Smoke and Mirrors (59 page)

The man’s eyes widened in surprise, then he looked around suspiciously. “I uh, want to thank you, Smoke, for always being courteous to me. I had heard about what happened after I came for…service… of course. Paris let me know that you all were closing down.” He hung his head. “I never told you why I came to your place of business in the first place though.”

Smoke shook his head. “It doesn’t matter the reason, Ben. That’s your personal business.”

“No,” the man said gravely. “But it matters to
me
.” He pointed at himself. “Smoke, when I met you, you were basically running two brothels across the street from one another. I had been told by a buddy of mine about you and Paris, and the experiences I could have at your business would be like none other. He said it was top notch, and he went on and on about it. I was assured it was secure, the girls were clean, and you and Paris were very discreet and professional.” He took a deep breath. “I had never had sex with anyone other than my wife, before coming to you, Smoke. She and I have been married for thirty-two years. You see, my wife has terminal cancer. She’s dying.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Benjamin nodded forlornly.

“I’ve always had what I’d call a rather healthy sexual appetite. Knowing this about me, she’d given me permission to have, you know, sex with someone else.” He wiped at the sudden moisture in his eyes. “I know what everyone thinks of prostitution and all of that, and if anyone found out about what I was doing, I could lose everything, but no one knew my story, you know?” He shrugged. “People can judge all they want, but I needed to go somewhere safe, a place where I was treated with a shred of dignity. You gave that to me and then some. You never made any crude remarks, you ran your business very professionally and the girls were always a lot of fun.” He chuckled sadly.

“Thank you for that, Benjamin, and you’re right. No one knows another man’s story. All I can say is being out of the life has some pros and cons, but it’s always been my dream to fly commercial airlines.”

“You know what?” The man dabbed the side of his mouth with a napkin. “I’m going to see if I can pull some strings, Smoke. I’m not promising anything, but I’ve got a good feeling about this. Not to brag, but I have a lot of clout too, and I’ve gotten two of my buddies in as well. I want you to give me
all
of your flight school information. Mail it to me; I’ll give you my address.”

“Yeah, of course,” Smoke said excitedly as he whipped his phone out to take the information down.

“After you do that, do what I said regarding your record and if you need an attorney or can’t afford one, my wife’s best friend’s husband is a criminal attorney and I will ask him what you might be able to do. With your high school GPA, no drug charges,” he said with a shrug, “that can only work in your favor. Maybe I can get you in here a bit faster, but you still have a lot of work to do.”

“Of course, of course!”

“You’ve got well over the sixty hours sought after. You’ve already got your Private Pilot certificate.” The man seemed to be doing a checks and balances for himself, working it all out. “Do you have your medical certificate?”

“No.”

“Get it done
this
week. I’ll give you the info of the guy to call.”

“I’m on it.” Smoke’s heart was beating out of his damn chest, his excitement reaching a fever pitch, and the joy within wanted to burst free at the notion that this
really
might happen.

“Smoke, you’ll need fifty hours of cross country Pilot-in-Command, also known as PIC, and forty hours of definite or replicated instrument conditions. For the commercial certificate, you will need two hundred and fifty hours total time, a hundred hours PIC, fifty hours cross country, and ten hours of dual instruction in a complex aircraft. I can get you to the right people for that, too. Will you be able to handle this? Because once I start making calls, you will need to move when I say move. I
really
want to help you…but you have to be committed.”

Brent could see the sincerity in the man’s eyes. “Ben, you have my word! You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”

“…And don’t think I didn’t notice the airplane posters in your office when I paid my advances. And the model airplanes, some of which are quite rare… You’ve got quite the collection. As I wanted to remain somewhat anonymous, I didn’t ask you the questions I wanted to, or shared my thoughts with you. But I could see you loved it, though I never knew you wanted to actually
fly
yourself. I believe you have it in you to do this, you just need a little help.”

“I won’t disappoint you, Ben.” He extended his hand as the man stood up to leave, and they shook on it.

“I know you won’t, and I’ll be in touch.” He smiled warmly.

“Hey, where are you flying to tonight? I’m just curious,” Smoke asked, grinning big.

“I get to go to London, then to Australia! It’s tea time, mate!” He chuckled as he saluted him, turned on his shiny black heels and walked away.

Smoke stood there with his chest heaving and nostrils flaring as he fought back tears. He watched the man until he was totally out of sight.

That could be me one day. That could be me walking to my plane. I know I’m still worthy! Just because I made some bad choices doesn’t mean I don’t deserve a second chance. I can turn my life around. I have something to live for now! I’ve got a good woman; she’s smart and beautiful. We can have a beautiful life together. God, if you exist, please help me, give me a chance!

He sat back down and placed his hands together, as if in prayer.

If you are real, you are the only one that can make this dream of mine come true. I read somewhere that you aren’t into doing deals and making bargains and all that stuff, but I also read you have a different relationship with each and every one of us, so I promise you, if you let me have this opportunity, I’ll do you proud. I will never say you aren’t real again, and I will not go back to the life I left. As tempting as it is, I will never pick up my old ways. It is so hard, because any moment, I could turn around and get a few girls, earn thousands of dollars in one night versus worrying about my savings dwindling away. But that’s not right, that’s not the life I want anymore. I wanna square up, completely!

I
know
I was wrong. Admission is half the battle. Being a pimp wasn’t a glamorous thing. Most nights I could barely sleep, the jealousy from other pimps was grating, scared the cops would decide to haul me in, worried about people trying to rob me, or johns doing crazy stuff. Having to physically fight, deal with a bunch of different women’s emotions, stopping catfights, keeping them STD clear, HIV free and no pregnancies—it was always something! Just because I tried to be the best one I could be, and treat people with compassion, doesn’t make it any less ugly and iniquitous. Yeah, iniquitous… I learned that word from Paris.
He grinned.

Anyway, I didn’t have a good life growing up, and I blamed you for that. I figured, if God was real, why would He give me a mother like I have, and let my father die like that? I still don’t understand that, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t real. Paris believes in you; she prays before every meal. Through her, I’m learning. She’s not stupid, so why would I think her beliefs are dumb, too? I got a little money, and I need to stretch it. You may have blessed me with a baby, too. I need to take care of that child, God, and I need to be able to do it long term, have something secure. But, with you on my side, and a good woman in my corner, anything is possible. I don’t know what ‘amen’ means, but I think this is the part where I say it. Amen.

He slowly opened his eyes and took note of several people staring at him. Standing from his seat, he made his way back towards the airport exit. His chest poked out with pride, and his heart swelled with promise.

And all the airport church members said, ‘Amen’…

*

A few weeks later…

Paris drummed the
dining room table a bit louder. She had no idea she’d feel this way, the mixed emotions, the disappointment. Smoke sat across from her, his salad half eaten and a stack of papers to his left. He lifted his head and clasped his hands together, offering a sad smile.

“Well, isn’t it funny how things like this can make you ponder? So, you’re not pregnant. Okay.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t mean much has changed in the way that we’re treating one another and our goals.”

“I know.” She lowered her head. “I’d just kind of gotten used to the idea. Like you said weeks ago, I know the timing wasn’t the best, but the notion started to grow on me. When the doctor told me this morning that I wasn’t pregnant, I just…wanted to cry. And then I got scared, started wondering maybe I can’t even have a baby, you know?”

“Why would you think that?” He sat back in his seat and peered at her in confusion.

“Because…my past. And…my periods are off more times than not.” She shrugged. “Things happen. Anyway, just wanted you to know the test was negative. I’ll live.” She smiled weakly. “So, uh, I see you’ve got a bunch of stuff to read again.” Her smile grew a bit wider.

“Yup.” He tapped the stack beside him. “I still can’t believe it. Everything is coming together. The lawyer said it will take a while to get my record expunged, but it will be done.”

“That is wonderful!” She was so proud of her baby.

“Hopefully I’ll hear back soon from Valdosta State University. I’m still trying to get into their Organizational Leadership bachelors program.”

“You’ll get it,” she said with certainty. She stood from the table and began to clear the dishes. “I have faith in you.”

“Here, let me help you.” He started to stand.

“No, you stay right there and read through that dictionary,” she teased. She bent low and kissed the top of his head, moving his dark, silky strands about. As she turned to walk away, he grabbed her wrist. She twisted in his direction.

“What?”

“I love you.”

She stood there a couple seconds, seeing the truth all over his face.

“I know you do, and I love you, too.”

As she walked away towards the kitchen, she heard the shuffling of papers as the man dove back into his work for receiving his pilot credentials. He was on a mission, and she found him far sexier at that moment than he could ever imagine…

*

Smoke had had
a hell of a time finding the place. Brian Ranch Airport was not readily accessible, but once he got there, his heart flipped. Where else could he find such an atmosphere? On one side sat the light sport aircrafts and on the other, fields and rows of fruit trees stretched as far as the eye could see. He’d tried to find the place she’d gone to as a child, but it was closed, defunct. Paris held his hand as she looked around in bewilderment. Her brown and white polka dot scarf, which was wrapped around her head like a headband, blew around in the light wind, making her look like a damn movie star. Just then, a man approached them wearing a blue-gray jumpsuit. He extended his hand.

“You must be Brent Patterson.”

“I am,” Brent smiled widely and shook the man’s hand. “And this is my girlfriend, Paris.”

“Nice to meet you, Paris.”

“Likewise.”

“You can follow me,” the middle-aged man instructed as he turned on his heels.

“What’s going on?” Paris questioned. “You told me you were bringing me out for a plane ride.”

“I am.”

“Then why are you looking so goofy, like you’re up to something?” She arched an eyebrow.

“Baby, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” He feigned ignorance as they made their way inside of a large barn-like area.

“Daryl, this is Brent. He is getting his FAA license but he has brought his girlfriend with him to first go picking, and then take a ride.” The tall man with sleepy eyes and large bifocals nodded to them.

“Picking? Picking what?” Paris asked.

“Shhhh,” Smoke whispered as he took her hand and they followed their host back out the barn. They climbed into a golf cart, and made the trek over to rows and rows of colorful nectarine, plum, apricot and cherry trees. Paris covered her mouth in awe, only partially stifling a noise he’d never heard her make before. The man got off the cart and handed each of them a large basket with two folded canvas bags inside.