Chapter 3 #2
“And you want to hear it too? All right I’ll tell you,” she said with a little sigh. It seemed such a shame to ruin the moment, but perhaps it was for the best.
“Actually, I wanted to ask what your favorite flavor of ice cream is.”
“What my—? Why would you ask me that?” she asked with a little laugh. And then she paused. Did she really just laugh? She hadn’t done that for months.
He grinned at her, and it was such a sweet, goofy grin that a bit of his mood rubbed off on her. “I’d like to get you some after this dance. There’s an assortment over by the wall.”
“I… I suppose I like strawberry.”
His grin widened, and her stomach fluttered again. “Excellent choice. I believe I’ll have strawberry as well. Now suppose you tell me about this leaky faucet of yours.”
“My leaky faucet? But I don’t have one.”
He spun her around.
“Of course, you do. Everyone has a leaky faucet.”
“I don’t. I fixed it.”
He missed a step but caught himself, and they resumed their twirling around the dance floor. “You fixed it? You fixed it?”
“I got a book from the library, and I fixed it. Now what’s so funny?”
He laughed. It was an incredibly infectious sound. She couldn’t help but giggle a bit with him.
“You got a book from the library and fixed your own faucet?” He chortled.
“I did,” she said with a proud smile.
“I am in awe of your ingenuity, madame,” he said with a bow as the dance came to an end. “You are the first woman I’ve ever met who undertook her own plumbing. I feel positively useless. But perhaps I can distract you with ice cream.”
She felt terribly self-conscious as he led her over to the ice cream table, but no one seemed to be paying any attention. The lights were low, and all eyes were on Miss Belmont who looked quite enamored of the pilot she was dancing with.
Mr. O’Donnell got them each a scoop of strawberry in a tiny silver bowl with a tiny silver spoon.
They sat down at an out-of-the-way table, and she took a bite.
“Mmm,” she moaned in delight. It was the best thing she’d ever tasted.
When she looked up at Mr. O’Donnell, he was watching her with a strange intensity.
For a moment, their gazes locked, and it felt as if the air between them sparked.
She blinked, and the moment was gone. She must be losing her mind, or perhaps she was drunk? It was only one sip, but still…
Carefully keeping her delight less audible, she finished off her bowl. Then she watched with too much interest as he licked the last of his ice cream from his spoon.
“So no leaky faucet, and you seem the sort that would fix your own kitchen cupboards too. Perhaps you have a leaky roof that needs seeing to?”
What? How did he guess that? She sat up straight and looked at him, considering. “I do have a leaky roof, as it happens,” she said at last. “It’s the reason I’m here tonight. You see, I can’t afford to have it fixed, and Miss Belmont said I could have the funds if they raised enough tonight.”
“Where is this house with the leaky roof?” he asked, waving his spoon as he spoke.
“It’s out on Long Island in a town called Merrick.”
He dropped his spoon. “What a delightful coincidence. I live in Mineola.”
Her stomach plummeted. “Of course. You’re a pilot.”
“I am. Please don’t hold it against me,” he said with big pleading eyes with just a touch of merriment. “I’ve been assigned to the new airmail service between here and Washington DC.”
She felt as though a weight lifted from her shoulders. “The mail? So you aren’t headed back to the war?”
His expression turned serious. “I go where Uncle Sam sends me, but I hope I get to stay where I am. In fact, can I tell you a secret?” He leaned close making her pulse race.
“Um, yes, I suppose so,” she stuttered. How did he fluster her so easily?
“I want to start a passenger air service, flying the rich and famous all over the country. I’ve been saving up since the war started to buy my very own passenger plane.”
Was it just her, or had the ballroom gotten rather warm? “I think that’s a marvelous idea!”
“I’m so glad you agree.” The enthusiasm in his blue-green eyes made her suddenly thirsty. She almost wished she had that champagne back.
She needed to get ahold of herself.
Taking a step back and giving him a kindly smile, she asked, “Why is a pilot so interested in repairing my home? Do you have a brother who’s a contractor?”
“No, no, no! I swear, I’m not trying to sell you a thing. I just like to be of assistance, and you seem like someone I would like to assist.” His mischievous grin was back.
“I have a two-month-old infant,” she blurted. Why, she couldn’t say.
He didn’t bat an eye. “Oh, I love babies. What’s your baby’s name?”
“His name is Roger Jr., but I call him Junior.”
His eyes were suddenly soft and sad. “Junior. Very sweet. You must miss your Roger very much.”
She blinked several times in quick succession to keep back the sudden prickle of tears. “I do.”
“Come dance with me again, Mrs. Prince,” he said, getting up suddenly. A foxtrot was just beginning. “I’d very much like to dance with you and then fix your roof.”
Ann didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at such an offer.
Did she dare say yes? After months of grief and loss, it was everything she wanted in that moment.
Before she knew what she was doing, she nodded and gave him her hand.
As he pulled her to the dance floor, she could only hope she wasn’t making a terrible mistake.