How many dresses should I take? One for the funeral, of course, but will we be doing anything else? With his family?”
“I don’t think so. So one dress should be fine. Maybe two,” I said. “I’m only going to take my black suit. Casual clothes the rest of the time.”
“It’s a nudist camp, right?” she teased.
“Yes, Miss Sherlock, but we’ll be doing stuff other places, in the regular world.”
“I know. I’m just kidding. I’m actually kind of looking forward to it. I mean, not the funeral,” she added hastily. “Seeing where you spent your summers. And…” She smiled and looked down.
“And meeting your family. I’m sorry it’s under the circumstances, but I’m really excited. I know that sounds horrible, but…”
Christy was unusually excited as we drove to Island Home Airport. She even followed along as I did the preflight walk-around on the Comanche.
“I know you used to fly with your brothers,” I said, “but you were a lot
smaller then, right?”
“I couldn’t even see over the instrument panel.”
“So this’ll be your first time as a grown-up?”
“Cool. But don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”
She frowned for a moment and then blinked in shock. “Ugh. That was the worst.”
“What? You aren’t dating me for my sense of humor?”
“Is it for my dashing good looks and debonair charm?”
“Those don’t hurt, but no.”
“Then maybe it’s my large… hard… extremely thick…”
Her eyes shone more white with every word, until they threatened to pop out.
“Sorry,” I laughed, “I couldn’t resist.”
“Hands? Feet? Neck?”
She rolled her eyes. “You know.”
“Mmm hmm.” I moved close, and she looked up at me with the brightest, most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen. Then she teased me with a silent smile, so I arched an eyebrow. “I wanna hear you say it.”
“You like it when I say… penis?”
“It feels good in your mouth, doesn’t it?”
“What? Penis? Like yours?” She grinned coyly. “I wouldn’t know.”
I realized I was about to break my new rule, so I shut up, smiled, and kissed her. “You’ll find out,” I said. “When you’re ready.”
“Mmm hmm. Now,” I said breezily, “I need to finish doing the preflight.”
She squawked but followed as I finished with the empennage and
returned to the passenger door. I lifted her onto the wing and prepared to climb up after her. She turned before I could and cupped my face in her hands.
“Since you asked,” she said, her eyes full of affection, “that’s why I’m dating you. You always find a way to make me smile.” The smile in question turned into a grin.
