Page 77 of Air Affair

Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. “You aren’t a coward. I know that.”

“Then I ask you to take my word that it wasn’t me. Ask that young man of yours who his enemies are. It must be someone else he’s gravely offended. Hardly a surprise, given his behavior with you. Now are we done here? I have more important things to attend to than the spurious suspicions of my runaway daughter.”

“I didn’t run away, Papa. You sent me away.” She took Aunt Alva’s hand for support.

“And you refused to come back. The clock is ticking, young lady. If you don’t come to your senses and marry Edward, then you are no longer my daughter.”

Blood rushed to her cheeks as she clenched her fists. “I have a right to choose who I spend my life with, and I will never ever agree to spend it with Edward.”

Aunt Alva stepped between them. “August, it isn’t right to try to force her to do your bidding. She’s a grown woman, and she’s proven she can live without your help, or mine for that matter. I don’t like this pilot of hers any more than you do, but under the circumstances, don’t you think it would be best if he made an honest woman of her and wed her? If Edward Windham is still after her despite all that’s happened, then he is only after the money. Do you truly want her married to someone like that?”

“I think it shows how honorable Edward is that he’s willing to stand by the engagement despite all that has transpired.”

Rory shuddered. “I’m not marrying Edward, no matter what you do to me,” she said, taking Aunt Alva’s hand again.

“August, I think it’s time you let it go,” Aunt Alva said gently but firmly.

He stormed around his desk and towered above Alva, who was undaunted. “I will not let it go. She’s my daughter, and I don’t appreciate your meddling, Alva. I will do everything in my power that is legal to put an end to this nonsense with the pilot and to marry her to Edward, as has been planned all along. I cannot force her, and I cannot murder him, even though at the moment I’d rather like to do both. But I am not waving the white flag of surrender. Not yet.”

Alva turned to Rory. “I think we’re done here, don’t you?”

Rory nodded, and they swiftly exited the premises, stopping only briefly to find her former maid Kelly, who was working in the kitchen now that Rory was gone. Rory paid her back and thanked her profusely before hurrying out the door.

As they got into Aunt Alva’s car, Rory felt tears starting to roll down her cheeks. Wiping them away, she said, “At least I managed to remain stoic while we were inside.”

To think until a few weeks ago, that had been her home. It broke her heart to walk those familiar halls again and feel like a stranger. Standing amid all that opulence, she was surprised to find she didn’t miss it. She was happier than she’d ever been, living in her modest apartment above a flower shop. And she was going to marry her pilot, no matter what anyone thought.

“Thank you, Aunt Alva. I don’t think I could have faced him alone.”

Alva patted her hand. “Unreasonable man. I do wish you weren’t marrying so far beneath you, dear, but it’s the only thing to be done at this point. Too many people know you’ve been carrying on with him. It’s the only solution. If only your father would come to his senses and realize it! But enough about him. What about you? Are you going to leave behind that hovel you’re living in and come stay with me, or have you, too, departed from your senses?”

Wiping away the last of her tears, she answered, “It’s not a hovel. It’s perfectly pleasant, and I’m going back to it this afternoon. I promised Hank I would check on him at the hospital.”

Aunt Alva shook her head in disapproval. “How are you getting back to Mineola?”

“The same way I got here. By train.”

“Saints alive! No, my dear. At the very least, you must let me send you in my car.”

Rory laughed. “You act as if I’m in danger from bandits on the Long Island Railroad.”

Fanning herself, Aunt Alva said, “Well, it is the countryside, dear.”

“All right, I’ll take the car.”

“Percival,” she said to the driver. “Drop me off at home and take Miss Belmont to Mineola, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Soon, Rory was driving through the Long Island countryside with the windows down and the wind in her hair. Her heart felt lighter with every mile they drove away from Manhattan. Out here, her father’s threats dwindled in her mind, and her confidence in her own course of action returned. In a short while, she would see Hank, and everything would be better. Maybe she could even steal a kiss when no one was looking.

Arriving at the hospital, she thanked the driver and rushed inside. Hank was still in room twelve, and he was sitting up, which was a positive development. Sitting was difficult when she left him this morning. He even managed to turn his head when she came in.

Who cared what the doctor thought? She had to kiss him. Checking quickly that no one was looking, she pressed her lips to his and gave him a proper greeting.

“If this is how you say hello, I’m very much looking forward to getting married,” he said as she released him.

She smiled, cheeks aflame.