Page 84 of My All American Girl

“I know, I know,” I said. “She handled it wrong, but she saved a fellow trainee. Everyone respects her for that. She was outnumbered and outsized, but she did it anyway. If you’re going into battle, she’s the one you want by your side. She’s not lacking in bravery.”

“That’s good to hear,” he grunted. “I suppose people on a military base have bigger fish to fry than some drama that happened a thousand miles away. And those guys had it coming.”

I got up and started pacing around my small front yard just so I didn’t cheer. After our last conversation, I thought he would never see reason. “It’s really not as bad as you might think, Mo,” I said, keeping my tone even. “She’s toughened up a bit. Things are going to be fine.”

There was a short silence on the line. When Mo spoke next, his voice was softer. “Dean, I just want my little girl to be okay. Maybe I pushed her into this life too soon.”

His admission caught me by surprise. Was he doubting his decision? It was understandable. Sarah was braver than most, but she still had a certain innocence about her, an innocence I was scared this life would strip away.

“Mo…” I started, then hesitated. “It wasn’t too soon. She’s doing really well. I see your grit in her. But I also talked with her, and I believe she has learned a lesson. She’s not going to be so quick to jump into a fight.”

He burst into laughter. “Have you met my daughter?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “She doesn’t take shit from anyone.”

“That girl has never seen a fight she doesn’t want to be a part of,” he said with a hint of pride in his voice.

I chuckled, picturing her fiery spirit. “That’s true. But she’s learning to keep a leash on that temper, Mo. Her friend got hurt in that fight. It delayed his training. She feels guilty and doesn’t want that to happen again. She’s seen the consequences and she’ll think twice next time.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment I thought maybe the call had dropped. “I hope you’re right, Dean. One thing I’ve always told her is I will never use my position or my name to bail her out of trouble. She insists I don’t. I’m not going to start now. If she keeps going down this path, she’s going to find herself working a supply line.”

“But she’s a damn good pilot,” I reminded him. “The Air Force needs her. Old guys like me are at the tail end of our careers. She’s the next generation. I know if I was going into a dogfight, she would be the one I wanted on my wing.”

“That’s right,” Mo replied, his tone revealing a mix of proud father and disciplining officer. “She’s got the makings of a great pilot, no doubt about it. Sometimes, I just worry she’ll let her fire get the best of her, you know?”

I knew indeed. “It’s a legitimate concern.” I had seen it firsthand when that spark turned into a wildfire. “But sometimes, it’s exactly what we need.”

“You’re not wrong,” he admitted after a pause. “We just have to keep an eye on her. Make sure she uses that fire for good. She needs to learn control. I’m counting on you to handle that.”

“I assure you, Mo, I’m working on it. I’ll have a better assessment after the long weekend in July. I’m taking her to London to test her limits in an unfamiliar region.”

Mo seemed to like this idea. “That’s good. She needs to be challenged. I don’t want her up there if she can’t handle it. She’s got my name. People are going to expect a lot more from her. I appreciate you looking out for her, Dean. She’s my whole world and knowing she has you to catch her gives me peace of mind. You’re a good friend. I appreciate you keeping an eye on her. That young lady has a knack for finding trouble.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, the guilt gnawing at me. “I’ll make sure she’s ready to prove herself.”

The call ended, and I hung my head. Shit. Good friend, my ass. He would be furious to know what was going on between Sarah and me.

He was trusting me to take care of her and I was crossing all the lines. What I felt for her was very real. The general wouldn’t understand it, but if and when it came out, I hoped he would have an open mind. And that he wasn’t armed.

I finished my beer, staring out at the bustling base. Everywhere I looked, I saw potential, promise, and a bright future. But all I could think about was Sarah. She had woken something in me that had been sleeping for a long time, even while I was married.

My mind was pulled back to our first flight together. Her panic at the thought of falling out of the sky. I had pulled that trick with plenty of pilots. She was one of the few that handled it the right way. Sarah could keep her cool when it mattered.

She was born to be up in the air. Mo’s daughter was going to be the next great pilot.

And maybe the first real love of my life.