CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sandy, Jeanne, Sam and Jesse all sat in the
family room, spread out in various chairs. The dogs were running in
and out, so Sandy asked Jesse to take them outside.
“Can I go visit Anna’s new baby horse, Dad?”
Jesse’s little face shone.
“Absolutely, Jesse. Shut the door when you go
out, please.”
“Bye, everybody!” And he ran outside as fast
as he could, dogs at his side.
“… Sweet boy, Sandy,” said Sam.
“Thanks.”
“Well, Sam. I guess we caused a pretty pickle
here,” started Jeanne. “What do you think we can do?”
“For starters, I apologized to Sandy in the
car over here. I guess the train derailed because of me. I never
meant to hurt my precious daughter or your nice son here with my
age-old baggage.” He glanced over at Jeanne.
“You’re right about that,” she said.
“Okay, then where is she?” asked Sandy. “If
she isn’t in Sonoma or Naples, where else would she go? Mother, any
ideas?”
Jeanne looked uncomfortable, like someone
just stuck a pin in her. “Ah, well…um…”
“No ideas, you two?” Sandy pressed.
“Well, sure,” said Sam smoothly. “She would
probably go to San Francisco. She always loved the City, even
though Ron was a jerk. Shopping, restaurants, events—it’s her play
town.”
Jeanne looked down at her hands.
“Mom, I know you always have the scoop on
everything. What do you know?” Sandy scooted to the edge of his
seat.
“… Jeanne?” asked Sam.
“Okay, she called me last Tuesday and told me
she was in San Francisco.”
Sandy’s jaw dropped. “You knew all week and
didn’t tell me?”
“Now, son—don’t be upset with me. Lily swore
me to secrecy, because she wanted someone to know – and she was
pretty upset with you two.“ She gave them both a stern look. “And
of course, I don’t tell secrets.”
Sandy wasn’t finished. “So where in San
Francisco is she?”
“She’s staying at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob
Hill.”
“Oh, yeah! That’s right! That’s her favorite
hotel. I had forgotten all about it.” Sam looked at Sandy. “Sorry
again.”
Sandy blew out the breath he was holding.
“All right. I’m going to see if she’s registered there and fly out
tomorrow.” He rose. “I’m going to make some calls now.” He left
Jeanne and Sam in the living room. He winked and she blushed.
“Nice to see you again, Sam.”
“You too, Jeanne. You look lovely and haven’t
changed a bit.”
“In forty years? Come on, Sam. We were always
truthful with one another.”
“We were a lot of things to one another,
Jeanne Murdoch. Want to go for a walk?” Sam’s face relaxed and his
eyes softened making him look like that handsome actor…what’s his
name? Oh, yes. Sam Elliott.
* * *
The Fairmont Hotel had her registered and put
the call through. His cell phone rang at the same time. Sandy knew
who it was before he answered. He hung up the Fairmont call and
answered his cell.
“Sweetheart! Is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me, Sandy. Look, I am so
sorry.”
“…Don’t be sorry about anything. I’m just
happy to have found out where you are.” He let out a staggered
breath.
“Jeanne didn’t blow my cover? I thought for
sure she would.”
“No, Sam flew in today and I cornered them
both to squeeze the information out. I figured together they could
give me what I needed.” He laughed. Damn, it was wonderful just to
hear her beautiful voice again, the panacea he needed to soothe his
troubled heart.
“Dad is there? How is he?”
“We talked everything out, Lily, and he
apologized a few times. Right now, he’s taking my mom for a walk.”
He looked around his office, the familiarity comforting him.
“Really? Interesting.”
He paused and listened to her breathing. It
was nirvana to him. “Are you all right?”
“Sandy, you might not want to hear this, but
I’ve been having a pretty fair time in one of my favorite cities. I
called my friend Page and she forced me to talk out this whole
business. I couldn’t do anything at all for several days. But then
we started going shopping and eating out. We went to the Wharf for
lunch and I bought the prettiest dress at Bloomingdale’s. You’re
going to love it!” Her babbling relaxed him even more.
“I would love to see it. How about tomorrow?
I want to fly up to get you. Would that be all right with you,
sweetheart? I love seeing the guys ogle you in airports,” he
teased.
“Come get me, Sandy. I want to see you more
than I realized. I do love you so.” He could tell she was smiling,
even on the phone.
He paused and his voice became a whisper. “In
vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be
repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and
love you.”
Lily couldn’t speak for a few seconds.
“Hello? Lily, are you there?”
“Is that from Pride and Prejudice? I’m
overwhelmed! That was so beautiful, Sandy! Did you read that book?
Was it for me?”
“Cover to cover. I watched South
Pacific too.” Sandy grinned.
Little sniffling sounds came over the
wire.
“Oh no, that’s not the effect I was hoping
from you.”
She sniffed and said haltingly, “That…is the
most wonderful…sniff…and intimate thing anyone has ever said to me.
Cowboys are special, aren’t they?”
“… I’ve always thought so.”
“I also have a nice welcoming gift for you. I
got a suite here, you know.”
They talked another half hour about the
ranch, Jesse, school, Sam, Jeanne and everything else. Finally she
said, “I have to go, Sandy. I wish you were here. I miss being with
you.”
“Tomorrow, sweetheart. I’ll be at your hotel
about noon. I want to stay for another day, would that be all
right? Let’s see your town, your way. Pretend I’m a visiting sailor
in port for the day.”
“Aye, aye, skipper. I love you. See you
tomorrow.”
“I love you, sweet Lily Cable. Tomorrow.”
They clicked off their phones and both sat
there looking off into space.
What’s that people say about something being
too good to be true? Don’t believe it because love is too good,
period. Sandy kissed his phone and stuck it in his pocket. Then he
went out to find Jesse. Where is everybody? He was feeling pretty
good, at long last.