Cynthia Cartier - Wings

“I was an early bloomer.”

“Why am I not surprised.” Liddy shook her head with feigned disapproval.

“Prude. Okay, engagement?” asked Alan.

“Nope,” said Liddy.

“You’ve never been engaged?”

“No, never. You have I take it?”

“How is it possible that you’ve never been engaged? What are you forty-seven, forty eight?” Alan asked with a puff and a grin.

Liddy tossed a handful of peanuts at him, “I’m younger than you old man. Has it occurred to you that some people don’t get into situations without thinking them through?” Liddy opened her eyes wide and cocked her head. “Maybe you’re just impulsive and irresponsible. Oh, of course you are—you’re Crazy Man.”

“Well, if we could all be as perfect as you, Liddy Hall, the world would be a better place.”

“Do you really think so, Alan Lionel Bradon? Thanks. Okay, tell me about this engagement.”

“Engagements actually, there were two. But now I don’t want to talk about it. I feel so damaged.” Alan held the back of his hand to his forehead.

“No you don’t. Spit it out,” Liddy demanded.

“Alright. Well, the first one was my mother’s doing. She’s very sneaky, and I broke that one off. The second one was my doing, and Veronica Wyndham broke it off, thankfully.”

“Really, you mean that? You weren’t hurt?”

“I was at first, for about a week. Then I bounced back like a champ. You’ve gotta look for the silver lining you know? There are too many fishies in the sea, Sweet Cakes, to get tangled in one net.”

“Is that right?”

“Prove me wrong why don’t you,” Alan challenged and lobbed a shell into Liddy’s hair. “Okay, first love?” he asked.

Liddy’s smile fell from her face.

“I saw that,” said Alan.

“Saw what?”

“When I said first love, your face crumbled. What’s his name and I want an address,” Alan tried to get a smile back on Liddy.

She shook her head slightly side to side. “I don’t want to play anymore.”

“Okay, let’s not play, but I’d like to know.”

Liddy stared out the window and broke open a few more peanuts. It had been months since she had spoken of Reid, and she didn’t want to break her silence.

“Please,” Alan asked and set his hand on top of Liddy’s. “Please.”

“He was an Air Force pilot. His name was Reid Trent. He was killed,” she tried not to hear the words as she spoke them or let them draw memories.

“I’m sorry, Liddy.”

“Thanks.” She looked back at him. “Now say something funny.”

“Funny but true or just funny?” asked Alan.

“Funny but true,” said Liddy.

“You make me feel nauseous sometimes, but in a good way.”

Liddy laughed.

“Okay, you now, funny but true,” said Alan.

“You’ve reminded me of someone since I first met you and I finally figured out who.”

“Who?”

“A petite little redhead—she was a damn good pilot. I don’t mean the good pilot part reminds me of you. Goodness knows I don’t mean that…” Liddy rolled her eyes. “… just the little gal herself that you remind me of.”

“Well, I would have preferred you said a big good-looking lumberjack, but okay. Tell me, was she a good dresser?”

“Quite fashionable,” said Liddy.

“Alright, I’m taking it as compliment then.”

“Oh, it is Crazy Man, it definitely is.”

Alan was always attending a high-society social function or fundraiser and wanted Liddy to go along. It was hard enough to try and relax in the man’s home with his servants and marble floors, the idea of being in some ballroom or mansion, surrounded by the trappings of pish and posh, was not something she wanted to fit into her day.

Liddy was sitting on a big sofa in one of Alan’s sitting rooms, and he was sitting next to her. Their shoes were off, and their bare feet rested on the gilded sofa table.

“My Aunt Judith’s seventy-fifth birthday party is next month. I want you to come with me.” Alan slid his hand under Liddy’s and slipped his fingers between hers.

“Don’t you mean Birthday Ball, or is it an event?” Liddy asked sarcastically.

Alan grabbed her chin and kissed her. “You’re going with me.”

“Alan, we’ve talked about this. This is where I get to win.”

“No, it’s my turn to win. You wouldn’t go to the Langley Ball, the War Bond Banquet or to my parent’s anniversary party. That’s three wins right there.”

“Alan, why can’t we just keep doing this?” Liddy swung her finger back and forth between them. “I don’t do balls and gatherings, I’m more of a barn dance girl. I wouldn’t even know what to wear.”

“Funny that you should say that…” Alan grinned and popped up from the sofa. He took a large wrapped box from behind the door of the credenza and set it on Liddy’s lap. Then he sat down in front of her on the sofa table and beamed.

Liddy looked down at the gold foiled box that was tied with a gold satin bow. “Alan, what is this?”

“Just open it.”

She looked at him and bit down on her bottom lip and took a deep breath.

“Come on, open it.”

Liddy untied the wide ribbon and let it fall over the sides of her legs. She lifted the lid and the inside was filled to the top with a shimmery bronze fabric. She stared at it for a moment, and then, with both hands, gripped the front edged of the sofa cushion and looked at him.

Alan picked it up and stood to let the length of the dress fall to the floor. “Don’t you like it?” He was beaming.

“It’s beautiful. I think you’ll look lovely in it.”

“Liddy, I’m serious about this. My family and friends are beginning to think I’ve made you up.”

“What exactly is it you’re telling them? You’re hot for a female pilot from Missouri, who lived in a little homemade trailer and now lives in a tiny little house, both of which would fit in their bathrooms. Oh and what about the whole Army thing? How impressed are they Alan? I’m sure they can’t wait to meet me.”

“You’re sounding like quite a snob, Liddy Hall.”

“You’re calling me a snob?”

“No, I just said you’re sounding like a snob. There’s a difference.”

“Is there?”

“Look, just because you don’t want me to meet your family, doesn’t mean I don’t want you to meet mine.”

“I never said I didn’t want you to meet my family, which by the way is an uncle and a dog. Oh, yes and a cat.”

“But I haven’t met them, have I, or any of your friends. Why is that?”

“Are we having a fight?”

“No, we’re having a discussion.”

“It feels like a fight.”

“You’re changing the subject.” Alan moved the box to the table and floated the dress back into it, and then he sat back on the sofa next to her. “This is important to me, Liddy. Please, say you’ll go. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I try never to think about the worst that can happen.”

“Okay then, don’t think about it and just be there with me.”

Liddy took in a deep breath and held it. Then let it out and wrinkled-up her forehead. “Okay, but you’re wearing the dress.”

“You got it, Sweet Cakes.”

Alan booked a room for Liddy at the Drake Hotel and when she checked-in the bronze dress was hanging from the door of the wardrobe. An invitation to the 75 thBirthday Celebration had been left on the bed. Pick you up at 7:00 p.m. had been scribbled across it in Alan’s handwriting.

When he arrived that evening, Liddy had been dressed for half an hour and then sat on the edge of the bed and didn’t move until she heard the knock. When she opened the door, Alan’s eyes widened as he looked her up and down and whistled.