She was fixing her hair when Page called fromdownstairs.
“Ready to go?”
“Be right down, Page.”
It was a beautiful day in San Francisco.
But it was a lousy day in Sonoma.Sam hadbeen kicking himself ever since Lily and Sandy left.He spoke tothe framed photo of his wife on the wall.“I really screwed up,didn’t I, Margaret?”He felt sure she was nodding.
“Should I try to make things right for sweetLily?”Margaret nodded again.He should be willing to do anythingfor his daughter, even accept her choice in marriage.Even if hewas a Johnson…
Sam considered flying down to see her.Shecertainly wasn’t picking up or answering any of his phone calls.Ithad been a long week and he didn’t want to let this troublecontinue.He had to make things right, somehow.Sam picked up thephone one more time.
* * *
Sandy called his mother.“Mom?You’ll neverbelieve who’s flying to Reno today…Give up?Sam…Yes, I’ll go pickhim up.Don’t worry about it.I want you here by 5:00, so we can gothrough this together.All right?Talk to you soon.”
Briefly he wondered how his mother might feelat seeing Sam again.Well, she’d just have to deal with it.
Sandy rubbed his eyes for the hundredth time.With Jason taking care of the business and brother Bill minding thefinances, he could try to breathe.Sam’s plane wasn’t arrivinguntil 4:00, so he had some time to try to relax.Maybe he’d try tofinish that book Lily wanted him to read.Pride andwhat?Where was it?
* * *
“Page, what do you think of this dress?Ilike it, but Sandy prefers me in jeans.”
Lily and Page were shopping atBloomingdale’s, a fashionable clothing store in Union Square.Everywhere they turned was another beautiful article of clothing inthat spacious, airy store.Four wonderful floors of fabulousdesigns!Page watched her model the pretty dress in the mirror.“Want to talk about it yet?”
“… No.”
“Lily, all you do is talk about him.WhatSandy likes, doesn’t like, what he does… You’ve been here almost aweek now.Hasn’t the dust settled enough for you to call him?”Pagewatched her smile slip to a frown.
“Honestly, Page.I’m not sure what to say tohim.I basically ran out on him, hiding here in the City.I lefthim in a bad way, I know.”
“Going somewhere to think things over is notrunning off.You said that yourself.Problem is you’re not talkingabout any of it yet.Let’s go get a glass of wine somewhere, allright?”
Lily turned this way and that in the fittingroom mirror.
“You’re buying that dress, aren’t you?”
Page laughed at Lily’s wicked smile.“He’lllove me in it, I know.”
* * *
Sam’s plane was late.Sitting and waiting forhim, Sandy thought about the last time he was at this airport herein Reno.He and Lily were going to see Sam.She looked so lovelythat day, laughing and happy.They were holding hands, sharingsecrets.Poof…the memory dissipated.He hadn’t seen orspoken to her in a week.It was interesting to him that he hadgotten along without her for four years just fine, but he didn’tfeel so fine now that she was gone.
He cut himself this morning shaving andwondered who the poor fool in the mirror was.Oh yeah…that’sme.Jeanne told him to pull himself together.Did he think Lilywould want to see him as a haggard old man?He had wondered if Lilywanted to see him again period.
Maybe he should make an effort with clothes,etc.So he tried to spruce himself up a bit.Without thinking,Sandy put on the Western shirt Lily had worn that happy day in hiskitchen.Crap!He took it off.Just couldn’t do that yet.
Sam’s plane landed and he walked into thearrival area.Because of security, Sandy would be waiting bybaggage claim.He only had a small carry-on, but it seemed like alogical place to meet.Sam took the escalator down to the lowerarea where baggage claim was located.Walking quickly, he passed atall cowboy complete with cowboy hat, sunglasses and a sign thatread: SAM CABLE.He stepped back to look at the sign again andlaughed.
“Mom’s idea,” grinned Sandy.
“Let’s start again, shall we, Sandy?”
“You bet, sir.”
On the way to Naples, the fog in the carbegan to clear somewhat.
