Page 50 of Blue Sky

Hotdogs

Iadored Beck for making a me feel wanted and loved. And not some lover to be hidden. We spent the last few weeks in our new routine. Making love all night, waking up together, and hanging out in public as a big happy family when he was off work.

But no matter how much we played house, I was painfully reminded that he wasn’t my husband. Sky wasn’t my daughter. I was still the nanny. And we had avoided any more deep talks about our future.

But we were running out of time. He would be leaving to return to Pensacola this week.

Today was the first airshow to mark the start of the season. Though I had seen the airshow every year of my life, this time it would mean so much more. My man was the pilot. And this was my final farewell to El Centro.

Beck led me, my sisters and Sky to the executive chalet. My nerves rattled. But I wasn’t worried about the safety of his flying.

Today—I would meet his parents.

Beck glanced around the chalet. “My parents aren’t here yet, but they will find you. They’ve seen a picture of you and of course, will recognize Sky. I have to go get ready.”

“Okay, babe. I can’t wait to see you.”

He kissed me in front of all the friends and families in the chalet. See my mom had been wrong. Beck loved me and accepted me. I wished she could see me now.

I would not end up like her.

The crowds filled outside the chalet and the excitement was thick. I had seen the Angels perform many time, but they had always represented this other type of life that I wasn’t a part of. And now, I could truly appreciate how amazing they were. How amazing Beck was.

The show started, and I enjoyed the other events first—the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs jumped out of their helicopters, wowing the audience.

There were many other planes doing tricks and maneuvers but I was anxious to finally see Beck fly.

I scanned the chalet but didn’t see anyone who looked like his mom. Where was she? She had to be here? She wouldn’t miss his first show.

The narrator took to the stage. The sounds of Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart” filled the air.

But my own heart stopped.

Another piece of the puzzle that proved my mom wasn’t lying about my dad. She always used to play that song to me. I felt sick to my stomach, and it wasn’t from the hotdogs I just ate.

What if my father was in this audience? I scanned the crowd but quickly was distracted.

Beck and his fellow pilots walked down the runaway in their matching flight suits. Man, they were so fucking hot. They saluted as they turned and went toward their planes. I couldn’t believe I was his girlfriend.

Then they took off—one by one. I pressed Sky’s earphones tightly on her head. “That’s your daddy.”

“Ma ma?”

Oh my god. Did she just call me Mama? I wanted to be thrilled, but instead I was crushed. I wanted to be her mama. But I wasn’t.

I was only the nanny.

I hugged her tighter than I ever hugged her and then I noticed that a woman was watching me with Sky. Was she Beck’s mom? I’d seen pictures of her but couldn’t be certain because she was standing at a distance.

I turned my attention back to the sky. “Ladies and Gentlemen. Please welcome our own Blue Angels.”

Mónica clapped loudly in my ear. The planes were now in the sky and my heart raced. They were flying close! Wing to wing. I suddenly realized how dangerous this was. One wrong turn and he could crash.

But he didn’t crash. He soared in the sky. Upside down, inverted loops, side by side—Beck did it all. It was so amazing. The music contributed to the adrenaline pulsing in my veins.

Pass after pass, loop after loop, pride filled my soul. I had always known what Beck did everyday while I was watching Sky but until now—I had no idea how much precision and focus it took.

And this amazing man loved me.