Boardwalk Brides

  “Oh?” Her eyes popped open at that. “What about it? Has something else happened at Eastway that I need to know about?”

  “No. This isn’t about Eastway.”

  “It’s not?” He sat next to her on the bench. “No. And before I tell you any of this, I want you to know that I’ve prayed it through. I’ve got a real peace about this. It’s going to rock my world. . .our world. . .a little, but I know it will be worth it in the end.” And once you’re onboard with this plan, I have an even bigger one.

  “I think you’d better spit it out. I’m getting nervous.”

  “Okay.” He stood and began to pace, ready to deliver the speech he’d rehearsed in his head all evening.

  She gave him a pensive look. “Darren, you’re scaring me.”

  “Don’t be scared.” He turned to face her. “Okay, this is it. All of my life, I’ve wanted to fly.”

  “Right.” She shrugged, then stifled another yawn.

  “And flying for Eastway has been great. Most of the time. But in my heart, I want something more. Something different.”

  “What? Are you serious?” She began to wind her hair around her index finger, something she only did when nervous. “Like what?”

  “Candy, I want to start my own charter service.” He spoke the words as fast as possible, just wanting to get them out. Candy’s mouth rounded in an Ooo that reminded him of Fred, his goldfish. He plowed ahead, hoping to get the hardest part over first. “I know. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. I have a great job. But every time I think about flying, I think about doing it in a plane that I own.”

  “You’re buying a plane?”

  “Well, not today. And probably not tomorrow, either. But I’ve had my eyes on a Cessna 208. And Jimmy’s been talking to me about this King Air a friend of his is selling. It’s in tip-top shape. And we could grow from there.”

  “Wait. We? Are you talking about. . .you and me?”

  Yikes. “Well, yes. And no. I’m actually talking about Jimmy. He and I would do this together. Between us, we could get the financial backing. I know we could. And if we start out small, then add jets later on, we’ll have a huge range of aircraft and pricing to meet the needs of individuals at all income levels. And who knows. . .maybe at that point, you could come and fly with us, too. I mean, if you want to.”

  “I. . .I don’t know.” She stared at him, clearly confused. “I’ve only been at Eastway a couple months and I love it. I’m not saying I wouldn’t ever want to do that, but right now it just doesn’t make sense. And I’m not sure that you’re thinking clearly, Darren. What you’re talking about. . .it’s going to cost a fortune. And it’s risky. You’ve got great job security at Eastway. Why would you give all of that up?”

  “I’m not saying I’d give up anything.” He felt his patience wearing thin. “And this is something I’ve really prayed about. Jimmy’s been checking into the licenses we’ll need. And he’s been researching to see what the competition is charging for their services, so we’ll know what to charge.”

  “Okay. . .” She leaned back against the bench, a look of exhaustion on her face.

  “Candy, think about it. I could do away with a lot of the stresses related to flying for someone else. And best of all, I could be living my dream.”

  “Living your dream.” She paused a moment, then sighed.

  “You, of all people, know about dreams. So, I thought you’d. . .” He didn’t finish. Suddenly he felt completely deflated.

  “Darren, I want you to be happy.” Her smiled seemed a bit forced. “I’m just. . .surprised. And I’m so tired that none of this is really registering right now. Would you mind if we talked about this tomorrow night, after I get back from my flight to Minneapolis? I’m sure it’ll all make more sense then.”

  “I guess.” He tried not to let his disappointment show.

  Still, he had to wonder how she could get so excited about women in aviation. . .and couldn’t even muster up the tiniest bit of enthusiasm for his project.

  Besides, if he didn’t get past this first question, he’d never get to the second one. The one where he would pull the ring from his pocket and slip it on her finger.

  Determined not to give much away with his expression, he walked with her to her car. All the while, he tried to formulate a new plan regarding the intended proposal.

  As they walked, she grumbled about how much her feet ached after wearing heels all night. Then she transitioned into a lengthy dissertation about Margaret Hamilton’s magnificent speech. Darren tried to get a word in edgewise, but couldn’t.

  Lord, help me out here. Please. Everything is unraveling. I need some direction.

  Just as they reached the car, she paused for breath. Perfect opportunity. I’m going to do this. . .right now. Even if the timing isn’t what I thought it would be.

  In that very moment, his cell phone rang. Darren groaned and pushed the volume key to mute, not even looking at the number.

  “Someone’s calling pretty late. Must be important.”

  He glanced down at the number and his heartbeat skipped to double time. “It’s my dad.” He answered right away. “Dad?”

  “Son?” His father’s voice was barely recognizable. “Did I wake you?”

  “No, it’s fine. I’m still up. What’s happened?”

  “Your mother. . .well, she’s had a heart attack. It’s a bad one.”

  A lump rose in Darren’s throat and he felt the sting of tears. “I–I’ll be on the next flight out, Dad.”

  “Thank you. I really need you here. I’m so. . .I don’t know what to do. She’s always the one who handles things. . .like this.”

  “Tell me where you’re at.”

  “UCSD. Fourth floor. ICU.”

  “I’m coming. I’ll call when I have a plan of action. And Dad. . .”

  “Yes?”

  “Please tell Mom I love her.” It felt like a rock lodged in Darren’s throat as the words were spoken.

  “I’ll do that,” his father whispered.

  Darren ended the call, then turned to Candy, not even trying to stop the overflow of emotions. In one instant, everything had changed. The news about his business ideas would have to wait. The proposal would have to wait. Right now, there was someone in California he needed to see. . .and the sooner, the better.

  NINETEEN

  Candy entered the apartment at a quarter till one, fighting the mixture of emotions that threatened to overtake her. After stopping by Darren’s house to help him pack, she’d driven him to the airport, where he’d managed to catch a flight to San Diego with a brief layover in Phoenix. For now, all they could do was pray. And wait.

  Her heart twisted in several different directions at once. In spite of the news about Darren’s mom, she still longed to celebrate the evening’s events. Together the women had pulled off a smashing night, after all. Everyone said so.

  Just as quickly, realization set in. Lord, You did it. We could never have put this together on our own, and we certainly couldn’t have raised forty thousand dollars in scholarships for women who want to fly. She still marveled at the fact that so many people had been willing to make donations above and beyond the cost of their ticket to the event. And a couple of corporations had come onboard, as well, promising support both now and in the future. This news thrilled her.

  She opened the door to her bedroom to find that Lilly was already fast asleep. Doing her best to remain quiet, Candy tiptoed to her dresser and opened a drawer to pull out her PJs.

  As she dressed for bed, Candy replayed the night in her mind. Over and over again she thought about Margaret Franklin and the words she’d spoken from the podium. Her stories had held everyone captivated. What a difference one woman had made in the industry.

  Lord, I want to be like that. I want You to use me.

  After brushing her teeth, she crawled under the covers and rested her head against the pillow. As weariness set in, everything from the banquet began to run together. The women. The sto
ries. The decorations. The pretty dresses. The speeches.

  Darren.

  He’d been there all evening, right in the thick of things. And he’d obviously had a wonderful time, judging from his reactions during the event. Before the phone call from his dad, of course. But all that stuff about starting a charter service. . .was he really serious? Would he give up a steady job to set off on his own in a risky business? How in the world could he fund such a venture?

  Nah. He’s just dreaming out loud.

  Maybe.

  Who was she to question his dreams? Wasn’t she the queen of dreams? I should have offered more support.

  And now. . .the situation with his mother.

  Candy’s breath caught in her throat as she realized all that Darren was facing at once. And alone, no less. If only she could’ve gone with him. That would have changed everything. Maybe, through the haze of emotions, they could have made sense of things. She hadn’t exactly been a bastion of support when he’d told her his ideas, had she? But exhaustion had set in. Surely he understood that.

  Exhaustion. Hmm.

  She glanced at the clock and groaned. One fifteen? Her flight to Minneapolis left at nine. If she could get her thoughts to stop fast-forwarding through her brain like a sepia tone movie, she might just get some sleep.

  ❧

  Darren flew through the night, this time in a first-class seat. He spent much of the time in prayer for his mother. He wasn’t sure about her walk with God. Maybe he’d have an opportunity to talk with her about that when he arrived. He hoped.

  With nothing else to do—and with so much on his mind— Darren spent the two and a half hours between Newark and Phoenix interceding for the one person he’d always had the hardest time praying for.

  Lord, it feels like the rug’s been pulled out from under me. I’ve lost my bearings. Everything is in turmoil. My job. My mom’s health. My relationship with Candy. He swallowed hard at that one. One thing he hadn’t counted on was the lack of enthusiasm from Candy at his news about the business venture.

  Lord, show me what to do. I need Your guidance. Show me what to say to my mom and what not to say. And help me figure out where to go from here. . .with my career. With my personal life. With my future.

  He leaned back against the seat and plugged in the earphones to his MP3 player. A worship song played in the background. He listened to the words, finally able to calm down. They reminded him that God was bigger than any problems he might face. . .now or in the future. Now, if he could only go on believing that after the song ended.

  Darren finally managed to doze off. He knew he’d need his sleep. Likely he wouldn’t get much once he arrived in San Diego.

  When he reached Phoenix for the layover, Darren called his father. “Any change?”

  “No. She’s. . .” His father choked back tears. “She’s pretty heavily medicated right now, Darren. And I don’t know what to expect. They’re not really telling me much, and I don’t want to speculate.”

  “I’ll be there in an hour and a half, Dad. You sound exhausted.”

  “I am.”

  “Well, try to get some sleep. And when I get there, we can take turns watching over her.”

  “Okay. I’m glad you’re coming.” After a moment’s hesitation, his father added, “Want me to pick you up at the airport?”

  “No. I’ll catch a cab. You just stay with Mom.”

  They ended the call, and Darren prepared to board his next flight. For once, he wanted to be free from airplanes. . .to have his feet on solid ground. On the other hand, as the nose of the plane tipped upward. . .as they took to the skies, he was reminded once again of the Lord’s earlier admonition to soar above his circumstances.

  Only one way to do that. He’d have to completely let go of the controls and leave the piloting to God.

  ❧

  Candy awoke a couple of times in the night. Each time she prayed for Darren and his mom. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Very wrong.

  On the other hand, she knew better than to let fear get the better of her. So, every time fear rose up, she prayed all the harder.

  Lord, I don’t know what’s going on here, but You do. I just ask that You take control, Father. Take my emotions and my fears. And be with Darren as he travels.

  Darren.

  Her heart grew heavy at the mention of his name. How would she manage these next few days without him? Determined to sleep, she rolled over and gave the pillow a firm whack.

  She must’ve made more noise than she knew because Lilly sat up in her bed and began to stammer. “W–what happened?”

  “Nothing. Sorry. Go back to sleep.”

  “Okay.” Lilly lay back down and mumbled, “You, too, Candy. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  After a few minutes, Candy’s eyes grew heavy, and she found herself drifting off. . .at last.

  TWENTY

  On Sunday morning Candy awoke just in time to catch a quick shower and head to the airport. Thankfully, Lilly would be on the same flight, so they shared a ride.

  Though Lilly chattered at will as she drove, Candy couldn’t stop thinking about Darren. And though she’d tried a couple of times to call him, he wasn’t picking up. Likely he’d turned his cell phone off in the hospital. Still, she didn’t feel right about taking off without talking to him. They hadn’t ended things on the best of notes last night.

  And there was something else, too. Just before the call from his father, he’d looked as if he wanted to say something to her. He’d pulled back at the last minute with a sad look on his face. But, why?

  I deflated his ego. I didn’t support him when he told me about his dream. I’m a sorry excuse for a girlfriend.

  Before boarding the 747 to Minneapolis, she made one last attempt to call him. Again, he didn’t pick up. She shut off her phone and headed to the plane, ready to put this day behind her. As always, she prayed as she settled into the cockpit. And, in spite of the ups and downs of the last twenty-four hours, felt comfortable behind the wheel.

  Adam Landers, her captain, looked at her with a smile. “Minneapolis, here we come.”

  “Yep.” She gave him a confident smile. “Then it’s back home to Newark. All in a day’s work.”

  “All in a day’s work,” he repeated.

  She offered him a smile. . .and then they took to flight.

  ❧

  Darren paced the halls of the hospital, talking to his father. His mother’s condition appeared to be stabilizing. And a recent visit with the cardiologist confirmed that her medically induced coma would soon be behind them.

  “I want you to be prepared for a long haul,” the doctor admonished. “She’s got quite a journey ahead of her. It’s going to take patience and a firm hand. Her best chance will be a serious change in diet and a low-stress environment.”

  Darren had cringed at that last part. He couldn’t imagine the words low stress used in the same sentence as his mother. And how would his dad cope? She’d be a tough case, no doubt. Did his father have it in him to make her line up and walk straight? Only time would tell.

  He made his way back into his mother’s room, standing at her bedside in quiet reflection. Sometime later, the craziness of the past several hours caught up with him and his eyes grew heavy. Darren took a seat in the chair to his mother’s right. His father—who looked equally as exhausted—sat opposite him on the left side of the bed.

  Just after noon California time, Darren received a call from Jason. It jarred him from his slumber. He answered right away. “Hey, thanks for calling.” He lowered his voice, so as not to wake his father, who slept in a nearby chair. “I guess you heard about my mom.”

  “Yes.” Jason’s voice trembled as he spoke. “And I’m praying. But, Darren. . .are you watching the news?”

  “The news?” He glanced up at the television, which hadn’t been turned on all day. “No. Should I be? What’s happening?”

/>   “There’s a. . .well, you’d just better look and see. I’m watching CNN, but I’m sure this is on every major news station.”

  Darren reached for the remote and clicked on the television. Immediately his heart went to his throat as he saw the news flash. Eastway Pilot Attempts Emergency Landing in Newark.

  “Darren, what’s happening?” His father came awake with a start.

  “It’s. . .” He couldn’t finish the sentence. Darren watched, gripped with fear, as the 747 pointed itself at the runway, nose gear still up.

  The news reporter’s voice jarred him. “The control tower has confirmed that the front landing gear of Eastway flight 4582 is not down. But it looks like the pilot is trying to bring the plane down without the landing gear. He’s got the aircraft under control for the moment but. . .ah, I’ve just been told the first officer—a female—is actually flying the plane while the captain works to rectify the problem. She’s doing an admirable job of—”

  Oh, Lord. . .no. Please, no.

  The reporter’s voice paused for a few seconds. Just when the plane looked as if it would come in for an attempted landing, the nose lifted once again and it disappeared from view.

  “Not sure what just happened there,” the reporter picked back up again. “Must’ve had a change of heart.” The camera zoomed in on the plane as it continued to ascend. “This has got to be frightening for the passengers and the crew. And for the family members watching.”

  “Darren?” Jason’s voice came over the phone line, startling him back to attention. “Are you there?”

  “I’m here. Jason, that’s. . .”

  “I know. And I’m praying. I’m going to hang up now so we can focus on doing that.”

  “No, wait. The Bible says if two or more agree in prayer. . .” Darren didn’t take time to finish the scripture. Instead, he began to pray aloud from the depths of his soul. . .for Candy and the other crew members on the 747 and for the passengers and people on the ground as well.