Page 87 of Plane Passion

Ernie put down the receiver and did a little dance, waving his arms around and jumping up and down.

“Good news, son?”

Pop walked in, and Ernie immediately stopped his antics.

“I’ve got my job back.”

He was grinning ear to ear.

His father opened his arms and folded him in a hug.

“Thank you, Jesus.”

“And thank you, Millie,” Ernie said. “She’s the one that got my job back. And I think I might have convinced Mr. Burleson to give her job back too.”

“That’s wonderful news, son.”

“I was just about to come tell⁠—”

The phone rang.

Ernie rushed to pick it up.

“Hello, Ernie? It’s me. Millie.”

His heart was fit to burst at the sound of her voice. If only he could kiss her, hold her, celebrate with her! But first, he had to convince her to take him back.

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“Millie?”

The sound of Ernie’s voice did things to her insides. Suddenly, everything she’d planned to say before dialing slipped out of her head.

“I…um…wanted to talk to you.” What was she going to say? Where were all the words?

“It’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve missed you so much.”

Oh. He missed her.

And now she felt so soft and warm and melty all over. Words swam around in her head just out of reach. “I missed you too. I was hoping… I was hoping…”

“Yes?”

Why was this so difficult? She wanted to see him. Was that so hard to say? “I…”

“Yes?”

“Iwanttoseeyou.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

She sighed. “I want to see you.”

There. She said it.

“You do?” He sounded so hopeful. Even after what she’d done to him.

“Yes, I do. Very much.”