Chapter 31

I couldn’t do any more, so went into the lounge and asked the lads if they had any ideas about a name for my project. There was some hilarious suggestions before Brendon came up with ‘Unicorn Air’ with the logo being a kiddie version of a unicorn, with wings, flying over a rainbow. Bronte went for his sketchbook and turned the thought into reality.

I booked a full maintenance for the 600 with my usual company at Gatwick, and flew it to them, with Larry picking me up and taking me home. Over the next few days, I started my research into the various Curtis families. I had the list that Horatio had created from the marriage certificates, so I started emailing them to tell them that their husband, and father, was close to death and asking them if they wanted to attend his funeral, whenever that happened. I offered to pick them up and would pay for their accommodation when in London.

Two replied that they would like to see him before he died, so I emailed Smithers to ask if my father would see them. One was the Janet, from Norfolk, and the other was May from Carlisle, the two after my mother. The three from overseas emailed me back to tell me that he could rot in hell but would welcome the trip to London if I’m paying. The only one to not answer was the one from Middlesborough. My main reason was to get as many as possible in the one place for a group photo. My book would be the true story, warts - and all.

A few days later, Smithers called and told me that my father would see any of his wives who wanted to say goodbye, but only one at a time. I called my mother and asked her if she wanted to have one last goodbye. She surprised me by saying that it would give her closure. I had phone numbers for Janet and May, so called them and we arranged to pick them up at their nearest airfield. I called Smithers back and told him that there would be me, Adrian, and three others. He said that we could stay at the airbase again. He gave me a date to arrive, so I worked out the flight plan and rang the other two to tell them when I would be landing, and to bring enough for a few nights. I arranged a car for my mother to get her to Redhill.

That morning, Adrian and I had visually inspected the Cheyenne, made sure we had enough fuel and that there was drinks and nibbles in the cabin when the car with mum in arrived. I gave her a hug and helped her in, getting her comfortable and strapped in. Then I joined Adrian in the cockpit, and we went through the procedure of getting started and into the air. Once we were on a bearing for Norfolk, I went back to see how mum was getting on. She still wasn’t sure about the meeting but was keen to meet the other wives.

We set down at the Fenland Airfield, and collected Janet, getting her settled and introducing ourselves before taking off again for Carlisle. A few hours later, we had landed and collected May, the last of the wives. She, of course, was also the youngest and was still a beautiful woman, not that much older than me. By the time we landed at Shawbury, the three of them had regaled each other with their times and I could hear some laughter as we were flying south.

At Shawbury, they realised that they were now involved with something a little more serious, as Smithers collected us with a minibus and took us to the quarters. The evening meal wasn’t as dressy as before, as the CO was away, but I was asked if I had any more films to show. I showed them the ‘Kathleen Cary’ trilogy. It was interesting to watch them in sequence. They had an almost hypnotic inevitability about them and there was some heartfelt applause when they had finished.

The next day, Smithers drove us to the prison. After all the official paperwork at reception, we were taken to a room with a few chairs and a café bar. May went first, coming out after twenty minutes with tears in her eyes. We all gave her a hug and then Janet went in. When she came out, crying, it was time for mum to see him. The reaction of the other two should have told her that he was different, but I don’t think that any of them had considered what he was now going through.

When mum came out, I left her to the others and went through to see him. He was hardly even the man I had seen not long ago.

“Thank you, Jamie, for organising this. I didn’t think that I would be so emotional about seeing my wives, but now they all know the truth, there’s no need to hold back. I had feelings for all of them but kept that firmly shut away. I suppose you have the Piper?”

“Yes. You were right, it is fun to fly. One of your old flying buddies took me to an aerobatic designated area and I put it through its paces.”

“You have a licence?”

“Yes, just a clear weather one but I’m rated for my old Cessna, the Piper Cheyenne that I brought the others in, and also the 600. I plan on getting an instrument rating as soon as I can.”

“Impressive. You are a much better person than me, with all your skills. I’ve asked to see as many films as I could that you have been involved in. That ‘Interesting Occupation’ was like standing next to those guys as they plotted the next bit of mischief.”

“I have to thank you for supplying the original idea. It didn’t take a lot of research to be able to write a story about that place, at that time. The MP did tell me that it was almost like reading some his old files.”

“I won’t be long for this life, now. Is there anything you want of me?”

“Do you have any old photo albums or diaries? I’m going to write your life history and it’s going to be called ‘Flyboy’. I started thinking along the lines of a screenplay but would like to write it as a book, from your point of view if I have enough material to use. The actual places and times are easily researched, these days.”

“Talk to the Major. He took all of the material like that. When I’m dead, you can demand it as my bequest to you. I’ll write a note, tonight, so it’s in the system. What did you think of May and Janet?”

“A couple of lovely people, who I would be glad to know better. The three from overseas wouldn’t come but might do for the funeral. I would like a picture of all the families together, at the end of the book. It may give closure to them all. The only one that I couldn’t contact was your first wife.”

“I know she had children, so they might be around. You should be able to track them down if she’s already died. I would love to give you a hug, but that’s not allowed. Would you accept one if it was offered?”

“As long as it was my father offering, not ‘Creepy Curtis’ the womanising airline captain.”

He laughed and then broke into a coughing fit, causing the warder to come over and give him a smack on the back and an inhaler to suck on. He looked at me as my father got himself back together and smiled.

“I had heard that name, you know. At the time I took it as a badge of honour, not that I think that way now. I wasn’t very nice, was I?”

“Considering that you thought I was Janet’s daughter and having you make a pass, no, Dad, you weren’t nice, at all. It looks like the years since then has altered your outlook.”

“That, and the fact that you came to see me, and now bringing three of my wives. I’m ashamed to say that I treated everyone as if they were pawns in my game. I now know that my game was really charades, rather than chess. My whole life was for nothing, but your book may give me something to look down on you and smile. For everything, Julia, I’m eternally grateful to you. I can’t say that I would change anything if I had my life to live again. When you see my birth certificate, you’ll find there’s no father listed. Anyway, I’m now very tired. I doubt that I’ll see you again, so goodbye, my daughter. I do love you.”

“Goodbye, Dad, I love you too. You gave me somebody to look up to as a child, and nothing will take away the fun times we did have when you were home.”

He smiled and the warder led him out. I watched him go. I didn’t want to, but I was crying when I joined the others. We were all quiet on the drive back to the base. Smithers dropped us off at the mess, where we had a light lunch. The others wanted to leave, so Adrian arranged for the plane to be readied. We took off, just after one.

On the way to Carlisle, I left Adrian at the controls, making sure the autopilot had understood its directions. I went back and sat with the others.

“I’m sorry to tell you, but we pilots only have clear weather ratings, so, when we land at Carlisle, there won’t be enough daylight left for us to get to Norfolk.”

“That’s no problem,” said May. “My husband and I run a hotel in Carlisle. You can all stay there. He was going to pick me up when I call, so I’ll get him to bring the people mover. Can I ring from here?”

She called her husband and told him that she was on her way home and would land at – she looked at me and I said, “About four-thirty.”

“We will have guests, Bob. There will be two singles and a double, on the house. It’s been a wild couple of days. Do you know what Chloe is up to?”

She listened, then said, “I’ll pick her up from that. See you later.”

I smiled, “Chloe?”

“As you know, I married your father in 2008, and Chloe came along the next year. She’s now 26 and working with us at the hotel. She is in a drama group who rehearse at her old school. I told Bob that I would pick her up if you’d like to come along. She’s a great fan of yours and looks a lot like you. Not surprising, considering that you share genes. Bob and I were partners before an officer came to tell me that my previous marriage was a sham, after the arrest. After we married, Chloe has been adopted into Bob’s family and she really never saw much of her real father.”

“At one stage, I wondered if I would ever get to meet my half-siblings. Now, I’m rather looking forward to it. Give me some time to get out of these slacks when we get there. They’re all right for flying, but not for meeting a fan who is my sister! Janet, I had a dream where I was in a swing and there was a jet coming towards us. I screamed ‘Dadeee’ as it went over. It was a Typhoon, so must have been his East Anglia deployment.”

Janet went pale.

“That happened a lot, Julia. My daughter was born in 2001, so would only be a couple of years younger than you. She used to love the jets going over. We lived north of Boston at the time, and he had a habit of rattling our windows whenever he was on the landing approach to Coningsby. That’s when we knew he would be home soon. I have to say that you and Linda are like peas in a pod. She is an English teacher in Kings Lynn, where I have a small place.”

“So, me, with a love of flying, a knack for acting and a love of the written word, have a sister who’s into drama and a sister who teaches English.”

“You write?”

“Screenplays, not books - yet. I wrote the Wright film, as well as ‘Tycoon’, ‘Wind’, and ‘Interesting Occupation’. The last three were written as stories originally. Maybe I should polish them up and get them into print. The one I am going to write is called ‘Flyboy’ and will be the true story of my father’s life, so any memoirs or pictures would be appreciated when I get going on it. He told me that there is a case with his own collection that I’ll get when he’s gone.”

“You’re going to have a problem with that. How many names has he gone under?”

“Seven that I know of. That’s why it’s going to be called ‘Flyboy’, with that being the constant reference with his other names appearing as they did in real life. He’ll be called what he was using by the other characters, but the RAF will always call him Curtis, because he joined as Alec Carl Curtis in 1980. Mum and I are the only ones who were graced with that, which is why her marriage has been considered the only legal one. I have promised him a good funeral, and, from the tears this morning, it looks as if it will be.”

“Yes, we thought that we would gloat, but seeing him so vulnerable was a surprise. He was always so strong. We all had good times with him, for as long as they lasted. Seeing that he was deployed away a lot gave us all time to get used to being without him. The homecomings were good, it’s amazing that there aren’t more of his offspring around.”

I went back to the cockpit, settled in, and allowed Adrian to stretch his legs. The clouds were blowing in as we approached the Carlisle Lake Airport and were able to get parked, unloaded, and tethered down before the first spots of rain. I had checked and had been told that I would be unlikely to get in the air tomorrow with my rating. Mum and Janet called home to let them know that they may be away another day or so.

Bob was waiting with the people mover, and we were loaded in as the rain started getting serious. The introductions were made as he drove us into Carlisle and their hotel. We were shown our rooms and unpacked. I had been given a half an hour to be ready to meet Chloe, so had a quick shower and dressed in one of Anna’s creations I had in my bag. Adrian said that he would head into the city to visit the cinema that he had a stake in.

I met May in reception, and she had her car waiting under the awning. She drove me to the school. When we got there, we had to scamper to the door, with the wind threatening to tear the umbrella from my hands. Inside, she led me through to the school gym, currently being used by the drama group. We went in and stood with a bunch of other mothers waiting for their little darlings, as May had told me the bulk of the group were still at school.

The kids weren’t bad, just not motivated. I could see a few glancing at the mothers, as if to speed up the end of the little vignettes that they were working on. I could see Chloe without having her pointed out. She was the one working hard at her character, the one with a range of facial expressions, and the only one that looked like she was enjoying herself. I wondered if I would have looked like that if I had been a girl.

I looked at May.

“You have good reason to smile. Chloe is the only one here with a future. The others are only in it for two things. The boys to meet girls, and the girls to be able to dress up – and meet boys.”

“You really think so? It would be nice for her to get a good role, like that ‘Drama Queen’ film of yours. I’ve lost count of how many times she’s watched that and copied you. I think she’s just caught sight of the two of us talking and is trying to work out who you are.”

“Let me go and tell her, then. It will be a relief to all the others when I stop the class.”

I left her and walked onto the gym floor, my heels clicking on the wood. A thought went through my head that heels weren’t allowed in gyms. As I approached Chloe, we locked eyes, and it was like looking into a mirror. I walked up to her, my arms wide.

“Hello Chloe, sister.”

We stood there, hugging, as she asked me how I was here and why I called her ‘sister’. The drama teacher rushed up to us and demanded to know why I had upset her class. Chloe still held my hand as she answered.

“Miss Steel, this is the famous actress, Julia Leigh, and she has just called me sister.”

“Explain yourself, woman!”

“I am, as Chloe says, Julia Leigh, and I have starred in a few films. I am here because I’ve just been at a prison where her mother met with Chloe’s birth father, also my birth father. He is nearing death. You will be able to read his life story, in a few years. In the meantime, except for Chloe, you seem to have the usual group of temporary actors to work with. I think that most of them would be happy to go home.”

“Is that a professional view?”

“It is, Miss Steel. I could hardly see a glimmer of talent, or motivation, as I was looking on. I pity you the job but admire the way you had set them up in vignettes. I was expecting something like a Shakespeare rehearsal. Are you going to put on a revue?”

“Yes, much to my growing horror.”

“Tell them that I’ll bring along a London Agent when you have the performance. That should shake a few up. When is the opening night?

“Just the one show, in a theatre, weekend after next.”

“What do you have to do after that, Chloe?”

“I suppose that I’ll still be helping out in the hotel. Not much to look forward to, is it?”

“What say we talk to your parents, and get you coming south, with me, so I can show you around a studio, meet some people far more talented than me, and see if we can wangle you a screen test.”

This time she just said ‘Thank You’ as she gave me a bear-hug. The teacher also said her thanks as she turned to the class.

“I can see some curious faces. This lady is Julia Leigh, the famous actress, and is, so I’ve just been told, Chloe’s half-sister. She will be at your performance and has promised to bring along a London Agent, to see if any of you lot can rake up some talent before then. Now, with that news, you can go home and brush up on your lines while looking in a mirror to see if you can actually create the right expressions. See you tomorrow, after school, for another session.”

As the others started leaving, she turned back to me.

“Will you still be in town, Miss Leigh?”

“If the weather doesn’t improve, I think I will be. I’m not rated for instrument flying, so will be on the ground until the sun comes out.”

“This is Carlisle, you may be here for your next birthday. Go and get your things, Chloe, I think that you have an interesting evening ahead of you.”

Chloe seemed reluctant to let go; in case I disappeared in a puff of smoke. May had joined us as she went off to find her things.

“You certainly put the cat among the pigeons, there. Julia.”

“She certainly did, May. Can you see if you can hold on to her for a few days. Julia, would you please give us a little time, tomorrow, so that we can breathe some life into the dead dog that we have to perform in ten days’ time.”

“I’ll see what I can bring to your table, Miss Steel.”

When Chloe joined us, she latched on to my hand again as we made our way past a group of curious mothers and their little darlings. In the car, I got in the back and Chloe got in the front. The rain had eased as we went back to the hotel. May told me that she had organised a large table in the dining room for tonight’s meal. When we got there, Chloe rushed off to get changed, while I went up to my room to freshen up. Adrian was there and greeted me with a kiss.

“How did it go, darling?”

“Very well. Chloe is a real talent. I’m going to have to ask Bob and May if I can borrow her after she has the final performance of the show they’re putting on. Without an injection, it will be lucky if it gets into its second half. I want to see how she goes in front of a camera. If we can get home, I want to bring Jim or Michael back with us when we come up to see it, Saturday week. I promised the drama teacher to see if it will add some life to it, even she calls a dead dog.”

That evening, the dinner was good country cooking, and the table was alive with talking. Chloe sat next to me, and Bob kept on looking at the two of us with a smile. Adrian surprised our hosts with a big sheaf of single-use vouchers for the cinema, to be given to guests. He explained that the manager was to report back on the usage, and, if they were popular, he would supply more. Bob wanted to know how many cinemas he owned and cried “Enough, already’ as Adrian ran out of fingers, second time round.

I told Bob and May that their daughter had a genuine talent, that would never be appreciated here in Carlisle. I asked them if she could come and live with me, so that I could take her to the studio and get her a screen test. I had to explain our set-up, with individual suites and a cook, butler, and security guy. If it was all right, I would take her south on the Sunday after the performance. The pleading look that Chloe gave her parents worked, and the meal ended with Bob raising his glass in a toast to the future.

After the meal, I pulled Chloe into the snug.

“Chloe, we have to show your drama group what acting really is.”

We got some notepaper and quickly wrote a scene, where one sister starts an argument, with it going white hot before they end up clinging to each other and telling each other of their love. It was about the length of the scenes that were in the revue. We rehearsed it, quietly, then made sure we were private when we did it, for real. It reminded me of my first two screen tests, so long ago. It also reminded me of Jeff and Eric. She was good, very good.

When we were still hugging, the door opened, and May put her head in.

“Are you all right, I thought I heard shouting?”

“More than all right, Mum. Julia has just shown me what acting is all about. Do you want to get Dad to see what Julia meant about putting life into that dog?”

The two of them came in, with Adrian, Mum, and Janet in tow. They sat down and I explained that we were about to show them a short act that we had just written. It was to show the others in her group that when you are acting a part, you have to believe that you really are that person, not just a dummy mouthing the words. As they were nodding, I heard a voice say “Bitch’ behind me.

I whirled around and gave her a blast, getting a withering return of fire. We called each other everything under the sun until we collapsed in each other’s arms, saying sorry and both raising some tears. We had five sitting there with their mouths open. I whispered, “I love you, sister” and got a similar answer. After that, there was no uncertainty that Chloe was coming south as soon as the show finished.

Marianne Gregory © 2024