Wings of a Dream (16 page)

In the gray light of dawn I tiptoed down the stairs. My mouth stretched in a yawn, body and mind rebelling at the early hour, in spite of my excitement. My plans had come together quite well, although there hadn’t been time to go to town and send a telegram to Arthur. I’d just have to trust I could find him at the air show. I’d pray for it. God had shown me that Arthur was His plan for my life, so I felt sure He’d answer.

After all, He’d already smoothed the way by making Irene agreeable to keeping the kids for me for the day, even though her eyes had asked questions I had no desire to answer. I needed her to be my friend, not my mother. She’d given me a wary smile, but a smile nonetheless, and told me to go on and enjoy myself.

The trust in her face opened the door to guilt. I doubted she approved of me going to Dallas by myself. But I’d made my decision, and I intended to see it through.

As I opened the door to Aunt Adabelle’s bedroom, the mirror over the washstand beckoned me. A bottle of French perfume on the washstand caught my attention. Had Frank sent it to his wife before he knew she’d passed? After only a moment’s hesitation, I pulled the stopper from the heavy glass. The room filled with the sweetness of a thousand flowers at once.

I dabbed the fragrance on the skin behind my ears as I stared into the mirror. Brown eyes blinked back at me, lighter brown hair just visible beneath my hat. A couple of pinches on each cheek and they colored nicely. A turn from side to side returned a verdict of presentable. I clasped my hands beneath my chin, wanting to both laugh and cry. Today I’d see Arthur. But first I had to get to that train station on time.

I hurried back into the hall, peeked out the front door. Nola Jean Latham sauntered across the yard at that moment, spindly legs and arms shooting out from her too-small dress.

She spied me and came on a bit faster. “Mama sent me.” She hopped up on the porch. “I’ll take the little ones back to my house. Ollie can walk to school with the rest of us.”

My toes bounced against the porch floor, eager to be off. “That sounds fine, Nola Jean. Tell your mother I said thank you.”

She nodded, plodded into the house, up the stairs, and out of sight. I scurried to the kitchen, wrapped a piece of leftover cornbread in a clean cloth, and tucked it into my handbag. It would do for a bite to eat until I arrived at the Flyin’ Frolic.

James and Ollie shuffled into the kitchen. James rubbed his eyes, then blinked up at me from his bench seat at the table as he sniffed the air. “Mmm. You smell like Mama, Bekah.” His eyes and nose scrunched in confusion as he stared at me. “Where’re you goin’?”

Ollie’s head jerked my direction. Dan sauntered to the table, more awake than his brother. “Nola Jean got Janie up, too.”

“Yes, I know. Remember, James? I told you last night that I had to go to Dallas today.”

Ollie’s eyes narrowed to slits.

“I forgot,” James said, laying his head on the table. “Is Nola Jean goin’ to get my breakfast?”

“Yes, she is.”

The girl walked in that minute, Janie content on her hip.

“Be good for Nola Jean and Mrs. Latham, now.”

James’s bottom lip trembled. Dan nodded and stuck his thumb in his mouth. I laid a hand on each boy’s cheek.

James leaned into my hand. “When are you coming back?”

My throat tightened. Janie stretched her arms to me. I avoided her reach, kissed her head, and started for the door.

Janie screamed and wriggled until Nola Jean let her down. Still wailing, she crawled after me, red-faced but without tears. She gulped air, screaming, then breathing, and screaming again.

Ollie followed Janie onto the porch. I hurried toward the gate. Part of me wanted to run back and sweep that sweet baby into my arms. To hold on tight. But the greater part of me wanted to go. Now.

I glanced up the road. Then I looked back at Ollie and Janie—and James and Dan, who now stood on the porch, as well, their expressions of bewilderment jabbing my already tortured soul.

If I could take care of them, anybody could, I told myself. Nola Jean would do just fine. I forced myself forward. Janie shrieked again. I closed my eyes and ran.

As the train pulled away from the station, my heart twisted in my chest like a wet skirt beneath my hands. How could I have left Janie in such a state? I covered my eyes. James’s face, full of longing and fear, haunted that darkness. But this little trip was for the best. The children didn’t need to become any more attached to me. They needed to be ready to welcome whoever would care for them when I left. Irene. Or Mrs. Crenshaw. Or maybe even Frank’s new wife. It wouldn’t be unusual for him to take one right away.

My head lolled against the window as a yawn stretched my lips. The gentle sway of the train rocked my aching eyelids closed.

I dreamt Arthur and I sat together in his airplane, high above all I knew. The world looked different from there. Small. Insignificant. And it bothered me that it felt that way. When a commotion woke me, I felt dissatisfied, as if my dream trip wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped it would be. Yet it was exactly the adventure I longed to take.

The train emptied, mostly, at Union Station in Dallas. A huge building, several train lines coming and going. People whizzed past, hardly a face that didn’t carry a broad smile and a quick laugh. The war was over. And today Dallas would celebrate. Swept up in the festive crowd, I forgot all about the farm, the children, and their father. I even forgot Daddy’s words about Mama’s recovery, or lack of it.

Finding Arthur filled my thoughts. But how to get to the Frolic? Out of the corner of my eye, I spied a man in uniform. I’d given up on Mama’s instructions not to talk to strange men, so I walked right up to the soldier, bold as you please.

“Excuse me. Would you know where I could catch the conveyance to Love Field? For the Flyin’ Frolic.”

His eyes raked over me, from my feet to my head. I took a step backward, pulling my coat more tightly around my body.

“I’m on my way there, too, pretty lady. Perhaps we could go together?”

“I . . .” My heart pumped faster, and I swallowed hard. “I don’t know . . . sir.”

He reached for my hand and laid it in the crook of his arm. “Captain Denton, miss. Let me escort you there. Wouldn’t do to have you wandering the streets of Dallas alone, now, would it?” His toothy grin didn’t ease my concern, but I allowed him to lead me to a ticket counter anyway.

“Oh! I thought the trains weren’t running out there. Don’t we need a streetcar?”

Captain Denton shook his head. “They got a special train ready to go to Love Field for today. Forty-three cents for the round trip.”

I looked at the man behind the counter. He nodded in agreement.

“Well, then. That sounds just fine.” And it did. Much more familiar—and safe.

I handed my money to the ticket agent—money I felt sure Frank had sent home for his family. But I couldn’t worry about that now. Besides, it wasn’t as if I’d spent the entire five dollars. The ticket clerk directed us to a booth where I could also purchase my admission ticket to the Frolic. Fifty cents more. I bit my lip and prayed the remainder would be enough to get the children and me through until Frank came home.

Captain Denton led me to the platform. Hundreds of others waited with us, or so it seemed. When the train whistle sounded, the crowd swarmed ahead, everyone wanting to be the first aboard. Captain Denton held my arm, guiding me through the throng, securing a seat for me by the window and one on the aisle for himself.

He whistled low. “This is something, isn’t it? I never imagined so many people would be coming out to watch the show.”

A nervous smile played on my lips. “No, I never imagined.”

He leaned back in his seat and crossed one leg over the other. “Are you from Dallas, Miss . . . ?”

My fingers gripped my handbag. “Hendricks. And no, I’m not from Dallas. I’m from Oklahoma, but I’m staying . . . nearby.” My tongue slid across my dry lips. “I came out to find my . . . my beau. He’s stationed at Camp Dick.” I clamped my lips shut, wondering if I’d given the man too much information.

“I know most everyone at the camp. Who is this beau of yours?”

I clicked the clasp on my handbag as I studied Captain Denton’s face. His blond hair and brown eyes appeared warm and inviting now, more friendly.

“Arthur. Arthur Samson. From Tyler.”

His eyebrows arched.

“What?” I laid my hand on his arm. “What do you know? Please, tell me. I beg you.”

His face rearranged, all smiles now. He patted my hand. “Don’t you worry. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to see you.”

I leaned against the back of the seat in relief. Arthur would be glad to see me. Of course he would. That’s why I’d come.

I
had thought Union Station crowded, but the airfield teemed thicker with humanity.

Captain Denton ushered me inside the gates. I unbuttoned my coat, fearful I’d faint before I found Arthur. Between the crush of people and the rising sun, I welcomed the refreshing November breeze closer to my skin.

We picked our way through the crowd, my head turning left and right as I gripped my handbag more tightly. So many uniforms. So many faces. What if I couldn’t find Arthur?

“Don’t worry. I’ll find him for you.” Captain Denton’s voice carried over the din.

“I’ve never seen so many people in one place in my life!” I stood on my tiptoes, trying to get a better look.

Captain Denton chuckled as he led me to the bleachers. “You sit here and enjoy the show. I’ll find your Mr. Samson.” He found me a seat before striding off in the opposite direction.

It didn’t take long for me to remove the coat completely and lay it across my lap. My skin tingled with anticipation. Arthur would be with me soon. I’d see his face, hear his voice. Of course, we wouldn’t be able to embrace. Not in public. But our eyes would hold each other. And when he spoke, his words would wrap around me as securely as if they were his arms.

Airplanes thundered overhead, drowning out my daydreams.

A man in front of me leaned toward his wife. “Jennies. They’re called jennies.”

I raised my eyes to the sky, oohing and aahing with the rest of the crowd as the aviators piloted their planes through loops and rolls, sometimes flying upside down, other times heading in a straight line for the earth before suddenly lifting back up into the air. My hand covered my thumping heart. Never had I imagined the aerial feats I watched that morning. Did Arthur do such things?

The acrobatics continued for a while longer. My stomach rumbled as the show drew to a close and my worries crept back in. What if Captain Denton couldn’t find Arthur? And what if he never came back to find me?

I craned my neck for sight of a familiar face. Of course there were only two possibilities—Captain Denton and Arthur. And I didn’t see either one. The stands around me began to empty, talk of the buffet dinner on everyone’s lips. I sat nearly alone now, chewing a fingernail.

Then a hand raised in the distance. I stood, eager to see the face. The crowd parted. Sheriff Jeffries’s broad grin met my gaze. I sat back down on the wooden seat. What would he think of me for leaving the children and traveling on my own to Dallas? My head turned this way and that, seeking escape. Then he stood before me and I had no choice but to acknowledge him.