Page 89 of Plane Passion

There. She’d decided what to wear. Only eight hours and forty-five minutes left to go.

With a sigh, she headed to the kitchen, making breakfast as loudly as possible, hoping to rouse Beth.

When Millie brought her breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast out to the little café table in the breakfast nook, Beth wandered out of her bedroom in a blue silk wrap, a white satin sleeping mask pushed up over her mussed hair.

“Good Lord, Millie. What time is it?”

“A little after nine.”

“You’re a beast for waking me up, you know that? Do you have any idea how late I got home last night?”

Millie got up and brought Beth a cup of coffee, placing it in her hands. “I know, but I need your help.”

Beth narrowed her eyes at Millie.

“I have a date tonight with Ernie.”

At that, Beth’s eyes went wide. “You do? Oh, that’s wonderful, darling. I’m so happy for you!” She took a deep drink of coffee. “But you’re still a beast for waking me up.”

“My sincerest apologies. I made you coffee and eggs.”

It was the least Millie could do, given the hour. She hurried into the kitchen and brought out a plate and a steaming cup for Beth, plopping them down on the table.

Beth winced at the clatter, then gave her a dirty look.

“Sorry,” Millie said, doing her best to rein in her enthusiasm.

The phone rang, and Beth clapped her hands over her ears.

Millie went running.

Grabbing the receiver, she dropped into the wingback chair beside the phone. “Millie speaking.”

The person on the other end cleared his throat and said, “Er…”

Sadly, this couldn’t be Ernie.

“Miss Aldrich? It’s Mr. Burleson.”

Mr. Burleson? Ernie said he would call, but what could he possibly have to say? She was fairly certain she’d used up the favors he owed her from the air show.

“Mr. Burleson. What can I do for you?” She wanted to get this conversation over with so that she could go back to planning for her date. Talking to Mr. Burleson was about as much fun as a root canal.

He cleared his throat again. “Well, you see, it seems that… Ahem.” There was a long pause.

“Yes?”

“It seems that I’ll be giving you another chance to fly the mail.”

Millie dropper the receiver into her lap, her hand going nerveless with shock. Picking it up again hurriedly, she said, “I’m sorry. Could you repeat that? I must have misheard.”

“I said I’ll be giving you another chance to fly the mail.”

She took a deep breath in and out. “I thought that was what you said, but how can that be?”

“Ernie won’t come back without you. He made a…very convincing case. You’ll report to Heller Airport at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir.” She squeezed her fists triumphantly. “I’ll be there.”