Different Circles

Jae nodded thoughtfully. “We might,” he said. “I enjoy talking to her. She never been married, right?”

“Never has,” Jake said. “She’s always been kind of married to her work. She takes accounting very seriously you know.”

“I respect that work ethic,” Jae said. “I have it myself.”

“I wish you luck with her,” Jake said. “She’s a good girl.”

“Jill or the aircraft?” Jae asked.

“Both,” Jake said.

They filed the flight plan and walked back.

“What are your ratings?” Jake asked the engineer.

“IFR rated but not commercial,” he replied. “I’ve recently completed the multi-engine, turboprop, and pressurized flight modules. I’m still building up hours for the test flights. If I decide to purchase the plane, I should be done by the time escrow closes.”

“So, you do know how to fly a twin-engine turboprop then?” Jake asked.

“I do,” he said, “I’m just not supposed to do it with passengers aboard.”

“Hey, Jill and I aren’t really passengers, we’re business acquaintances. Why don’t you take the left seat?”

“You want me to fly the plane?” he asked, surprised.

“You can take off and bring us up to cruise flight,” Jake said. “I’ll guide you through the flight to Catalina and go over the autopilot with you. I’ll land us when we get there though. The airport is a little tricky.”

Jake was afraid that Jae would be a stickler for the rules, but he was not. He was delighted to jump in the left seat. Jill seemed a little nervous when she heard the plan of action, but she said nothing and climbed right in after them.

They had a good flight to Catalina. Jae took off and brought them up to seven thousand feet without any issues, exclaiming all the way about how fast the Chancellor climbed. Jake nodded, thinking that eighteen hundred feet a minute was awfully slow compared to the three thousand feet a minute the Avanti could climb, but everything was relative. He remembered his own days in the Cessna 172 which strained to even climb eight hundred feet per minute if there was more than just the pilot aboard.

Jake landed them on the elevated runway at Catalina and parked them near the restaurant on site. They had a nice dinner of steak and baked potatoes, all of them abstaining from alcohol. Jake felt a little like a third wheel during this portion of the day as Jill and Jae spent the entire meal talking to each other and ignoring him. They talked of where they had gone to college, how they had started their careers, and a little of their family background. They smiled at each other frequently and Jake could feel that chemistry flowing back and forth. They then climbed back into the plane for the flight back. Jake took off, thrilling Jae to the core with the exhilarating launch from the clifftop at Catalina, and then let the engineer fly them back across the sea to the pattern for Oceano. He was able to make a smooth touchdown directly on the centerline without any issues. Jake then took over and taxied back to the hangar.

“I’m going to buy this plane,” Jae said once they disembarked and pushed the aircraft back into storage. “I would like to start the official process on Monday morning.”

“Sounds good,” Jake said. “I’ll be back in Coos Bay on Monday though. You’ll be dealing primarily with Jill here.” He paused. “I hope that’s all right.”

“Oh ... yes, that is fine,” Jae said. “I’m looking forward to working with you on this, Jill.”

“Me too,” Jill said shyly.

“So...” Jake said as they walked back to the office for the final time, “are you staying here in the area tonight, Jill?”

“I have a hotel room in San Luis Obispo,” she said. “The ... uh ... same hotel where Jae is staying.”

“The Marriott,” Jae said enthusiastically. “Nice place.”

“Yes, it is,” Jake said with a smile. “But there’s no need for you to stay in a hotel, Jill. Laura and I would be delighted to have you stay with us for the night.”

“Uh...” Jill said slowly, her eyes casting to Jae for a moment and then back to Jake. “I ... uh ... already booked the room and paid for it.”

“A pity,” Jake said, his smile increasing a little. “Think of the money you could have saved.”

“Sometimes,” Jill said, “you just have to splurge a little.”

Jake chuckled. “Who are you?” he asked her. “And what have you done with Jill?”

“Excuse me?” she asked, confused.

“Never mind,” Jake said. “I trust you can guide Jae here safely to his room?”

“I think we’ll manage,” Jill said.

They parted ways a few moments later. Jake was happy that at least someone was going to be getting his weenie wet tonight. His own prospects were not looking so good.