Mars with Venus Rising

by Hope Toler Dougherty

  Peri lifted his head and neighed.

  “Exactly. Thank you.” She hugged him again. “It seems like a dream now, but it’s true. Here’s another thing. John...kissed me.” She giggled and swung her legs back and forth. “It’s true.”

  Peri clomped to another patch of grass, ignoring her chatter.

  “He kissed me right after we landed. He was so excited about the good flight and proud of me for conquering my fear, for going through with the flight.” A shudder raised the hair on the back of her neck. “I was pretty much still shell shocked. Anyway, he kissed me on the forehead, and then I,” she buried her face in his mane. “I grabbed him and kissed him on the mouth. But he kissed me back.”

  Peri raised his head, cocking it toward the house.

  “Oh, that got your attention, hey?” She petted his neck. “What do you think, Peri? I don’t know what to think.” She separated three hanks of his coarse hair and worked them into a braid. “Why do I have to like someone who flies for a living? Why couldn’t I be interested in someone like Edward? All his lit students love him. We’d have the same work schedule. It’d be so easy.” Edward, the lone man in the English department.

  Peri neighed again.

  “You’re right, buddy. It’d be boring, not easy. Half the time I don’t know what Edward is talking about with his Shakespeare quotations sprinkled in every conversation.” She sighed. “John is different. He’s fun and kind and a little bit scary with his motorcycle.”

  No, that assessment wasn’t true.

  He may seem edgy with his bike and penchant for extreme sports, but he’d always been tender and careful with her. Even with his kisses, he’d been gentle, not pushy.

  Pushy described her when she’d reached up and yanked his mouth to hers. She closed her eyes. The memory of being with him warmed her.

  After John left Oxford on Monday, loneliness had been her constant companion. Chatting with her aunts had been a temporary fix. When she went to bed at night, a lonesome cloak wrapped around her heart, the memory of his arms a poor proxy for the real comfort—and tingles—they created.

  She released the braid and finger combed the dark mane, wishing her fingers streamed through a different mop of black hair. She flung the hanks out of her hands. Enough of those thoughts.

  John had flown out a couple of days ago and wouldn’t be back in Mars until Monday.

  Monday...

  She snuggled against Peri, her hand drifting over the muscles in his neck.

  On Monday, she’d be back in school, catching up on a week’s worth of work, trying to restore order to the possible chaos if the substitute didn’t hold the students in check.

  Penn looked forward to being back with her students. Her hand stilled. Looked forward to seeing her students? Interesting.

  She missed those crazy kids.

  How did they do all week without her? Did they understand the new principles? How far ahead did they advance in the chapter? Would she need to review before moving forward?

  Penn rose to a sitting position. She wanted to teach.

  Peri tore at another mound of grass and chomped on his prize.

  She glanced back at the house and love somersaulted in her heart. Being home was the best feeling.

  Questions about John and her exam score and what these new developments might mean for her future swirled about her mind in a kaleidoscope of unknowns, but she thanked God for her aunts and the life they had together.

  ~*~

  John taxied the Cessna to its parking place and powered down the engine. Thank you, God, for another uneventful flight.

  James hoisted his satchel. “Good trip, man. Thanks. I’m a little stiff after that two-hour flight.” He stretched his arms toward the windshield. “I need to be in town for the rest of the week. Might need you next Tuesday, but I’ll let you know for sure. Go ahead and pick up some other flights if you want to.”

  “Thanks.”

  James was always good about sharing his schedule so that John could accumulate more flying hours. John grabbed his backpack. “I’m finishing up some articles, and I’ve got other stuff to do here. I’m grounded this week.”

  “Would that other stuff happen to include Miss Penn?” James grinned over his shoulder as he stuck his feet out of the cockpit.

  John’s insides quickened as he jumped from the wing to the tarmac.

  “Well?” James met him at the nose and fell in step with him.

  John hiked his backpack on his shoulder. “Maybe.”

  James slapped him on his back. “Maybe. Playing it cool, huh? Well, I hope it does. She seems like a keeper.”

  Definitely a keeper. Many times in the past week, a picture of her in the cockpit, determination warring with panic on her face, floated across his mind. His heart swelled every time. And many times this past week, his mind wandered to the kiss they’d shared.

  He’d been worried she was in shock when they landed. He planned to hold her until she seemed steady, able to walk on her own. The excitement of the moment, the pure pleasure of knowing she’d succeeded in slaying the beast that haunted her, crippled her, jazzed him to celebrate with a kiss.

  John waved to Reesa who listed coordinates into her microphone.

  If he’d thought about it beforehand, he would have meant the kiss to be a way-to-go, good-job, I’m-so-proud-of-you reward at the end of a challenge. He hadn’t thought, though. He’d just reacted to the exhilaration pumping through his veins, hugged her to him, and plopped that kiss on the top of her head.

  Maybe that’s what had happened with her. Maybe she reacted to being safe on the ground again. Maybe she was thrilled the challenge was over. Maybe it didn’t mean anything to her. She might have forgotten about it already.

  He certainly hadn’t. How could he forget about one of the biggest surprises of his life? When she wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him down to meet her mouth...so sweet. So soft. The intensity of that kiss rocked him, making him grateful for the plane supporting his back.

  John retrieved his cellphone from his pack and pressed it on. No messages. He sagged against the counter. He hadn’t expected to see a call from Penn, but a guy could always hope.

  Her personality probably didn’t extend to calling a man. Just like that kiss definitely didn’t jive with her normal actions. At least in their history.

  Maybe a new day was dawning.

  He punched her number.

  She answered on the third ring.

  “Hey, Penn. I’m back.”

  “Where are you?”

  “At the airport. Just landed. Everybody doing fine?”

  “Jancie’s following doctor’s orders to take it easy. Winnie made a banana chocolate chip bread for my classes. Peri’s stayed at home now for over a week without visiting. He’s being good for us.”

  He chuckled. “Good horse. How’re you? How did school go today?”

  “Not bad. I used the banana bread as a threat. No good behavior. No good bread.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got them back in control.”

  “How was your trip?”

  “Long. Glad to be back.”

  “Good.”

  Good for me to be back or good for her that I’m back?

  Silence.

  Nothing to encourage him to continue the conversation the way he wanted. He scuffed his boot along the tiled floor. Back to square one? No problem. He’d take a slow and steady course with her. He hoped after the trip to Oxford, they’d progressed in their...what?

  Relationship? Friendship?

  “OK. Just wanted to see how you’re doing. I guess I’ll see you. Clara said she wanted a follow-up meeting—what’d she call it? A plus/minus session about the festival. So...maybe then?”

  “Yeah. She mentioned the same to me at church yesterday.”

  What else could he say to keep her on the line? Ask her for a date? Maybe not happening today. Maybe for the best. Ask her in person. That’s the way to go. Observe her body language. Judge
all the little nuances that made up Penn Davenport.

  “Tell your aunts I said, ‘hello.’ Take care.”

  Awkward. What had happened to the closeness he’d felt with her only a few days ago?

  Two steps forward. One step backward.

  ~*~

  Penn hung up the phone.

  Awkward...disappointing. Again.

  With the click at the end of the call, the secret hope that he’d ask her for a date—a specific time to get together, not a vague, “see you”—withered like Jancie’s hospital bouquets.

  A date?

  A date.

  Flutters jostled her heart. Could she seriously consider dating him?

  Maybe.

  More than likely.

  Yes, since the opposite was not being with him.

  She’d missed him the whole week.

  Penn hadn’t expected him to ask her during the calls he’d made while Jancie recuperated in Oxford, but if she were honest, she’d been holding her breath waiting for him to say something like...what? Wanna hang out sometime?

  No. John wouldn’t ask her that way. Sounded too much like her algebra students.

  Maybe he’d say, “Are you free on Sunday afternoon?”

  No. Too formal.

  How about, “I’m bungee jumping from the Roberto Clemente Bridge on Saturday. Care to come with?”

  No. He’d never ask her to do something like that.

  Would he?

  But if he asked her out on a date...a real date without the aunts tagging along as chaperones or without a mission to accomplish for a volunteer organization, would she really say, “yes?”

  Her mouth curled, and she hugged her arms around herself.

  In a Learjet minute.

  29

  John entered the fellowship hall and familiar smells accosted him. Popcorn and teenage body odor mingling with cheap cologne. Wednesday night youth group. More than ten years had passed since he’d attended his own youth group, and the distinct scent remained the same. He scanned the room for Andy. When the weather report had forecasted rain for tonight, Andy had sought extra hands for crowd control. Would he see Penn tonight?

  Maybe.

  Doubled over the back of speakers, Andy inspected power cords.

  A hooded boy with an electric guitar slouched on a stool.

  A girl clad in a t-shirt scooted up to a keyboard.

  A praise band, just like the one he grew up with.

  Straightening from his task, Andy spotted John and made his way through the throng of teenagers to his friend. He grasped his hand. “Thanks, man. I really need some help tonight. Krista’s too tired lately, and a bunch of the parents are tied up somewhere else.”

  “No problem. Glad I could help.” John surveyed the room again. He smiled.

  Penn chatted with a group of girls near the back.

  Maybe he could catch a few minutes alone with her at some point. If everything worked to his favor, he’d have a date with her by the end of the night.

  Penn’s group shifted when two new girls arrived, and she spotted him.

  John waved. He checked his watch. An hour until the end of group time. An hour until take-off, so to speak, or crash and burn.

  The teens loved the ice breaker games. Praise songs echoed through the hall, a hipper sound than the warbling during his teenage Wednesday nights.

  Showing real talent, the slouching guitarist adlibbed extra riffs to the original versions.

  Andy’s talk incorporated current events with Biblical truth. Perfect balance. A few teens benefited from the quiet time at the end to speak with adults.

  John prayed with a football player troubled by friends who acted one way on Wednesday night and another after Friday night games.

  Penn held her arm around a tall, blonde female.

  Andy dismissed the crowd and several teens started folding chairs and picking up random pieces of paper from the floor.

  The guitarist packed away his instrument, and still the girl poured her heart out to Penn.

  John helped Andy roll the electrical cords for the speakers and waited for his turn.

  Several minutes later, the blonde hugged Penn, grabbed her keys and phone from underneath her seat, and left.

  He didn’t waste time. He handed Andy the cord and sauntered over to Penn as she removed her jean jacket from the back of her chair. “Hey. I thought I might see you here.”

  “Krista asked if I could fill in for her. She sounded wiped out.”

  He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Everything going well?”

  “Uh huh. With you?”

  “Great.” He glanced around the room. Still too many eyes in the hall for comfort. “Are you ready? I could walk you out.”

  “Yes. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m skipping choir practice. Need to check on my girls.”

  “Choir practice? What choir practice?” He helped her don her jacket and tugged her collar free. Soft brown curls spilled onto his fingers. Nice. He headed toward the door and settled his hand at the small of her back. Very nice. Darkness covered the parking lot, affording them a little privacy. “Hey, listen. I’m here the rest of the week. I was hoping maybe we could get together sometime.”

  “OK.”

  Not exactly encouraging. He glanced at his boots. At least she didn’t say, “no.”

  “What about Friday night? You free?”

  She winced. “Sorry. It’s my turn to supervise the concession stand at the football game. Mars is playing Hampton.”

  Crash, but not exactly burning yet.

  She bit her lip.

  Disappointed?

  Wishful thinking?

  “Right.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Andy says it’s supposed to be a good game.”

  She lifted her shoulder. “Maybe. I’m going because of the concessions. And to see the band.”

  “Gotcha.” He stuffed his hands in his back pockets.

  They reached her car. She leaned her hip on the door and held her purse low in front of her, not like a shield against him but loose, comfortable. A good sign.

  John searched her eyes for a clue, and something positive, something...hopeful flickered in those beautiful brown eyes. His mouth went dry. He shot up an arrow prayer for help.

  “How about Saturday, then?” He held his breath.

  She smiled. “That sounds good.”

  He exhaled on a laugh. “Great. Know what’d you like to do, or do you want me to surprise you?

  “Well, as long as you don’t take me bungee jumping or parasailing or hang gliding or—”

  “All right. All right.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I get the picture. Those options are history, gone, off the list already, but we’ll still do something fun. OK?”

  “Sound good.”

  A lightness surged through his body.

  Real good.

  ~*~

  Penn shrugged out of her sage green cardigan and tied it around her neck. Cool and crisp, the autumn night in western Pennsylvania sparkled, perfect football weather outside the concession stand, but inside the cinder block walls, the popcorn machine, cheese pots for the tortilla chips, and the grill for the burgers and dogs heated the little room. She rolled up the sleeves of her blouse.

  During home games, different school clubs rotated selling concessions and received a percentage of the proceeds at the end of the night. As one of the faculty co-sponsors of the National Honor Society, she supervised the teens with Edward.

  Normally, the faculty sponsors hung near the back and delegated, but tonight was different. The rivalry between the two schools ensured a capacity crowd. A hungry, thirsty crowd. To keep up with the demand, both she and Edward served customers along with the teens. Nobody lounged in the back.

  She placed the dollar bills in the register and swung back to her line of hungry people. John. Her breath caught in her throat. So focused on serving each customer as quickly as possible, she’d ignored the faces in the crowd.

  “Fancy m
eeting you here. A high school football game?” She arched a brow.

  “Andy came to support the players in the youth group. He invited me to tag along. Here I am—hungry for a cheeseburger.”

  She spread her hands on the counter. “Why am I not surprised?”

  “Hello, Penn. John, right?” Abby had moved to first place in the next line over.

  “Abby? You’re here, too?” Who knew high school football was so popular with twenty-somethings?

  “My cousin is a senior and plays for Hampton.” She shrugged. “So here I am.”

  Penn handed the foil-wrapped burger and bottle of water to John.

  He grabbed some napkins. “Thanks. So...we’re still good for tomorrow night, right?”

  “Sure.”

  He grinned. “See you then.” He waded his way through the bulging crowd.

  “Did I just hear what I think I heard?” Abby gave her order to the girl with the pierced nose standing beside Penn. The teen left her post to scoop chips and pour melted cheese on top.

  Penn scorched Abby with a fierce look. “Ssh.” That’s all she needed—teens serenading her with ‘Ms. Davenport has a date. Ms. Davenport has a date.’

  “Fine.” Abby lowered her voice and leaned close to the condiments. “Do you or do you not have plans tomorrow night with you know who?”

  “Yes.”

  Abby squealed. “I knew it. Want me to come over to help you choose an outfit, do your hair?”

  “I’m not going to the prom. It’s just a—” She stopped as the teen returned with the plastic tray of chips and cheese.

  “I’ll be there. Tomorrow afternoon.” Abby gathered her plastic rectangle of chips. “Plan on it.”

  ~*~

  Why didn’t she stick to the original plan? Tell the aunts about the date five minutes before John’s arrival. Too bad she let the news slip as they sipped coffee and worked the crossword puzzle over breakfast.

  Aunt Winnie’s ink pen hovered in midair. “What does that mean? ‘You’re seeing John tonight?’“

  Jancie set her mug beside a saucer holding a half-eaten English muffin. “It sounds like a date to me. Is that right, Penny? You’re going on a date with John tonight?”