“Good for you!Have you told this deliciousboyfriend about your decision yet?”She smirked which made Lilylaugh.
“No, but I will tonight.Thanks for this,honey.You’re a good friend and I owe you.”
“Just invite me to the wedding.This guy I’vegot to meet.Does he have any brothers?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sandy, Jeanne, Sam and Jesse all sat in thefamily room, spread out in various chairs.The dogs were running inand 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 goout, please.”
“Bye, everybody!”And he ran outside as fastas he could, dogs at his side.
“… Sweet boy, Sandy,” said Sam.
“Thanks.”
“Well, Sam.I guess we caused a pretty picklehere,” started Jeanne.“What do you think we can do?”
“For starters, I apologized to Sandy in thecar over here.I guess the train derailed because of me.I nevermeant to hurt my precious daughter or your nice son here with myage-old baggage.”He glanced over at Jeanne.
“You’re right about that,” she said.
“Okay, then where is she?”asked Sandy.“Ifshe isn’t in Sonoma or Naples, where else would she go?Mother, anyideas?”
Jeanne looked uncomfortable, like someonejust stuck a pin in her.“Ah, well…um…”
“No ideas, you two?”Sandy pressed.
“Well, sure,” said Sam smoothly.“She wouldprobably go to San Francisco.She always loved the City, eventhough Ron was a jerk.Shopping, restaurants, events—it’s her playtown.”
Jeanne looked down at her hands.
“Mom, I know you always have the scoop oneverything.What do you know?”Sandy scooted to the edge of hisseat.
“… Jeanne?”asked Sam.
“Okay, she called me last Tuesday and told meshe was in San Francisco.”
Sandy’s jaw dropped.“You knew all week anddidn’t tell me?”
“Now, son—don’t be upset with me.Lily sworeme to secrecy, because she wanted someone to know – and she waspretty upset with you two.“ She gave them both a stern look.“Andof course, I don’t tell secrets.”
Sandy wasn’t finished.“So where in SanFrancisco is she?”
“She’s staying at the Fairmont Hotel on NobHill.”
“Oh, yeah!That’s right!That’s her favoritehotel.I had forgotten all about it.”Sam looked at Sandy.“Sorryagain.”
Sandy blew out the breath he was holding.“All right.I’m going to see if she’s registered there and fly outtomorrow.”He rose.“I’m going to make some calls now.”He leftJeanne 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’tchanged a bit.”
“In forty years?Come on, Sam.We were alwaystruthful with one another.”
