Barbara spent the next few days before Christmas Eve trying to relive the golden hour of the search for the tree, rather than thinking about the kiss Gail had given Paul. She had even more difficulty trying to forget Paul's reaction. He had returned Gail's kiss, also on the cheek. But with the same passion he had received his? Barbara fought with herself to deny it, but could not block the honesty out of her heart. Paul's returned kiss held the same passion, if not more.
Was Gail's love for Paul working its way into his resolve to become a priest? Barbara could not tell, but also could not deny that this seemed to be so. Then where did she stand? What of her love for Paul?
Gail's heart began racing when her flying lesson from Paul ended late the following afternoon and he asked her, "How about dinner?"
"I'd love to! When?"
"Right now?"
"Sure! Fine! Let's go! I mean, okay!"
He took her to a small Italian restaurant, Luigi's, on Chicago's near north side. They sat at a small table with a red-and-white checkered cloth and a lighted candle stuck in the top of a Chianti bottle.
Is he changing his mind? Gail wondered. Is he having doubts about becoming a priest? She knew it could be a very bad mistake to get her hopes up, but couldn't help it.
A pair of black-suited and white aproned musicians with bushy black mustaches, one playing an accordion and the other a violin, began serenading them with "Santa Lucia."
Oh no, I can hardly stand this! Gail thought, looking across the tiny table at the man she loved. No! she denied.
I feel more than just love for him. I adore him! "I'm wrestling with it," Paul admitted to her. "Don't think I'm not."
Gail was in agony. He's afraid to admit how he really feels for me. I think he loves me. If he says he does, it will make it even more difficult for him. Paul also was tormented. I love God, but I love this beautiful, wonderful young woman, too! I've probably loved her ever since we were kids. But something held me back from showing her I loved her. Then later I realized why. I discovered I loved someone else too, very much. He tried to explain his feelings to her. "While flying, high above the clouds on a bright spring afternoon, I made my decision. I would follow the calling I had heard in the sky that day. To some, flying is an excitement. To me, it's that, but also a spiritual thing."