Page 102 of Plane Passion
“Oh, no. I don’t think I want to know.”
“And what did my friends say to you?”
“They threatened various forms of bodily harm if I ever stepped out of line, not that I’m in any danger because I am utterly and completely yours.”
She smiled. “I have good friends.”
“And I have terrible ones from the sound of it.”
They circled around Mom and Pop who were gazing into each other’s eyes like newlyweds.
“Is it too soon for us to make an exit, do you think?” Ernie whispered in her ear. “It’s been great fun, but I can’t wait to have you all to myself, Mrs. Pritchard.”
“Hmm. Yes, I think that’s an excellent plan, Mr. Pritchard.”
The song ended, and he led her from the dance floor. He looked around for Jack and found him chatting with Constance.
Jack reddened when he saw Ernie and excused himself. “Ernie, Millie, don’t tell me you two are already tired of dancing.”
“Very tired,” Ernie said.
“Exhausted,” Millie added.
If Ernie didn’t get Millie out of here this second, he was going to burst.
Jack chuckled. “I take it you two are headed out?” When Ernie nodded, Jack signaled to the band, and they stopped. “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard are heading out now,” Jack said in a booming voice. “Join me in giving them a proper send-off.”
Beth helped Millie take off her veil and put on a white fur coat while Ernie donned his coat, gloves, and hat.
They made their way out to Millie’s red Stutz Bearcat under a shower of cheer and rice. The car’s fender had a dozen cans tied to it, and the back windshield read “Just Married.” So much for a dignified departure.
As they reached the car, a snowflake floated down and then another.
“We’d better get going before the weather turns,” Ernie said to Millie, opening the car door for her. “With our luck, it will be a blizzard by the time we get to the hotel.”
“I love it,” she said, then waved to all the guests. “Merry Christmas,” she yelled to everyone, and they cheered in return.
“Merry Christmas indeed,” Ernie murmured to himself, settling his lovely wife into her seat and then turning to give the crowd one last wave.
And with that, they set off on their new adventure. Together.
EPILOGUE
Daily News
February 4, 1921
AVIATRIX STEALS RECORD FROM PILOT HUSBAND
On February 3rd, 1921, Mrs. Mildred Pritchard, nee Aldrich, broke her husband’s record for flying from Chicago to New York. She completed the trip in seven hours and twenty-two minutes, beating Ernest Pritchard’s record by twenty-five minutes. Asked what he thought of his wife’s triumph, Mr. Pritchard said, “I’m too proud for words.” What’s next for this high-flying duo? “I was thinking of a cross-country flight, New York to San Francisco,” said Mrs. Pritchard. “And I was thinking I’d beat you to it,” said Mr. Pritchard in response. The couple resides in Brooklyn, NY, and they both work for the U.S. Postal Service’s airmail operation.
