Boardwalk Brides

  Candy did her best not to roll her eyes. Please. Finding the right guy isn’t going to make me want to cook.

  Then again, how did she know? Maybe finding the right guy would make her want to do all of the things she hadn’t enjoyed before.

  Like now, for instance. She’d never been great at opening up and sharing in a group. As the middle child, sitting quietly while others talked around her had pretty much been the norm. But today, with Darren at her side, she was chattering about dozens of things. Maybe it was just the postflight nerves, but something gave her the added zeal to throw her two cents’ worth in at nearly every turn.

  “I’m glad to see this side of you,” Brooke said, when Candy paused for breath. “I was starting to wonder if you’d ever come out of your shell.”

  Candy giggled. “I guess it took getting that first flight out of my system. But I think you’re going to see a whole different side of me now.”

  Looking at Darren, she had to wonder if he would like the new and improved Candy Carini. Not that what he thought really mattered. Right? After all, he was just a fellow employee, nothing more.

  Looking into his eyes she realized for the first time that she might actually want it to be more.

  ❧

  As they waited on their food, the conversation shifted to the flight. Darren waited for just the right moment to share his thoughts with Candy. When the other girls entered into an exaggerated and somewhat annoying discussion about handbags, he turned to her and spoke quietly. “I just wanted to tell you that you did a great job today. I was impressed. And you looked at ease.”

  Candy’s eyes sparkled as she responded. “Thanks. Don’t know if I mentioned it to you or not, but I got in some of my flight hours working for a cargo carrier. I was with them a little over a year.”

  “Really?” He gave her an admiring look. “I got my hours in as a charter pilot in California.”

  “Same with a lot of my friends. But cargo jobs were easier to come by in Arizona.” She shrugged. “Probably not as exciting, though.”

  “But it kept you in the air.” He gave her a smile.

  “Right. And anything that keeps you in the air is a good thing.”

  “Amen to that.” He paused a moment. “You’re a Christian, right?”

  “Yes.” She nodded, but quirked a brow, likely wondering where he was headed with this line of questioning.

  “I haven’t met a lot of other Christian pilots. A few, but not many. Just wondering. . .”

  “What?” She gave him a curious look.

  “Well, when I’m flying, I feel. . .closer to God. Does that make sense?”

  The edges of her lips turned up as she responded. “Makes a lot of sense. It’s one of the things I love most about flying. There’s something about being up there in the clouds that makes Him seem so close. Like I could reach out and touch Him.”

  I couldn’t have put it better myself. “There’s a scripture I love. I think it’s in Isaiah. It’s the one about mounting up with eagle’s wings.”

  “Sure. Of course.” She gave him an inquisitive look.

  “I waited a long time for the opportunity to fly,” he said. “Dreamed about it when I was a kid. I was always the one jumping off the roof, pretending I could fly.”

  “Me, too.” The dazzling smile that followed her words nearly caused him to forget the rest of his story.

  Sounds like we have a lot in common. “Well, when I’m in the cockpit, I feel like everything I waited for was for a purpose. Like I’m that eagle, taking flight. Like nothing can stop me.”

  “Wow.” Candy gave him a look of admiration, then paused for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face. “Whenever I’m flying, I think of that verse in Psalms about God mounting the cherubim and flying.” She quoted the rest from memory: “ ‘He soared on the wings of the wind.’ ” Her eyes filled with tears. “Might sound crazy, but it’s overwhelming to think that God is right there, flying alongside me. I sense His presence most when I’m in the air.”

  “Man. Me, too.” Darren forgot just about everything he’d planned to say next. Looking into Candy’s tear-filled eyes, he found himself completely overwhelmed—not just with her passion for flying, but her passion for the Lord. Off to the side, something distracted him. Brooke looked back and forth between them, her eyes narrowed. Darren finally turned to her to ask, “What?”

  “You two.” She shook her head.

  “What about us?” Candy took a sip from her glass of water.

  “You’re a match made in heaven. And this time, I mean that quite literally.”

  Thankfully, Darren didn’t have time to comment. The waitress chose that moment to appear with their food. He caught Candy’s eye as the steaming bowls of spaghetti and meatballs were placed before him. She gave him a little wink and his heart seemed to turn itself inside out.

  After Darren prayed over the food, he turned his attention to Candy once again. “So, you were a cargo pilot.”

  “Yes. Got in a lot of hours. A little on the boring side, though. Hurry up and wait stuff. I also did a short stint as a skydiving pilot.”

  “Really. Ever witness any accidents?” He took a bite of the spaghetti, waiting for her response.

  She shook her head. “No, but a couple of close calls. We had a guy who had to use his backup chute. And the worst was a woman who got tangled up in a tree. She was pretty scraped up, but no broken bones, thankfully.”

  Darren was just about to ask her if she’d ever jumped, but Brooke interrupted him. “I think you’d have to be nuts to jump out of a plane. I can’t imagine doing it. . .on purpose, anyway.”

  “Well, how else would you do it?” Candy asked. Everyone laughed, including Darren. See there. She’s got a great sense of humor, too.

  Brooke put her hand up. “I’m just saying, in our line of work, it’s better to keep all arms and legs inside the plane, not out.”

  “Yeah,” Darren said, “but there’s something about the idea of free-falling that’s pretty amazing. Letting go of everything. Releasing every care, every anxiety. . .”

  “Releasing anxiety?” Candy looked at him, her eyes wide. “Jumping out of a plane will help me release my anxieties?”

  Okay. So there was his answer as to whether or not she’d ever jumped. Obviously not. “Well, you need to try it sometime. I think it’s a blast. Very freeing.”

  “Darren’s always coming up with kooky ideas.” Brooke laughed. “But usually they’re not life-threatening. One time he came up with this off-the-wall plan for our crew out of Chicago. He bought those goofy-looking fake teeth for all of the flight attendants. You know the ones I’m talking about? They look awful.”

  “Yes, I think so.” Candy shrugged.

  Darren groaned, realizing just how nutty this story would make him look.

  Brooke continued, more animated than before. “Well, at the end of the flight, all the flight attendants turned toward the front of the plane to put the teeth in, then turned back to the passengers. When we opened our mouths. . .” Brooke started laughing so hard, she could barely continue. “When we opened our mouths, Darren came over the PA and told the passengers that Eastway had a crummy dental program. Told them to keep flying with us so the company could afford to get better coverage.”

  Candy chuckled as she looked at Darren. “That’s hysterical.”

  At her words, his concerns vanished. She thinks I’m funny. That changed everything.

  “And then he did this really horrible thing to his fabulous crew members once,” Brooke continued. “This one really took the cake. We were on an evening flight, and the lights in the cabin were down. So, Darren comes on the PA and tells the passengers he’s turned down the lights to enhance the appearance of the flight attendants.”

  “Ouch.” Candy giggled.

  “Hey, I thought it was funny,” Darren said with a shrug. “And the passengers did, too. But. . .I ended up apologizing later. Should’ve stopped myself before poking fun at my own crew.”
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  “Nah.” Brooke laughed and dismissed it with the wave of a hand. “We all thought it was a hoot. In fact, we think all of Darren’s jokes are funny, even the goofy ones. In fact, they’re the funniest of all.”

  Darren took a bite of his spaghetti, finally starting to relax. Maybe Candy wouldn’t think less of him, after all.

  “So, let me ask you a question.” She turned to face him. “Were you always the funny guy? Like, class clown? Where did all this humor come from, anyway?”

  The conversation seemed to shift a bit as his gaze tipped downward. When he finally looked up, Darren said, “My parents didn’t always get along. My mom. . .well, let’s just say she wasn’t easy to live with. And my dad pretty much checked out when she turned on him, which was a lot. So I tried to infuse humor whenever things got tense. And, um. . . they got tense pretty often.”

  “So you were the buffer?”

  “I guess I’ve always believed God can use humor to lift people’s spirits. I never know who’s going to end up on one of my flights. But I pray before every one. And you never know. Someone might be having a terrible day, but then I give them something to laugh at and they feel better.”

  “And he does make them feel better.” Brooke gave an emphatic nod, then turned Darren’s way. “It’s amazing how many passengers tell me how great they think you are.”

  He offered a quiet, “Thanks.”

  “And I hear Fred thinks you’re pretty cool, too.”

  Darren groaned.

  “Fred?” Candy gave him a funny look. “Who’s Fred?”

  “My new goldfish. Jason decided I was lonely, so he bought me a fish. Just brought it over a few days ago. Kind of a lonely little guy, swimming in that great big tank.”

  “Well, I’m just glad to finally hear there’s a fish in the tank,” Brooke said. “Never could figure out why you had an empty fish tank in your living room.”

  Same reason I have an empty house. I’ve got no one to put in it.

  Darren cleared his throat. “Well, it’s not empty anymore. Fred keeps me company now.”

  “I’d like to meet him someday.” Candy gave him an un- pretentious smile.

  We will see to that. Darren took a bite of his pasta and tried to swallow down the remainder of his embarrassment with it. The conversation quieted for a couple of minutes as everyone ate.

  Brooke finally broke the silence with an announcement. “Before I forget. . .remember I promised to set up a trip to Atlantic City for the singles ministry?”

  Candy glanced across the table at her with a surprised look on her face. “You’re going to my old stomping ground on a field trip? I don’t remember hearing about it.”

  “Well, I’m doing it for Darren, really. He’s never been to the boardwalk.”

  “Oh, wow.” Candy looked at him with a stunned expression. “Well, you’ve missed out on a lot, then. The arcades, the shops, the hotels, the water. It’s a pretty amazing place.”

  He shrugged. “I’m from the West Coast. I guess I’ve just had a hard time adjusting to the Atlantic. The Pacific is. . .” He sighed. “Well, where I lived in Southern California, it was pretty unbelievable.”

  “Trust me, we’ve got some pretty beaches on the East Coast, too,” Candy said. As she began to describe the colors of the water against the white sand, Darren found himself hanging on every word. It had nothing to do with the description of the beaches. No, he could care less about beaches right now. All that mattered in this moment was the look of pure joy on the face of the prettiest pilot he’d ever met.

  NINE

  Candy spent the rest of the meal laughing and talking with the others. The time passed far too quickly. By the time they finished their meal and the conversation, it was nine thirty.

  Darren excused himself from the group. “I’ve got a long day ahead of me tomorrow.”

  “Me, too,” Candy said. As the other girls murmured their agreement and began to get up from the table, Candy started to push her chair back, but he rose and helped her. Wow. Okay, then. Either he’s just incredibly friendly or he’s paying me special attention.

  They said their good-byes and parted ways, but Candy couldn’t stop thinking about Darren. All the way back to the apartment, her mind reeled. She replayed the whole day— the part on the plane and especially the part at dinner, where he gazed at her with such tenderness in his eyes.

  After Brooke, Shawneda, and Candy arrived at their apartment, Candy slipped into her PJs, then knocked on Brooke’s bedroom door.

  “Come in.”

  She went inside, grateful that Shawneda was in the shower. Candy wanted to talk to Brooke alone, away from the crowd for a change. Brooke gestured for her to sit on the bed, so she did.

  “So, tell me more about Darren.” Candy hesitated. “He seems a little. . .”

  “Soft?”

  Candy nodded. “And funny.” She paused, thinking through her words before speaking them. “It’s so strange. When we’re at church or in a restaurant or something, he’s completely relaxed. But around some of the guys on the plane—like Craig, for instance—I noticed he was a little more guarded. The first few minutes of our flight today he was pretty cool toward me. He softened up, but it took a few minutes.”

  “Ah, well. . .” Brooke hesitated. “There’s a reason for that.”

  “Really?”

  Brooke sighed, and her gaze shifted for a moment. As she looked back in Candy’s direction, she said, “I think it’s a little complicated, actually.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Well, Darren talked to Jason about all of this just a few days ago. He’s upset because a couple of pilots have lost their jobs at Eastway recently and others were hired on to take their place.”

  “Oh.” Candy’s heart felt like it hit her toes. “I had no idea they were letting people go. Do you know why?”

  Brooke drew in a deep breath. “Jason said it has something to do with rising fuel costs, but I’m not so sure.”

  “Then why hire new pilots?” None of this made any sense.

  “Well, they’re hiring women, which has the guys worked up. They’re speculating it has something to do with a quota, which is ridiculous. Eastway doesn’t work like that. Their hiring practices have never come under question like this.” Brooke’s gaze shifted to the window, then back again. “But, look, don’t take it personally. This is just scuttlebutt. The rumor mill at work. We don’t know any of this for sure.”

  “Wow. So what should I do?”

  “Just be yourself. And fly straight. Do your best.” Brooke hesitated a moment. “But, Candy, be prepared for something, okay?”

  “What?”

  “Craig told me some of the men were thinking of making a bigger deal out of the incoming female pilots than they should. Involving the union. Picketing, even. They’re all worked up and followed after Gary. He’s the pied piper here, and a suspicious one, at best. He’s had his share of problems with Eastway, but never admits when he’s done something wrong.”

  Candy’s heart suddenly felt like lead. “D–do you think Darren would join them?”

  “I can’t imagine it, but you never know. He’s done his best to befriend Gary, mostly to witness to him. And like I said, Gary’s the one who’s the most worked up.” Brooke sighed. “If you ask me, he had it coming. I’ve flown with him in the past and seen his true colors. He’s pretty short with the crew and even with the tower. He was written up before, and his attitude doesn’t seem to be improving.”

  “Ah.” Candy relaxed a little bit at this news.

  “Right. You get it. And I’m sure you’ve heard that runway incidents are up at Newark Liberty. Statistics aren’t good. So, everyone’s on guard. But Gary’s got the guys in a frenzy, so be prepared. There’s nothing worse than a band of angry men.”

  A shiver ran down Candy’s spine. She’d run into her share of frustrated male pilots over the years, for sure. In flight school, and even on the job in Arizona. Still, she’d never seen them protest i
n a public way, like the kind of thing Brooke was talking about. Looked like she had plenty to pray about.

  “Hey, you two look way too serious.” Shawneda came out of the bathroom in some crazy-looking Pink Panther pajamas and her hair in a towel. “We need to lighten things up a little.” She pulled the towel from her hair and began smacking them with it.

  After a few minutes of laughter, Brooke spoke up. “Shawneda, I think you should’ve been born a boy.”

  “Hey now. Watch what you’re saying. I’m a girlie girl.” She smacked Brooke with the towel once again.

  Still laughing, Candy excused herself and headed to her bedroom. Thankfully, Lilly was working a late-night shift, so she had the room to herself. As she climbed into bed, Candy pondered Brooke’s words. So, Darren is secretly upset with me for potentially taking a job away from one of the guys.

  That changed everything. Absolutely everything.

  ❧

  Darren had just settled into bed when the phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, he noticed Jason’s number.

  He answered with the words, “You’re up late.”

  “Yeah, I hear I missed a great time at dinner. Brooke filled me in. Wish I could’ve come.”

  “It was nice.”

  “So, how’s Fred?” Jason’s voice had a humorous edge to it.

  “Lonely. But I think he’s adjusting.”

  “Mm-hmm. Maybe you need to buy him a girlfriend. That way he’s not alone in that tank of his. Oh, and speaking of females. . .Brooke told me that Candy copiloted today. How did that go?”

  Darren leaned back against the pillows, noticing for the first time how bare his bedroom walls looked. I really should hang a few pictures in here. Snapping back to attention, he said, “Really well, actually. She knows her stuff. It’s rare to find an incoming pilot this secure.”

  “Especially a woman?”

  Darren groaned. “Look, I don’t have a problem with female pilots. Just because Gary and the others are getting all worked up doesn’t mean I have to.”