Chapter 5

I had asked Bethany to marry me, so, in order to make good on that request, I planned a getaway with her parents. She had one friend she wanted to take with her, and I figured we could find another witness somewhere, so after making sure I knew what we had going, I started making calls. I had a surprise in store for my special girl.

I never was one to make a big deal out of things, even when I should. This being one of those times, I went along with most of Bethany’s requests in regard to our small wedding in a quiet location with just her family, her mom and dad, and her friend there. I went along with ‘Most’ of her requests.

I had her mother contact her sister, and yes, she wanted to attend. So, I sent tickets for them to meet us in the Dominican Republic where I had secured four adjoining suites: one for us, one for Liz and Sam, one for Maribeth Berger, Bethany’s BFF, and one for Annie and her husband, Roger Thornton. We were staying at the Secrets Cap Cana Resort and Spa, a pretty highly rated property with access to what I needed. A wedding and a honeymoon. Two months away, over the girls’ spring break. I was hoping all went well until then.

I met her friend, one Maribeth Berger, a pretty blonde girl, and her parents, Ben and Linda. We talked about the trip, the fact that it was over spring break, and the fact that the girls were going down for a wedding, not to do the ‘girls gone wild’ thing. That quelled some fears. One thing I did notice was that even though Maribeth was a nice enough girl, she seemed a bit down in the dumps. She was a beautiful example of feminine youth, much like my Bethany, but she was quiet, sullen, almost as if she’d been hurt recently. I came to find out that was true. Some runt named Brian didn’t get what he wanted from their relationship, so he moved down the line until one of the cheerleaders would put out for him. Asshole.

There was a little fanfare around my return home from the military after the hijacking incident. I was asked a couple of times for interviews, which I took and made short work of. I told the story, and the reporters went away. The week before our trip to the Dominican Republic, mid-morning, I heard the doorbell ring. We don’t get any salesmen in our housing development, I wasn’t expecting anyone, and we very seldom had visitors, especially in the morning. I went to answer the bell, hoping for a package or something benign like that.

Gloria Pinard was at the door. “Hello, Captain Cardin.” I invited her in, offered her coffee and a comfortable seat, both of which she accepted, then she told me why she was there. “I met an Air Force Colonel, a pilot, on a plane last week. We talked. I told him the whole story. He knew of you. He’d heard the low down skinny, he called it. He probably meant facts. He told me you might catch some ... He called it flak ... He probably meant shit ... From your former peers. I couldn’t have that. I won’t have that. My partner told me you deserved better, regardless of what kind of aircraft you fly, or flew.

“The colonel knows the secretary, and the secretary is very close to the president, as you already know if you watch the news. The president asked him to give me these, to pass on to you. You’ll get a kick out of them.” It was a stack of about fifteen business cards. The front of them had a small picture of him, and his title, naturally, and on the back, was printed some words to share with any of my ‘former peers’ that might give me a hard time for leaving the Air Force early or not ever getting that fighter jock assignment I came so close to getting.

“The secretary told me to tell you that you did fine, regardless of what the pimped-up brass in DC say, and that you should be proud of yourself. I certainly am proud of you. Mr. Cardin, the young lady that was at my side, my aide, is in fact the girlfriend, the partner, I alluded to. She knows how close we came to losing our lives that day. It could have come in any of several ways, but it was going to happen, sure as rain falls, save your actions.

“Don’t ever underestimate what you did. You saved your co-pilot, who will now see his son being born. You saved two colonels, just men, one would think, but one has two grandchildren he will play with this summer, and the other has twin daughters that he will watch graduate from high school next year. You saved my former assistant Henry, although he’s afraid of his own shadow now and the incident put him over the edge. He went back to Princeton to teach. International Political Science, believe it or not. You saved Melody and I, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. We are adopting a child in two weeks. That would have been a catastrophe for that child to be abandoned after we’ve been working on his adoption for over a year!” She shook her head. “No mind. I learned a lot that day, and the few days after. I used to think I was really hot shit, Mr. Cardin, someone important. Now I realize I’m nothing all that special. I think, therefore I have a job. I didn’t save all those people and their families’ wellbeing, Mr. Cardin. You did. You’re the one that’s special. Thank you. Give this to your significant other, be she a spouse, girlfriend, or whatever. My Melody wants her to have it.” She handed me a little jewelry box wrapped in blue and silver paper.

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Cardin. Now that I am the Undersecretary, and not the Deputy, since Harold left and the president offered it to me, I have very little free time, but what little I had, I wanted to spend with you. This meeting was that important to me. It really was. I wish your lady, the one Melody is passing that gift to, was here so I could meet her, but I’m afraid that won’t happen on this visit. Please be well, the both of you, and accept our gratitude.”

“Thank you, Ms. Pinard. Thank you very much.” The woman hugged me, then her bodyguard showed her out, and away they went in a huge black GMC Yukon XL.

Wow. No one would believe this if I didn’t have footage of it on my security cameras. Wow.

When Bethany returned home, I showed her the footage and handed her the little box. She unwrapped it to find a large lapel pin of sorts, about the size of a half dollar, inlaid with red, white, and blue enamel with the State Department logo in the middle and around the border the words in gold, ‘My Man is a Hero’. The thing weighed a ton. It had to be pretty rich gold. There was a little note, folded neatly, under the pin. Bethany unfolded it and read it to me.

‘Bethany, we will probably meet at some point. I hope we do. I offer you this token of my appreciation for caring for the man that saved the love and light of my life. It is a one-of-a-kind piece, 18 carat gold, and was custom made by a close jeweler friend of mine. The little shiny thing in the “o” is a diamond, signifying ‘forever’, as is my appreciation. There is no other like it, is what I’m saying. Just like your guy there, it is the only one of its kind in the world. Wear it with pride, Bethany. Please. Melody Constant Pinard.’

“Wow.” She looked up at me and repeated herself. “Wow.”

“I know, huh? She was very nice. They are adopting a kid in the next couple of weeks, and she mentioned it’s taken over a year to work it out, and it would have sucked if that hijacker would have killed us all and the kid would have been left behind. Yeah, she was pretty neat. We may see her or that Melody lady sometime. She was on the plane with us. Melody was.”

“Huh!” Bethany was still looking at the medal and the note, listening to me ramble. “I love you, Charlie. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

The week prior to us leaving, Bethany brought Maribeth over so they could try on ‘The Dress’ and plan what they’d be wearing and all. Liz came over for part of that, but I stayed out of the way. I did have things to do, but the managers were doing a really fine job of taking care of the businesses, so I was still in the slowly learning phase and not pushing myself hard enough to stress out.

Finally, the trip rolled around. We picked Liz and Sam up, then Maribeth, and headed to the plane. Maribeth had never been in a small plane before, telling us a 737 was the smallest she’d ever ridden in. Bethany made sure she was OK with everything, and they sat together with Liz for the trip. I had Sam up with me, more for weight distribution than anything, but we talked some and he said he enjoyed the ride up front. Dad had taken him fishing once, just the two of them, so this wasn’t his first time or anything.

One thing we talked about was Annie, since she was going to be there, unbeknownst to Bethany as of yet. He told me, as much as he prayed they’d stay together, the more time he spent around Roger the more it seemed like their marriage would be short lived. He was a cocky jock, and she was a high maintenance prima donna. It just didn’t seem like a good fit, but it wasn’t his business, except like he said, ‘to catch her when she falls’. He always had before and he always would in the future, as long as he was able.

We met Annie and Roger in the lobby of the resort that evening when the shuttle brought them in from the airport. I asked how the flight was, getting negative input from both of them. Uppity. They had it written all over them. Nothing was good enough for either of them.

Over dinner Roger asked which airline we came down on. “Mine, actually, Roger. I have a little SJ30 we run around in. It’s kind of small, but it’s fast and has a potty. That’s all that really matters.” Bethany and I laughed. Liz thought it was cute, too.

“What’s an SJ30,” Roger asked, evidently never hearing of one.

“Kind of like a T1A, but new, and fast, and mine. Made by a company called SyberJet.”

“Oh, and you have your own?” he smirked. “Sure, you do.” I don’t think he believed me. Oh, well.

We talked about aircraft we’d flown. He was strictly trainers and then off to A-10 Thunderbolts. Warthogs. Tank killers.

I told him about all the different transport and VIP planes I’d been able to fly. 737s and 757s made up for the Air Force and a few smaller aircraft, mostly the same ones used by businesses around the world. I thought the experience with civilian style aircraft was a plus, but Sam was right; this guy was a cocky jock. He thought it would be beneath him. Beneath him? A warthog driver? Gimme a break.

Annie’s husband Roger then asked me, “How many combat missions you got, taxi driver?

“Just the one.”

“One? Really? How does that work? Couldn’t handle the real Air Force.”

“It was a little dicey, but I handled it just fine. So, just the one.” Then I showed him the card signed by the president.

On the back was written, “If any of your “pilot buddies” give you a hard time, tell them there is a single gold bar waiting for them back at their base. I’d love to make them a Second Lieutenant. If that doesn’t shut them up, call me at the number I gave you.” Then his initials, the president’s. Everyone knew them by sight.

Bethany cracked up laughing. Annie told him to stop being rude. Liz told him the whole story then asked him how many Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars he had. I certainly wasn’t going to say anything about that trip, so Sam and I sat there looking at him as Liz told the story, with a little help from my intended. He didn’t care. He wasn’t the center of attention, so it was outside his circle of concern. He definitely suffered from MCS. Main Character Syndrome. What a tool!

“Here, Roger, let’s try one more thing and we’ll let it go since you obviously don’t give a shit, or can’t listen to a sentence that doesn’t have your name in it,” Bethany said as she reached into her purse for the little box and showed him the pin. “It was given to me by the wife of the Undersecretary of the State Department. Number three at State.” He looked at it with a smirk. “Charlie saved their lives that day. End of story. You are a putz, and my fiancé isn’t. That’s all.”

Roger looked like he was about to boil over. Not good. Sam wouldn’t want his son-in-law doing something stupid to his little girl. Neither of them, but especially not Bethany. That would not bode well for Roger’s health. I’m not a big guy, but I was bigger than Sam and Sam was bigger than Roger. ‘Enough’, I thought to myself. ‘This is not going to turn physical. We’re all adults here.’

“Little girl, you might want to watch your mouth around your elders.” Roger was just full of himself.

Annie spoke up. “Or what, Roger? Just calm down before this gets out of hand.”

“And here I was just thinking to myself I didn’t think this was going to get physical because we were all adults. Boy did I call that one wrong. Liz, Sam, Annie, Maribeth, I think Bethany and I are going to go for a walk and get a drink. I’ve had about all of Prince Roger I can handle for the evening. Maribeth?” She got up to follow us.

Roger moved as if to coil and strike, but Sam put his hand on Roger’s forearm. “Not smart, Roger. You should only do things like that if you are among friends, or you’ll get hurt. Guaranteed.”

I nodded to Sam and Liz, then took Bethany’s hand, she took Maribeth’s, and away we went. There was a bar not far from where we were sitting, and they got our business.

“I don’t want him as a witness, husband-to-be. Find a stranger to attend and sign with Maribeth, but I don’t want that asshole’s name on my most precious of documents.”

“Thank you for that, baby doll. I’ll see to it.”

“Buy us another of these daiquiris, handsome?”

I nodded. “Barkeep! Two more frozen strawberry daiquiris and a double Crown rocks.” I checked out her nametag. “Oh, Juanita,” I asked her, while looking at my betrothed, “could you witness a wedding tomorrow afternoon?”

“Sure. What time. My shift starts at three.”

“Two o’clock, actually. That should work out fine. You speak pretty good English, and is that an accent?”

“Yeah, I grew up in Mobile then we moved to Seattle for a couple of years, and I graduated high school in Virginia. My dad is a Coastie. He’s a swimmer. Maybe was, not is. He’s pretty rank.” All of us laughed a bit at the reference.

“Wow. We seem to be saying that a lot lately. Thank you. Name your fee! A bottle of wine? Money?”

“Where is the reception? Wait, are you the Cardin group?”

“Yep!”

“Just keep your folks happy and let them take care of my beer pitcher tip jar here, and we’ll call it even. I think you all are being placed at those tables in the corner. That’ll keep you from getting blasted by the band’s speakers, too. They’re excellent, but I think they might be deaf.” She laughed heartily. “Oh, and take good care of your girl. Not enough husbands do a good job of that anymore. That’s how you can repay me, but I would have done it just to help out.” She smiled.

“Thanks, Juanita. He’s started out pretty well. I think he’ll be a good one.”

She was talking and making drinks the whole time, showing her bartending prowess. Friendly, too. Juanita Costas was one of the really good ones.

We took our drinks, strolled the garden, then walked back by the family. Roger wasn’t there and Annie’s eyes were holding back tears.

“How are you doing, Charlie,” Annie asked me. “I would’ve asked before, but Captain Pinhead decided to be himself. If he’s not with his fighter pilot buddies, he’s pretty obnoxious. He thinks being named flight leader makes him some kind of god or something. Making captain was less important to him. Sorry, I’m falling into the same trap. I’ll shut up and you can answer my question.”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh. Cold shoulder. I guess I deserve that.”

“It’s not that, Annie. I’m fine. Really. I’m marrying the most wonderful woman in the world tomorrow, and I have a job. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

“My little sister is a lucky girl. Looking back...” I interrupted her.

“Don’t, Annie. Don’t ever look back. Always look to the future and how to make it better. It’s just my advice, and worth every penny you paid for it, but I’ll bet these fine folks that love you unconditionally will say the same thing.”

“Hear, hear.” It was Sam. He reached out and squeezed her hand, then nodded. “He’s right, baby. Liz, come walk with me,” he said to his wife. They took each other’s hands and hit the bar, then went for a walk with their drinks. About thirty minutes later, they returned. “Charlie, how many will your plane hold?”

“Six comfortably. We’re traveling pretty light.”

“Good. If you’ll indulge me, we’ll be full up on the way back. I’ll buy the wine to keep the tourists happy in the back. Annie, you still not working? Between positions, as you say?”

“Yes, daddy. Why? What’s this about a full plane?”

“You’re coming home with us. I just found your husband with his hand on a woman’s half naked breast and his tongue down her throat. Neither of them was unhappy about it. Sorry.”

A tear fell. “No problem. I told him next time he’d find himself alone. He said no he wouldn’t, he’d just find himself without me. I guess he got what he wanted. I actually saw it coming, I just didn’t think he’d embarrass me in front of my family.”

“Annie. Forward, not back, OK?” I asked her. She nodded then her head fell to her father’s shoulder, and she wept.”. “I’ll be right back. Which direction, Sam. I want to let him know he’s uninvited.”

Sam pointed toward the other bar on the far side of the hotel. “Charlie, don’t make a big deal of it. If Annie was expecting it, and I was expecting it, he’s not worth your time or effort.”

“I know, Sam. I understand. I just don’t like him.” Sam and I both laughed. Maribeth had a frown, Bethany looked concerned, Annie was still crying a bit, and Liz just shook her head.

“Boys.” Liz said, then smiled and patted her older daughter’s arm. Annie was still leaning on Sam, but it looked like she was about to join the party again. Her lips almost made a smile. Liz’s comment got Bethany grinning and Maribeth giggling.

I found him at the bar, talking to the aforementioned half naked breast, or at least the woman it was attached to. His arm was around her waist and her pelvis was pushed up against his thigh. She was definitely enjoying the attention. My first thought was how much this was going to cost him, but that was seriously none of my business. If he was getting it free from a woman who was almost certainly a prostitute, that was his affair. Literally. I smiled at my play on words.