Page 25 of Air Affair

“Hard not to. You’re yelling in my face.” Hank smiled his chilliest smile.

“She may not forgive me any time soon, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose her to a piece of shit like you.” The man looked almost rabid.

“Good luck, Senator. If you’re worried about a shmuck like me, you need it.”

The senator got up and walked away without another word. Asshole. He had no idea how badly he’d lost already. No wonder Rory was starved for affection.

And you’d like to give it to her, wouldn’t you? Hank, you idiot, walk away and let this go.

But he couldn’t. Ridiculous schemes to see her again began floating through his head, each more outrageous than the last. It was a terrible idea, absurdly dangerous for both of them. But when had danger ever stopped him?

The trick was how to get to her. So far, their meetings had largely been a matter of chance. How could he see her intentionally?

Looking down at the insignia embroidered on the jacket draped over his arm, the answer clicked into place. The mail. He’d have to make the letter look innocent enough that it would get to her but still make it clear who it was from and what he was asking.

He got up and went to a five and dime where he bought stationery, envelopes, and a pen. Then he stopped at the post office and bought a roll of stamps with a Jenny printed on them. He came back to the park, found a picnic bench, and sat down to write.

For several minutes, he stared at the blank page, unable to write a word. Then he set pen to paper and wrote, in his best penmanship.

“Dear Miss Belmont,

The Pilots’ Benevolent Association cordially invites you to a silent auction fundraiser to be held at the Flatiron Building the evening of Tuesday, June 25th at 8 p.m. All proceeds will be given to the widows and children of pilots lost during the war. RSVP to 218 Garfield Ave, Mineola, NY 11501.

Sincerely,

Hank Hawley

Chairman of the Board”

Hank looked it over, nodded, and folded it up. He put it in an envelope, wrote his return address, listing the Pilots’ Benevolent Association as the sender, and added a stamp. Now he needed to find out her address so that he could post it. Everyone knew where Belmont Mansion was, but he had no idea what the street address was. He’d have to go for a stroll along Park Avenue to check the building number, something he could do as soon as he got back to New York.

He tucked the letter carefully into his pocket. This was madness. He’d clearly lost his mind. He had no business doing this, but he had to see her again. That was all this was, he decided. He would see her one more time and get her out of his system.

9

“I’m not going to marry him, Papa. Nothing you’re going to say will change my mind.” Rory fought to keep her voice even and hold back the tears that prickled the corners of her eyes.

She paced on the lush floral carpet of the drawing room. Deep reds and golds, in a modern style, showcased the latest furniture imported from Paris. A gentleman named Ruhlmann designed them all, and her stepmother, Eleanor, thought he was a genius. Everything had clean angles and sleek lines, a bold aesthetic that spoke of progress and innovation. Though her stepmother wasn’t exactly young anymore, she insisted on keeping up with the latest trends as if she was still in her twenties.

Eleanor lounged on the sofa, her irritatingly pretty face filled with feigned concern. Her dark hair was swept into a loose, elegant bun, a long string of pearls dripping down her front. Her father stood and lectured, twisting his mustache every so often, as he always did when worked up.

“Be reasonable,” he said. “The man made a mistake. I don’t approve of his activities any more than you do, and I gave him a piece of my mind. But you must understand it isn’t uncommon. Men have… Well, they have…needs. And Edward was a widower for many years before he met you. It’s hardly surprising he found a way to have his needs met prior to you.”

“This wasn’t prior to me, Papa. He’s still seeing her and planned to continue seeing her after we were married. He talked about her being a regular guest in our home.”

Her father put a placating hand on her shoulder, and she shook him off.

“Darling, I know you’re angry,” Eleanor said. “And you have every right to be. You’ve lived a very sheltered life, and this must all be very shocking.”

Rory laughed bitterly. Suggesting she was naïve in these matters was absurd.

“All we’re asking is that you give him another chance,” her father said. “He’s sworn to me that he is parting ways with the singer and that he will be faithful to you. I told him I would cut off all financial support if I ever found out he strayed.”

“So you see, my dear, you have nothing to fear,” her stepmother said, her eyes full of reassurance.

Rory shook her head slowly. “And you think I should marry a man that requires a bribe to uphold his vows?”

“I insist you give him a chance. Let him demonstrate his change of heart to you. This match would benefit both of our families tremendously. You know we need friends in Congress to keep the regulators in check. I always thought you were a practical girl, that you understood these things. I’d rather not force the issue, but I will if I must.”