Love in the Clouds

by Sarah Hadley Brook

  In his heart, though, Dustin knew it really wasn’t too early. If they’d just met and started dating over the summer, sure. But they’d known each other for almost ten years, and while the dating part was new, they’d been “seeing” each other for years. Their lives had already been enmeshed before they’d taken things to the next level, spending more evenings than not together, talking several times each day, and including each other in every important moment of their lives.

  He still couldn’t believe it had taken him so long to understand he’d been falling in love with Raf. It had been clear to everyone around them, but Dustin.

  But something else held him back from asking Raf to move in with him. Not just something. Someone. Ted.

  He’d been a fool over that man, giving away his entire heart. So naïve and sure it would all end up like a fairy tale. Dreams of flying to Oshkosh together every summer. Sharing their lives. His heart had been shattered and sometimes Dustin wasn’t sure he was completely over Ted, and that wasn’t fair to Raf. Not that he missed Ted. It was more like he’d never understood what he’d done to make the man cheat. Had he been too clingy? Had he moved to quickly? Another reason not to ask Raf to move in. What if he ruined things?

  Yet Dustin wasn’t a fool. He knew things were different in this relationship. What he felt for Raf was real and honest. His love for Ted had felt authentic at the time, but he supposed all first loves felt intense. Still, Ted had cheated on him and that had hurt him deeper than anything else. What had driven the man to cheat?

  Raf came back, grinning from ear-to-ear and carrying something tall covered with a blanket.

  “What is that?”

  “A surprise for you. For the bedroom. Or another room, if you want.”

  Dustin sat up and folded his legs, his eyebrow raised.

  Raf pulled off the blanket in a dramatic “ta-da” fashion, revealing a metal propeller.

  Dustin gasped. “Is this from my plane?”

  Raf laughed. “I knew you’d recognize the original propeller. When I asked Mac about it, he let me take it. I polished it and attached some hooks so you can hang it.”

  Dustin jumped out bed, wrapping his arms around Raf’s neck. “Thank you. It’s perfect.” He kissed him. “And you’re right. It needs to go over the bed.”

  They wrapped it up again and slid it under the bed, deciding to hang it when they got back from their trip.

  “We need to get a move on,” Raf reminded him.

  Dustin nodded, still moved by the sweet gift. He brushed at the tears before they fell from his lashes. Time to head to Oshkosh.

  Mac and Daisy surprised them, stopping by Dustin’s plane as they loaded their luggage into the baggage section. They needed to stow a few things behind the front seats, too, so they secured everything to the floor, then used the seat belt to keep the cooler in place.

  “Hi, Mr. Patino!”

  In the last couple of weeks, Daisy had changed so much. Her hair had been cut and styled, she’d put on a little more weight, and her shoulders weren’t hunched over. She looked…confident. Happy. Like an entirely new kid.

  “Hey, Daisy!” Raf grinned. “What are you guys doing here so early?”

  “We wanted to say ‘goodbye’ and wish you good luck. And guess what? I just found out I’m going to be in your class again this year!”

  “That’s great,” he said before Daisy went to circle the plane.

  “Ready for your trip?” Mac asked.

  “Oh, yeah, Dustin said. “This has been a dream of mine for years.”

  “I get that. I’ve been to Oshkosh a few times. Had thought about attending this year, but with Daisy…” He checked to make certain she was out of earshot, but dropped his voice anyway. “Well, I didn’t think it was a good idea when she’s going through so much. That bastard who beat her up and tried to…anyway, he’s pleading guilty, and his wife is divorcing him.”

  “That’s wonderful, Mac,” Raf said and clapped his shoulder.

  “Her mom’s pleading guilty, too. Gave me full custody. Says she never wanted her anyway. How the hell can a mother say that?”

  “I don’t know, Mac. I just…don’t know. Some people shouldn’t be parents.”

  “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure Daisy feels loved.”

  “You can already tell, Mac,” Dustin said. “She looks better than ever. And the way Raf described her after seeing her in the hospital…” He swallowed over the lump in his throat. “You’ve done an amazing job with her.”

  “Thanks.”

  An idea popped into Dustin’s head. “Hey, a bunch of us get together on Friday’s at Jack’s Bar. You should come out with us when we get back.”

  “If I can find someone to keep an eye on Daisy, I might just do that. I could definitely use a night out.”

  Mac called over Daisy. “Honey, we have to let them head out and you’ve got something to do at the shop.” They both wished the guys luck and took off while Dustin got started with his preflight checklist.

  Raf followed him as he did the external walk-around, and Dusty loved that he was trying to learn more about the plane.

  “Oh, crap, I left the NOTAM in the truck.”

  “What’s that?” Raf asked.

  “Stands for ‘A Notice to Airmen.’ It tells pilots when there are changes to the aviation information commonly posted for an airport or other facility. There are different guidelines for the week of AirVenture at Wittman Regional Airport. I’ve downloaded the NOTAM to my tablet, but I wanted a paper copy, too, so I printed it last night and put it in the glove box before we went to bed.”

  “I’ll grab it. Be right back.”

  “Thanks.”

  He’d completed the outside review just as Raf returned, handing him the papers. “Sheez, there must be thirty pages here.”

  “Thirty-two, to be exact.” Dustin slipped the document inside the pocket of the door panel with all his other necessary paperwork. “Okay, climb in!”

  Soon, they rolled down the runway, the sun peeking out from beyond the horizon, casting the sky in pale light. He guided up the plane and his heartbeat raced. He was really doing this!

  The trip would take approximately three hours, and the weather was supposed to be clear all the way, so he hoped for a nice, easy flight. Raf settled in, his eyes on the view as they flew high above Missouri. They’d be crossing over Iowa, then slightly over Illinois before entering Wisconsin air space.

  He felt a little concerned about arriving in Oshkosh, but he’d faithfully read the NOTAM and watched the webinar from EAA about the arrival procedures, which proved helpful. But during AirVenture, there were more planes in one place than any other place in the world, and there were a lot of safety concerns to consider.

  “I need you to read me from the NOTAM when we’re about thirty-five miles outside of Oshkosh, okay?”

  “Sure. Just let me know when.”

  “I’ve got it marked for you.”

  Flying conditions, save for a few bumps over Iowa, were ideal. They didn’t talk much, as Dustin focused on flying and Raf took in the view.

  Dustin hoped he never grew tired of the view himself. Or the pure joy of flying. His heart soared when he flew, his mind and body harmonious with his plane. The sky, the earth, his soul all joined as one.

  Being with Raf was like that, too. When they made love, whether it sweet and tender, or hot and dirty, the connection between them was something he’d never experienced. It was never just sex with Raf. It was a blending of their entire beings, as their wants and needs became fused and they flew together.

  Dustin still couldn’t get over Raf’s surprise gift that morning. Of all things he could have given Dustin, the propeller was the perfect item and he couldn’t wait to hang it above the bed. Their bed. He was already thinking of his house as theirs. He needed to get up his nerve and ask Raf to move in. Dustin tried to remember when the man’s lease was up and made a mental note to ask him later.

  About
twenty miles out of Ripon, Wisconsin, he handed the papers to Raf. “Start on page six, please, where it says something like ‘approaching Ripon.’”

  Raf dove right in and Dustin followed the directions. He flipped on his lights, obtained ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service), which told him the current air traffic, then made sure he was going ninety knots at eight thousand feet as he flew into Ripon.

  He listened to the tower’s instructions as the sky began to fill with other small planes.

  “Holy crap, Dusty. How the hell do we not crash?”

  “Don’t worry, just keep reading. They do this every year. This is why the tower told me to turn into the line and follow the Beechcraft in front of us.”

  Raf took a deep breath. “Okay, it says to follow the train tracks and keep at least a half mile between us and the plane you’re following.”

  “Right. Got it. Then what?”

  “Continue on to Fisk, then they’ll tell you which way to go.”

  Dustin already knew that, but thanked Raf anyway. It felt great to have someone with him on his first major flight. Especially the man he loved.

  “White Cessna, follow the railroad tracks northeast.”

  Dustin acknowledged the order and stayed on route, flying closer to Oshkosh by the minute. Excitement bubbled up inside him, but he tamped it down, needing to stay calm. He might have to fly in a holding pattern and waited to hear from the tower.

  Eventually, they cleared him for landing on Runway 27 on the “Green Dot.” Wittman Regional Airport had a colored dot system due to so many airplanes coming in at the same time.

  Dustin maneuvered toward the runway and began his descent, noticing Raf didn’t grab onto the handle. The wheels touched down, rolling into a smooth landing.

  “Beautiful landing, White Cessna. Welcome to Oshkosh. Turn left into the grass and follow the flags to the parking.”

  He taxied the Cessna over the grass, following other planes as they followed the flags, too. Several men and women wearing orange vests stood waving them on with small flags along the perimeter of a display of Warbirds. He couldn’t wait to visit those.

  They ended up being directed by more people wearing orange vests, only rather than using flags to guide them, they rode scooters. Dustin taxied his plane down the corridor and parked where they indicated, next to a Piper, while another Cessna pulled up on the other side, with plenty of space between each aircraft. He turned off the engine and grinned at Raf.

  “Oh. My. God. We’re here!”

  “I know. And your landing was perfect! I can’t believe you did that with so many other planes around. But you flew in like a pro, Dusty.”

  They sat for a while, soaking it up.

  “What’s first?” Raf asked, reaching for Dustin’s hand.

  “We need to check in and register for the campground.” He pointed out the window. “Probably just follow all those people.”

  “Let’s get to it. Then come back and set up, huh?”

  “Sounds like a plan, baby.”

  Raf’s eyes widened.

  Heat flooded Dustin’s face. “Oh, God. Sorry. Do you not like that? It just kind of rolled out.”

  Raf cupped Dustin’s face. “I love it. Call me ‘baby’ again, Dusty,” he said, his voice husky.

  “Baby,” he whispered before capturing Raf’s lips in a soft kiss. He ran his fingers into Raf’s hair and stroked before pulling away. Two grinning women stood outside their plane, the Piper that had pulled in before they did.

  “Um, we have an audience, Raf.”

  Raf laughed. “Guess it’s time to get moving.”

  Soon, they joined the women. One stood less than five-foot tall. Her short platinum blonde hair had been shaved close on the left side and hung past her ear on the other. She wore at least three eyebrow rings, one nose ring, and more hoops in her ears than he even tried to count. The other woman had shoulder-length curly brown hair, soft brown eyes, and freckles, her face free of makeup and piercings.

  The blonde stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Kate. This is my wife, Jennifer. This is our first time at AirVenture.”

  Dustin shook the offered hand and smiled. “Dustin. This is my boyfriend, Rafael.” He shook Jennifer’s hand, too.

  “Have you been here before?”

  “This is our first time also. We’re going to secure the plane and head over to register for the campground, then come back, set up camp, and get a feel for the place.”

  “Us, too. Mind if we walk with you?”

  “Not at all.”

  With Raf’s help, Dustin tied down the Cessna, then locked up. The four of them followed the crowds, hoping the masses knew where they were going.

  When they found the registration area, they discovered a fairly long line, so they spent the time getting to know Kate and Jennifer, who seemed just as excited about the event.

  “Are you both pilots?” Jennifer asked.

  “No, just Dustin,” Raf answered.

  “I just got my pilot’s license in May,” he said.

  “Oh, my God! Me, too,” Kate exclaimed. “Or rather, March. Jennifer’s had hers for a few years, but I finally took lessons.” She eyed Raf. “Are you going to learn?”

  Raf smiled. “I’ve definitely enjoyed learning about the plane, but I’m not sure I want to fly. I’m content to let him be the pilot.”

  The line moved as they talked, and soon, they checked in, paid for the week of camping, got maps of the entire AirVenture layout, a schedule of programs, and various handouts.

  The four of them decided to set up their tents, then find somewhere for lunch. The amount of food and beverage vendors surprised Dustin.

  Raf took his hand as they walked and Dustin’s chest swelled. This would be an amazing adventure, and nothing would get in their way.

  After wrestling with their tent—supposed to be an easy set-up—Dustin wanted to give up. He stood, hands on his hips, glaring at the damn two-person tent. Kate’s laughter reached his ears and he turned to find her standing by the tail of his Cessna, Jennifer grinning behind her.

  “Your tent looks a lot like ours. Want some help?”

  Dustin nodded, still frustrated. When Kate set it up in minutes, he gaped at her.

  “Thank you.”

  She shrugged. “We camp out a lot. This is a nice tent. Only about four feet tall, but twice that in length and almost that in depth. Trust me, you’ll appreciate those mesh windows on each side—and they look like the no-see kind.”

  “You know a lot about tents.”

  “Like I said, we camp out a lot.”

  A small smile played at his lips. “Guess it’s good Raf couldn’t figure it out either, since he didn’t have time to take a picture of me.”

  “If I’d thought of it, I would’ve done that,” Raf admitted with a laugh.

  A few minutes later, Dustin crawled inside the tent and Raf handed him the sleeping bags, luggage, and cooler.

  “Want to unpack the box with the camping equipment now?” Raf asked, squatting to look at him through the unzipped doorway. “Or just put it all in the tent and do it later?”

  “Let’s set it all up later.” He motioned to the tent floor. “I’m not setting up the sleeping bags yet. We’ve got to blow up the mattress first, anyway.”

  “The pump and mattress are in the box with the lanterns and binoculars.”

  Raf slid the box through the door and Dustin set it in the corner of what would be their canvas home for the next week. He climbed out and zipped the door closed, noticing Raf had already placed the new blue folding chairs.

  “Hey, ladies,” Raf said, “before we all leave to find food, would one of you mind taking a picture of us with the plane?”

  Kate took his phone and Raf gestured for Dustin to join him in front of the wing. Dustin slipped his hand around Raf’s waist, while Raf slung his arm around Dustin’s shoulders. They grinned at Kate while she took several pictures.

  They both thanked her as they all went i
n search of food.

  Planes stood everywhere Dustin looked, with the camping area still growing as more and more people arrived. The special display areas for vintage planes, including Warbirds—vintage military aircraft—Homebuilts, Ultralights, and more, spanned as far as the eye could see. It wasn’t just an airport, it was a city with planes rather than cars.

  They soon purchased some hot dogs, chips, and drinks and sat at one of the many white plastic tables with large blue umbrellas.

  “Are you going to participate in the One Week Wonder?” Jennifer asked, then popped a chip into her mouth.

  “I was thinking about it,” Dustin told her. “Sounds like the last time they did it there were over two thousand people that helped.”

  “What’s the One Week Wonder?” Raf asked.

  “Remember when I told you about building a plane in a week?”

  “Oh, yeah. Should have put that together. So anyone can do it?”

  “I think so. Need more information. They’re building a Van’s RV-12iS, right?”

  “Yeah. Two-seater.” Jennifer’s blue eyes twinkled. “I think you can do as little as put in a rivet and your name is included as one of the builders. Pretty sure nobody gets to do more than one or two things, though, since so many people want to participate.”

  “I think it would be fun. Let’s do it,” Raf announced with an eye-crinkling smile. “This trip is your dream, Sunshine. We need to do everything we can.”

  Dustin felt a rush of love for him so fierce, right there in the middle of the airport, hot dog in hand, two new friends sitting across from them, he almost told him right there. If the soft way Raf looked at him hadn’t put a lump in his throat, he probably would’ve poured out his soul right then. But he swallowed hard, regained his composure, and offered his boyfriend a smile.

  They also wanted to stop at the EAA AirVenture Welcome Center, so after eating, they wove their way through the crowd. They soon entered a large, open facility with metal beams and a roof. It looked to be a hangar, but the metal walls had been replaced with open screens.

  When they came upon a souvenir shop, they went a little crazy. Dustin couldn’t help himself. He and Raf purchased the official shirts for the year, hats, and a couple more EAA shirts. Raf seemed just as eager to buy souvenirs. Jennifer and Kate went even more overboard, loading up on as many things with the logo as they could find.