Age of Adaline Chapter Seven Return To USA With Spirit of St Louis
May 29 Evening-Croydon Aerodrome, London
Major Michaels has set me up in temporary quarters, next to Mr. Lindbergh. We will stay here for two nights while the Spirit of St. Louis is being repaired. I am not sure what is disturbing me the most, leaving my children behind-even though I know it is for the best? My husband trading me for a promotion? Having to fly again after this morning's close call of almost hitting spectators while we were landing?
The early morning incident was really affecting me the most at the moment. The other two items were too much to deal with and were too distant. I was worried that I was going to have nightmares about all of the people that could have been killed this morning. Interestingly, until now I have not considered the danger that my own life was in. If we had hit any of those spectators Mr. Lindbergh would have lost control of the plane and we would have crashed killing us both.
I went to my room and quickly shut the door I started crying. I cried over the near disaster. I cried about being shunned from my current husband. I cried about having to abandon my first husband. I cried over having to leave Walter & AJ behind. I cried over not being able to see Walter, AJ, Little Milt, and Clara again. I cried over this curse of not aging.
I have no idea how long I had been crying but I was startled by a knock on my door. I wondered who could be knocking on my door? Who knew I was in this room? I opened the door and was surprised to see Mr. Lindbergh at my door. He invited me to join him in his quarters for dinner. He did not want to be in public, but he didn't want to eat alone. I completely understood and accepted his invitation. While I understood where Mr. Lindbergh was coming from, I was also cautious. Call it my woman's intuition, but I sense that Mr. Lindbergh is looking for something more than a dinner companion.
We enjoyed a wonderful meal of Chestnut and Apple Soup, Roasted Grouse, and Ice Artichoke bottoms, Apple Charlotte for dessert and a bottle of Pinot Noir. Over dinner he shared how he loves flying. His future plans included flying to the remote parts of the world. His dream is to find a wife that would fly with him. He said that he would be willing to teach the right woman how to fly. He then asked me if I have ever thought about learning to fly? I must admit that it would be exciting to learn to fly. But then I see all the publicity that Mr. Lindbergh and Amelia Earnhardt are receiving for their aviation accomplishments, and I realize that this is an endeavor that I should avoid.
Our dinner and conversation were wonderful. By the end of the evening I was calling him Charles and he was calling me Elizabeth. We realized that we had a special connection. Finally, we decided it was time to call it a night as we had a long day ahead.
Charles walked me to my room. As we prepared to say good night, we heard a group of people coming down the hallway. Neither of us wanted to be seen by others, especially together. Charles took the key out of my hand, unlocked the door, put his arms behind me and pushed me into my room.
I quickly turned around to see what was happening. Charles had entered the room quickly to get out of the hallway, and he hurriedly shut the door, and then he turned around and instantly ran into me knocking us both to the ground.
It took a few seconds to realize that neither of us were hurt physically. Once I realized that we were both ok, I started laughing and then I started crying. Charles asked if I was hurt, I told him no. He then took his hand and wiped away my tear and asked me what was wrong
We stayed in this position for the next several minutes-I didn't notice him getting a pillow that he gently placed under my head. I shared with him my frustration over Milton, being forced to abandon my family. Then I added what really had me upset was the close call we had while landing this morning.
He then shared with me his close calls in aviation. He shared how he had some close moments. He had been a four-time Caterpillar Winner, he had bailed out of a plane four times before it crashed and was saved by his parachute. He then added with a wink and a smile despite being awarded for his bravery he was shaken up a little. For the first time in a long time I felt that a man really understood me. Which is why I let him lower his face and kiss me, even though every instinct in my body was screaming STOP!
We kissed for several more minutes. Finally, he broke the kiss and stood up and then he helped me to a standing position where he resumed kissing me. He then took me by my hand and led me to the door of my bedroom.
Another man might have opened the door and walked inside with me and climbed into bed with me. However, Charles sensed that I had reached my level of intimacy for this night and said good night and kissed me one more time and then made sure the hallway was clear and went back to his room.
May 30, 1927 Croydon Aerodrome, London
I woke up this morning realizing what I had done last night and was hoping that it was a nightmare. I encouraged him to kiss me, well maybe I didn't encourage him, but I definitely didn't discourage him. This is too much for me to take in. I called room service and requested that they send tea and croissants for breakfast and I went back to sleep while I waited for room service.
The knocking on the door woke me up, I assumed it was room service with my breakfast. As I walked to the door I thought about last night. I realized what I had done last night and was hoping that it was not a dream. I had kissed the most famous man in the world. I had kissed him with much intimacy and passion and multiple times. After being abandoned by my husband, I had landed in the arms of a very handsome aviator. I enjoyed tea and croissant while I try to figure out which scenario is best for me, the nightmare or the dream?
As I finish my tea, I was hoping to go back to sleep and have another dream to help me decide what direction I should take. I hear more knocking. I am expecting it to be room service to pick up my plates, which makes me a little angry, as I have not finished breakfast. I go to open the door prepared to yell at the room service chap and call him all sorts of names for interrupting my breakfast. I open the door and was surprised to see Major Michaels.
Major Michaels has informed me that Mr. Lindbergh has requested-the way he said requested made it sound like a demand-to join him this evening for a private dinner. Major Michaels made it clear that my children's future and their happiness is dependent on keeping Mr. Lindbergh pleased. I didn't like Major Michaels insinuation. I had made it clear to Major Michaels that I had made a deal to work for Mr. Lindbergh to help him with his administrative and public relations needs. I accept that part of my job is to keep Mr. Lindbergh company. I slammed the door on Major Michaels and began dressing for dinner. Just so there would be no misunderstanding, I decide to wear a long casual black gown that stops halfway between my calves and ankles, and no make-up.
Major Michaels has arranged for us to have a private room, which I am grateful for. Charles's mouth drops when he sees me in a red dinner dress, with gold trim that stops just before my knees. My scarf that is wrapped around my neck sends a definite message. He compliments me on my dress and makeup; I spent over an hour painting my face preparing for tonight hoping that he would notice me.
You ask what happened? I have no idea. I feel like a silly schoolgirl who has a crush on the most popular boy in school and who has lost all of her common sense.
We had a succulent dinner that lasted over three hours. As we prepared to leave, I can't help but notice that we have finished two bottles of wine and we each had a glass of champagne.
Charles provided support as he walked me to my room. Much to my surprise he walks past my room and stops at the room next to mine. I tell him "That's not my room"
"I know it is mine. I arranged to have the room next to you. We have adjoining rooms"
May 31, 1927 Croydon Aerodrome, London
It takes my senses a few minutes to focus and realize that I am not in my room or bed. I try to fight through the hangover that I am feeling. Instantly as soon as I realize where I am the events of the night are coming back to me. I, Elizabeth Humphrey, a married woman (technically), was intimate with a man who was not my husband.
Was it the booze? Was it the loneliness? Was it a buildup from the night before? Was it the comfort of finding another who was as much an introvert as myself? Whatever it was, a new part of me was discovered that night.
Soon it was time to prepare to leave. As I pack and dress my mind is on Charles. I have never felt this level of intimacy with any of my husbands. We can read each other's thoughts. Before going outside, to head to the plane, we clasped hands one more time and exchange one more kiss, being careful not to mess up my lipstick.
The Spirit of St. Louis has been repaired and We are flying to Gosport this morning. At Gosport the Spirit of St. Louis will be dismantled placed in a crate and then put aboard the USS Memphis. The crate, Charles & I will sail to the USA on June 11. This will give me 11 days to think about my future.
Our takeoff from Croydon was uneventful, police kept the spectators far from the runway this time. While we wait for clearance to take off Charles and I hold hands tightly. This simple act of intimacy is as exciting as the intimate moments that we shared in his room last night and earlier this morning.
We landed in Gosport safely without incident, no spectators were anywhere near the runway. We departed from our plane and within an hour I was soaking in a bathtub contemplating what was next for my life. At first, I was angry with Milton for sending me away from him and the children. Why did he so willingly send me off with an unmarried man to fly around Europe and the USA? Did he really want a promotion that much? Now I am ready to send him a thank you note. And I have fully accepted that in the long run my disappearance can only help my children.
June 10, 1927 Gosport
Tomorrow we set sail for the United States. I can't believe I am returning to my homeland. These last past few weeks have given me much to think about. For starters I now realize that Milton has given me an escape hatch that will protect my children in the long run.
If someone were to read this journal, they would judge me harshly for abandoning my children. They have no idea how bad my heart is breaking over leaving Little Milt and Clara behind. This is a tremendous sacrifice I am making as a mother. Whatever curse is on me causes harm to those that I love. I have vowed whatever I do in the next phase of my life I am having no more children, but I have said that before.
Aw, the next phase of my life. For the third time in my life I am going to have to come up with a new identity. Come up with new records, transfer my wealth to my new identity. How many more times can I do this? Is there another way? I will think about that later it is time for dinner.
June 10, 1927 Gosport
Tomorrow Charles and I will go aboard the USS Memphis and sail to the USA. The trip will take about five days. Earlier he and I made one of our few trips outside of our quarters and went to the Memphis. We both got a startle when we saw the Spirit of St Louis disassembled. The Navy is placing it in its crate for the trip home.
Our daily routine has been the same. Breakfast, taking care of official duties, dinner in our room, and we retire to our quarters where often I will try to read a book that I have checked out from the base library. Some nights we can hear the music coming from the officer's club. Charles will often ask if I would join him in a dance on the balcony we share. I always grant his request.
I have come to respect Charles. I no longer see him as the arrogant aviator who thinks that he is a god. I see him as wonderful and caring man, who is caught in a storm between what he loves flying and what he detests publicity and lack of privacy. He realizes that one cannot exist without the other.
Each night I look forward to conversations with Charles while we enjoy a bottle of wine. He truly understands me. I am also beginning to think that I can trust Charles with my secret. He shared with me that on his trip across the Atlantic that there were beings in the cockpit with him, like angels. They talked to him on his journey, but he has not shared that information publicly. That is an interesting story, but does it equal my secret? Can I really trust him with the secret?
Bank of America Vault, San Francisco 2017
Adaline looked at articles describing Charles Lindbergh's work on the artificial heart machine that would be used in countless open heart surgeries. She said to herself, "It is a shame that many do not know about Charles' work in medical innovation. He made many contributions to improving not only aviation, but medicine. How many people owe their lives to his medical contributions?"