Chapter 18
SAMANTHA
We all filed off Fat Albert and onto the tarmac at the Indianapolis Regional Airport. It was a little different compared to the bases we usually visited. We were ushered inside to get the information we needed for the stay.
I made my way to one of the many restaurants and got myself a sandwich.
The morning sickness seemed to be a hit or miss.
I found it was a little less intense if I kept something in my stomach all the time.
I didn’t dare carry around my pack of Saltines.
I was certain everyone would know I was knocked up.
I didn’t want to deal with the bullshit that would come with anyone besides Medusa knowing.
As I always did when I landed at a new destination, I called Dad. “Hey.” I smiled when I heard his voice. I missed him. I missed lunches and dinners with him. I missed hanging out with him.
“Are you in Indiana?” he asked.
“Yes, we are,” I said with a sigh.
“You’re quite the jetsetter.” He laughed.
“I know,” I said. “I think I forgot how exhausting it was to fly all the time.”
“Are you getting enough sleep?” he asked with concern in his voice.
“Yes, it’s just been a wild ride,” I said.
I so wanted to tell him my exhaustion had nothing to do with the traveling.
It did, but that wasn’t the only thing kicking my ass.
The pregnancy had wiped me out and I wasn’t even to the hard part yet.
Every night I holed up in my hotel room reading as much as I could about pregnancy and what to expect.
There were some things I was really, really not looking forward to.
“You’re halfway through your contract, right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then you’re going to get home and be bored.” He laughed. “You’re going to miss the smell of jet fuel and the roars of those engines firing up. The crowds and all of it will be gone and you’re going to long for the days you can get back out there.”
I wasn’t sure about that. “Probably, but I’ve been thinking about my future.”
“Uh oh, what does that mean?” he asked with a laugh.
“I don’t know. I was thinking about getting a job that keeps me home more often.”
“You know I wouldn’t be sad to have you home, but is that really something you want?” he asked. “You’ve always loved traveling.”
“I know,” I said. “I just think I’m ready for a change.”
Again, I couldn’t tell him I would have an infant in about eight months, give or take a few weeks. I couldn’t be dragging an infant all over the country. I couldn’t even imagine the havoc it would cause to a baby’s sleep schedule. I didn’t even know what time zone I was in half the time.
“It was bound to happen,” he said. “You’ve been on the go for the last five years. You’ve seen the country. Putting down some roots wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
“You’re right,” I told him. “I’m going to finish my lunch and then I need to get out there and start my inspections. We had some issues with Number Seven on the flight over. I need to make sure it’s all taken care of.”
“Thanks for calling, and get some sleep,” he said. “I can hear the exhaustion in your voice. I love you.”
“I love you, Dad.”
After ending the call, I nearly started crying. I felt like I was extra emotional these days. I wasn’t sure if all the symptoms I was feeling were real or psychosomatic after all the reading I had been doing. My boobs hurt. I cried. I was exhausted. And the morning sickness was not cool.
I wanted to tell my dad about the pregnancy.
He would be shocked, maybe a tiny bit disappointed, and then he was going to be crazy excited.
I knew I wanted kids, but I had hoped to be in a better position when the time came.
But now that it was happening, the timing didn’t matter.
It was going to be hard and it went against every grain in my body to do something so out of the norm.
I followed the rules. I made plans. This was definitely not in the plan.
But here we were. We were in it and there was no going back.
Telling my dad would make it real. Once I said it out loud, it was the real deal.
Obviously, it was real, but it would make it really real.
People would know. I would officially be a pregnant woman.
Right now, it was just me and Medusa. I trusted her to keep my secret.
I could go on with my day like nothing was different.
No one was going to look at me and see me as anything but the competent mechanical inspector that I was.
I pushed aside all thoughts of the baby growing inside me.
It was time to get back to work. I grabbed another bottle of ginger ale and headed back toward the tarmac where the Hornets were parked for now.
The team was moving around the jets like usual.
The crew that was assigned to each jet was already at work checking everything after the flight into the city.
I noticed Mitch talking with Honcho and Medusa off in the shade.
I always found myself looking for him every time I came on deck.
Where was he? Who was he talking to? Did he notice me?
Just then, he looked my way. I offered a small smile, waved, and headed toward the area with our checklists and various documents. I grabbed my clipboard and headed out to start the inspection process. I blocked out the noise happening all around me. I was focused on my job.
“Next time you want to say something, maybe don’t send your attack dog,” a voice said from behind me.
I turned around to see PitA and a couple of the other guys he was always with. “Excuse me?” I asked.
“I’m just saying, if you don’t want us checking out your boobs, maybe wear one of those bras that holds the girls in place.” PitA laughed.
I stared at him for several seconds. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He made it very obvious that he was looking at my boobs. Then his eyes met mine while he grinned. “If you don’t like what we were saying, why not just tell us? You don’t need to sick Dice on us.”
“I didn’t sick anyone on anybody,” I snapped. “If you want to talk about my boobs, let’s do that. Let’s have a big roundtable discussion. I’ll make sure Honcho and my representation is there for the conversation.”
He laughed and looked at his buddies. “So, again you are sending someone else in to speak for you.”
“I’m not talking to you about my boobs, you pervert,” I said. “Maybe you should think about growing up. You’re acting like a fourteen-year-old. All of you are.”
“We’re not the ones tattling.” PitA laughed. “We weren’t being mean. We appreciate the display. The guys here really enjoy the flights in Fat Albert, especially when turbulence is involved. I personally like the little shirts you wear that give a man just a tease.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked.
“Just tell us to shut our traps,” he said with all seriousness. “You don’t need to go run and tell Dice. Next time the guy wants a fight, it better be for something a little more worthy than your tits.”
It felt like I was only getting to hear half the conversation.
I seriously had no idea what the guy was going on about, but I was damn tired of listening to him talk about my breasts.
“I don’t need to run to anyone,” I told him.
“I handle my own shit. Say another word about my boobs and you’re going to find yourself answering to a higher power. ”
He smirked. “First you tell Dice, then you tell Honcho.”
I slowly shook my head. “That’s not the higher power I was referring to.”
It took him a second to register my threat. “You’re threatening me?”
“I’ve been around men like you and your little posse most of my life,” I told him calmly.
“I know your type. You’re compensating for something.
I’ve got my guesses, but I don’t care to find out.
You think you hold the power in this little situation.
You think you’re a man with buddies and I’m going to be the woman that cowers.
” I took a step forward and got close enough that my chest brushed against his.
“I think there is something you should know about me. I don’t cower.
” I held up the clipboard. “In fact, I was just about to go over your Hornet. I’ve heard there was an issue with the stick.
I can’t have you in the air if I find it is off by just the tiniest little hair.
I’m very diligent when it comes to my job.
I’m the person holding the clipboard that holds the inspection.
If the jet fails my very, very thorough inspection, it’s grounded.
Sometimes, these things are persistent and an aircraft can be grounded for weeks while the problems are fixed. Weeks. Can you imagine?”
He was staring at me with anger and just enough fear to satisfy me. “You are not my CO. You’re not even Navy.”
I offered him a tight smile. “No, I’m not.
I’m just the bitch with the boobs that decides what goes up and what stays down.
” His buddies were standing behind him waiting and watching to see what he would do.
I stepped back and shot each of them a glare.
“For those of you that will never be in the air, just remember, it only takes one very serious accusation to derail your entire career. I’m not the one, boys.
I’m not the one you want to fuck with. I would suggest you go to a titty bar if you want to ogle boobs.
If I catch any of you looking at mine again, you’ll learn the hard way.
Fuck around and find out, boys. Please.”
PitA stared at me and shook his head. “You need to fucking relax.”
“Oh, I’m relaxed,” I said. “I handle my own business. Like I said, you are a dime a dozen. I don’t have to lift a finger to handle you. One word from me and you’re fucking done.”
He opened his mouth like he was going to say something but quickly closed it. “Let’s go eat,” he said to his friends.
I watched them walk away without showing any signs of weakness. I blew out a breath and relaxed my shoulders. I had dealt with guys like him in the past. Sometimes, they needed to be threatened. Fear was a healthy emotion. I needed him and his pals to fear me if they wouldn’t respect me.
I went back to work and kept replaying the incident in my mind. He said Dice got mad. Mitch knew? Had Mitch heard? That was what the fight was about? He had some explaining to do tonight at dinner.