On Friday Jon found himself feeling uneasy. Usually he would be looking forward to the weekend with Luke, but tonight they were going to confront Luke's parents. Jon wasn't concerned for himself, but he worried about how it would affect Luke. Whatever happened, Jon would be there for him.

THE INN - Chapter 21

Luke was home when Jon got back from work. He had a beer on the coffee table and was sitting on the couch. Jon got himself a beer and sat down. He put his arm over Luke's shoulder. He knew Luke was nervous about talking to his parents. They decided they'd have a late dinner when they got back.

"Babe, it won't be that bad. I'll be with you, and if things get rough we'll just leave."

"I know, but after your parents were so good to me, I feel guilty subjecting you to mine. I don't know what they're going to say. You have no idea what I went through with them."

"That was a long time ago. You're with me now, and we have our own life together. Whatever happens, I'm here for you. I always will be."

"I love you so much, Jon. I know this sounds corny, but as long as I have you, I can get through anything. I hate sounding like such a wimp about this."

"It's not corny, it's the same way I feel about you. Now let's get going and get this over with. The sooner we do, the better you'll feel. Things are never as bad as you think they'll be."

Luke gave Jon an exasperated look. "Okay, we might as well go. Damn, I hate to put you through this."

Luke drove the two of them to his parents' house. As they were arriving Jon asked, "Do you think I should ask them for your hand in marriage, like you did with my parents?"

"Oh fuck no! Jesus, it's going to be bad enough. Just keep your mouth shut and we'll get out of there as fast as we can."

Luke pulled into the driveway and parked. He gave Jon a kiss and said, "This is it. Let's go."

They walked up to the door and rang the bell. Luke didn't even have a key to the house; at one time he did, but he'd misplaced it several years ago and never felt the need to get another. Luke's father opened the door.

"Hi, fellas, come on in. Your mother's in the living room, Luke. Go on in and have a seat. Can I get you a drink"

"Maybe a beer," answered Luke. His mouth was dry.

"That would be fine," said Jon.

They went into the living room as Luke's father headed for the kitchen. Luke's mother greeted them and asked them to sit. They sat next to each other on a love seat and tried to look at ease. Jon glanced around and was impressed with the decor; it was a mix of some very nice antique pieces and contemporary furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows made up one wall looking out to the back yard which appeared natural and wild but was actually very well maintained. The overall effect was welcoming and comfortable.

"I'm so glad you came, Luke. I don't remember the last time you were here. You should come by more often, you're not that far away any more."

"I'll try, mom."

At that point Luke's father came back with two glasses of beer. He handed each of them their beers and sat next to his wife.

"Well," began Mr. Sorensen, "I take it you have something important you want to tell us."

"Yes, we do," said Luke. "I wasn't even sure I wanted to tell you, but our friends and especially Jon convinced me I should."

Luke's mother stopped him. "Before you go on, I want you to know something. Your father and I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. We went to a PFLAG meeting, and it opened our eyes somewhat. We've been re-thinking our ideas."

"I can't say I am a convert," said Luke's father, "but let's just say I realize your mother's and my attitudes have been hurtful to you. For that we're sorry."

Luke was shocked. "You went to a PFLAG meeting? I can hardly believe it!"

"Neither can I," said his father. "But we did, and it was educational. We're planning on going again. But anyway, I interrupted you. What is it you wanted to talk about?"

Luke glanced at Jon. "Jon and I are getting married, and we hoped you would join us in our celebration."

"I see," said Greg. "So is it going to be some kind of commitment ceremony or something like that?"

"No, dad, it's a real wedding. An actual, legal wedding. We already have the license."

"How could you do that?" asked Linda.

"Iowa recognizes gay marriages. We're going to get married there, and it's completely legal, exactly the same as a heterosexual couple."

Jon spoke up. "Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen, I want you to know that I am committed to Luke, and I love him unconditionally. With or without your blessing, that will never change."

Luke put his hand on Jon's thigh and Jon rested his on top of Luke's. Greg and Linda looked at them.

"I can't say I understand this, Luke," said Greg, "because I don't. But I know it's how you feel, and nothing I say will change it."

"Nothing can change it, dad, and I wouldn't want it to change. It's who I am, and who I always was. It just took time for me to realize and come to terms with it. I just thank God I found Jon. I have never in my life been happier."

Linda said, "I'm glad to hear that, dear. I know it was hard for you, and looking back, your father and I realize we didn't help matters. Our attitudes about homosexuals weren't directed at you, Luke. When we realized you're gay, we did try to temper our remarks. We even stopped going to that fundamentalist church; they were becoming too hate-filled with their hellfire and brimstone. We're trying to be more open-minded, but it takes time."

"I appreciate that, mom. I still can't believe you went to a PFLAG meeting."

"And what about your parents, Jon?" asked Greg. "Do they know about all this?"

Luke answered, "We stayed overnight at their house in Rockford last weekend on our way back from getting our marriage license. They were wonderful, they treated me like I was family. I guess I will be soon."

Greg raised his eyebrows. The depth of what Luke and Jon were doing hadn't fully struck him until just now. Jon was going to be his son-in-law. Somehow the concept didn't seem all that absurd to him.

"Jon, I've been curious about something," said Greg. "We met your boss at the party. Obviously he knows you're gay. Do the other people at your company know, too?"

"I think most of them do. I don't go out of my way to say anything, but I don't deny it, either. It's a small company--40 or so people--and people talk, especially about their superiors. We're very loosely structured, but I'm one of the top go-to men."

"And you don't have any problems with co-workers because of it?"

"No, I hardly think about it. Oh, there are a few who I know are homophobic but they don't cause problems. They're smart enough to know what would happen if they did."

"And what about you, Luke? Do you have any problems at work?"

"No, but my situation is different. In construction you're not dealing with the same kinds of people. I have to keep my private life to myself and so far I've been able to do that."

"That must be stressful for you," said Linda.

"It is, but I've been burying my feelings for so long, it's second nature. But it almost stopped me from finding Jon. Lately I've been thinking about getting into another career, maybe flying. I haven't researched it yet."

"I think you should do something like that," said Greg. "I've always felt you have a lot more potential."

"Maybe," said Luke. "I like using my hands and construction has paid well. When I started I thought it was the only kind of work I could get--I didn't have much self-esteem. But I've seen too many guys whose bodies have broken down at a relatively young age. I'm thinking maybe I should get out while I'm still intact."

"Now what about your...wedding?" asked Linda.

"We're planning on the third weekend in October," said Jon. "Luke wants to charter a yacht and have the ceremony and reception on the Mississippi River."

"That sounds expensive," said Greg. "How many people are you thinking of inviting?"

Luke said, "I don't know, 30 or 40 at the most probably. It shouldn't be that expensive. They have different package deals depending on how long the cruise is and what other stuff you want. We haven't looked into it that much yet, but I suppose we should start."

"That sounds like it would be unique and very festive," said Linda. "What would you do if the weather doesn't cooperate?"

Luke looked at Jon. "That's my mother--always looking on the bright side." He turned back to his parents. "The yachts are mostly enclosed, so even if it did rain or get cold, we wouldn't be outside in it."

"Well," said Greg, "it sounds like you are going to have a memorable ceremony."

Jon squeezed Luke's hand. "It'd be memorable even if it was at City Hall."

Luke finished his beer. "Well, we should be going. But you never did answer our question."

Linda said, "You mean about the wedding. Of course we'll be there. We've missed too much of your life already, we wouldn't want to not be with you on an occasion like this."

Greg stood. "We'll both be there."

The others rose and they all shook hands. Luke pecked his mother on the cheek and the two walked out and got into the car. Luke took a deep breath and sighed, resting his hands on the steering wheel.

"I thought that went pretty well, didn't you?" asked Jon.

"I guess, but they did stop short of giving their blessing, which didn't surprise me. I'm still trying to come to grips with them going to a PFLAG meeting. I can't imagine where they ever came up with that idea."

"I don't know, babe, but one thing's certain--they did it for you."

Luke sighed again and started the car. "You were right. It wasn't as bad as I was sure it would be."

"Well, we were right," said Greg. "But I thought this was just going to be a declaration of some kind. It never occurred to me they are going to be legally married. I didn't even know they could, at least not anywhere around here."

"I'm convinced they really are in love. I watched them, and I could see they're in love. You can't pretend about something like that. Call it a woman's intuition, but I know what I saw."

"Maybe, but I'm still not comfortable with the whole idea. What do they do in bed? Who does what? How do they decide?"

"I don't know, but apparently they've figured it out, and evidently it works for them. But one thing Luke said bothers me--he said he didn't even want to tell us about this. That made me realize how distant we've become. Greg, we've made some terrible mistakes."

Greg put his arm around his wife. "I know, dear. But how could we have known how to deal with this? We still don't know."

Luke pulled into his parking space. "Let's go to The Inn. I could really use another beer right now."

They headed toward The Inn and Jon smiled and put his arm over Luke's shoulder as they walked. "I was thinking about what your mother said about the weather. What if it does turn bad?"

"That's one thing we don't have to worry about because we can't control it."

"But what if a real bad storm comes up? We could all wind up castaways like on Gilligan's Island."

Luke stopped walking, turned to Jon and just stared. Jon looked into Luke's eyes and was able to keep a straight face for only about five seconds.

"Damn, I wish I coulda kept you going for a while. Did you think I was serious?"

"It wouldn't surprise me. That's what's nice about being with you. Since we met, I haven't had to worry about anything--you do more than enough of that for both of us."

The Inn was becoming crowded because there would be a band playing later. Jon spotted Cathy and Joe at a table. Cathy waved and motioned them over. She was sitting close to Joe and he had his arm around her.

Cathy looked at Jon. "How'd it go with the future in-laws?"

"It went okay. They were very nice."

Luke rolled his eyes. He still couldn't believe it was real. Mel, the waitress, brought Jon and Luke their drinks before they even ordered. Jon glanced around.

"Is Paul here tonight?"

Joe said, "I think he's dancing. Some gal practically tackled him a while ago and we haven't seen him since. He'll be back."

The DJ slowed the music down and segued into "Unchained Melody."

"Oh, I love this song," said Cathy.

Joe took her hand and stood. Cathy smiled and followed him to the dance floor.

"This is moving right along," said Jon as he watched them dance. He'd never seen Joe dance, but Joe seemed to be very at ease and fluid. The two looked like they had been dancing together for years. As the song came to an end the tempo picked up again and Jon was surprised Cathy and Joe got right into it. Jon looked at Luke.

"God, how I wish I could dance with you right now. Here we are, about to be married, and we can't even kiss or put our arms around each other. That fuckin' sucks."

"I know it does, babe. When I get back from the airport tomorrow, I'll take you downtown and we can dance all night."

The waitress came by and Jon ordered another drink. Luke put his hand on her arm and said he'd have a Diet Coke. Jon looked at him.

"If I'm going flying tomorrow, I'm not going to have beer on my breath. I might even have my first lesson."

"I guess you really are serious about flying. The more I think about it, the more I think it's a good idea. Gee, I'll have to start monitoring the aviation weather forecasts."

"You won't have to, that's part of my job as a pilot. Hey, I like the sound of that--me, a pilot! Captain Sorensen!"

"I like the sound of it, too. So can I be your co-pilot?"

"You are my co-pilot...on the ground and in the air."

Jon had an overwhelming urge to kiss Luke, but he settled for squeezing his leg. "Do you know how long it will take for you to get your license?"

"I've been reading up on it. It's a minimum of 40 hours flying time, and half of that has to be with an instructor; the balance can be solo. Most people take longer than that, though. Then there's ground school. If I take two or three one-hour lessons a week, I should be able to do it in four or five months. But that's just the Private Pilot certificate. There's a lot more work to getting the Instrument and Commercial ratings."

"Cool! That means by next summer we can go on weekend getaways together. That would really be a trip--no pun intended. So what does an Instrument rating mean?"

"You fly the plane relying on the instruments to show you what you're doing rather than looking outside. So if the weather is crappy and you can't see much, you still know how to get where you want to go and keep the plane flying straight and level. A Commercial rating is kinda like a chauffeur's license. You can fly people or cargo for pay."

Cathy and Joe returned and sat. Luke and Jon could see they were having a very good time together.

Cathy asked, "What are you drinking, Luke?"

"Coke. I'm going to the airport tomorrow."

"What's that got to do with it?"

"Oh, I guess you don't know. I've wanted to learn to fly since I was a kid, so tomorrow I'm finally going to do it."

"You're not going to Midway or O'Hare, then, are you?"

"No, there's a small airport not far from here. I thought I'd check them out."

Joe looked at Jon. "I don't want to seem nosy, but what do you think about this, Jon?"

"I know what you're thinking. Believe it or not, I'm excited about it. I can't wait until Luke can take me up."

Cathy asked, "Is this going to be a hobby, or are you thinking of a career?"

"I suppose it'll start out as a hobby. Depending on how I like it and how good I am at it, I might consider it as a career. I want to do something more interesting with my life."

"Good for you! I always thought you were wasting your talent in construction."

"I guess we'll see. It's going to be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait to find out what it feels like to pilot a plane."

Jon leaned toward Luke and whispered, "You're gonna have a woodie the whole time." Luke poked him.

Paul walked up and introduced Lisa, his date du jour. "We're going to go somewhere else before the band starts so we can talk. See you guys later."

"Now where do you suppose they're going?" asked Luke with a smile.

"Most likely Chez Paul's," said Cathy, "and I don't mean the restaurant."

The DJ introduced the band and they began playing. Luke and Jon decided to go home and Joe and Cathy wanted to dance some more. They said good night and walked back to Luke's, hand in hand. They often did that at night in the complex--they knew almost anyone they might see, and who might see them. By now most everyone knew they lived together and were a couple, and very few people took notice.

Jon got a beer for himself. "You want a Coke?"

"Yes, please." Luke sat on the couch and Jon joined him.

"You haven't said much about your parents. From the way you talked and were so worried, I was expecting a real confrontation."

Luke sighed. "I know, so was I. I'm still trying to figure them out. Maybe I should have tried harder all these years. It wouldn't have killed me to call or go over there once in a while."

"Don't start feeling guilty. What's done is done. It works both ways, you know--they could have made an effort, too. Maybe this will be the start of a new and better relationship."

Luke shrugged. "Maybe, I don't know. But I'm not going to hold my breath."

Jon was confused by Luke's demeanor. He thought his parents were cordial enough and a lot of the things they'd said sounded promising. They even agreed to go to the wedding. But Luke was acting as if he were almost more upset than he would have been if they had been hostile. Jon went into the kitchen and started to make sandwiches since neither of them had eaten dinner. After ten minutes he returned to the living room and put a plate in front of Luke, then sat beside him. Luke began eating without saying anything, which was odd. He always commented on Jon's efforts, or at least thanked him. Jon waited until Luke was half-finished with his sandwich.

"How's the sandwich?"

"It's very good. Thanks."

"Luke, I'm not going to let you get into a funk about this. You even admitted things went well with your parents. So what are you so down about?"

Luke took a breath and exhaled. He was a little surprised at how perceptive Jon was. "Honestly, Jon, if I knew I'd tell you. I don't know how I feel right now. It's almost like it would have been easier if they damned us to Hell and kicked us out. At least I know how to deal with that from them."

"Look, they're making an effort and they wouldn't be doing that if they didn't love you. And you're going to have to do the same. I know you think my parents are great, but I told you things weren't always all sugar and spice with them, either. It takes time and a willingness to have an open mind on everyone's part."

"And just how much more time do you suppose they need? Another ten years?"

"Luke, stop it right now. I've never known you to feel sorry for yourself. We're getting married, you're going flying tomorrow, and things are looking up with your parents. Everything is good. Don't fight this, hon, go with the flow. I know I don't understand all you've been through, but we're a team, remember? We'll get through anything as long as we're together."

Luke looked into Jon's eyes. "I'm sorry, Jon. I'm supposed to be the one watching out for you, and here I am a basket case."

"Who said you have to watch out for me?"

"I don't know, I've just always felt that way ever since we first met. But now you're the one who's been taking care of me the past couple of months. Everything's so fucked up. I feel like I've let you down, like maybe I'm not the guy you thought I was."

"Let's go to bed. You'll feel better in the morning, and tomorrow's going to be a big day for you."

They got undressed and into bed, Luke nestling his back against Jon's chest and Jon putting his arm around Luke, which was opposite of the way they usually slept. Jon could feel Luke's breathing; it was deeper and faster than usual.

"Promise me you'll never say or even think anything like that again."

"What?" asked Luke.

"That I would ever question if you're the man for me. I know you've had some tough breaks, but none of it is because of anything you've done. The time will probably come when I need to rely on you, and I know you'll be there. That's what we're all about."

Jon awoke at seven and eased himself out of bed. He showered and was getting dressed when Luke opened his eyes.

"You're up early."

"I have a couple of things to do at my place, I'll be back in an hour. What time are you going to the airport?"

"Around noon or one. Call me when you're on your way back and I'll get breakfast ready."

Jon kissed Luke and left to get into his car. He didn't need to go to his condo, but he wanted to talk to Cathy. He pulled out his cell phone and called; he didn't want to surprise her again.

"Hi, are you alone?"

"Yes, Jon, the coast is clear."

"Is it okay if I stop by?"

"Sure. Is everything all right?"

"I think so, I'm not sure. I just need to talk."

"Okay, sweetie, come on over."

"See you in five."

When Jon got to Cathy's he found the door ajar, so he let himself in. Cathy walked out of the kitchen and handed Jon a glass of orange juice.

"Thanks. I thought Joe might be here."

"What kind of girl do you think I am?" Cathy smiled. "He's at the gym. He missed a day this week, so he's making up for it. He'll be back in a while. So what's wrong? Did something happen last night?"

"I'm not even sure. After we got home last night Luke was upset about everything--his parents, his accident, himself. He even said he was afraid I was disappointed in him. I've never seen him like this."

"I don't know what to say, Jon. But both of you have been through a lot this summer. Luke's a very proud and independent guy. It's not easy to admit you sometimes need to depend on other people. He's been pushing himself since the minute he woke up in the hospital. Maybe it's something like post-traumatic stress."

"All I know is it was almost like being with a stranger. I've never seen him like this. Luke's always so down-to-earth and in control. Last night I thought he might break down sobbing at any minute. And for him to question my devotion to him--that really hurt. It hurt because I felt so bad he'd even think like that. If he was still in the hospital right now, I'd still be at his side."

"I know you would, Jon. He's been pushing himself, and you guys have a lot going on. He'll be okay, just be there for him. Why don't you go somewhere tomorrow, just the two of you. Maybe the arboretum or the zoo. It's supposed to be a beautiful day."

"I'll see what Luke thinks. We're supposed to go downtown tonight, but I'm not going to push it. If he wants to go it's fine with me, but he might not feel up to it. I just hope he gets out of this mood soon. It kills me to see him like this."

"Is he still going flying today?"

"I'm pretty sure he's planning on it. Maybe that will boost his spirits. I was thinking of asking if he wanted me to go with, but I think it's better if he does it himself, at least for now. I'll let you know what happens. So...how are you and Joe getting along? As if I have to ask."

Cathy smiled. "He's wonderful! Here he's been right under my nose all this time, and I never realized it. I've never gone out with a guy who's so thoughtful and nice and romantic. We've been having a great time together and I love being with him. I always thought of him as kind of a naive kid, but he's not that way at all. There's a lot more to Joe than meets the eye. And he's easy on the eyes, too."

"That he is. I don't know why it took so long for you two to hook up. Of course, Joe's not that outgoing--not like Paul, for instance."

"Thank God! I love Paul, don't get me wrong, but I don't think I'd date him. He's too, I don't know, unsettled I guess. He dates a lot of women and God knows they're all over him, but you don't see him with the same one for too long."

"He breaks a lot of hearts, that's for sure. I don't know if he'll ever get serious but he's a very good friend. He's more sensitive than he lets on. I should be getting back, Luke's going to make breakfast. I want to see if he's in a better mood today."

"Okay, Jon. Hey, is that couple going to rent your place?"

"I think so, they're going to call me this coming week. Here, let me give you my key."

Jon took the key to his condo off his key ring and handed it to her. "In case you need to get in there. I have another key. I'll tell them to see you if they want to get in and I'm not around. Their name is Matthews. Is that okay with you?"

"That's fine. Tell Luke I said hi. I hope everything's okay with you guys."

"Thanks, Cath, I'm sure it will be. I'll talk to you later."

Jon called Luke and told him he was on the way. He stopped at the Pantry and picked up some Coke, beer and the Sunday Tribune. As he was leaving he noticed a display that had balsa-wood airplanes. He smiled and bought one--he hadn't seen them in years.

Jon parked his car and began assembling the plane. He gathered up his purchases and walked to Luke's door, then set everything down. He opened the door and saw Luke was on the couch. Jon launched the plane into the living room. To his delight, it did a perfect loop and landed right on Luke's lap.

Luke looked at him and smiled. "This must be an omen--it didn't crash and burn. It went right for my dick."

Jon laughed. "I couldn't do that again if I tried."

Jon went to the kitchen and put the beer and Coke in the fridge. He sat next to Luke and put this arm around him, giving him a gentle squeeze.

"Are you in a better mood today? I was worried about you last night."

"I guess. It's just that sometimes I feel like things are out of control. When I'm at work, I'm in control. When I'm here with you, everything's good. Last night brought back a lot of memories and dealing with my parents was weird. I hate to keep bringing that up to you."

"Don't worry about it. What smells so good?"

"I have a baked French toast casserole in the oven. It'll be ready in about 15 minutes."

"I can hardly wait--I'm hungry. Are you still going to the airport today?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm all stoked for it. What are you going to do today?"

"I was thinking of going to Oak Brook Center and doing some shopping. I need a new winter coat and I'll probably find other stuff I can use. What time do you think you'll be back home?"

"Around five or six. I promised I'd take you dancing tonight. Should we plan on that?"

"I'd like to, but let's see how we both feel tonight. You might be too hyper after your flying. Let's just see how we feel later."

Luke drove to the airport and when he got there, he realized he had no idea where to go. He saw a hanger with a sign reading "St. Germain Aviation." He thought that sounded reassuring and pulled up to the building where he spotted a small office to the side of the main hanger door. He went inside and looked around. It was rather sparsely decorated and a young woman, probably not more than 25, was sitting at a desk behind a counter. She cracked her gum.

"Can I help you," she asked.

"I wanted to get some information about flying lessons. I want to learn how to fly."

"You've come to the right place. We have a fully accredited ground school, and some of the best instructors in the area. Are you thinking of this for fun, or are you looking to be more serious?"

"More serious, I guess. I'm thinking I might want to make it a career. I don't know yet. It depends on how it goes."

She pulled out some brochures and handed them to Luke. "Here's some information about how we work, and what we offer. We can take you as far as you want to go. Do you want to start today?"

"I don't know. I guess so."

She smiled at him, went back to her desk and picked up a microphone.

"Two-two Bravo, what's your status?"

"We're just approaching the pattern."

"I have a live one here, Charlie. Can you take him?"

"Yeah, no problem."

She keyed the mic twice to acknowledge Charlie, then turned to Luke.

"Charlie's the best pilot I've ever known. If you're serious about flying, he's the guy you want. Have a seat, he'll be back soon."

Luke sat in a chair and began looking over the information. He found it a bit overwhelming but figured he'd sort it out once he got home. He heard the door open and glanced up. A kid, probably in his teens, walked into the office. He looked at Luke and smiled.

"Are you my latest victim?"

Luke was taken a little off guard. "If you're Charlie, I guess I am."

Luke couldn't believe this guy was going to be his instructor. He wasn't even sure the kid could vote, let alone drink.

"Charlie, this is...I'm sorry, I don't think I got your name.

"Luke. Luke Sorensen."

"I'm Darleen, and this is Charlie."

"Glad to meet you, Luke. Have you flown before?"

"Not in a small plane."

Charlie spent a few minutes talking to Luke to determine what he wanted to do and what he expected.

"Well, Luke, if you want I can take you up right now. You'll get an idea of what it's like, and we'll go from there."

"Sounds great," said Luke. "Let's go!"

As they walked toward the planes Luke's curiosity grew. "Charlie, how long have you been flying?"

Charlie smiled. "That's usually the first question I hear. I've been flying for 12 years--since I was 12."

"So you've been flying half your life? That's incredible!"

"My dad's a pilot and an instructor, so I guess I had the inside track. I've gotten all my ratings on my birthdays when I was old enough. I soloed in a glider on my 14th birthday, got my drivers license and drove to the airport on my 16th birthday to get my Private Pilot Glider rating and soloed in a powered plane. On my 17th birthday I got my Private Pilot and Instrument certificates and on my 18th I got my Commercial and Instructor ratings. That's when I ran out of the major milestones."

"That's amazing! What part of flying do you enjoy the most?"

"I'm happy any time I'm in the air. But I think instructing is the most rewarding for me. I love to show people what an awesome adventure flying is. I think I was born to fly."

They were approaching a white, high-winged plane with blue detailing. "This is a Cessna 172. It's a great plane for training. The first thing you do before every flight is walk around the aircraft and look everything over to make sure nothing looks out of whack."

Luke paid attention to everything Charlie was saying. Luke liked Charlie's casual way of talking. He was matter-of-fact, but very thorough and if he felt Luke wasn't sure of something he took the time to explain further. They checked the control surfaces, checked the fuel for condensation, verified the tie-lines were untied, then opened the engine cowling.

"You want to check for anything unusual. Bird nests aren't uncommon. Look at the engine and make sure everything's connected to something. Check the oil. Okay, we're good to go."

They fastened the cowling and walked to the side of the plane. Charlie opened the door and motioned Luke in.

"You first. You're in the left-side seat. That's where the pilot sits."

At first Luke thought he was kidding, but then he realized he wasn't. Luke climbed aboard but wasn't quite sure what he should do. Charlie took the other seat and closed the door. Charlie spent the next ten minutes explaining the different instruments and controls and what each did. Luke was trying hard to memorize everything.

"Don't worry, it'll all become clear as we go."

Charlie explained how to start the engine, then let Luke do it. They began taxiing to the runway.

Jon arrived at the mall and decided to take his time and window shop. He stopped in an ice cream parlor and got a cone, then continued strolling until he arrived at Nordstrom. He found his way to the men's department and looked at the coats, eventually deciding on a down-filled winter coat for himself. He noticed some very handsome Armani leather bomber-type jackets and thought of Luke. He looked at a jacket and tried it on. It was just slightly large for him, which meant it would fit Luke perfectly. Jon looked at the price tag. He knew Luke would never buy something like this for himself, but as he looked in the mirror again, he could envision how handsome Luke would look in it, especially when he was flying. He debated for another minute then decided to buy it. After all, he reasoned, who else did he have to spend money on? And he'd enjoy giving it to Luke as much as he hoped Luke would like it. What's the point of working your butt off if you don't enjoy the fruits of your labors now and then?

Jon drove back home. Luke was still out, so Jon put the coats in the closet and wondered about dinner. He wasn't sure whether they were going to go out, so he decided to wait until Luke got back. He didn't know if he should give Luke the coat tonight, or wait for a while. He wouldn't need it for a couple of months, but Jon was excited about it and wanted to see how it looked on him. He made himself a drink and sat on the couch to read the newspaper. After about 20 minutes he heard the door open. Luke walked in with several books under his arm. He smiled at Jon and tossed a thin, oblong black book onto his lap. The cover was stamped in gold with "Pilot's Log."

Jon opened the log and saw Luke's name on the first page. The next page had an entry with a lot of notations Jon couldn't make out. He smiled at Luke.

"I officially logged an hour-and-a-half of flight time. Only 38-1/2 more hours to go!"

Jon stood and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you! So what was it like? Was it as good as you thought it would be?"

"Better. At first I was nervous, of course, but once I relaxed a little I really felt like I was one with the aircraft. Like it was an extension of myself. I could sense and feel how the plane reacted to my touch. My instructor said he thinks I have a knack for flying. I don't know if they say that to everyone on the first flight, but I felt right at home. This is going to develop into something--I can feel it."

Jon hugged Luke and kissed him. "I'm so happy for you. I was so sure you'd do great, I bought you a present. I was thinking of waiting until you soloed, but I can't. Close your eyes for a minute."

Jon went to the closet and got the jacket.

"I smell leather," said Luke.

"Put your arms back."

Jon slipped the jacket over Luke's arms and pulled it up over his shoulders. Luke shrugged to settle it and opened his eyes. He stroked the lapel.

"Oh my God, Jon."

Luke walked into the hall and looked in the full-length mirror. "I've never had anything like this. It's...it's gorgeous! Jon, this must have cost a fortune. I don't want you spending so much on me, I'm happy with a denim jacket. Maybe you should take it back."

"Not on your life. Seeing how hot you look in it makes it worth every penny. You and that jacket were made for each other. I knew it the minute I saw it."

Luke looked at himself in the mirror again, then hugged and kissed Jon. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much! I can't wait until it's cold enough to wear it."

"Me neither. I just knew I had to get it for you. You were so bummed out last night, I wanted to do something to make you feel better."

"I'm sorry, it's just everything seemed to hit me at once. I'm not a real emotional person, but sometimes it just overflows.

"I know, babe. Let's just go to The Inn tonight. I know we talked about going downtown, but I'd rather just relax with you here. We can dance another time."

Luke smiled. "Any time I'm with you, I'm happy. I'll make something for dinner, then we can go to The Inn. I want to tell you all about my flying lesson."

"Are you going to go again tomorrow?"

"Charlie said he doesn't usually work on Sunday, and anyway I feel like having some drinks tonight. I was thinking I might take another lesson on Wednesday after work."

"Is Charlie your instructor?"

"Yeah, I really like him. He seems to know a lot about flying, and I'm comfortable with him."

"Don't tell me he's some stud fly-boy."

"Hardly. He looks like he's in high school, but he's 24. He's been flying since he was 12."

"I'm glad you're not a chicken hawk, I could be in trouble."

Luke laughed as he got up to make dinner. "You don't have anything to worry about. No man could tempt me away from you."

The two ate and Luke told Jon all about his flying lesson and how exciting it was. When they had finished they walked to The Inn. Cathy and Angie were at a table so they joined them.

"Where's Joe?" asked Luke.

"He had to go to the lab. They have some big experiment tonight, and one of the technicians called in sick."

"The lab?" asked Angie.

"Fermilab. Joe works there. Hey, I thought you guys were going downtown tonight."

"We were," said Jon, "but we decided to lay low. We wanted to go dancing, but it just seemed better to relax here."

"Well hell, we can dance here," said Angie. "We'll all dance--no one will know who's dancing with who. Come on."

The four went to the dance floor and began dancing as a group. Even though they were all dancing together, Luke couldn't keep his eyes off Jon. He couldn't stop smiling at him and watching him dance. They were trying to be discrete, but anyone who watched for more than a minute could tell the two men were dancing with each other. When the music slowed Luke wanted to continue dancing with Jon, but he knew it would send him into orbit. Sometimes Luke liked to push the envelope, but Jon was much more conservative about things like that. Luke put his arm over Jon's shoulder and they walked back to the table with Cathy and Angie following.

Angie said, "It's a shame you guys can't dance when you want. It's unfair."

"It is," said Luke. "We could probably get away with it here, but even though almost everyone knows, it would raise eyebrows. I'd do it somewhere else, but you don't want to cause friction in a place you go to all the time."

Luke and Jon both became aware the two guys sitting at an adjacent table seemed to be paying attention to them, and not in a good way. They didn't recognize them, and it was apparent from the number of empty bottles in front of them that they were well on their way.

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