Max is fighting for everything he has, and finds himself encountering the love of two beautiful women and the opportunity to realise his dream of becoming a United States Navy fighter pilot. Facing war, Max must now devote his time to his duty as a fighter pilot and put aside his personal feelings. Shot down behind enemy lines, Max is determined to make it back safely to the woman he loves. The question is, will he, or won't he?
Excerpt:
Catherine
Catherine was sitting inside the Greyhound bus terminal in downtown Houston, Texas. She had spent the weekend with her mother but now it was time to go home to her father in San Antonio. Catherine made this trip every two weeks, coming to Houston on Friday to spend the weekend with her mother and then go home to her father on Sunday. Catherine was off in her own little world reading Teen Magazine.
Max Power had been working the second shift, loading and unloading the buses as they came into the terminals. It was the beginning of summer and forecast to be one of the hottest summers on record. Having just graduated High School a week earlier Max was unsure what he was going to do with his life. He knew for sure he was not going to be working in the bus terminal all his life, unlike some of his co-workers.
Max had always wanted to be a pilot, but coming from a poor family the dream of flying seemed to be just that, a dream. This, throwing around other people's luggage, was his life; working under the buses was his job. It was job that Max knew would not last long.
Working hard unloading the Dallas Express alone, Max walked into the terminal with the baggage from underneath the bus so passengers could collect their bags and leave. As Max opened the door he saw Catherine sitting there with her mother, waiting for her bus.
Max could not help but look at Catherine. She had one of those smiles that captured your attention right away and never let it go. Catherine was stunning in her short skirt, knee-high stockings, black boots, and a sexy black and white blouse. Catherine looked nothing like a teenager but every bit like a grown woman.
As Max continued to work he went out of his way to walk past Catherine hoping to catch another peek at her legs. Three buses later Max had fifteen minutes before the San Antonio bus was going to start loading. Max knew the bus driver was eating her lunch so he went to sit outside by the bus incase the driver came early. It was over a hundred degrees on the tarmac so Max went inside to cool off while he waited. Seeing Catherine again made Max smile. Little did Max know that that smile would change his life forever.
Catherine and her mother, Rebecca, looked up to see who was coming inside, hoping it was the driver so Catherine could get a good seat on the bus. Catherine returned Max's smile and waved hello. Max continued to smile as he waved back.
Catherine went back to reading her magazine. Max sat on the cool tile floor staring off into space. Out of the corner of his eye Max continued to look at Catherine while debating in his mind if he should talk to her. Losing, or winning the argument, depending on how he looked at it, Max turned to Catherine and asked, "What are you reading?"
Catherine held up the article, showing the title "True Love." Max laughed to himself, finding it amusing and having to put his two cents in.
"Well, that certainly is a mouthful isn't it? True Love? I'm not sure it really even exists but it is a very nice idea to cling to."
"Why do you say that?" Catherine asked disappointed and slightly annoyed at the same time.
Max stood up and stretched. "Guess you can chalk it up to personal experience. I consider himself to be a hopeless romantic but every time I've given my heart away I've gotten burned in return. I just have to hope that love, true love, will find me someday."
"I know how you feel," Rebecca said, "but it's better to have some kind of love in your life than to be alone and bitter. If I felt the way you did, I would never have had my daughter."
"True," Max said as he walked over to them. Sticking out his hand he said, "Hi, I'm Max."
"I'm Rebecca and this is my daughter Catherine."
"Nice to meet you both," Max responded after shaking both their hands. "You know, I wrote an essay on the subject of 'True Love' for school. I'd be happy to share it with you sometime."
"That would be nice," Catherine blurted out.
An announcement was made that the San Antonio bus was beginning to board. Max picked up Catherine's carry on bag, putting it up front for her so she would have a good seat. This allowed Catherine to spend a little more time with her mother while Max loaded the other passenger's bags under the bus.
When Max finished loading the bus he shook Catherine's hand once more.
"Again, it was nice meeting you. Have a safe trip."
Catherine boarded the bus without saying another word. The doors to the bus closed and as the bus pulled out of the terminal Max and Rebecca stood at the gate waving goodbye to Catherine. Rebecca gave Max her address so he could send the essay for Catherine. Rebecca left and Max went back to work, unaware of what was to come.
****
The following week Catherine had come in and seen Max unloading her bus. Rebecca had not arrived yet so Catherine stood there watching Max throw bags around. She was very impressed by how easily he was able to toss heavy bags around.
Looking up from the last bag Max saw Catherine watching him. Max could not help but to smile.
"Hi," Max said trying not to blush, "I didn't think I would ever see you again."
"Why not," Catherine asked shocked. "I told you I come back every two weeks to visit my mother. Besides, she told me that you agreed to take pictures of us."
"That's true," Max answered, chuckling to himself. "Guess I didn't take it as seriously as I should have."
"Well you should take it serious," Catherine scolded playfully. Max thought Catherine's voice was Angelic. Max knew if he spent much time alone with Catherine his heart would be in trouble. "We've wanted to take pictures together for a while now."
"So where is your mom?" Max asked looking around. "I didn't see her earlier."
"Oh, she's running late. I have to wait for her up front." Catherine's cheeks started turning rosy red as she began to blush. "I saw you and wanted to say hi."
"I got some time," Max responded, looking at his watch, "I'll wait with you."
Max picked up Catherine's bag with ease and walked her to the front entrance. Rebecca pulled up as they walked out the front door. Max, opening the car door, placed Catherine's bag in the back seat, then closed the door after Catherine got inside.
"Have a wonderful weekend you two," Max said as he stepped back away from the car, smiling from ear to ear.
****
Two days later Max saw Rebecca and Catherine coming into the terminal. Again Max could not help but smile.
"So how was your weekend," Max asked as they walked past him.
"Oh Max. Hi," Catherine responded, longing to see Max again, and pleased that he had found her first. "It was great."
"Good," Max said with a smile. "I'm glad. So have you two given any more thought as to when you want to take pictures?"
"I was wondering if you would be willing to take pictures of a birthday party as well," Rebecca asked.
"I don't see why not," Max answered. "Whose birthday is it?"
"Good then maybe we can do everything that same day." Rebecca said excited. "It's my birthday."
"Yea, that's doable," Max said, nodding his head. "I'm sure I can come up with something."
"So how was your weekend," Catherine asked, changing the subject back to Max.
"Not much of one really," Max answered. "Just working here. I'm pulling a double today. That's me, work, work, work."
Just then an announcement was made that the bus from Galveston was pulling into Gate 10.
"That's my queue to go," Max said as the announcement ended. "We have to unload that bus in less than five minutes. It takes three of us to do it." Max shook Rebecca and Catherine's hand. "Have a safe trip back home."
