Page 68 of Plane Passion

“I read in a magazine that you traveled a lot. What was that like?” Constance asked, passing a bowl of mashed potatoes.

Meanwhile, Pop was carving the goose and serving everyone piping hot slices that smelled like heaven.

“I liked it at first,” Millie said. “It was an adventure, but some of the people in Europe weren’t very nice to me, especially in France. I didn’t like it much there. I’ve been back since for air shows and still far prefer the good old U. S. of A.”

“You lived in California for a while, didn’t you?” Verity chimed in, just as Millie was about to take a bite. “Is it really covered in palm trees? They look so spikey and strange. I can’t imagine what it must be like there.”

“I lived in Los Angeles,” Millie said, putting down her fork. “I was doing stunt work for a movie studio. And yes, there really are a lot of palm trees, and yes, they look that strange.”

“Verity, dear,” Mom said, observing Millie’s uneaten forkful. “Why don’t you tell Miss Aldrich about yourself instead of peppering her with questions?”

Verity’s eyes went wide, and her mouth shut tight. Her face turned pink. Was Verity feeling shy? Ernie couldn’t remember the last time Verity was tongue-tied in front of someone.

“I’m sure she’d love to hear about all that stargazing you’re doing with your telescope,” Mom prompted.

Verity’s brow furrowed, and she bit her lip.

“I really would,” Millie said with a smile.

Looking all around the table and finding no help, Verity took a deep breath and then launched into an extended explanation of her amateur astronomy activities, which, thankfully, gave everyone else a chance to eat.

Ernie glanced at Millie. Her face was alight with enjoyment. Relief washed through him at the sight.

He managed to take some bites of food. Mom really outdid herself. The meal was delicious. It might not be the work of a French chef, but it was the best home-cooked meal he could imagine.

Soon Prudence was chiming in with tales of her ambitions to become a Pinkerton. Between them, the twins chattered away until everyone was so full that they couldn’t take another bite.

“How did you and Ernie meet?” Constance asked during a lull in the twins’ prattling.

Millie turned pink and glanced at Ernie, who squeezed her hand beneath the table.

“I took a job flying the mail,” she said, looking sheepish. “Ernie was assigned to show me the routes. New pilots with the airmail trail experienced pilots to learn the lay of the land, and then they fly the routes trailed by their instructors to make sure they’ve learned them properly.”

“And it was love at first sight?” Constance asked with a knowing smile.

Millie’s blush deepened.

“Not exactly,” Ernie said, jumping in. “She didn’t think much of me at first.”

“No, I did not,” Millie said, glancing at him. “I believe I called him a no-good cad.”

“Which I deserved.”

“Yes, you did.” Millie winked at him, which made inappropriate thoughts spring to mind. “But then I got to know him better. I learned how loyal and dedicated he is, and how much he cares about all of you. And he really is one of the finest pilots I’ve ever met. Not to mention, he can be very charming when he wants to be.”

Ernie’s heart soared. She really did care!

Constance chuckled. “Ah yes. My brother is very charming. It gets him into trouble more often than not, but for once he’s used his powers for good.”

Millie laughed. She’d taken him to task as no one else had over how he used his charm.

“I didn’t think much of her either, at first,” Ernie said, wanting to tell his side of the story. “I thought she was being reckless signing up for such a dangerous job, and that it was all a publicity stunt. Little did I know what a superb pilot she was or how fiercely dedicated she would be to the work. She cares deeply about giving women aviators a chance to prove themselves, and she’s been quite the trailblazer for their cause. I couldn’t help but fall for her.”

And he had. Absolutely. His heart was hers.

“My son is very blessed to have met you,” Pop said. “You don’t know how long I’ve prayed he would meet the right woman and settle down.”

Settle down? Oh, dear. Ernie wanted Millie in his life, but they hadn’t quite gotten that far.