Family Ties

“Hey,” she said when I finally came through the front door. “You were gone a long time.”

“Yeah, sorry. Had a lot on my mind.”

“Thinking about your friend? Gunny?”

I lied with a nod.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. But thanks.”

“You want me to fix you breakfast?”

“That’d be nice,” I said. Then I grinned. “Are you ready for your second breakfast, my fair hobbit lass?”

She rolled her eyes but took down two bowls for cereal.

We ate in companionable silence and then headed upstairs to pack and get ready for the trip.

“Do you want to shower first?” she asked.

“You go ahead.”

“Okay. And… I know I should pack super-light, ’cause it’s a little plane, but—?”

I laughed. “You don’t have to pack that light. But you’re right, the baggage compartment isn’t huge. So… is one small suitcase and a dress bag enough?”

“I think so. How many dresses should I take? One for the funeral, of course, but will we be doing anything else? With his family?”

“I don’t think so. So one dress should be fine. Maybe two,” I said. “I’m only going to take my black suit. Casual clothes the rest of the time.”

“It’s a nudist camp, right?” she teased.

“Yes, Miss Sherlock, but we’ll be doing stuff other places, in the regular world.”

“I know. I’m just kidding. I’m actually kind of looking forward to it. I mean, not the funeral,” she added hastily. “Seeing where you spent your summers. And…” She smiled and looked down.

“And…?”

“And meeting your family. I’m sorry it’s under the circumstances, but I’m really excited. I know that sounds horrible, but…”

“It’s okay. I know what you mean. And if I’m honest, I’m looking forward to it too.” Especially the part where we spend the night together. Part of me felt tremendously guilty that I was using Gunny’s funeral as an excuse to put the moves on my girlfriend, but part of me thought he probably would have understood.

Christy was unusually excited as we drove to Island Home Airport. She even followed along as I did the preflight walk-around on the Comanche.

“I know you used to fly with your brothers,” I said, “but you were a lot

smaller then, right?”

“I couldn’t even see over the instrument panel.”

“So this’ll be your first time as a grown-up?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Cool. But don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”

She frowned for a moment and then blinked in shock. “Ugh. That was the worst.”

“What? You aren’t dating me for my sense of humor?”

“No.”

“Is it for my dashing good looks and debonair charm?”

“Those don’t hurt, but no.”

“Then maybe it’s my large… hard… extremely thick…”

Her eyes shone more white with every word, until they threatened to pop out.

“Skull.”

Her jaw fell open.

“Sorry,” I laughed, “I couldn’t resist.”

“I thought you were going to say…”

I grinned. “What?”

“You know.”

“Hands? Feet? Neck?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know.”

“Mmm hmm.” I moved close, and she looked up at me with the brightest, most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen. Then she teased me with a silent smile, so I arched an eyebrow. “I wanna hear you say it.”

“What, ‘penis’?”

“Yep.”

“You like it when I say… penis?”

“I love it when you say…”

“Penis?”

“It feels good in your mouth, doesn’t it?”

“What? Penis? Like yours?” She grinned coyly. “I wouldn’t know.”

I realized I was about to break my new rule, so I shut up, smiled, and kissed her. “You’ll find out,” I said. “When you’re ready.”

“Oh? I will?”

“Mmm hmm. Now,” I said breezily, “I need to finish doing the preflight.”

She squawked but followed as I finished with the empennage and

returned to the passenger door. I lifted her onto the wing and prepared to climb up after her. She turned before I could and cupped my face in her hands.

“Since you asked,” she said, her eyes full of affection, “that’s why I’m dating you. You always find a way to make me smile.” The smile in question turned into a grin. “You also make me feel all tingly inside.”

“Tingly is good.”

“Very.” She leaned down and kissed me. “Hmm, that’s kinda fun. I think I like being taller than you.”

“Lots of other possibilities with you up there and me down here.” I darted a glance at her small breasts, which were right at eye level. “But later. Right now we have a plane to catch.”

“Yes, sir.”

I opened the Comanche’s door and warned her not to step off the nonskid strip. Then I slid past her and climbed into the left seat. Once she lowered herself into the right seat, I reached over her to latch the door. Then I gave her a quick rundown of what to touch, what not to, and what to do in case of an emergency.

“It’s more complicated than I remember,” she said.

“It isn’t if you know what you’re doing.”

“You make it look so easy.”

“Well, I cheat,” I said. I showed her the laminated checklist card and then offered it to her. “You wanna be my copilot?”

“Sure!”

“Okay, you read the first part of each item and make sure I say the second part exactly like it’s printed. Ready?”

“Yes, sir, captain, sir!” She even saluted. Then she read from the card,

“Preflight inspection?”

“Complete.”

“Passenger briefing?”

I grinned a question at her.