Joy Takes Flight by Bonnie Leon

“I’ve always worried about you. If you weren’t up a tree, you were walking the top of a fence line or begging your father for another ride in his plane.” She shook her head. “You can’t possibly be a mother and a pilot.”
    Kate was getting angry. She sat up straighter and jarred her leg. Pain shot through her knee. She bit back a howl and instead demanded, “Why not?”
    Joan compressed her lips as if trying to hold back a response. “Well . . . you’re not a girl anymore. You’re a grown woman with womanly responsibilities and a husband to take care of.”
    Kate gritted her teeth. She knew she ought to let this go, but she couldn’t. “What do you think my womanly responsibilities are?” she snipped.
    â€œWhen you married Paul, you made a promise—to love, honor, and obey. And part of that means keeping a home for him and being here when he needs you and one day taking care of his children.”
    â€œI do love him. And what is it that you think I’m doing that doesn’t honor him?”
    Joan took a slow breath and picked up her cup. Her hands trembled slightly. “You need to put him first.”
    â€œHe is first. I don’t know why you don’t see that.”
    â€œHow can you be a full-time wife if you’re off flying and leaving him to fend for himself?”
    â€œThat’s not how it is.” The volume of Kate’s voice rose. “We work together a lot of the time. And when I’m not home, Paul’s quite capable of taking care of himself.”
    Joan massaged her temples as if to soothe away tension. “Kate, are you sure your job isn’t first?”
    Kate wanted to scream. Why couldn’t she make people understand? “Mom—Paul and I agreed that I should keep flying. He said if I’m happy, he’s happy.”
    â€œBut you could injure yourself or be killed—you know how much that possibility tortures him.”
    â€œHe’s come to accept the danger of my job. And there’s no way to live a life of absolute safety anyway.” She clasped her hands tightly. “I could have broken my neck while I was skiing.” Kate sat up as straight as she could. “I refuse to lock myself in my house and spend my days dusting and baking and praying for a baby.”
    â€œYou know I didn’t mean that.”
    â€œThen, what did you mean?” Kate was beyond caring whether she was angry or not.
    Her mother crossed her legs and seemed to consciously relax her muscles. “I’m just thinking about your future. A man wants a woman who will make his home a haven, a place where he can come home and know there will be a hot meal and loving arms to hold him.”
    Kate studied her hands and lowered her tone. “Okay, so I don’t cook so well. But I’m learning, and my arms are open to him.” Some of what her mother had said penetrated Kate’s uncertainty. Was her mother right, at least partially? Did she need to make a better home for Paul? Be here for him more? “Mom, Paul and I can’t be a replica of you and Dad. We’ve got to find our own way.”
    â€œI don’t expect you to be like me and your father.” Joan brushed a loose strand of hair off her face. “I just want the best for you. I want you safe.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “And if there are babies, they’ll need you.”
    â€œI plan to be here for them. And they can come with Paul and me some of the time.”
    Joan’s eyes widened. “You can’t possibly take them with you.”
    â€œWhen I was a girl, I went with Dad all the time.” Kate wished she could stand and walk. She wanted to get out of the house, away from the convicting words, the uncertainty.
    â€œFlying in the Yakima valley is not the same as flying the Alaskan wilderness. You know that.”
    Kate did know, and when there was a child, she wasn’t sure