“Indeed,” said Aida, a little too gravely. Mattie couldn’t help but be impressed by the grape growers’ innovation to circumvent the draconian antiliquor laws prohibiting the sale of spirits.
“Although ‘accidental’ wine is not the tastiest,” Aida added rather wistfully.
“Yes, but itisso deliciously subversive.” Vera winked.
“Well, lucky for you, I brought another block of grapes with me during the trip. A railroad porter loaded the crate in the back of my Dodge at the station.”
“Are you telling me that you left wine-making supplies in the trunk at the mercy of this heat!” Vera pivoted on the heel of her right pump.
“I’m not really sure how that would make it taste any worse,” Aida said, but she headed after her friend, who was striding quickly back to the Dodge in a clear rescue mission. Lily was still being consoled by the tall Vera look-alike while her sister, Sadie, had returned to inspecting the exposed engine.
Mattie took the momentary reprieve from the chaos to introduce herself to the legendary aviatrix beside her. “Miss Carrie Wilcox?”
“Yes?” Carrie looked at her and Leo expectantly.
“I thought I recognized you from an article I read about how you and Bessie Coleman flew in an amazing loop formation in tandem,” Mattie said, mentioning the famous Black Cherokee barnstormer who was considered one of the best stunt aviators in the country.
“We spent weeks practicing that.”
“What’s it like actually being inside a craft with Brave Bessie?” Leo asked quietly.
A wide smile spread over Carrie’s face. “Like nothing else in the world. She’s the one who taught me how to fly. She’s hoping to one day open a flight school for Black people. That way Black folks like Bessie and me won’t have to travel to Europe to learn to fly.”
“Didn’t Bessie go overseas twice?” Mattie asked.
Carrie nodded as the three of them began to walk back to the Dodge. “First to France for her initial license, then later to the Netherlands and also to Germany, where she met Anthony Fokker and trained under one of his best test pilots.”
“Brave Bessie knows Anthony Fokker?” Leo asked.
“You’re familiar with him?” Carrie asked.
“Well, I know his work,” Leo said. “I tangled with more than one of Fokker’s planes during the war.”
“Leo was an ace and a balloon buster,” Mattie said, knowing that he’d never mention his heroics.
“Oh yes!” Carrie’s brown eyes glinted with recognition as she glanced at Leo. “You’re the Flying Lion!” Her gaze turned next to Mattie. “And you must be one of the McAdams siblings.”
“Yup,” Mattie said, and then before Carrie could ask Leo anything about his war record, she quickly added, “How did Vera convince you to join her troupe?”
“She promised to start a scholarship program for Black women who want to attend a university like I did,” Carrie explained. “With all the prejudice thrown our way, it’s hard enough to get accepted to a school, no matter how qualified we are, and I’d love to help any way that I can.”
Mattie had never met so many college-educated women. In fact, she’d never encountered more than two people with a degree in a single day. Considering Vera also had one, Mattie had just talked to three graduates in the space of half an hour. And, as Carrie had stated, racial prejudice would have presented even more obstacles for her and Aida, making their success even more impressive. Mattie began to wonder if someday she, too, should pursue higher education, such as some sort of engineering degree. Of course, that would require money that she simply didn’t have. Any she earned would go directly to saving the flight school.
Mattie was just about to heave out a sigh when Lily’s shrill shriek drew her attention. The blonde had wiped off most of the makeup,and her hair had started to dry, but she looked even more upset than before.
“What do you mean, anewspapermantookmypicture! I’m an utter fright. You don’t think he’llpublishit, do you?” Lily practically collapsed against the woman who looked like Vera.
Vera exchanged a look with Aida. Instead of answering Lily, the flapper turned to the servant carrying the crate of grape blocks into the mansion. “Samuel, could you please tell Mrs.Lewis to set up drinks?”
The young man nodded and hurried into the house. Vera moved to sling her arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Why don’t we all retire to the veranda and have a nice clover club cocktail?”
“I’ll just have a club soda,” Leo said quickly.
“Me too,” Mattie chimed in. She’d only tried strong liquor once or twice when Alfred had managed to secret some away. Although she wouldn’t mind experimenting, she certainly didn’t wish to start in front of brand-new compatriots. Leo, for his part, had always avoided alcohol, even before the war. Part of his serious nature, Mattie supposed. Alfred had written to her that his squadron called Leo “the Reverend” due to his natural tendency toward sobriety in all matters.
As they walked onto the veranda, Lily glanced up at Leo through her considerably shorter and blonder lashes. Even without her Hollywood makeup, she still managed to look like a beautiful ingenue. “You know, I would feel so much better if the Flying Lion sat next to me after the day I’ve had. After all, if a balloon buster couldn’t protect me, who could?”
Leo stiffened noticeably. Without thinking, Mattie reached out and squeezed his hand, as if she could relieve some of the pressure he felt. As his warm fingers curled about hers, she realized how long she’d yearned to offer him any small gesture of comfort. After the war they’d never been close enough, physically or emotionally. Leo had dug himself into a trench that she couldn’t overtake. But now, as shepulled him down next to her on a white bench, she didn’t feel as terribly separated from him.
