Chapter Text
SUNDAY
THE GASPE PENINSULA
The Beaubier twins were right. The Gaspe peninsula was beautiful.
The sky was the bluest of blues I had ever seen. The air was sparkling. The beach was gorgeous. But the most important thing was that Philip Maltby and I were on this beach together.
We strolled along the shoreline, holding hands and talking, talking, talking. And sharing an occasional kiss. Well, all right, more than an occasional kiss. But we were like any couple in the world. Just deeply in love, and learning more about each other’s lives.
“I told you I have four brothers,” Phil was saying now. “You didn’t get to meet them that time Judd flew you to Vancouver on that surprise visit. Just my parents.”
“No, but I’ve seen the pictures you’ve shown me,” I said. “And I showed you the picture of my younger brother who moved to California. He likes it better out there, working in the film industry as an editor.”
“I’m the only chemist in the family,” Phil offered. “My oldest brother is an electrical engineer, and my second oldest is a radiologist. My two kid brothers are in college. One of them wants to be an archaeologist, and the youngest wants to be a teacher.”
“I hope I’ll get to meet them soon.” I spoke eagerly. “I mean, you’ve already met my parents when we flew down last weekend. And tomorrow, you start at Department H!”
“Yeah, in the brand-new Chemistry Department!” Phil smiled, that wonderful shy smile of his. “I’m glad that your Uncle Mac helped me to find that new apartment in Ottawa.”
“And right down the street from us on Laurier Drive.” I was ecstatic. “Just think, no more separations. We’ll be together every day from now on!”
We kissed again on that beautiful, sparkling agate-strewn beach.” Then, I looked down.
“Phil, look at these beautiful stones!” I exclaimed. “They’d make great jewelry!”
“Which one do you like?” Phil queried.
“Oh, that pretty blue one down there.” I pointed it out.
Phil picked it up and looked at it. “Do you really like this one the best?”
“Oh, yes!”
Phil slipped it into his pocket. I was puzzled. “What did you do that for?” I asked.
“I have an idea,” But he wouldn’t say what it was. Suddenly, he ordered. “Turn around and close your eyes.”
I did so.
“Don’t peek.”
“I won’t,” I said, eyes tightly closed.
That was a faint scratching sound, as if someone was writing in the sand.
“Okay, now you can look. Turn around.”
I did. And received a sweet surprise.
There traced in the sand, with the aid of a broken seashell, was a perfect Valentine heart with our initials inside it. LEM and PRM.
“Oh, Phil, that’s so sweet!” I went into his arms. “Thank you!”
“Glad you like it.” Phil spoke diffidently.
“As if I wouldn’t.” I gazed at our initials. “LEM and PRM. Leta Elizabeth Macaulay. And Philip…. What does the R stand for, Philip? You’ve never told me your middle name.”
Phil looked sad. “It’s after an uncle of mine. He disappeared years ago. His name was—”
“Hey, you kids!” Uncle Judd called from up the beach. “It’s getting’ late. I had a good time with my drinkin’ buddies in town. But now it’s high time we got back, eh.”
I turned to Phil. “Well, maybe, you can tell me your middle name later. We’ll have a lot of time together from now on.”
Phil looked happier. “Yeah, I can’t wait.”
We walked to the Alpha Flight skycraft that was parked on a remote section of the beach, where a grinning Uncle Judd was waiting.
I climbed aboard, and turned in time to see Phil pass the blue agate to Uncle Judd, who smiled and nodded.
“Ain’t popped the question, yet?” Uncle Judd stage-whispered.
Phil actually blushed and stammered. “N-No, not yet.”
“What’re you waitin’ for, eh, son?”
“We’ve only known each other f-four weeks, sir.”
“Life is short, eh? Meanwhile, I’ll take care of that li’l job you just handed me. I know a guy in the jewelry business in Toronto. It’s all legit….”
They stopped talking when they saw I was watching them. Then, they turned serious, and climbed into the Skycraft.
“What are you two up to?” I asked suspiciously.
Phil looked embarrassed, and was silent. Uncle Judd just started to grin mischievously. Which only increased my suspicions.
“All right, is this going to be a present for my birthday?” My birthday was a couple of weeks away on July 15th. (“St. Swithin’s Day,” Uncle Judd had told me when I happened to mention it to him. “Holiday in the UK.”)
“Maybe, it is an’ maybe it ain’t”, Uncle Judd spoke gruffly.
“Oh, come on, Uncle Judd….” I was suddenly desperate to know.
“Naw, ain’t gonna say no more. Now, you an’ Phil strap in. It’s getting’ late, an’ your Uncle Mac will have my hide if I don’t get you kids home in good time.”
We did as Uncle Judd requested. The Alpha Flight Skycraft, smallest ship in the fleet, took off into the sunny blue sky, heading toward Ottawa.
I had time to muse on what Phil and Uncle Judd had been up to with the agate. A birthday present? Or something else?
Uncle Judd was a skilled pilot, who’d seen a lot, both on and off the earth. He had something special to show us now.
“Hey, you kids,” he called now. “It’s safe now for you to leave your seats. Come up front, and I’ll show you somethin’”
Phil and I did as Uncle Judd requested.
Uncle Judd took the craft up a little higher, and then, pointed out the window. “Now, lock yonder. See that?”
We looked. I gasped. “Uncle Judd, what’s that?”
“The curve of the earth, cutie.”
Phil and I gazed at this in wonder.
Suddenly, I was so filled with excitement I had to say it.
“Uncle Judd, do you remember how disappointed I was when I didn’t get that airport nurse job?”
“Sure do, cutie. It was practically the first thing you ever told me, eh.”
“Well, now, I’m glad I didn’t get it.” I went on happily. “Because if I did, I would never have been hired by Department H. Or best of all, met wonderful people, like Phil or you or the rest of Alpha Flight.”
Phil beamed. Uncle Judd smiled. “Well, cutie pie, I hate to be trite here, but sometimes things happen for a reason. An’ in this case, the reason was that you were meant to come take care of us, eh. I always thought you were right for the Alpha Flight Medical Department, an’ I’m glad I was proved right.”
“Uncle Judd, I’d like to do something I’ve wanted to do ever since I first met you.”
“What’s that, chickie?”
“May I kiss your dear little bald head?”
He pointed a stubby finger to a spot on his head. “Right here, cutie.”
I bent down and kissed it.
Uncle Judd actually blushed a little. “Awww.”
“By the way, I haven’t told you how much I appreciate your flying Phil and me around the country every Sunday afternoon,” I continued. “ We’ve been to so many places. Vancouver and Yellowknife and Montreal and now the Gaspe Peninsula.”
“Aw, wasn’t no trouble, cutie-pie,” Uncle Judd spoke matter-of-factly. “I enjoy bringing you two great kids together. Maybe they should call me Cupid ‘stead of Puck.”
We all laughed delightedly at that. Then, Phil and I got into our seats again, and strapped in. And the Alpha Flight skycraft soared onwards toward Ottawa and home.