She laughed quietly, "well, lookin's OK. So's a club."
        "You're too good to me. But don't worry, I don't think I
have any caveman tendencies."
        "Hah. All men do," she snickered. "But yours do seem
pretty well subdued." The waitress came over and Jess took it,
"hay, I'm Jess, this is Kit, we'd like a bottle of your best
champagne, a club sandwich and two glasses of tea, please."
        "Hi guys, I'm Alicia. You got it. I'll be right back," and
went for the drinks.
        "So..." Jess started, "I was up for grabs at school after
making dead sure clear to everyone I'd left Evan," she told him
quietly enough so no one else in the near-empty lounge could
hear, "and who walks in and shows me his plan I inspired...and
I'm ready to go take off with 'm. I don't waste any time...no?"
emphasizing her copying of Kit's "Spanish".
        He was trying to think of some witty response as Alicia
returned with the champagne, and they talked with her a few
moments as she filled their glasses and then she was gone again.
        Jess raised her glass and said softly as she smiled at him,
"here's to our first hour back together...we're free...we're good
...and we're brave."
        "Wow, Jess...yes!...and the best hour of my life," he added
as quietly, then they drank, eyes to joyful eyes.
        "We'll be havin' one big bunch of best 'ours', darlin'," she
added as she leaned over and kissed him, though on his cheek
just 'cuz' they were in public, she whispered to him.
        "O, girl," he whispered slowly, "you are one amazing angel
..." And they drank to that. "So..." he continued, "what do you
think? Should you stop at home?"
        "Tryin' to get rid of me already?"
        "Give me a break...I'm just getting a little paranoid, though,
I guess," as he looked at the old guy in a black suit sitting at the
bar who seemed to be watching them a little too closely, Kit
thought.
        "About me being with you?!"
        "No, no," then took his gaze off the suit, looked in her face
and, smiling for effect, though not hard at all for him to do while
looking in her face, said barely above a whisper, "don't look at
him...but this old guy at the bar is really giving me bad vibes. I
wonder if he's going to follow you, or have you followed, or what.
It's probably just paranoia, or maybe just not being used to being
with the most beautiful woman in the universe. I know how men
can stare...and be jealous and angry...."
        She casually glanced over at the guy after she started to
answer, just as quietly, "well, it'd be more convincing if I grab a
bag of clothes and...stuff from home, and leave a note...yeah, I
see what you mean. He does look a little spooky. But none of 'm
will be able to keep up with us, Quixote...and the less we're
worried about it, the more the advantage is goin' t' be ours."
        "Chrise...how old are you?..." keeping the volume at least
hearable for her, and continued, "so...well...yeah, it would raise
less suspicion if you go home, wouldn't it? Not that I want us to
split up, right?" and smiled.
        "Got 'cha, Cody," she smiled back.
        "You sure you'll come back?"
        "I think I'll keep ya guessin'."
        "Hey! Thanks for easin' my paranoia, there, big girl. Well
...anyway...Josh might feel better, too, if my worship of you isn't
spilling all over his time."
        "What worship?" she razzed. He dropped his shaking head,
chuckling, then looked back at her sideways with a grin. She added,
"and there is something I really do need to get from home. So that's
settled. You won't have to explain me to Josh," and gave him
another poke in the ribs.
        "O, you're just the cat's darn pajamas, aren't 'cha now,
princess," holding back a laugh, and trying to size up the whole
situation with Jess, Josh, the old man in the black suit, the WPO
and the weather to D.C.
        "Duh-uh," she came back and laughed a lot more inside than
out. She just smiled on the outside. But Kit could see she was
cracking the heck up inside. She was really happy, he could tell.
And that's all that really mattered to him. "Cat's pajamas?! How
old are you?!" she added, still successfully keeping her laugh in.
        "A hundred and twenty seven in dog years."
        She let out a snicker, then said, "well...you ole handsome
pooch, anyway, when I get back - I mean if I come back," still
yanking his chain, "we don't want to leave my Jeep here, do we?"
        "O yeah, good point...Um, Josh would take care of that for
us, I bet."
        "And you still don't care to know what it is I want to get from
home that I've been hinting at so much?! Man, I don't know about
you, Quixote."
        "Uh, I don't want to be nosey..." and Alicia brought the teas
and club and they all had a few more words.
        "Nosey?" she chuckled after Alicia left, "you just didn't notice
my hints, did ya? Well, now I'll just let you wonder a little. A little
mystery is good for a woman, don't you think?" raising her glass
for a toast to that and they drank, smiling at each other.
        "O...you'll have plenty enough mystery, I'm sure," he
snickered and toasted their champagne to her going and coming
back OK.
        They ate and talked about things quietly, eventually ignoring
the suit at the bar; and Kit at times wasn't altogether listening to her,
but just staring at her and thinking, 'hole...eee...Goddd! Why is she
with ME!?' And she was guessing that that was pretty much what
was going on up in his head at those times and would happily poke
his ribs under the table when she could tell that was his thinking.
        After the sandwich was 'et', he said, "well, lightness, maybe
it'd be better for you to go before Josh gets here - now don't get
the wrong idea. It's just so the suit over there," his voice way down,
"doesn't find out any more than he already has."
        "Well, sometimes I think you are thinkin'," she teased.
        "Let's play it like uncle and niece - I guess it might look a little
incestual, but maybe it'll give 'm something to think about..." he
smiled, "...and go on out to the Jeep."
        "That sounds cool," she snickered. They got up and Kit put
$50 down on the table for Alicia, who came over and reached over
the table to give them the bottle of champagne, still pretty full.
        "That's for you, Aleesh," Kit told her and they had nice words
again and, as they walked out, Jess hugged Kit like a good niece
and said a perfect, "thanks, Unc," within hearing range of the suit.
        "Nice job," Kit told her after they got out into the terminal.
        "I minored in drama," and they passed through the doors.
        "What's your major?"
        "Men." He cracked up and looked at her, just amazed again
that she was with him. She added, "music, really."
        He nodded extreme approval, then asked, "so...what is it that
you want to get from home so much?"
        She smiled, "O, want to pierce the veil of secret mystery, A?"
then, as they got to her Jeep, she whispered in his ear, "birth control
pills."
        Well, he felt that tingle in his loins. Funny how that works.
Then he said, "OOO mah Gawd. You were right. You should have
kept me guessing," giving away his excitement. She laughed as he
unlocked the door and gave her the keys. Then she hugged him and
they rocked there for some moments, Kit keeping his eyes out for
the suit.
        "How do I know you'll come back?" he added, still with a tint
of doubt, just because he felt it was all too good to be true.
        "'Cuz I want to learn how to fly," giving him a huge smile.
        He was in Lala City, but managed to think, "so...how long will
it take you? You're not in the same house, are you?"
        "Nope. We're on a little farm out near Crestview. I'll be back
probably in about an hour."
        "Which way are you goin'? Josh and I could fly over and see
if you're all right. I wish you had a cellphone - here, take mine."
        She showed him her cell in her bag and told him her number,
and he got out his notebook and wrote it in, then wrote his on
another page, ripped it out and gave it to her. "I'll be going back the
way we came - over the bridge," she had been saying while he was
doing that, and gave him the rest of the directions. "Don't worry,
sweetheart," and kissed him. He kissed her back when the first one
ended.
        "All right, majesty, if we're not back on the ground when you
drive up, we will be right down."
        "Sounds most excellent...Uncy," smiling and getting into the
Jeep and starting it up, holding hands with him with an affectionate
"later" and his "vaya con Dios" and hand kiss and one more on the
lips before she pulled out, he feeling like his soul had walked out of
his body and had gotten in the seat next to her.
        He waited out at the fence for Josh, who drove up within
minutes and recognized his dad standing there. They hugged
emotionfully, slapped each other's back and all and Kit said, "let's go
flyin'!"
        "Where's the woman?" Josh asked as they went through the
gate to the ramp.
        "Uh, she had to go get some things," he smiled, then asked a
guy in a uniform for "Jimmy" and the guy was the very guy and Kit
asked Jimmy a few questions on his refueling job. He was a nice
kid and had done the job right, so Kit tipped him twenty and walked
on with Josh to Juliet and the ole man showed his son the abbreviated
preflight - gas check, oil check, drain the sumps and quick walkaround.
Then they got in, started her up, Kit explaining what he was doing with
each switch or control, got clearance to roll and started quick taxi to the
active, Kit asking Josh about his life and telling him his grandmother
sent her love. They got Tower clearance and into the sky and Kit told
Josh to take over, though helping him with it, of course, and they
headed right for the bridge, leveled off at low altitude. The overcast
was higher than hours before, but showers were still around. The scary
weather, though, was much further East by then.
        Josh was really enjoying it, but wondering what the heck it was
all about. He knew his dad was a pilot, but it was news he had a
plane. He came out with, "is this yours!? What's going on, Dad?"
        "Yeah! You like it?!" Kit answered and son nodded, paying
attention to trying to fly. "But...nothing much, Josh, except...I need
you to keep something secret...and a little help."
        "Uh, no problem, Pop. Is it legal?"
        "Uh, sure..." and smiled back, "yes, it is...." Then he spotted
Jess's Jeep, pointed, and added, "...see that white Jeep this side of the
bridge?"
        "Oh...yeah..."
        "That's Jessica," and had just a beaming smile. "She's going home,
then coming to Washington with me, and she needs you to take care of
her Jeep while she's gone - take it from the airport and stash it. You up
for that, Son?"
        "Sure, Dad, no problem. Jessica...that sounds familiar...Ooooo...
is she..."
        "A very good friend," Kit smiled over.
        "Uh huh. As in real very good, sounds like."
        "As in you wouldn't be-LIEVE good," and they had a little laugh.
"So...how are you doin', Josh? You need anything? Any problems I
can help you with?" as he followed Jess's progress below. "You know
how proud of you I am, don't you?"
        Well, Josh laughed at the abrupt change of subject, but updated
the old man on some things and told him things were pretty good - a
new job with a substantial raise, the semi-pro soccer team and a great
girlfriend. Then he asked his dad again what he was up to, with the
plane and all.
        Kit tapdanced, not wanting to get even close to letting anything
out about the WPO - for Josh's safety, he figured - but told him about
the ranch and investments going well, and swore him to secrecy on
the mine, knowing Josh could be trusted, and knowing the 'meegs
wouldn't mind him telling his son, as they followed Jess by making
turns and circles. Kit didn't see anyone really following her and
breathed easier in relief. The guys talked, flew and followed her to
the farm, then Kit took the controls when he saw her getting out and
passed overhead, though not too low, did a barrel roll and saw her
waving up as they were upside down and Josh wanted to learn that.
So Kit taught it to him along with other stuff as they kept an eye on
the Jeep.
        Jess was soon headed out and they did another roll for her, Kit
helping Josh, followed her back to the bridge, then 'skeedaddled' for
Lunken, Josh doing the flying, Kit pulling out his checkbook and
writing a ten thousand dollar check. But Josh wouldn't take it.
        "Come on, Son, you gotta. I've never been able to give you
much of fatherhood. I don't think I was too good at it. But now I can
do this. And it's time, pal. Do it to make me feel better, if that helps.
Please, Son. You could put it toward a plane," he smiled.
        "All right, Dad. It'll come in handy. Thank you very much,"
finally taking the check. And ole Kit patted him on the shoulder and
tossled his hair, then proceeded to bring the younger through the
approach and landing, letting him do as much as he could handle,
which was a lot for his first lesson. They taxied in, shut down and
walked in as Jessy was pulling into the parking lot, and went on over
to her.


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