Blue Skies Read Free Page A

pilot working and living in a world that still belonged to men. And wasn’t that really why Drake had been such a dick? Because he’denvied Nikki’s skill and intelligence and capability? Buck had always thought as much.
    Her life had been too hard. But then, Nikki never did take the easy way.
    Lucille Paxton approached him from behind, gazing up at the sky. She owned the café that was attached to the fixed-base hangar offices. In her sixties like Buck, Lucille had often been the stand-in mother and grandmother around Burgess Aviation. Heavy, gray-haired and rosy cheeked, she wore jeans and a T-shirt with an American flag on it and Support Our Troops printed underneath. “I fixed April up with a soda.”
    Trotting along behind her was Pistol, Buck’s latest mutt. He was an odd-looking creature with the head of a Labrador, long curly ears like a cocker spaniel or poodle, the short legs of a dachshund, and the genitalia of a small buffalo. But by far his most endearing quality was that he adored Jared and despised Precious.
    Buck squatted to pat the Labra-doodle-cocka-dachsie while watching the sky.
    When Nikki came around and lined up to land, Lucille said, “She’s due a break.”
    â€œDamn straight,” Buck replied.
    Â 
    There were only two cars at Drake’s house when Nikki, Buck and the kids returned—the housekeeper’s old Camry and Dixie’s Acura. Nikki breathed a huge sigh of relief. The open house was over and she didn’t have to face anyone from Drake’s firm. The mere thought of never having to deal with his secretary, Mona, again almost filled her with glee.
    She found her friends in the living room, seated on the sofa, grim-faced. Dixie tilted her head toward the dining room and Nikki looked for the source of the problem. Ah, yes. Her mother. Who else? Opal sat in a straight-backed dining room chair, her expression dour, her poodle curled up on her lap. “Well, finally,” she said by way of greeting. Precious stirred at her words.
    The kids headed straight for the kitchen. Nikki dropped her leather shoulder bag on a living room chair and draped her funeral clothes over it. She hadn’t bothered to change out of the greasy mechanic’s jumpsuit and boots. “Sorry, Mother, but the kids just weren’t up to any more. They’d had it.”
    Buck and Pistol sauntered in. Precious wriggled upright, and with his back legs on Opal’s lap and front legs on the chair arm, snarled meaningfully. Pistol trotted toward him and snarled back, message received.
    â€œYou could have at least attempted to get here in time to say hello to a few of Drake’s mourners,” she scolded.
    â€œOh, for Pete’s sake, Mother, he was my ex. If it weren’t for the kids, I wouldn’t even be here.”
    But Opal wasn’t listening. She was transfixed by the ensemble Nikki wore, complete with unlaced steel-toed boots. “Good Lord, Nicole, what is that you have on? Merciful heavens.” She stood slowly from her chair, holding Precious and clucking in disgust. “I believe I’ll just go lie down. My head pounds.”
    Opal toddled down the hall with her poodle, past the master bedroom to the guest room. She went in and closed the door. Nikki, who had watched her departure, turned a stunned expression back to her friends.
    â€œThat’s where I’ve been sleeping,” she said. “I just couldn’t make myself use Drake’s room.”
    â€œI believe your mother knows that,” Carlisle said. “She mentioned something about it being…what was it? Disheveled.”
    â€œWell, Christ.”
    â€œCheer up. Maybe she’ll tidy up while she’s in there.”
    â€œI guess I probably owe you two for sticking it out with her all afternoon,” Nikki said.
    â€œSometimes your friendship comes at a mighty fine price,” Dixie drawled. “But Opal wasn’t near as bad as