Free Coming Attractions by Bobbi Marolt Page A

the tarmac.
    “It’s good to see you again, Helen. The wind is a little tricky today, but I don’t think it’s anything you can’t handle.” He took the pre-written flight plan that she handed him and tucked it into his jacket.
    She grabbed Cory’s hand. There was a hesitation to Cory’s step as they followed him to a white Piper Tomahawk. On the side of the fuselage was the word Princess painted in pink. “She looks great, Bill.”
    “The mechanics checked everything and I took her on a trial run. She’s purring like a kitten.”
    Helen ran her hand along the propeller of the single engine plane. “Thanks,” she said and turned to Cory. “Ready to go for a ride?”
    “You’re a pilot?” she asked.
    “Taught to fly by my father and I was licensed at eighteen. Come on. Let’s have some fun.”
    Bill assisted Cory onto the wing and buckled her into the copilot seat. Helen visually inspected the outside of the plane. After determining that all was safe, she hoisted herself onto the opposite wing and climbed inside the cockpit. She was proud to share this time with Cory, and it felt like a playful “look what I can do” after seeing Cory’s music room. Not that she needed to get even, she only wanted to feel special, something more than a writer for a newspaper.
    Helen turned the key, and the single engine coughed and the propeller finally spun on the nose of the plane. She adjusted her headset. Each gauge showed the proper reading and the gas tank registered full. She checked the position of the flaps.
    “Good afternoon, control tower. This is KNP twenty-three ninety. Do I have a clear runway?”
    “KNP twenty-three ninety, this is Westchester tower. You’re clear for runway two. Repeat. You’re clear for two.”
    “Thanks, Westchester,” she said and maneuvered the plane into position. Cory watched every move she made. “Why so quiet?”
    “I didn’t know if I should speak.”
    Helen laughed. “It’s okay. It’s not like we’re heading into the night for a secret bombing mission. Let’s get into the air. We’ll talk there.” She adjusted her mic again. “Tower, this is KNP twenty-three ninety and we’re ready for takeoff.”
    “KNP twenty-three ninety, this is Westchester. You have a nice tailwind for takeoff. The sky is yours. Have a great flight, Ms. Townsend.”
    She powered the throttle and the Tomahawk roared as it picked up speed down the runway. Around 800 feet, she pulled back on the control and the Princess climbed into a cloudless blue sky. After she arced the wings toward Connecticut, Helen leveled off at 8,000 feet and set a cruising speed of 100 knots.
    “It’s a beautiful day,” she said and removed her microphone.
    Cory glanced around the panel of switches and lights. “Don’t you have to set vectors or something? Coordinates? How do you know where to go?”
    “We’ll just cruise the Berkshire Mountains. They’re kind of like up the block. They’re familiar.” The plane was jostled by light turbulence and Cory gripped her seat. “It’s a little windy.” A stronger bounce rocked them and Cory turned ashen. “It’s okay,” she reassured her. “I’ll take us up a little. The air might be smoother.” She reached for the controls but Cory stopped her.
    “No. Not higher.” She grabbed Helen’s hand. “I have a fear of flying. I do it a lot, but I usually take a sedative first.” Frightened eyes stared into Helen’s.
    “Oh my God. Why didn’t you tell me? I’d have never made you go through this.” She took hold of the controls just as the plane hit an air pocket. The drop lifted Helen against her belt and the plane plummeted several feet. When Bill mentioned the wind, she wished she’d cancelled the flight, but pride had stopped her.
    “Oh, Jesus. Helen!”
    “We’ll be okay. We’re going back.” Strong wind pounded the aircraft and Helen looked over at Cory. “There’s a bag to your right, if you need it.” The plane dropped again and Cory