My Little Rock Airman

by Brittany Fichter

  “Oh, no. It’s shoved under my bed where I can’t see it. That thing gives me the creeps. Its eyes are just…no.”

  We laughed for a few more minutes, reminiscing about the beginning of our competition, then fell silent once more. I decided to take advantage of the break and try again.

  “I was just thinking,” I said, taking a deep breath, “I know you’re busy. And I know you’re trying to finish up all your projects before the wedding. So…what if Jade and I came to visit you instead?”

  She sighed. “I don’t know. My grandma has relatives staying with her for a while, so you couldn’t use her guest room. You’d have to get a hotel, and I don’t know if that would be good for your sister—”

  “Amy, my sister has Down Syndrome, not a severe immunodeficiency. Hotels are fine. Besides, I’ve got a buddy of mine who says he’ll let us stay with him.”

  “I…I guess that would work, she said slowly.”

  Encouraged, I continued. “Anyhow, I was thinking. You said you wanted to visit those caves northwest of where you live. We can all go together, and you and Jade can spend some time getting to know one another?” For some reason, my voice caught in my throat. “I know you don’t know her well yet, but she means a lot to me, Amy. And you mean a lot to me. And…I think you’ll understand better once you really get to see who she really is. Because she’s an amazing little person.”

  There was a long pause. I bit my lip and wiped the stupid stinging out of the corners of my eyes.

  Finally, she let out a little laugh. “When you get an idea, you’re about as stubborn as a toddler, you know that?”

  “So I’ve been told.”

  She laughed again. “But I think maybe that would work.”

  “That’s great!”

  “When would you come?”

  “I don’t know yet.” Honestly, I hadn’t even thought she’d say yes. “Um, maybe at the end of the summer, just before her school starts up again. I just got here, so I don’t really want to ask for time off yet, but this…this will happen.”

  Some voice inside wondered when I was going to ask about our future wedding date. Amy might have been sick during our previous conversation, but she hadn’t been sick all those times she’d dodged my direct questions before. And yet, as we laughed together and she told me about something dumb one of her coworkers had said, I decided that I was just too much of a coward today. And for once, that was okay.

  20

  Deal

  Jessie

  It was Friday, and moods were high. After two whole days of enduring Sam’s looks of concern at the conference, it was good to be back to normal. Well, at least my summer normal. Jade was in a good mood, humming her favorite cartoon’s theme song as I sipped my decaf, which I’d filled with three creamers on a whim instead of my usual two. Even Mr. and Mrs. Allen had wished me a sweet farewell as they’d gone off to work.

  Derrick was the only one who stumbled in that morning looking bleary-eyed and decently confused.

  “What?” I asked him as he stiffly collapsed into the booth that ran around the table and stared at his coffee cup. “Not a morning person today?”

  He grunted. “I went to sleep an hour ago.”

  “You know,” I said, winking at Jade as she giggled, “you don’t have to be up. Your parents hired me specifically so you could sleep during the day.”

  “Can’t do that.” He shook his head, eyes still bored into his mug. “It’s my turn for the contest.”

  “I’m pretty sure whatever you have isn’t going to beat her finding a diamond at the diamond mine.” I waltzed across the kitchen to get Jade her cup of juice. But as I turned to waltz back, I ran smack into Derrick, who had stood up again. His steaming mug, which he was clutching, sloshed all over my jeans.

  “Ow! Ow! Ow!” I shrieked, hopping around, as if that was going to stop my legs from burning.

  Derrick, seeming fully awake now, grabbed a towel and ran water over it really fast. Then he made me sit down and threw the wet towel over my legs. Slowly, as the cold water dripped on the floor, the heat began to recede.

  “Thank you,” I sighed, thankful that when I removed the towel, my legs no longer steamed.

  “You okay?” he asked, his blue eyes flicking back and forth between my legs and my face.

  I forced a slight laugh. “You know, if you thought I needed a bath, you could have just said so.”

  “I am so sorry.” He stood as if to do something, then just stayed there and shoved his hands into his pockets. “You got any extra clothes?”

  “No, I used them when we went mining.” I stood and went to the double oven, where I could see most of my reflection in the oven doors. Sure enough, I would need new clothes. My pants were drenched from my thighs to my shins, and my shirt wasn’t much better.

  “Hey, I know.” He ran upstairs. A few minutes later, he came back down holding a shirt and jeans. “I don’t know your size or whatever, but these are my mom’s old clothes, and they look like they might fit you okay.”

  I warily eyed the hot pink shirt. The fabric looked like it cost more than all my clothes put together. “And you’re sure she won’t mind?”

  “Nah.” He smiled slightly and leaned forward. “Don’t tell her I said this, but these are about two sizes too small now. She just won’t admit to it, and keeps them all in the back of her closet where she thinks no one will see them.”

  I twisted my lips. They were very nice, and I’d hate for anything to happen to them. But then, I really, really didn’t want to walk around crunchy and smelling like coffee all day.

  “All right, I’ll try. Thanks.” I took the clothes and headed to the bathroom.

  Even the bathroom was fancy here. Every surface that wasn’t a mirror seemed to be finished with blue glass tiles or white marble. I looked at the clothes again before cringing as I checked the size. They were my size all right. But they were also skinny. Skinny jeans. A very fitted short-sleeved sweater with what looked like real pearls for the buttons. All just…yuck. I hated clingy clothes. They made me feel like a suffocating, overindulged wiener dog, even if they were my size.

  The pants went on with more tugging than I would have liked to admit (which was precisely why I avoided skinny jeans like the plague at clothing stores). And thankfully, the shirt wasn’t quite as bad as I would have thought. When I finally turned to face myself in the full-length mirror on the door, however, I nearly fell over. It was far, far worse than I’d thought.

  After I’d mentally picked myself up off the floor, I texted Madison.

  Madison, can I in good conscience wear these out of the bathroom?

  Two seconds later, my phone buzzed, and I smiled. That girl might be busy, but she never missed a text.

  Why are you in the bathroom? And what am I looking at?

  Oh. I quickly snapped a picture and sent it to her, cringing again when the screen showed the image sent. This time, four seconds passed before I got a reply.

  Guuuuuuurl. You. Are. Hott. Where did you get those, and why on earth wouldn’t you wear them out of the bathroom?

  I groaned and rubbed my eyes. Of course, Madison would like them. I should have texted my mom instead. Unfortunately, she was at the dentist and wouldn’t be answering her phone for another hour at least.

  I spilled coffee on my clothes, and Derrick gave me some of his mom’s old ones. How on earth am I supposed to spend an entire day with him and Jade dressed like this? In public?

  I could just imagine her snickering as she replied. You know, some people are okay with showing their collar bones in public.

  I show my collar bone, I typed back.

  Jessie, you look like a teacher even when you’re not teaching. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. Just wear the stupid thing. Maybe you’ll pick up some non-mil guy while you’re out. If you do, ask him if he has a brother.

  I shook my head at my phone. Adam must have bitten the dust. But my friend’s constantly revolving boyfriends were the least
of my concerns right now. After a few very long leg stretches and squats and a few sharp tugs in an attempt to loosen the infernal pants, I opened the door and peeked out. All clear.

  Unfortunately, the privacy lasted all the way to the middle of the staircase, when Derrick appeared, hauling a rather uncooperative Jade to the front door to put on her shoes. I tried to dart the rest of the way downstairs, but the movement must have caught his attention because he looked up just as I reached the bottom step.

  To my horror, his eyes widened, and for a very, very long second, neither he nor I looked away. Finally, he seemed to come to his senses.

  “Um…” He shook his head and turned his head down toward Jade. “I’m—”

  “I’m going to pack lunch,” I said, stepping sideways toward the kitchen.

  “Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.” He kept his head down as he spoke.

  I half-ran into the kitchen. My cheeks burned as I mentally slapped myself for not packing extra clothes. Lunch was packed far too quickly, and all too soon, I had to follow Derrick and Jade to the truck. Only Jade chattered away as we buckled her into her car seat. I stayed busy on my phone as he drove, but two minutes into the drive, Derrick seemed unable to keep it in any more.

  “So…” He put his hand on his head and ran it through his hair. “About earlier. I’m really sorry for making it awkward.” He laughed nervously. “I guess you just caught me off-guard. I mean, I knew you were too short to be a model, but I never expected you to be so…”

  I stared at him. Was he really doing this? Because if he thought it was awkward before—

  “So hideous.” He shook his head sadly as I gasped. “I mean, I know beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, but—”

  “You brat!” I reached across the middle console and slapped his arm, relieved laughter bubbling up in my chest.

  “Really, though.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “I really didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. And I’m really sorry if I did.”

  “It’s fine.” I waved a hand at him. Maybe one day, I added in my head, I would find a guy of my own to look at me like that. Because, if I was honest with myself, that look in his eye, that spark of wonder would feel really nice. If only it were mine to keep.

  Derrick’s newest contribution to the Jade contest was the new self-serve yogurt stand at the mall, complete with thirty-six possible toppings. And despite my admonitions, he let her add all the toppings she wanted. The only upside was his face when he had to pay for the mountain of sugar he’d helped her build.

  As we ate, though, I knew I was going to have to step up my game. Jade liked geology, but she liked sugar nearly as much. Then again, what six-year-old didn’t? I, of all people, knew that. I was going to have to get creative.

  “Sergeant Barnes!”

  Derrick’s exclamation brought me back from my musings, and I turned to find a man in a camouflage uniform standing beside our table. He had the darkest skin I’d ever seen and the whitest smile, and he looked to only be a few inches taller than I was. But from the way he carried himself, I got the feeling he could arm wrestle the tall, skinny guys like Derrick, and he could probably win.

  “Derrick.” He smiled. “This must be Jade, and this must be…” He raised his eyebrows at me then looked back at Derrick. “Is this…”

  “Jessie.” I shook his hand and smiled.

  “So,” he said, turning to Derrick. “I saw you buying your tickets for the ball. Is this lovely lady who you’re bringing?”

  Derrick’s face turned a strange shade of white, and for a brief second, I saw panic in those blue eyes.

  I opened my mouth to tell the sergeant that I wasn’t Derrick’s fiancée, but Derrick spoke first.

  “Actually…” he said slowly. Why was his voice so high? “Yes.”

  My spoon stopped halfway to my mouth as my eyes met his pleading ones. Had he lost his mind?

  “Because if that mystery fiancée of yours doesn’t work out…” The sergeant gave me a knowing wink. “Mika’s available.”

  “Thanks.” Derrick pasted a smile on his face. Even I knew that wasn’t real. “I really appreciate it. But yeah, Jessie here is coming with me.”

  Sergeant Barnes looked expectantly at me, and I managed to dredge up a smile that probably looked even less genuine than Derrick’s. But we must have convinced him somehow because he clapped Derrick on the back.

  “Good for you, Allen. Well, I’ll see you next week then.” He nodded at me. “Ma’am.”

  As soon as he was out of hearing, I crossed my arms.

  “Would you like to tell me what that was about? And why I’m going to a ball?”

  Derrick groaned and put his head on the table. Then he mumbled something.

  “I’m sorry, what was that?” It better have been an apology.

  “I’m so sorry.” He raised his head off the table about three inches to give me the most pathetic, disheveled look I’d ever seen on a man. “I can explain.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Derrick sat up and let his head fall back so he was staring at the ceiling. Jade just continued to eat her yogurt, sending us glances every now and then that made it pretty obvious we were both pathetic. After this morning, I was inclined to agree with her.

  “Sergeant Barnes is always trying to push his daughter on the newest single airmen.”

  “Why the newest?”

  “Because those who have been there for any length of time know what he’s up to and are too stupid to get caught without a date.”

  “Wait.” I frowned. “He can’t make you go out with her…can he?”

  “No. But no one wants a grudge with Sergeant Barnes.” He gave me a wry grin. “He’s actually a really nice guy and a really good leader. But every time we have any sort of party or ball or anything formal, he starts trying to hook his daughter up with whoever’s available.”

  Poor thing. “Is she really that undateable?”

  Derrick looked at me like I was a moron. “It doesn’t matter. She could be Miss Universe. But no one wants to take the chance of being the schmuck who broke his boss’s daughter’s heart.” He shook his head. “The thing is…he’s a good guy. Best supervisor I’ve ever had, and he treats us like people instead of numbers. He even asks about Jade all the time. I just don’t want things to get awkward with him and ruin all that.”

  “So where do I come into all of this? Why can’t you just take Amy?”

  He huffed and started tapping his empty yogurt cup with his spoon. “I’ve been begging her to come since I got here. But she’s really busy with her work and doesn’t think she can make it out that evening.” He finally dared a guilty glance up at my face. “I’m going to keep working on her. I’m going to ask her if she could maybe make it if we just do it all in one night. Show up, shmooze a bit, and then leave in time for her to catch her flight back to Colorado.”

  “That still doesn’t answer my question. Where do I fit in all of this?”

  He gave me a sheepish grin. “I was hoping maybe you could be like a…a stand-in? Just in case she can’t make it after all?”

  “Absolutely not. Why’d you even buy the stupid tickets if you don’t have to go? And don’t tell me you do. Because I know from my students that this ball is optional.”

  He made a face. “It looks good when the commanders see you at base functions. They take participation to mean you’re dedicated.” He sighed. “And I bought the tickets back when I thought she could make it. I didn’t realize she’d keep saying no. Also…I might or might not be on the planning committee.”

  I closed my eyes and shook my head. “You know this is the reason men are known for being stubborn to a fault.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He snuck another peek at me. “So you’ll go?”

  “I told you. Absolutely not.”

  He studied me for a moment before pulling out his phone. “What do you want?”

  “I want you to leave me alone.”

  “I mean it. What if we made t
his a business deal? We can even write it out in a contract and sign it if you like. Terms, addendums, all that. You can tell me what you want, and I’ll agree to it as your payment in exchange for one and a half hours of standing or sitting beside me, eating the very nice catered dinner they serve, not making faces at me while I talk to my superiors, and then we leave.” He held up his hands. “We won’t even think about dancing. Literally, all you’re going to be is a warm body.”

  “You mean a bodyguard.”

  “Yes, one that will protect me from my overenthusiastic, well-intentioned boss so he doesn’t stick his daughter on my arm in the absence of my fiancée.”

  The answer was no. Obviously. And yet…I couldn’t help thinking of what a tightwad I’d been since…well, since I’d had my first job. Everything had been scrimped and saved as I prepared to buy my own car. To pay for my own college. Now to pay for my master’s degree. It might be nice to make a deal where for an hour and a half, all I had to do was stand there and get a bit out of it in return.

  I lifted my chin so he knew I meant business. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

  “I’ll buy you a ballgown.”

  I looked up from my phone, and he rolled his eyes.

  “I’m not taking you shopping if that’s what you’re insinuating. I’ll send you with my credit card. If you want, I’ll even hook you up with my friend’s wife so she can tell you what you need.”

  “Fine, but I get to keep the dress.”

  He leaned forward, and so did I. “So you’ll do it then?” he asked.

  “Only if Amy can’t make it.”

  He stuck his hand out, and I shook it.

  “Deal.”

  21

  Colorado

  Derrick

  As soon as we got back from the mall, I left Jade with Jessie and went to my casita. I needed some space to think about what I was going to do. Because if anything was sure in this world, it was that I’d messed up. Majorly. But before I dealt with that, I would need some sleep.