Page 28 of The Flyboy's Girl
Smiling, Paul leans down and kisses me again before turning to Don. “Don what do you think about all of us driving down the coast?”
Looking to Mille for confirmation, she smiles and nods. “Sure sounds good. It’ll give us a chance to get a feel for this beast,” Don says as he pats the roof of the car.
“Great,” Paul says, “I’ll drive down and you can drive back.”
“Sounds good, let’s go,” Don says as he opens the door for Millie and they slide into the back seat.
Adjusting the seat back in place, Paul sweeps his arm toward the car. “After you,” he says to me and I giddily slide inside, stopping in the middle of the seat so I can sit next to Paul while he drives.
The drive down the California coast is breathtakingly beautiful. Clear blue skies stretch out over the Pacific Ocean with just touch of a chill in the October breeze. When we reach Malibu, we stop for lunch and a walk on the beach. As Paul and I walk hand in hand along the shore, I realize I haven’t asked him when he is leaving. Though I really didn’t want to think about Paul leaving, I did want to know how much more time we had together.
“Paul, when do you leave for flight training?”
“November first.”
Feeling the tears well up in my eyes, I whisper, “That’s too soon.”
Pulling me against his chest and resting his chin on top of my head, he holds me as he murmurs. “I know, but I have to go.”
“I know, but I’ll miss you so much while you are gone.”
Pulling away, Paul cups my face in his large warm hands, his thumb brushing away the tears that had fallen. “Oh my beautiful Ruby don’t cry. I’ll only be gone a little while and then I’m coming home to you.”
Willing my tears to stop falling, as I look into his eyes I whisper, “Promise?”
A smile pulls at his lips as he answers, “Yes, I promise,” just before he kisses me.
