Chapter 29: Cappy’s Happy

When Cappy, Ann, and Susan arrive in Crescent City, they are too tired to appreciate the homecoming celebration his family has arranged. Not that they don’t appreciate the sentiment, they do feel welcome, but are just too exhausted to participate in the festivities for more than half an hour. Introductions, eat, kisses all around, then off to bed, is the extent of their public appearance. No problem.

The decorations will survive till tomorrow. More food will be prepared, and homecoming is easily stretched over two days. The feast isn’t wasted. There’s just enough family, and they’re hungry enough, to do it justice. The guests of honor choose to retire early? Well, their presence is missed, not required. Partying is his family’s obsession. Celebrating the good life, every day, in every way.

It was a long uncomfortable three day flight, with many, frequent stops. Cappy had fuel caches prepared during his outbound flight, at four equally spaced locations. These were his only planned return stops. Didn’t allow for comfort stops when he set up the caches. Hadn’t even met Susan, at that time. Ann’s bathroom stops, and Susan’s frequent diaper changes, required nearly two dozen additional landings. Taking off again is fuel hungry. Stretching his fuel is a logistical nightmare if he stops every time Ann wants, and more than once, he refused a pit stop, that wouldn’t leave enough fuel to reach the next cache. That created arguments on the ground, and more delays. Cappy wanted to, and is amazed he didn’t maroon Ann. Ann would be horrified to know how often he nearly did. They arrive home completely out of patience and nearly out of fuel.

Following the St Johns River southward, brings them to Crescent Lake. The pier jutting into the lake marks his landing approach and his waving family crowded onto the pier, his beacon. Cappy trains binoculars on the smiling crowd, checking they are waving hello, and not waving him off. Go for landing. Cappy lines up on the pier and the side street in line with it, and across the road from the lake.

Touch down, and the crowd cheers. Running in pursuit, the entire family stripped themselves from the pier to give chase up the street. Catching up, they seize and stop the plane, shortening the roll out.

Cappy’s dismal spirit is greatly rejuvenated by the outpouring of love and adoration from the jubilant crowd of relations. Several volunteers wheel the ultralight into the restored barn at the rear of the property. Walking with Linda embracing him on on side, Paula hugging him on the other, Missy riding him piggyback, and laughing Susan still strapped to him, and protruding from the open vee in front of his flight suit, Cappy scans the homestead changes.

On the pinnacle of the highest roof, a Cape Cod style widow’s walk has been added during his absence. Two Dan-no bots keep vigil there. High-powered rifles near to hand but kept out of sight, Cappy presumes. What else is new or changed?

The former broken concrete mobile home pads, have long before been filled over with graded gravel, but recently paved with asphalt. What else is new, is the shrubbery surrounding the parking lot. Also, several new classic cars, he’s not seen before, are parked amidst the many family owned restored classics he’s already familiar with.

“I take it, these improvements are all thanks to you, Linda. Thank you. Dresses the place up dramatically. Glad we don’t pay taxes.”

“Thank you, Erik. We have several appreciation gifts for you inside. And one for you too, Susan! She’s very beautiful, Erik. I understand why you wouldn’t part from her. Is she... ?”

“Don’t get too nosey, Linda. But I’m waiting for Susan to grow up.”

“Completely? Or some?”

“Enough!” This can be taken two ways, and Cappy intends both.

“What gift have you for Susan? I’m very curios.”

“It’s a gift we consider to be for both of you. First, I needed to see Susan, and ask you some nosey questions. Now, I’ll proceed. The presentation should be ready in a few hours. If you’ll excuse me?”

Missy quickly assumes Linda’s vacated place at his side. Cappy is pleased she’s finally off his back.

“When will you be ready for some naughtiness, Daddy?”

Both Paula and Missy want to know. Irrepressible, perpetual teenagers, his forty year old daughters, are still his naughty Lolitas.