she looked like maybe a more permanent part of his life. He surprised himself with that thought.

  “She’s great, Mom. She’s funny and kind, intelligent, and beautiful. She’s an advertising executive but she wants to go back to school and become a teacher.”

  “Wow, that’s the most you’ve said about any woman ever!” Jeannette beamed. “How did you two meet?”

  Well, shit. He hadn’t thought this through. No one was going to like the fact that Judy was still married. He didn’t want to lie to his mom, though. Not about Judy. He needed her to know the whole story.

  “Well, funny you should ask.” He gave his mom a small smile. “She and her husband were my passengers on the Catalina trip.”

  “What?! Did you say husband?” Jeannette gasped. “I raise you better than that Jason Christopher Callahan.”

  Yep, that was about what he’d expected.

  “It’s a weird story, Mom. Judy—her name is Judy—and her husband were going to Catalina as a last-ditch effort to work out some problems in their marriage. Or at least, that’s what she thought. When they got there, her husband told her he’d been having an affair and wanted a divorce.”

  “Wow, he sounds like a real prince,” Jeannette observed.

  “Right. He hadn’t impressed me very much on meeting him either, and I didn’t even know about the marriage stuff. I just thought he was a jerk. Anyway, on the second or third day of the trip I happened to see Judy in the hotel bar having dinner alone so I asked her if I could join her. By this time her husband had left to return to Seattle, and she was finishing out the vacation on her own.”