“I think he’s cracking up or something.Ijust don’t know what to think.”
“This is insane.None of it has anything todo with us.I feel like you’re Juliet and I’m Romeo.”
“Please let me have some time to sort thisout, Sandy.I just can’t do what either of you wants me to do justnow.My head’s a muddle and I need quiet.”
“I would give you anything you want and need,sweetheart.Remember that always.”
With that, Sandy fell silent.He drove onthrough that terrible night, while Lily fitfully slept.He was gladshe could finally escape her misery for a little while.He wishedhe could too.It was a long, five hours to the airport in Reno.Heturned in the rental car and made Lily comfortable in his carretrieved from the parking garage.They still needed to drive hometo Naples.She dozed again on the short drive to her place and wokeup when he stopped the car.
“How are you feeling, Lily?Are you warmenough?”
“Sandy, you are kind and thoughtful andwonderful and every great adjective I can think of.But you’regoing to have to give me some space.”
He got out to get her bag and opened herdoor.Before she got out of the car, she looked up into his worriedface.“I do love you, but give me some time.Please….I’ll call youwhen I can.”
Sandy’s response sounded strangled and hewatched her as she walked to her cottage.Was she leaving his life?He decided to pray, “If there’s a God in Heaven, please sort thismess out.”At the front door, she turned to wave at him and thenwas gone.The porch light went out… It turned out the light in hisheart as well.He gloomily drove home, scarcely noticing thewinding road, or paying much attention to traffic.
Home.
Bed...
No sleep would be coming tonight.Sandydidn’t even bother to change out of his clothes.The dogs jumped onthe king-sized bed with him so it would be a two-dog night forsure.He could have used twenty.That ache in his gut was going tobe around for a while and with that cheery thought, Sandy dozedoff.His sleep was jumpy and short… When he woke, it was still darkand the clock said he had slept for twenty minutes.
This what I have to look forward to?He and the dogs got up.He fed them and made some coffee.Might aswell.
Meanwhile, across town…
Once in her house, Lily crumbled to the floorlike a broken flower.
How could so much go so wrong so fast?
Two days ago, they were on the verge ofgetting married and now it was all soured milk.She couldn’tbelieve her father’s reaction.Sandy had been nothing but agentleman throughout the whole ordeal.Mr.Darcy had nothing on Mr.Johnson.
Where’s my bed?Should I undress?
Too many decisions.Lily fell into her bedexhausted, pulling covers over her head.No more thinking.Sleepwas what she needed.She glanced at the clock in her bedroom.3:00a.m.?
What do I do about Sandy?God,Sandy…Just remembering how angry he was at her father was enough tomake her stomach roil.
What was Dad thinking?Remembering thecrushed look on her father’s face during his confession had Lilyrushing to the bathroom to throw up.
After rinsing her mouth, she looked in thebathroom mirror and saw a distressed, miserable woman looking backat her.Lily crawled back to bed and finally fell asleep, just toawaken minutes later, desperately needing to know how Sandy was.Probably no better off than she was… Interesting that her thoughtsalways came back to him.
Need…to…sleep…She dozed again.At five herphone rang somewhere in the house.She staggered out of bed to makea cup of tea.Might as well get up.That bed’s useless…
Sipping tea calmed her and she began tothink.Suddenly, she had an “aha” moment!It wasn’t a great one,but when your head’s in the toilet, literally and figuratively,action is called for.She looked around for her purse, plucked outher phone and called Information.She needed a phone number.“Yes,operator, I need an out of state number.”
* * *
Jeanne brought Jesse home Sunday noon.Shewas surprised to find Sandy in the media room watching a movie.Shethought Lily would have been there, but the seat next to him wasempty.
“What are you watching in the middle of theday?This is all you can find to do and where’s Lily?”Jeannelooked down the hallway.
“Yeah!Where’s Lily?”asked little Jesse.
“She’s not here right now, son.How aboutfeeding the dogs for me?I think they’re hungry.”Jesse ran happilyout of the room to do his chore.
Jeanne noticed what was on the TV.“SouthPacific?You’re watchingSouth Pacificnow?Why?”
