Boardwalk Brides

by Janice Thompson

  “Good thing we already had the extra twin bed, right?” Lilly grinned. “My last roomie—Reagan—went to work for United. She’s in Houston permanently now.”

  “Right. A friend of mine from Arizona just went to work for them.”

  “Male or female?” Lilly asked.

  “Male.” Candy smiled as she thought about Russ, her old flying buddy. Her smile was followed by a few moments of reflective thought. Seemed like all the pilots she knew eventually parted ways. . .each heading off to his or her own airline. Were there any long-lasting relationships in this business?

  “Did I hear someone talking about men?” Shawneda, the oldest of the roommates, entered the room and plopped down on Lilly’s bed, making herself at home.

  “Oh, we were just talking about a friend of Candy’s,” Lilly said.

  “Boyfriend?” Shawneda’s brows elevated slightly. “Tell me everything. Don’t leave out even one teensy-tiny detail.” She stared up at Candy, apparently ready for a lengthy romantic tale.

  “No, you don’t understand.” Candy shook her head. “I’m not dating anyone right now. I was just talking about an old friend of mine who’s based out of Houston now.”

  “Houston!” The tone of Shawneda’s voice changed. “Girl, I’m from Texas. Maybe you could tell from my accent.” She went into a descriptive story about life in the South, and had the other girls laughing within minutes. All questions about Candy’s love life had faded to the background.

  The doorbell rang, interrupting Shawneda’s dramatic story about a horse-riding adventure she’d gone on when she was sixteen. All of the girls looked at the door with surprised expressions on their faces.

  “Were you expecting anyone?” Lilly asked.

  “Not me,” Candy said. “No one even knows I’m living here yet. . .except my family. And they’re in A.C.”

  “A.C.?” Shawneda’s puzzled expression almost made Candy laugh.

  “Atlantic City.” Lilly rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Shawneda. You’re not in Texas anymore.”

  “I know, I know.” The bell rang again. “I didn’t invite anyone over,” Shawneda said. “I’m not in a company frame of mind tonight. Too tired. Just give me a bubble bath and a good book.”

  “Me, too.” Lilly shrugged.

  “Maybe Brooke will get it,” Shawneda said with a yawn. Seconds later, Candy heard voices at the front door. Male voices. She followed along behind Shawneda and Lilly. Brooke stood in the open doorway, squealing as two handsome guys entered.

  The taller one reached to sweep Brooke into his arms. “Sorry I’m so early. But I was anxious to see you.”

  Candy watched this interaction with a smile. Aha. This must be the fiancé.

  As if to answer her question, Shawneda said, “Oh, it’s just Jason.” With a wave of her hand, she headed to the kitchen.

  “I heard that, Shawneda!” Jason called out. “I love you, too.”

  “Yeah, yeah. . .” Her voice trailed off as she disappeared into the other room.

  Candy shifted her attention to the other man. . .the one standing next to Jason. He looked a little uncomfortable. She tried not to stare, but something about him felt familiar. Tall. . .about five eleven. Dark wavy hair. Deep blue eyes. Nice build. Hmm. Where have I seen this guy before?

  His taste in wardrobe was nice—button-up shirt with tie. Great slacks. All in all, he was very well put together. He glanced her way and nodded, his blue eyes gazing into hers.

  “It’s going to take me a few minutes to get ready,” Brooke said. “Do you guys mind just making yourselves at home?” She turned her gaze to Candy and Lilly. “Would you mind keeping them entertained? Please. I won’t be long.”

  “Oh, I, um. . .” Candy tried not to stumble over her words, though she felt a little put-on-the-spot. “I–I’m Candy.”

  “Jason.” The fiancé extended his hand. “And this is my best friend, Darren Furst.”

  “Aha!” She snapped her fingers as the realization set in. “You’re a pilot.”

  “I am.” A smile lit his face and she took note of two strategically placed dimples. Very nice. His flight skills might not be great, but he’s got a winning smile.

  “You work for Eastway.”

  “Yes.” He gave a hint of a smile. “How did you know that?”

  She did her best acting job as she said, “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome aboard Eastway Airlines flight so-and-so from Chicago to Newark. This is your captain, Darren Furst. Not second, first.”

  Lilly laughed. “Sounds just like him!”

  Darren groaned and slapped himself on the forehead. “I don’t know if I should be flattered or offended. I can’t believe you actually remembered that.”

  “Well, I’m—” She never got to finish because Shawneda reentered the room with sodas in hand. She passed them off to the guys and before long a conversation ensued.

  Candy spent the next few minutes taking in Darren. In person—dressed in street clothes—he looked like a regular guy. Nothing pretentious about him. And, as they talked about the singles ministry at the church, his love for the Lord came shining through. In fact, it was evident in both his conversation and his kind manner.

  So, what had ruffled her feathers that day on the plane? Had she really judged him based only on his voice? Or was it her bias against male pilots, in general, that prompted such a knee-jerk reaction. Ouch. Can’t believe I really admitted to that. I have an issue with male pilots?

  She’d tucked the idea away for months, but—being honest with herself—she’d struggled with the way the guys in flight school treated her. And she’d suffered more than her share of jokes as a skydiving pilot, too. The male pilots didn’t always treat her with the respect she deserved, but she’d pushed their comments aside and moved forward. Was her knee-jerk reaction to Darren on the plane last week rooted in something deeper, perhaps?

  Candy knew the statistics, knew what she was up against in this industry. She already had several things working against her. . .age, for one. Most new hires were twenty-seven to forty-two, and she’d just turned twenty-five. Many had more flight hours. Still, she felt she had what it took to be competitive. And she certainly knew what it meant to be patient.

  “Are we all best friends now?” Candy looked up as she heard Brooke’s happy-go-lucky voice ring out.

  “S–sure.”

  “Well, that’s great.” Her new friend flashed a winning smile, then checked her appearance in the mirror on the wall. “ ’Cause I want you to come to dinner with us.”

  “Come with you?” Candy shook her head, stunned by the idea. “But. . .I can’t.”

  “Of course you can.” Brooke sat next to her on the sofa. “We’re all friends here. And we all work for the same company.” Gazing lovingly at Jason, she added, “Well, all but Handsome here.”

  “Sure, come with us,” Jason said. “It’ll be great.”

  Candy sought out Darren’s eyes, to see his reaction. She saw nothing but friendliness and encouragement there.

  “I—I guess,” she said finally. “Just let me change my blouse. I’m not dressed to go out.”

  “We’ll wait,” Brooke said. “Just hurry, okay? I’m starved.”

  As she changed into her favorite pink blouse and capris, Candy thought about Darren. He had that boy-next-door look about him. Shame washed over her as she realized how she’d judged him before even getting to know him.

  “Sorry about that, Lord,” she whispered. “I’m gonna keep an eye on that from now on.”

  While she was at it, she might just keep an eye on the handsome pilot, too.

  ❧

  Darren did his best to pay attention as Brooke went on and on about her upcoming wedding plans. However, his thoughts kept shifting to the young woman to his right. She must be a new flight attendant. He’d have to ask Jason later. But Brooke’s words, “We all work for the same company,” left little other meaning. Still, she didn’t have that same bubbly personality that so many of
the flight attendants had. There was a quietness about her, almost a reserved nature.

  At a break in the conversation, he turned to her. “So, you’re Candy.” When she nodded, he said, “I don’t think I ever heard your last name.”

  “Candy Carini,” Brooke explained. “Remember? I told you all about Carini’s Confections on the boardwalk in Atlantic City? They’re famous.”

  “Well, not exactly famous. Though I can say my parents had the right idea by making sure they put God at the center of their careers, no matter the obstacles.” Candy’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink and she shrugged. “We’ve been in business a long time. We have longevity on our side. And now we’re finally on the Internet. That helps.”

  At once his thoughts sailed back to the saltwater taffy Brooke had given him on the plane. “Oh, right. I remember now. You gave some candy to Brooke on a flight awhile back.”

  “Yes, that’s right.” After a moment’s pause, she added, “Isn’t it funny how the Lord works? I didn’t know either of you back then. Now I’m rooming with Brooke and we’re all fellow employees.” Another smile lit her already-beautiful face and caused her eyes to sparkle. “I just got hired on.”

  He wanted to ask for more details, but the waitress appeared with their food. By the time they’d been served, his thoughts shifted back to the candy shop. “So, tell me about this name of yours. Candy from the candy shop?”

  He watched with a hint of a smile as she sighed. “Yeah. My parents are funny like that. And trust me, I’ve heard every joke in the book, so you might as well save yourself the time and trouble.”

  “Taffie says they call you Cotton Candy.” Brooke gave her a teasing look.

  “Um, yeah. And thanks for bringing it up.” Candy’s cheeks turned a deep crimson. “I’ll never live that down.”

  “Well, I won’t be making fun of your name or anyone else’s.” Darren gazed into her dark brown eyes and offered a sympathetic look. “If anyone knows what it feels like to have a name that people make fun of, I do.”

  “True, true.” She grinned. “Furst, not second.” After a brief chuckle, she asked, “So, where are you from? And where did you train?”

  “Oh, I’m from Southern California. Went to San Diego Flight Training School. Pretty well known.”

  “Sure.” Candy’s eyes lit with recognition, making her all the more beautiful. “I’ve heard a lot about them. Do you know about Double Eagle Aviation in Tucson?”

  “Sure.” He nodded. “One of the pilots I flew with last week got her wings at Double Eagle about six years ago.”

  “Her? It was a woman?” Candy smiled.

  “Yeah.” He shrugged. After his recent conversation with Gary, it might not be the best idea to get into a lengthy chat about women in the industry, particularly female pilots. Not that Candy would mind, most likely. Most of the flight attendants didn’t really care if their pilots were male or female, as long as they kept the plane in the air when it was supposed to be in the air.

  “Women are making inroads at the airlines,” he said, and then shrugged. I’ll just leave it at that.

  “Hey, don’t get Darren started on women.” Jason laughed. “I think he’s just sensitive. We’ve been trying to find Mrs. Right for him for ages now, and so far it’s been a no go in every situation.”

  Darren shrugged. “I just don’t see the purpose in dating. Maybe I have a different view of things. I guess I’m a little old-fashioned.”

  “Not at all.” Candy looked at him and shrugged. “I think dating is a waste of time, too. It’s almost like you’re trying people out, one at a time. Seems kind of. . .odd.”

  Brooke giggled. “It’s funny, hearing Darren talk about women at the dinner table. Usually it’s the other way around with pilots. When they’re flying they talk about women, and when they’re with a woman, they talk about flying.”

  Jason laughed long and loud at that one. Darren felt the tips of his ears heat up, something he could never seem to control when embarrassed. He’d have to talk to Jason later about making him the brunt of every joke, especially in front of someone as pretty as Candy.

  Brooke changed the direction of the conversation at that very moment. He breathed a sigh of relief as she started talking about a passenger on a recent flight, one who’d given her fits over a spilled soft drink.

  Though he tried to pay attention, he found his gaze shifting back to Candy. The name suited her. She was sweet, through and through.

  Hmm. Sweet. What was it he’d said to Brooke that day on the plane? “Give me a sweet woman. That’s all I’m asking for.”

  Maybe. . .just maybe. . .the Lord had dropped one in his lap.

  FIVE

  Candy spent her first days at Eastway training on crew resource management and learning everything humanly possible about the aircraft. This gave her some time to get adjusted to the idea that she now belonged to a family. . .a very large family with eclectic brothers and sisters.

  Not that she minded. No, being grafted into this new and strange place felt like an adventure. And she couldn’t balk at the idea of a solid paycheck. Sure, there would be school loans to pay off in a couple of years, but she didn’t have to fret over them just yet. By the time they came due, she’d be earning higher pay, anyway.

  On Tuesday, after a particularly long day, Candy found herself walking through the Eastway terminal, waiting on Brooke’s flight to arrive. They’d agreed to meet at the gate and then ride home together. Knowing she had over twenty minutes to kill, Candy stopped at a gift shop and purchased a soft drink, then strolled the long hallway near the gate, looking at the photographs on the wall. She’d seen them in passing a couple of times before but never paused long enough to actually take them in.

  Candy stopped and looked at a photograph of Amelia Earhart, then read the information underneath. The Ninety-Nines Is an Organization of Female Pilots Founded in 1929 by 99 Licensed Women Pilots.

  “The Ninety-Nines.” Many of her friends in Tucson had joined when they got their wings. She’d put it off, promising herself she would make it a priority as soon as she got her first gig with a real airline. And now she could join.

  Candy couldn’t hide the smile, as she looked at the next photo of a female pilot from the 1940s. The text under the photo inspired her. Over 5,000 licensed female pilots from thirty-six countries hold membership in the Ninety-Nines. “Wow.” A shiver ran down her spine. And soon I’ll be one of them.

  One by one, she read about the inroads females had made in the industry. By the time she reached the last photograph, Candy convinced herself she not only needed to join the Ninety-Nines, she should link arms with other female pilots in the area to do something special. Maybe a banquet of some sort. They could invite someone of notoriety to speak. Hmm. I’ll have to think on that.

  Candy glanced at her watch. Brooke’s flight still wasn’t due in for another eleven minutes. She turned her attention to the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. The faces of several Eastway pilots greeted her, their smiles broad and inviting.

  Soon. . .my picture will hang here, too.

  She made her way down the line, taking them all in. One after the other, they held her interest. Sure, most were men. She figured that. But, when she reached the end of the row, she realized she’d seen photos of only three female pilots in the bunch. What was up with that? Looked like the percentage was lower than she’d thought. An uneasy feeling gripped her as she thought it through. Just as quickly, she released that feeling to the Lord.

  You gave me this job. I know I can trust You with it.

  Candy paused when she reached the photo of a familiar handsome pilot. Captain Darren Furst. She stared at his features for some time. A passenger rushed by and bumped up against her. “Sorry about that!” he called out as he sprinted toward the gate.

  “No problem.” She turned back to face Darren’s photo, examining him from his dark wavy hair down to his broad shoulders. His bright blues eyes caught her attention, as always.
Pop always says you can tell a lot about a person by looking into his eyes. She gave them another look. Yep. Warm and inviting. And his smile was genuine.

  “A penny for your thoughts.”

  Candy turned around as she heard Brooke’s voice. “H–hey. You’re early.”

  “Mm-hmm. Whatcha lookin’ at?” Brooke’s eyebrows elevated mischievously.

  “Oh. . .” Candy gestured down the wall, trying to look nonchalant. “Just trying to get to know my fellow pilots. I’ve met a few of them in person.”

  “Like this handsome fellow.” Brooke pointed at Darren’s picture, and Candy did her best to look sufficiently disinterested.

  “Oh, Darren? He’s worked for Eastway longer than most. Interesting.”

  “He’s the best.” Brooke took her by the arm, then whispered, “I’ve known him for ages, and he’s really the cream on top of the coffee. Unlike some of the others. But then, you’re going to give them all a run for their money.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” Brooke gave her a wink. “I’m just saying that you’re going to be every bit as good. And that’s a good thing.”

  “This isn’t a competition, Brooke.” Candy turned to face her. “And I sure don’t want it to turn into one. Things are hard enough for female pilots as it is, without any comparisons.”

  “Oh, I know. I’m not saying that. And I love Darren. He’s the best. I’m just glad Eastway came to their senses and hired on a few more women. Things were pretty out of balance before, that’s all.” She flashed a bright smile. “Let’s get out of here, okay? I’m starving.”

  “Me, too.” Candy nodded. “I skipped lunch today.”

  “Shawneda’s cooking. She’s making Texas barbecue. Brisket, to be precise. And I think she said something about Southwestern beans and some sort of potatoes. Are you game?”

  “Sounds great.” As they left the hallway, Candy’s gaze shifted back to Darren’s photo one last time. She felt a little foolish, like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar.