Chapter 6: You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby!

Gwen Novak had not been looking favorably to driving five-plus hours from Las Vegas to Mammoth Lakes or a shitty flight to LAX and a similar drive. The seasonal flights to the ski town would be pretty much done by the time her niece’s arrival was due. From either direction, the drive was scenic but wearing.

One of her favorite pilots heard her grousing and told her. “When the time comes, give me two hours’ notice and port over to the Tucson boneyard. Bring your flight suit, and I’ll get you to Mammoth Lakes.”

The call came from Kate. Contractions had started, so Smokey called her friend. She stepped through a transporter to the boneyard and met Major Ralph ‘Spook’ Edwards. He led her out onto the field, through shimmering heat from a blazing yellow sun, and up to a dream. Her jaw dropped, and she shook with a major cum. Before her sat a ‘family model’ YA-10B Warthog. The painted teeth on the nose held a pair of frilly pink bikini panties.

“The only dual-seater, modified in the Republic factory, was sitting at the Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base. One of my just-rejuvenated buddies remembered her. Sooo, we ‘borrowed’ the beauty and had it upgraded and replicated for when we needed to take you or Sparky up for a pilot’s view of your ‘calls’. I call her Smokin’ Hot.” Gwen threw her arms around Spook and laid on a kiss hot enough to sear his ears.

Spook reluctantly disengaged and walked her back inside to get her fitted into her customized flight suit. “Go de-wet,” he told her. “No piddle packs on this short a flight.” Together, with Spook helping her, they donned anti-g gear. Suitably attired, she picked up her travel kit and they walked back out to her chauffeured chariot.

After his checklist, Spook explained as they taxied to the heat shimmering runway, “Way back when, the Air Force thought they needed something more for night and adverse weather missions – so one prototype two-seater was built. The buddy I told you about was one of the test pilots. It flew a little over forty-eight hours. As it turned out, electronics outpaced the need, and the concept was canceled. But you should know – all the upgraded electronics and new physical mods are included in this bird, so it’s ready for just about any mission.”

Even with a slight addition for some aerobatics, the flight to Mammoth Lakes was much too short. The approach from the south over incredible mountains was a real treat, and with no significant winds, the landing was smooth. When informed of a quick turnaround, ground control directed them to park near a recently arrived United Express.

As he walked with her to the terminal, Spook told her, “Keep the high-G getup with you and call when you need picked up. I’ll come get you.”

After a hug and another hot kiss, Smokey picked up her gear and walked through the small building to the parking lot where Kate’s minivan was parked with the key under the mat. As she prepared to move on to the hospital, her phone played Smoke Gets In Your Eyes to announce a call from her niece, Kim.

Swiping her cell’s speakerphone icon, she answered, “Hi Pumpkin, I just landed and picked up your mom’s van.”

“Oh good!” Kim responded. “Auntie, can I call Giovanni’s Pizza and order takeout for dinner? We’re tired of sandwiches.”

“Sure thing,” Smokey told her as she pulled out of the lot. “Order whatever you and Bobby want and get whatever you think the little ones will eat. I want a Mammoth-sized Masterpiece pizza so there’ll be some left for breakfast. Have them add a large dinner salad but no cucumbers and with Thai peanut dressing. I’m going to stop in and try to see your mother, so text me when they say it will be done. I’ll pick it up on the way out.”

She pulled into the hospital visitors’ parking and told Kim, “I’m parking now at the hospital. I’ll call when I’m on the way to Giovanni’s so you can have the table set and drinks poured. Make sure everyone’s hands are washed.”

Entering the hospital, Smokey was impressed. Kate had told her it was a seventeen-bed facility with a three-bed birthing ward. Dressed as she was, she drew immediate attention and was approached by a woman in scrubs who detoured across the lobby to meet her. “Can I help you ma’am?”

“I hope so. My sister was admitted to deliver, and I just flew in to watch her kids,” Smokey explained. “I stopped in to see her before I head over to shepherd the flock.”

“Lucky you!” the woman told her. “You must be Gwen. Kate told us to expect you just about any time.” She held out her hand, “I’m Patricia Barton, the ward’s nurse practitioner. Come on, I’ll walk you to her room.”

Patricia knocked lightly on the door, and when told to enter, demurred and explained, “I’ve got paperwork, so I’ll leave you to visit. I’m sure I’ll see more of you later.”

As Smokey entered, Kate looked up from her breastfeeding newborn, smiled, and said, “Hi Sis. Meet your newest niece, Melody. When the little glutton is done sucking, you can hold her and greet her all proper.”

Smokey leaned over and kissed her sister and then the top of Melody’s head.

“You smell like sex,” Kate exclaimed. “You been boffin’ on the plane?”

“Oh, Sis, you should have been there,” Smokey responded. “I had a huge orgasm when I saw what they sent for me, and I probably came a half dozen times during the flight – no man involved except the pilot, and he was too busy flying.”

She looked around and to change the subject, exclaimed, “Wow, this is quite the yuppieville setup!”

The room was large and appeared to have wood or wood-laminate flooring. Probably wood, as Kate’s hospital bed was positioned on a clear plastic mat. By the window sat a plush leather recliner, whether for visitors or a new mother’s use wasn’t immediately obvious. A large bouquet of pink roses sat on a side table.

“Well, aside from enabling me to work from home, a career as a financial advisor has surprised me with its earning power. I can afford the insurance and other costs, and you are right, this really is a high-end facility.” Kate continued, “If I hadn’t lost my nanny and personal assistant, I’d still be independent and not need to call you in for help. Arnold and Maddie just had to go get married in Vegas and then got extracted.”

“On the other hand, a huge portion of Mammoth Lakes uses me as their advisor, and I manage the 401ks for several of the locally owned resorts and the city’s retirement accounts. Since Maddie and Arnold left, someone pretty much has an eye out for me and the kids.” She shrugged and switched Melody to her other breast.

“But that can’t resolve everything,” she pointed to two plump manila envelopes on a table across the room. “I had my attorney update all my legal paperwork. Both your packet and Richard’s have everything; from will to durable power of attorney, to advance health care directive, to custody of the kids. And that includes Melody. Everything! And it’s on a thumb drive, and in your Dropbox folders, too. Takin’ no chances, don’t ya know?”

“Promise me that you’ll take the kids if you and Richard have a chance to go. But I suppose there’s crapola of a chance for that with the work you two do.” Tears leaked, “If I could, I’d go with you, too, but why disrupt the kids and move out of California for such a long shot?”