Night Flight (25 page)

“I’m going to try and devote at least an hour a night to Becky and Patty,” Curt responded softly. “I think we need quality time together. It means an hour less on study, but somehow, I’ve got to do it.”

“That might help,” Sam said. It would play hell on Merrill’s testing, because every pilot spent hundreds of hours pouring over computer data and reports, and attending briefings in order to absorb highly technical information that would all come into play when they took up an aircraft for testing. Even an hour less on a critical manual might mean the difference between life and death. But then, Sam told himself, the Merrills’ marriage was at that juncture, too. Who lived? What died?

“I’m going to do it,” Curt said with resolve. “I love her so damn much. She’s right, I have been ignoring her and Patty. I haven’t meant to, but this project—”

“Has been a son of a bitch.”

Merrill managed a pained grimace. “Roger that one.” He wrapped his fingers through the fence wire, staring off into the distance, and saw nothing. His voice was low, tense. “I can’t lose her, Sam. I can’t lose Becky….”

Placing his hand on Merrill’s tense shoulder, Sam stood there. Words were useless. There were no simple answers. And then, Holt began to tell Curt about Megan and himself. Just being able to share it with someone who understood, took a tremendous load of fear off his shoulders.

Merrill smiled slightly afterward. “I like Megan. But your situation is no more stable than mine.”

Nodding, Sam rested his back against the wire. “I’m living one day at a time,” he admitted slowly. “It’s like carrying around a live grenade. I never know when it’s going to go off and kill our relationship.”

“You mean if she asks you to make a choice between her and flying?”

“Yes.” Across the base, Megan was teaching her class. What was she wearing? He sharply recalled how fragrant her skin had smelled, how soft it was. The thick silk of that fiery red hair spoke of her spirit, her strength. He hoped she remained strong about their relationship.

Merrill sighed. “We’re both in a hell of a fix.”

“You think Becky will be ready for the Christmas ball?” It was coming up in two weeks and was mandatory that every officer and his wife show up for it—or else.

“I don’t know. The doctors will release her today. Becky knows how important it is to make an appearance at it. Are you inviting Megan?”

“Yes, but I don’t know if she’ll still come.” Sam didn’t add because of Becky’s suicide attempt.

“Well, Becky really likes Megan. And she hates these functions, always feeling ill-at-ease at them. Maybe, if Megan comes, Becky wouldn’t feel so pressured. Could you ask her to come for Becky’s sake, if for no other reason?”

Holt got the message. “I’ll talk to her tonight about it.”

“Christ,” Merrill said in a low voice, looking back toward Ops, “if Stang ever gets ahold of all this, my career is shot down. I’m sweating out someone getting wind of the fact Becky’s been in the base hospital for two days.”

With a snort, Holt pushed away from the fence. It was time to get back to Ops. “Worse,” he muttered, “is the damage it would do to Becky. Right now, I don’t think she could take that kind of cruel gossip.”

“Well,” Curt added, slowly walking across the parking lot with him, “let’s just get past this damned Christmas ball. One step at a time.”

Holt was struck by Merrill’s words. Those were the exact ones he and Megan used with one another, a reminder that there were no promises, no “for sures” in life. What a hell of a way to live. But he disliked the other choices even more.

“Isn’t that our cozy group we’ve been waiting for?” Melody leaned over and whispered to her husband, who looked darkly handsome in his dress officer’s uniform. Gala Christmas music was being played by the five-piece Air Force band. The huge, rectangular room at the O Club was crowded with men in their dark blue and silver dress uniforms, and women in subdued, but tasteful pastel gowns.

Stang lifted his head from the group of majors he was making small talk with. Soon, he’d be one himself, and he wanted to remind them of that. Captain Curt Merrill, his pale wife and Megan Roberts had just arrived. Becky was clinging to her husband’s arm as if she were scared to death. She wore a bright yellow cocktail dress, the color out of place among the pastels of the group. Worse, it hung on her, fitting poorly. Becky appeared haunted and fearful-looking. Megan Roberts hovered protectively at Becky’s side, like a maid-in-waiting to her.

“Interesting,” he whispered back to Melody. “I’m glad Holt and Porter are TDY in Maryland. It’s a shame they had to miss the ball, but this gives us open season on their significant others.”

Melody winked, feeling a thrill as they were about to engage their prior tac-and-strat plans from the night before into high gear. Since her meeting with Megan Roberts, the teacher’s firing was at a stalemate. Jamison was doing all he could, for a considerable amount of money, to continue putting pressure on the administration side to have her relieved of teaching duties. Unfortunately, the union was fighting back with a demand that Scotty be tested.

They had agreed to allow the situation to remain a stalemate. Megan couldn’t put in any more reports on Scotty until the situation was resolved. It was in their best interests to let it drag through January until Jack got his early promotion. Melody clenched her silk-gloved hand. Then, she would enjoy watching Megan Roberts get booted out on her ear. Absently, she caressed the lavender fabric across her small waist, the most elegantly dressed woman at the ball. Making a smooth exit from the group of majors and their wives, Jack and Melody glided toward Megan and the Merrills.

“God, you look gorgeous,” Jack said with fervor. Indeed, Melody looked as if she’d walked straight out of
Vogue
magazine. Her black hair was swept upward, fastened with a real diamond barrette, her feathery bangs barely brushing her arched eyebrows. At her throat was a recent birthday gift he’d bought for her from Tiffany’s in Los Angeles: a ten-carat diamond pendant. It caught the light, glinting fiercely with fiery color, and drew attention to her classical features.

The her gown hugged her form to luscious perfection. Full breasts, Melody had informed him earlier while they were dressing for the ball, were in fashion again. Those who had them could flaunt them once more. Those who didn’t would rush to their plastic surgeon and get silicone implants to keep up with the latest fad. And she had one hell of a pair, the dress design making them tastefully revealing, celebrating her womanliness, Jack thought. Of course, Melody had spent three thousand dollars on the gown, and none of the wives of the officers here could afford that kind of price. She was a knockout, and Jack enjoyed the catty, envious looks from the wives, and the equally lustful looks from the husbands.

Melody smiled beautifully as she approached the group. “Why, Curt, how are you? And Becky, my, you look lovely in your gold gown. And of course, how are you, Megan?” She went down the line, shaking their hands expertly. Megan Roberts wore a stunning silver lamé dress that complemented the striking color of her unruly red hair that spilled across her proud shoulders. Unlike the other women, she wore little makeup, but she didn’t need it.

Instinctively, Megan moved slightly in front of Becky, wanting to protect her from Melody. Sam hadn’t embellished the truth: Becky wasn’t recovering very well. “Good evening, Mrs. Stang,” she responded coolly, shaking her gloved hand lightly. All around them, soft music emanated from the band, Christmas decorations hung on the walls of the huge room. Megan wasn’t in the Christmas spirit. The O Club held nothing but terrible memories for her. Becky was little more than a frightened rabbit who hated these functions, and Sam wasn’t here. She missed him terribly. A week ago, he and Lauren Porter had to fly to Patuxent River to do some last-minute research on the redesign of the engine. They were supposed to be home tomorrow morning, December 24. At least their Christmas plans wouldn’t be ruined.

“Well, well, well,” Jack said, grinning down at Megan, “we finally get to meet Holt’s lady again. It’s a real pleasure, Megan.” He shook her hand.

Megan kept her face neutral. “Thank you, Captain Stang.”

“Soon to be Major,” Melody reminded all of them, sure that he was going to get early promotion.

“I’m sure,” Megan said, caring less. She knew Sam was up for early promotion, just as Curt was.

“Hey,” Jack said conspiratorially, leaning forward, “you know Sam and Lauren go back a long ways. I’ll bet you’re just a little worried about him spending an entire week alone with her in Maryland.”

“Lauren is such a beautiful woman,” Melody added enthusiastically. “Have you ever met her, Megan?”

Megan stared at the couple, her heart thumping hard, underscoring the fact their attack had hit the target. She could barely respond, her voice tight. “No, I’ve never had the pleasure.”

“Too bad, or perhaps it isn’t. Lauren was promoted early to major a year ago, and we can see why. She’s the head of the Design team on the Agile Eagle. Not only is she a brilliant flight engineer, but she’s very beautiful and poised. Sam Holt has made no bones about her being his favorite flight engineer over at Testing.”

“Easy on the eyes,” Jack agreed. “If Sam has to spend a week in Maryland with someone, he really lucked out getting Lauren.”

“It’s a shame,” Melody said, pointing generally to the left of them, “that Major Ryan Malone is all alone tonight. Lauren is supposedly engaged to him, you know.”

“I don’t know about that, honey. Look who’s coming over to him. That’s Liza Cooper. What a looker.”

Megan watched the entire scene, nauseated. Blond-haired Liza, dressed in a gold-sequined miniskirt that barely hid anything, sidled up to Major Malone. She slid her hand through his arm and smiled winningly up at him.

“My, my,” Melody said to Megan, “I wonder if a similar celebration is going on in Maryland right now? You being an Air Force brat and all, you know how promiscuous jet jocks are. Particularly test pilots.” Then, she beamed at her husband. “All except for Jack. I feel we’re one of the few couples who have found not only true love, but fidelity.”

Nerves raw from the unexpected attack, Megan glared at them. “I really don’t appreciate the innuendos you’ve dropped, Mrs. Stang.”

“Whatever are you talking about?”

Megan zeroed in on Captain Stang. “I despise gossip. Worse, I don’t like people who deliberately try and stir up trouble when the individuals they’re talking about aren’t here to defend themselves.”

Jack frowned. “Megan—”

“It’s Ms. Roberts, Captain.”

Scowling, Jack felt her rage. “We’re not gossiping, Ms. Roberts.”

“No? Coming over here hinting obliquely that Captain Holt and Major Porter are having an affair in Maryland is pretty gossipy. Not to mention, bold.” And stupid. Or was it? Megan recalled a number of times that Sam had said he liked working with Lauren. Not only that, but his voice also softened when he spoke of her. Was there something between them? Fear ate at her. It was true, single pilots were known to play the field. To them, it was a game. Was Sam capable of that? Suddenly, Megan wasn’t sure because she’d never thought about it. Sam seemed loyal to her at all times. Except when he talked in that soft tone of voice about Lauren.

Laughing delightedly, Melody raised her hands. “Ms. Roberts, we implied no such thing. I’m sure you know of your father’s exploits. They’re still the talk among the single pilots at the O Club. Like father, like daughter? Will Sam Holt run around on you, like your father ran around on your poor, sick mother?”

Pain shattered through Megan and her voice shook with emotion. “When Sam lands tomorrow morning, I’m going to be there to ask if what you’ve implied is true. The only time gossip can do any damage is if there’s no communication between the people involved. And Sam and I know that.”

Jack’s gaze narrowed on her. “Now look, Ms. Roberts, you can’t prove anything.” He grinned at Becky and Curt, who were also frowning. Sweat trickled down from beneath his armpits, soaking into his uniform. Sliding his hand beneath Melody’s elbow, he nodded to them. “Have a good time here tonight. Melody and I have to pay our compliments to General Dalton and his wife. If you’ll excuse us?”

“Merry Christmas to all of you,” Melody added sweetly, gliding away.

Megan stood there, her hand on Becky’s arm. She could feel Becky trembling. “It’s okay,” she told both of them. “This time, they’ve picked on the wrong person.”

Merrill slid his hand protectively around Becky’s waist. “You stood up to them, Megan. I give you credit, but you’ve made some enemies.”

Clenching her teeth, Megan glared at the departing Stangs. “Wrong, they’ve made an enemy of me. I mean it—I’m going to meet Sam and Major Porter at Ops and tell them what happened.”

With a whistle, Curt shook his head. “Wait until Port finds out. She’s going to have Stang’s head on a platter.”

“Right where it belongs,” Megan answered tightly. Worriedly, she returned her attention to Becky. In the last two weeks, she had been slowly recovering, still a mere shadow of herself. Anger toward Curt ballooned, but Megan knew she had no business saying anything. No, the only life she could control was her own, and no one else’s. Looking at Becky’s somber eyes, her waxen flesh, she wondered if she’d look like that some day if she and Sam remained together. The thought was frightening. Tomorrow morning, December 24th, Sam would be back. And she’d be waiting for him.

Sam’s surprise at seeing Megan waiting just inside the glass doors of Ops turned to pure pleasure. As he and Lauren climbed out of their individual cockpits of the T-38 Talon jet trainer, he hungrily sponged in her awaiting figure. She was dressed in a pale pink angora sweater with a cowl neck, black wool slacks and a tan wool blazer. The ache to move those fiery strands of thick, free hair through his hands was almost physical.

Holt waited for Lauren at the bottom of his ladder, thanking the crew chief. The week spent in Maryland with the navy design experts had consisted of grueling sixteen-hour sessions. The five-hour coast-to-coast flight had cost him the last of his physical endurance. All Sam wanted was sleep, and more sleep. Savoring the thought that Megan would be in his arms infused him with desire. First, sleep, and then, after awakening, he’d make passionate, welcoming love with Megan.