“Mom, just because you’ve had two horriblemarriages, that doesn’t mean I’m going to.And it’s really none ofyour business who I smile at.You go your way and please let me gomine.”Amanda stuck out her chin in defiance and her mother backeddown.
“I just don’t want to see you hurt again.That miserable creep of a boyfriend you had last time was enough tomake you swear off men.At least that’s what you said at thetime.”
Amanda let out an exasperated breath.“God,Mom, you are enough to drive someone to drink.This is my lastweekend in town—could we please not have a fight over some guy in arestaurant whom I don’t know and will likely never see again?Please?”Her mother was needy, dependent and between husbands.“Youneed to get your own life, Mom.Not try to live mine.”
“Okay, you’re right.Let’s not fight.I’llsave my energy to battle husband #2 for alimony.”
If Amanda thought she was safe, she neededto think again.
“And why are you moving up to that SodaSprings area by Donner Lake?It seems a million miles from me andSacramento?”Her mother’s mother face contorted like she might cry,but Amanda didn’t buy it.
“I’ve been hired at that children’s camp,Mom.I want to get out of this town and see more of the country.I’ll come back to visit sometime, if you don’t start nagging me.Inthe meantime, get a job, learn to knit, volunteer—do something.”Amanda gave her a stern look as she stopped the car.Her mother gotout, shut the door and then bent down to speak through thewindow.
“You’ll come say good-bye before leaving?And I have your cell phone number, right?”She looked anxious.
Amanda sighed.“I promise, now go lie downfor a while, before another headache comes on.I have to go pack.”Her mother nodded and then turned away.
Amanda was exhausted just taking her out tolunch.She’d turn into a nervous wreck if she moved back home likeher mother wanted her to do.Nope—I’m out of here.I need to find abetter way of life for myself than what I’ve known here.Amandapushed her wayward hair out of her face.She tucked a few loosewisps back behind her ears.She stopped at her apartment building,glanced out the windshield and was glad to be leaving it.Void ofcolor and comfort, the place felt like a tomb.Getting out of thecar, she stood straight, thinking about the man she had just seenat the restaurant.
What was it about him?Jeez, he was sosomething.Good-looking, yes… Polite, definitely.But touchinghis hand was electrifying… That had never happened before to herwith any man she had ever known.What was it about?Did that meananything?She remembered looking back to get one last look at him.Looking down, he was angelic-looking.Looking up at her, her heartkicked into overdrive.She knew her face flushed and the roomsuddenly seemed too small.They looked deeply into each other’seyes.Some kind of pool of energy stared back at her.When hesmiled at her, she felt the sun rise.Wow again.She knewshe’d see him again.That was a certainty…
CHAPTER TWO
“Oh, would you look at our handsomegrandson, Sam?He looks just like Sandy with Lily’s wavy blackhair.Maybe a little bit of Montgomery Clift without the angst.Ormaybe Johnny Depp, Sam?Mmm…some young filly is going to want tomake him the co-star of her film.”Jeanne, Colt’s grandmother, wasa cookies-and-milk kind of grandmother, although a real movieaddict.She tended to sum up situations in movie-ese.
Sam laughed.“I thought you said Sandylooked like Robert Redford.”
“Well, he does, but with black hair, thatchanges things.”
“Okay, if you say so…” He tried not tolaugh, but it slipped out anyway.
Colt smiled.He knew his grandmother hadsaid something funny, probably about movies.
“Colt!Great to see you, son.How was yourdrive?”
Colt walked up to give them both hugs.
“Good.No problems.I stopped in Old TownSac for lunch.”Colt studied them for a moment.They didn’t seem tochange—all concern for him and the family.Jeanne still had a trimfigure and Sam looked a bit like the fictional Marlboro Man, arugged individual.Their obvious affection for him flowed over himlike a warm river.He felt wanted.Loved.Nice feelings…
“Well, come on in and tell us what’s goingon with the family,” said Sam as they walked into the house.“Wantsome iced tea?”He didn’t wait for an answer, got out a glass andstarted pouring.
“Now Sam, you just spoke to Lilyyesterday.”
“Sure, but now I want Colt’s point of view.Sometimes, just sometimes, it’s not the same as his parents’.”Samlaughed.
Sam and Jeanne’s ranch just outside ofSonoma was not only a working ranch, where Sam trained horses, butwas also a small winery.Sam Cable produced a nice Chardonnay and afew barrels that he sold to local restaurants.He was alwaysexperimenting with his wines.It was well known in theCable-Johnson family that Sam was a perfectionist.Walking insidetheir spacious home, Colt experienced many pleasant memoriesswirling around his head like butterflies.They were so numerous,that he couldn’t flick them away if he wanted to.
The kitchen had some good aromas emanatingfrom the oven.“That smells wonderful, Grandma.Is it bananabread?”The rich scent of banana filled his nostrils.
“You bet.Sit, sit, sit, and tell useverything,” Jeanne laughed.She took the bread out of the oven tocool.Colt’s senses were flooded.They all sat down at the kitchentable, where, naturally, all good discussions take place…
“Okay, where to start?Well, we justcelebrated Dad and Mom’s 24thwedding anniversary, butyou know that.Remember you were down for the event.”
“Yes, sweetie,” said Jeanne, “We are not soriddled with dementia that we forgot the drive down and the wholecelebration.My God, I think the entire town turned out forit!”
Colt took a sip of his iced tea.“Youprobably know more about sister Meg than I do.She landed thatassistant chef job at a chic restaurant in San Francisco.She wroteMother that she loved the job and the City.And you know how Momfeels about San Francisco.”
”Indeed.It’s her favorite city and has beenfor a long time.Meggie will do well.But no boyfriend yet?”Shesighed.“How about Jesse?He and Audrey haven’t set a date?”
