father would be pleased with her grade.
* * *
“Only an eighty, Molly? That isn’t going to raise your average by much.”
Frustrated, Molly changed position on the couch, the phone against her shoulder. “Father, it’s very good! I’m going to be able to turn things around.”
“I think you’re getting overly optimistic.”
“An eighty is better than my last two grades. Besides, Cam was the one who gave me support on my idea to rerun the same test with a different pilot.”
“Who’s this Cam fellow?”
“He’s a test-pilot instructor here at the facility.”
“But you’re a flight-test engineer. Aren’t you supposed to be working with your assigned instructor? He certainly can’t be it.”
“Father, he’s been here for two years and is savvy about how the school runs. His support means a lot to me.”
“Well, don’t put all your eggs in one basket, Molly. He could turn on you.”
Molly laughed. “Not Cam. No, he’s as steady as the sun rising and setting.”
“Your idealism about people scares me. Particularly the way you see men. At least twice at Annapolis you had your heart broken by some boy.”
“They were men, Father, not boys. And I’m not a little girl anymore, either. Each of the men I met gave me something good, and I learned something about myself from the experience. I don’t consider it bad just because we broke up.”
“Just stick to the business at hand, Molly. You can’t afford to get romantically involved with anyone at TPS. It’s going to take everything you’ve got to make it through. A relationship would pull your focus.”
“Father, there’s no man in my life, okay?”
“What about this Cam?”
“I told you. He’s a friend, that’s all.”
“Well, Scott wants to talk to you now. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy hearing how you turned the tables on Martin. And, Molly, I expect an even higher grade next week.”
Molly nodded. “I’ll try my best, Father.” She was eager for Monday to come. A new happiness bubbled within her as her father handed the phone over to Scott. Although she talked to her brother, her heart centered on Cam. Did he realize how much he’d done to help her? She didn’t think so. An idea came to mind, and Molly smiled. Monday, she would have a pleasant surprise for everyone at TPS. In reality it was her way of thanking Cam, but no one would realize it.
* * *
“What’s this?” Vic Norton grinned broadly at the huge plate of cookies next to the coffee urn Monday morning.
Cam had just entered the room along with Phil Dalton. “Hey, what have you got there?”
“Look at this, Cam. Chocolate-chip cookies. My favorite.”
“Mmm, Lordy! Those look scrumptious,” Dalton said, grabbing a handful.
“Wonder who brought them?”
“Somebody with a heart and soul.” Dalton sighed, munching contentedly.
Cam politely took two, leaving enough for everyone else. Norton and Dalton were sitting around the cookies like two big guard dogs, with looks on their faces that dared anyone else to try and reach for one. “Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’ve got work to do. Don’t get a bellyache.”
Norton tittered. “Wouldn’t think of it, Sinclair.”
Cam made his way down the hall, now active with students coming in for the first class, and ducked into his office. The door was open already, which was normal. What wasn’t normal was the small plate of cookies wrapped in plastic on his desk. He closed the door and set his mug down. Coming around behind the desk, Cam spotted a small envelope with his name flourished across it.
The chair squeaked in protest as he sat down and leaned back, the pristine white envelope in hand. He opened it and read the note, which said: “Thank you. Molly.” Cam raised his eyebrows, looking at the plate of cookies.
“You’re something else, Molly Rutledge. Something else…” He grabbed the plate. So, she was the one who’d baked those cookies for everyone. Cam smiled. The warmth in
* * *
“Only an eighty, Molly? That isn’t going to raise your average by much.”
Frustrated, Molly changed position on the couch, the phone against her shoulder. “Father, it’s very good! I’m going to be able to turn things around.”
“I think you’re getting overly optimistic.”
“An eighty is better than my last two grades. Besides, Cam was the one who gave me support on my idea to rerun the same test with a different pilot.”
“Who’s this Cam fellow?”
“He’s a test-pilot instructor here at the facility.”
“But you’re a flight-test engineer. Aren’t you supposed to be working with your assigned instructor? He certainly can’t be it.”
“Father, he’s been here for two years and is savvy about how the school runs. His support means a lot to me.”
“Well, don’t put all your eggs in one basket, Molly. He could turn on you.”
Molly laughed. “Not Cam. No, he’s as steady as the sun rising and setting.”
“Your idealism about people scares me. Particularly the way you see men. At least twice at Annapolis you had your heart broken by some boy.”
“They were men, Father, not boys. And I’m not a little girl anymore, either. Each of the men I met gave me something good, and I learned something about myself from the experience. I don’t consider it bad just because we broke up.”
“Just stick to the business at hand, Molly. You can’t afford to get romantically involved with anyone at TPS. It’s going to take everything you’ve got to make it through. A relationship would pull your focus.”
“Father, there’s no man in my life, okay?”
“What about this Cam?”
“I told you. He’s a friend, that’s all.”
“Well, Scott wants to talk to you now. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy hearing how you turned the tables on Martin. And, Molly, I expect an even higher grade next week.”
Molly nodded. “I’ll try my best, Father.” She was eager for Monday to come. A new happiness bubbled within her as her father handed the phone over to Scott. Although she talked to her brother, her heart centered on Cam. Did he realize how much he’d done to help her? She didn’t think so. An idea came to mind, and Molly smiled. Monday, she would have a pleasant surprise for everyone at TPS. In reality it was her way of thanking Cam, but no one would realize it.
* * *
“What’s this?” Vic Norton grinned broadly at the huge plate of cookies next to the coffee urn Monday morning.
Cam had just entered the room along with Phil Dalton. “Hey, what have you got there?”
“Look at this, Cam. Chocolate-chip cookies. My favorite.”
“Mmm, Lordy! Those look scrumptious,” Dalton said, grabbing a handful.
“Wonder who brought them?”
“Somebody with a heart and soul.” Dalton sighed, munching contentedly.
Cam politely took two, leaving enough for everyone else. Norton and Dalton were sitting around the cookies like two big guard dogs, with looks on their faces that dared anyone else to try and reach for one. “Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’ve got work to do. Don’t get a bellyache.”
Norton tittered. “Wouldn’t think of it, Sinclair.”
Cam made his way down the hall, now active with students coming in for the first class, and ducked into his office. The door was open already, which was normal. What wasn’t normal was the small plate of cookies wrapped in plastic on his desk. He closed the door and set his mug down. Coming around behind the desk, Cam spotted a small envelope with his name flourished across it.
The chair squeaked in protest as he sat down and leaned back, the pristine white envelope in hand. He opened it and read the note, which said: “Thank you. Molly.” Cam raised his eyebrows, looking at the plate of cookies.
“You’re something else, Molly Rutledge. Something else…” He grabbed the plate. So, she was the one who’d baked those cookies for everyone. Cam smiled. The warmth in
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