Chapter 30
“Millie?”
The sound of Ernie’s voice did things to her insides. Suddenly, everything she’d planned to say before dialing slipped out of her head.
“I…um…wanted to talk to you.” What was she going to say? Where were all the words?
“It’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve missed you so much.”
Oh. He missed her.
And now she felt so soft and warm and melty all over. Words swam around in her head just out of reach. “I missed you too. I was hoping… I was hoping…”
“Yes?”
Why was this so difficult? She wanted to see him. Was that so hard to say? “I…”
“Yes?”
“Iwanttoseeyou.”
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
She sighed. “I want to see you.”
There. She said it.
“You do?” He sounded so hopeful. Even after what she’d done to him.
“Yes, I do. Very much.”
“I want to see you too, Millie.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes, tonight. Meet me on the northwest corner of Sixtieth and Fifth Avenue at six o’clock. We’re going ice skating in Central Park.”
Millie giggled. Since when did she giggle?
“I’ll be there.” She twirled the phone cord around her finger, peeking out the window at the fresh snow on the ground. A Salvation Army Santa stood ringing his bell across the street next to a roasted chestnut vendor.
’Tis the season to be merry.
“Have you heard from Mr. Burleson yet?” she asked.
“I did. He gave me my job back. I hear I have you to thank.”
“It wasn’t right for you to lose your job over something so silly.”
She’d put on the show of a lifetime. Thank God it had worked!
“You either. Has Mr. Burleson called you yet?”
“No, why?”
“I won’t spoil the surprise.”
“Ernie!”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.”
What was he up to? Why would Mr. Burleson call her? Their deal was over. He’d given Ernie his job back and agreed to let women apply for airmail pilot jobs—not her, of course, but other women.
“Listen, Millie, I have to go. I’m expected at work, and I need to tell my boss I’m quitting and going back to the airmail. But I’ll see you this evening, all right?”
She bit her lip as a thrill ran through her at the thought.
“Yes, I’ll see you then.”
“I love you.”
Where did all the air in the room go?
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Tonight.”
The phone clicked.
For several minutes, all she could do was sit there with a ridiculous grin on her face. He really did have a special talent for turning her insides to goo.
She had a little over nine hours to kill before she saw him—a veritable eternity. Maybe Beth would have some idea how to distract her.
Her friend was sleeping in after a late night out on the town. It might be a while before she woke up.
What to wear? She opened her tall, burled walnut wardrobe with the soaring arch at the top. A rainbow of options appeared. And yet somehow, not one of them seemed quite right.
She had party dresses galore, but that wouldn’t work for ice skating.
Her practical winter wear was in dull hues—brown, navy, dark green.
Actually, the dark green wool with the pleated skirt could work quite nicely.
Perhaps with her white cashmere sweater and a thin belt around the hips.
Her white wool coat with the white fur collar would go quite well over that with a dark green cloche hat to match her dress.
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.”
“Good. Well, good day to you, Miss Aldrich. Report to Mr. Dickson on Tuesday morning. Don’t be late.”
Hanging up the phone, she could hardly believe what she’d just heard. She turned her wondering gaze slowly to Beth who was staring at her as if she grew another head.
“The airmail is taking me back,” Millie said in a breathy voice as she stood up. “The airmail is taking me back,” she squealed and then whirled around in a ridiculous victory dance. “I’m back! I’m back! I’m back!”
Beth glared. “This is far too much exuberance before I’ve finished my coffee.”
“Sorry.” Millie burst into giggles and tried to stifle them. “Sorry.”
She had her job back! How was this even possible?
Ernie.
He believed in her enough to put himself on the line for her, despite the risk to himself. After all the work she put into getting him his job back, he wouldn’t do it without her.
Now she really couldn’t wait to see him. What time was it?
Nine fifteen. Ugh. This day was going too slowly.
“Beth, I need your help. Somehow, I need to keep my sanity until this evening.”
She sat down next to Beth and looked at her with pleading eyes.
Rolling her eyes, Beth said, “Fine. I’ll cancel tennis practice. I’m not feeling up to it today anyway. We’ll go to the spa and then go shopping. You need a new outfit for this.”
“But I have one picked out,” Millie objected.
“Show me.”
Millie marched into her room and gestured toward the outfit laid out on her bed.
“I suppose that could do in a pinch,” said Beth dubiously, “but I think we can do better. Let’s head out. I know how long it takes you to pick things, and I’ll need at least an hour to do your hair.”
“You’re a doll, Beth. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“No, you don’t, darling. And don’t forget it.”
An hour later, they were ensconced in the bright elegance of Elizabeth Arden’s Salon d’Oro.
They lounged in specially designed chairs that leaned back for facial treatments.
Each station had a vanity in front of it, covered with more bottles than Millie could count.
They sat with white towels wrapped around their heads, wearing white robes as attendants massaged their faces with creams and unguents.
It was the Venetian something-or-other treatment. Beth said it worked miracles.
“I must admit this is a vast improvement on tennis practice,” Beth murmured, eyes closed. “Thank you for giving me the excuse.”
“Happy to oblige.”
“Though I suppose I should be thanking Ernie, not you. After all, he’s the reason we’re here. Where are you two meeting anyway?”
The attendant was doing something particularly delicious to her jaw muscles, and it took her a moment to respond.
“We’re going ice skating in Central Park.”
Beth laughed. “Could you two possibly be more disgustingly adorable?”
“We do aim to be revolting. Glad to know we’ve succeeded.”
For several moments, Beth was silent. “What are you going to do without me when you and he tie the knot? Who’s going to do your hair and tell you what to wear?”
Smiling, Millie answered, “I don’t think you have to worry about that any time soon.”
“I beg to differ. In fact, I bet you’ll come home tonight with an engagement ring on your finger.”
“Ooh, an engagement, miss?” asked her attendant. “I’ll make sure you’re simply glowing.”
Marriage? Who said anything about marriage? It was simply a date. Beth, as usual, was blowing things out of proportion.
“And I bet nothing of the sort will happen.”
“How much?” As usual, Beth was ready to place a wager. “You know I never lose.”
“You will this time. I bet you ten dollars.”
“You’re on. And no hiding the ring from me when you get home.”
Millie shook her head. “When have I ever cheated?”
“Miss, please don’t move,” the attendant said, gently repositioning her face.
“I’m just making sure,” said Beth, “because I’m going to win.”
Marry Ernie. What a thought.
Did she want to?
Even though it was unlikely he would ask tonight, Millie agreed he was probably going to ask eventually. What would she say?
Life with Ernie would be very different than her life with Beth. Would she move into their family home in Brooklyn? She rather liked the idea of that.
It would be nice to be in a busy house full of people. In her early years, the house was always full of her parents’ friends from the circus and their families. She liked the cacophony and camaraderie that came with having lots of company.
And Ernie… Would he be a good husband? Certainly, he would be an attentive lover. He had just demonstrated his loyalty to her beyond a shadow of a doubt by insisting she get her job back. And he loved her. She didn’t doubt it.
Still, some sliver of uncertainty plagued her. She’d trusted Barney. Could she truly open herself up and allow herself to be that vulnerable again?
“Finished,” her attendant announced.
“I’m finished too,” said the woman working on Beth.
Millie sat up and examined herself in the mirror. She looked radiant, even without makeup.
“You really are miracle workers,” said Beth, all vestiges of the night before banished from her face.
“Are you ready for shopping, dear?” Beth asked, turning to Millie.
For the rest of the afternoon, Beth dragged her to boutique after boutique along Fifth Avenue, looking for the perfect ensemble.
Each storefront sported display windows with the latest fashions, some of them scandalously short, some of them simply unwearable, some of them too sumptuous to be believed—all displayed with theatrical elegance.
It was a feast for the eyes, and Beth ended up with more than one outfit.
But none of it felt quite right for such a mundane activity as ice skating in the park.
At last, they went to Lord & Taylor, entering the massive stone temple to fashion through the large arched doorway.
Wafting past mannequin after mannequin in the latest fashions, they finally found an outfit they could agree on.
It was a light blue dress that brought out her eyes with a mock turtleneck and a row of buttons that started at her left shoulder and went down to mid chest. The buttery fabric folded into wide pleats below the fashionably low waist. She also bought a matching baby blue coat with cream-colored fur at the collar and the ends of the sleeves with a straight cut and a belt at the hips.
Beth selected a matching hat, gloves, and stockings to complete the ensemble.
Finally, Millie bought a pair of two-tone black and cream boots with pointed toes, kitten heels, and buttons up the side.
Loaded up with too many parcels to carry, they flagged down a cab and headed back to the apartment just in time for Beth to do her hair and makeup before heading to the park to meet Ernie.
As her cab approached the corner of Fifth Avenue and Sixtieth Street, Millie’s heart threatened to pound out of her chest.
Peering through the crowds, she spotted him at last.
People swirled around him like eddies of snow, and he stood there, devastatingly handsome, watching every car that came by.
Millie paid the cabbie and rushed across the street.
Their eyes met.
Time slowed down.
The people and the traffic and the cheerful holiday bustle all disappeared, and there was no one in the world but the two of them.
She paused for a moment to take him in, those loving caramel-colored eyes, his ridiculous too-long blond hair peeking out from under a dark gray fedora, the glorious shape of him—his power and grace evident even beneath a long gray winter coat. God, she’d missed him.
Then, some invisible force propelled her forward.
She ran into his arms, and he kissed her.
Never mind that they were in full view of crowds of people.
Who cared if they were seen? In this moment, all that mattered were his lips crashing into her own with desperate intent.
This kiss reached into her very soul and set a fire she could not contain.
She melted in his arms, not caring if the world ended around them as long as they could be together.