After talking with Mack at the buffet, Kristie returned to the table with Melissa and Polly, the Chinook pilots she'd become friends with. When Kristie's cell phone rang a minute later, she checked the caller id before answering. "Hi." Surprised to see Mack's number displayed, she strained to see their table.
"We were wondering if we could persuade you to join us for dessert."
Kristie hesitated for a moment. "We? Would that be a unanimous invitation?"
"Yeah, we had a little family conference."
Kristie's heart fluttered. She hoped Mack hadn't pressed the issue. His tone sounded upbeat, convincing her not to over think the situation. "I'll be there in a minute," she breathed out.
The huge excited smile on her face told her friends that things had changed in the course of that brief conversation. Wanting to see how things went, she asked them to stop by Mack's table before leaving. She carried the tan dessert bowl with her to his table, trying to appear confident but not over eager.
As Kristie neared the table, Lissy deflected her gaze then picked up her bowl and rose from the table. Mack started to say something to Lissy but saw Kristie shake him off, determine to try to win her over on her own.
"Thanks for the invite. Everyone ready for dessert?" she asked. Lissy breezed past her with a slight hmphh sound while Jenny scooted out of the booth excitedly proclaiming she was ready.
Mack went to the far side of the dessert bar leaving Kristie with Jenny who went straight to the soft-serve ice cream machine.
"Chocolate, vanilla or both?"
"I like it mixed."
"I do too." Kristie couldn't help but smile at the young girl's exuberant delight, apparently at ease with Kristie's presence. After filling Jenny's bowl, she filled her own and watched as Jenny spooned several scoops of crushed cookies and M&M's over the ice cream then covered it with chocolate topping and sprinkles.
"You're not supposed to have that much. Dad!" Lissy called Mack's attention to Jenny's overflowing bowl with a condescending look at Kristie.
"Whoa, there Princess. Looks like you have enough," Mack peered through the plexi-glass at Jenny's best innocent look.
"But I was going to share with you, Daddy."
"That's very thoughtful," Mack chuckled. "Jenny has a bit of a sweet tooth," he explained to Kristie.
"So do I," Kristie sympathized as she added crushed Heath bar to her own ice cream. "And I love ice cream. What's your favorite flavor? "
"Mint chocolate chip and chocolate. And the kind with brownie in it."
"Very good choices."
Returning to the table, Mack directed Jenny to switch sides and sit next to her sister. Kristie slid in next to Mack where they could both observe the girls. Jenny took a bite then dug out a huge spoonful and leaned across the table to share with Mack, just as she'd promised. Mack accepted the offering, barely able to fit the overflowing spoon in his mouth. Kristie chuckled and swiped a napkin where chocolate syrup and sprinkles dripped on the table. Next, she motioned to Mack by rubbing her thumb next to the corner of her mouth, letting him know chocolate syrup remained.
"Thanks. So your flight tonight got cancelled due to the weather, I take it?"
"Yes, definitely not safe weather for flying with all that lightning and poor visibility."
"Kristie flies Black Hawk helicopters," Mack informed the girls, getting a subtle look of interest from Lissy while Jenny's eyes got big.
"Really? Is it fun? Can you take me for a ride?"
"I think its fun. I love flying," Kristie leaned forward over the table, addressing the questions and Jenny's irresistible smile. "As for a ride, I can't take you up but maybe your dad can bring you out to the air field and you can sit inside and wear my helmet."
"Really? Can we go, Daddy?"
"I think we can manage that." Mack smiled at Kristie, happy to see his youngest had immediately warmed up to her.
As they ate dessert, Kristie asked both girls questions, managing to slowly draw Lissy into the conversation. The girls were talking about plans to see some friends now that they were back on post when Kristie's friends approached the table.
"We're heading out. Do you need a ride back?" Melissa asked, stealing a look at Mack checking him out then surveying the girls.
"Um, yeah," Kristie toyed with her spoon, shifting her attention from Melissa and Polly to Mack.
"We can give you a ride home." He dropped his arm on the back of the booth, touching his hand to her shoulder. His tone may have been casual but the look in his eyes went deeper.
"If you're sure you don't mind…"
"She hadn't finished her ice cream yet. She's been talking a lot." Jenny stated authoritatively, bringing smiles to the adult in that special way she had about her.
The rain had stopped though patches of dark clouds still loomed to the east as they exited the restaurant. Jenny held Mack's hand as they crossed the parking lot, allowing him to help her jump over a small puddle. When they came to a bigger puddle, she took hold of Kristie's hand as well and managed two running steps before leaping across with their help. It was only a few more steps to the truck, but Jenny didn't relinquish her grip on Kristie's hand and Kristie wouldn't have been first to let go if her life depended on it.
As the girls climbed into the rear seats, Mack stared at Kristie over the hood of the truck. Her emotions read like an open book. Mack continued to soak in her happy smile, the one on his own face even broader.