Lt. Williams looked up at the gray sky. The heavy overcast had grounded all flights as it seemed this weather had socked all the airbases and extended across the continent. He was thankful for the day off. He and the crew of "Tantalizing Take-off" had completed a dozen missions and so for only one crew member, Roberts, the right waist gunner had been hit. Even that would be stretching it as he slammed his fingers while clearing a jam in his .50 cal machine gun on their last flight. O'Rourke, the other waist gunner, had found a 4 leaf clover upon returning from the first mission and had pinned it to his flight suit. He took to painting one at his station after each mission and one the crew took it a step further. Now a 4 leaf clover was stenciled over the entry door and each crew man patted it upon getting in for luck.
The word around the base was the ship was "special". Something to do with the serial number or some other dumb thing. Lt. Archer, the co-pilot, was convinced it was Williams' piloting skills, that somehow Williams just knew where to be in the sky. Aaron knew better. It was just dumb luck. No 4 leaf clover, no prayer, could save them if their time was up.
Yesterday was a prime example. It was a milk run, a hop across the Channel to the Pas de Calais, to bomb some military installation. There was fighter cover and clear skies. The flak was light too. As they began the bomb run, the B-17 on their starboard disappeared in flash. It seemed it was hit in the bomb bay by some flak and was gone. There were no survivors. Of the 75 planes that took part in the raid, it was the only one that failed to return.
Aaron headed down the sidewalk in Duckworth. It hadn't changed since he was here two weeks ago but then again, it hadn't changed in fifty years. He was headed for a date with Bridget. It had been two weeks since he had been with her and the memory was still fresh in his mind. He was able to lose himself in her warm, soft body that night and he needed to lose himself again. He wasn't sure about how he felt about her. He enjoyed her company and conversation that night. As far as the sex, she was responsive and willingly. He felt she was more than just someone to romp in the hay with but how much more?
One thing he was sure of as he stopped in front of the local flower shop. He noticed it was about 10 minutes before closing and he knew that his timing was perfect. He could see her standing behind the counter as he entered. He knew nothing about her except her name, well, at least her last name, Mrs. Scottsdale. Obviously she was married but where was Mr. Scottsdale? In the service? Maybe she was divorced. It didn't matter. Since he literally ran into her, he had a desire to meet her again, to talk, and to get to know her. There was something about her that intrigued him. She looked up from her work.
"Why, hello, Lieutenant," She smiled as she spoke. "May I help you with something?"
There it was. That sparkle in her eyes he first noticed.
"Yes, you can," he replied. "I'm looking for some flowers, small bouquet, for a lady."
"Any special ones?"
"No, not really. I was hoping you could help me. Perhaps you could tell me what you like."
"All right." She moved from behind the counter.
Aaron watched her walk towards some flowers across the store. There was something about her that reminded him of the girls from Princeton. There was an air about her. The way she walked and moved showed one who was confident and sure of herself. She acted like she was use to a life far from this flower shop and Duckworth. He watched her closely.
"How about these," she said turning to him and showing him some daisies.
Aaron took a second to answer her as his mind was elsewhere. "Uh, yes, sure. What ever you say." He mumbled.
She frowned at him and placed a hand on her hip. "Did you hear anything I said, Lieutenant?"
"Yes,yes," he replied, "They are fine." He moved closer to her. He wasn't sure if it was her perfume or the flowers he smelled but it was heavenly. He smiled.
Vicki looked up into his face. Suddenly she felt strange and confused. There was something about him that awoke some long lost feelings within her. She felt cornered. "Good," She attempted to move by him but it seemed as they moved, they blocked their way. Aaron started to laugh and it was infectious. She joined in.
Aaron stepped aside. "Sorry."
"Anything else, Lieutenant? A card perhaps?"
"Yes, just a note." Aaron was now standing across the counter from her. "And something else." He took a small card and wrote on it.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
He looked right at her. "Your name. Don't you think it's a little silly you calling me Lieutenant and me, well?"
