A Lonely Sky (8 page)

“Yes, well. I heard there was a bloody fantastic performance of “Gone With the Wind” being re-enacted.” He nodded over to the vase lying in pieces on the floor. “That looked expensive.”

“Everything here is expensive.” Deirdre waved off his remark as she quickly regained false composure. “Now whatever could you want?”

“I was looking for you.” Spencer entered the room. Deirdre bristled. Horrible enough he witnessed her anger, but now he wouldn’t leave. “And I’m looking for Sam. He’s been so elusive lately. I rang him several times, but no answer.”

Deirdre sighed, already weary of this fiasco of a party. “He’s not coming. He’s in Germany.”
Now go away
.

Spencer raised pale eyebrows in surprise. “Germany?  What the devil is he doing there?”

Deirdre tried to keep her voice even. She would not let him know how Sam’s absence affected her. “On holiday.”

“Without
you
?” Spencer moved towards the settee, his eyes twinkling with his usual mischief. “May I join you on the settee?” Even his mock politeness offended her. She knew Spencer Budacker well enough to know how he toyed.

“No.”

He sat anyhow. “I thought tonight was the big night. You know, the
engagement
.”

Deirdre shifted in her seat. How dare he sit so close to her. “Well, it’s been delayed. Sam ran into a friend in Germany and chose to stay on.”

Spencer’s feigned shock was not lost on Deirdre. “Really?  A friend?  What a coincidence, hey love?  I’ve known Sammy most of my life and never knew he had friends in Germany. You think he might have mentioned that once or twice.”

Deirdre rose. “I need to get back to the party. I have guests to greet.”

Spencer stood and blocked her path to the door.

Oh for Heaven’s Sake!

He reached for her hand. “I’ll go with you, Dee. I can be your escort for the evening.”

She pulled her hand back as if his were on fire. “No thank you, Spencer. I don’t need you.”

Color rose in the pale, handsome face of the man before her. Deirdre stepped back in surprise and laughed. “Why Spencer Budacker. My rebuff has made you blush!”

He didn’t answer her, but the twinkle in his eye dimmed. His smile faded as he looked away.

His silence unnerved her. This was not the Spencer she knew. And normally, fending off a would be suitor left no mark on her conscious, but seeing Spencer downtrodden, set her off balance. And she didn’t care to be unbalanced.

She pushed past him and towards the door. She stopped and turned. He remained with his back to her. “I really do need to get back.”

Without another word, she turned and left, leaving Spencer standing in the shattered pieces of the delicate vase.

Julia absentmindedly twisted her gold cross necklace as the mini-van pulled into the Frankfurt airport.

“It’s now or never,” Kim said, sitting beside her.

The reality of what she was about to do hit Julia like a speeding train. There was no turning back now. Her stomach twisted in knots, but she tried to ignore it. “I’m going to do this, Kim. I want adventure. I need this.”

At least that was what she convinced herself last night. Their plan went so smoothly since her confession to Mr. Mueller about being at the bar, she figured it must be a sign that running off to England was the right choice. Mr. Mueller believed her story, and even thanked her for saving him from calling yet another parent to share the bad news that their child was expelled from the tour. Julia then phoned Sam at his hotel, and they talked for an hour. He reassured her of her safety and offered to have his aunt telephone her on his behalf. As he spoke about showing her London sights, Julia’s heart soared. Each minute talking to Sam convinced Julia she was meant to go. Finally, they arranged for him to be at the airport the next day when she arrived.

The van doors open and Gunther, the driver, stepped out, beckoning them all to follow.

“I hope you kids are happy with yourselves,” Mrs. O’Brien panted as she heaved her large body down the van steps. “You’re going home and I’m missing precious time with the choir because I’m the unlucky chaperone picked to make sure you get to the airport.”

“Well, we’re here, Mrs. O.,” Kim said, her voice urgent. “You can go back so you don’t have to miss anymore precious choir moments.”

“No, no,” Mrs. O’Brien said. “I may as well see to it that you get on the plane, and don’t end up
in the bar
.”

Julia shot Kim a worried glance. Under the eagle eyes of Mrs. O’Brien there was no way she could leave with Sam.

“No really, Mrs. O’Brien,” Kim said, as Julia thought frantically for a way out of this mess. “We’re running a bit late as it is, and by the time we get through customs and security, we won’t have time to use the bathroom, let alone hit the bar, not that we would, for we certainly learned our lesson, didn’t we group?” She shot a pleading look at the guys.

Bob and Chris nodded like two converted cult followers.

Kim continued. “Let’s just say our fond farewells and you, Mrs. O., can jump back on board with Gunther and we’ll hightail it to the plane. At the speed old Gunther drives, if you leave now, you’ll catch the tour bus.”

“Well, I don’t know. If I left and anything happened to you…”

Julia attempted control damage of her own. “Really, Mrs. O’Brien. We’ll be fine. I just want to get on that plane, get home, and put this horrible mess and my horrible behavior behind me.”

“And I promise,” Kim added with the sincerest expression Julia had ever seen. “That we’ll head straight to the plane.” She took Mrs. O’Brien by the elbow and led her to the front of the van. “You really should be heading back. I’m sure Jeannie misses you.”

“Oh, Jeannie!” Mrs. O’Brien said, clasping a hand to her heart. “I almost forgot. She’s singing the solo at the monastery in Austria tomorrow. I don’t want to miss that.”

“No, you certainly don’t!” Julia added for extra measure. “It’s so
lovely
.” She tried not to choke on her words. Jeannie sounded like a frog in heat when she sang.

Mrs. O’Brien drew a heavy breath. “Okay.” She wagged a menacing index finger. “I’ll go. But get right on that plane!”

Bob, Chris and Kim promised to be good little children, but Julia could barely nod her head. She sighed with relief as Mrs. O’Brien pulled herself into the van and Gunther tore away from the curb.

“We did it!” Kim said, clapping her hands.

Julia felt her knees go weak and her whole system tense. In a few moments she would be on her way to England.
This was it
. One dream coming true! Of course, this was totally different than the way she pictured winding up in England someday. She had envisioned possibly going there on a honeymoon with…

“John!” Julia spoke aloud.

“What?” Kim and the guys startled at her outburst.

“Kim, I need to talk to you a minute.” She pulled Kim aside, offering Bob and Chris an apologetic smile. “Girl stuff.”

Standing a few feet away from Chris and Bob, Julia felt secure to speak. “Kim, you can’t tell John about this.”

“Why would I?”

“Well, if it comes up when you see him and he asks about me, you might slip, so be cautious.”

“Believe me,” Kim said. “The last thing I’m going to tell your boyfriend is that you ran off with a older man.”

Julia cringed. “It sounds awful when you put it that way. Sam is a friend.”

“And a darn good lookin’ one at that,” Kim laughed. “But don’t worry, my lips are sealed.”

“Thanks.” Another sigh. Were there any other last minute details to think about?

“But you know, Jules,” Kim said. “You’ve been thinking about breaking up with John for a while. If I told him about this, he might break up with you first, problem solved.”

“John doesn’t deserve to be hurt like that.”

A noisy car horn startled the group. They watched as a beat-up, red Dotson pulled to the curb. Sam emerged. Julia’s heart began to race either from excitement or terror, she wasn’t sure which.

“God he’s handsome,” Kim said, under her breath.

“I know,” Julia answered, admiring Sam in his tight, blue jeans and white polo shirt.

“You know,” Kim said, thoughtfully. “He just doesn’t look like a serial killer.”

“Kim, stop that!” Julia said, elbowing her friend. “Or I’ll be boarding the plane instead.”

Sam approached the group and smiled. His eyes fixed on Julia. “Well, then. Who wants to go London?”

Julia stepped towards Sam, feigning a confident smile. “That would be me.”

Sam asked Chris and Bob to point out her luggage. As the three of them loaded her bags into Sam’s car, Julia turned to Kim.

“See you soon, loon.” She held Kim tight in her arms.

Kim returned the hug. “You’ll be fine. I should be home late tomorrow night. Try and call me then. You’re going to see England, Jules! Your dream is coming true.”

Julia pulled away, afraid if she didn’t, she might cling to Kim and head straight for the plane. “You better go, too. You guys will miss your flight and then we’ll be in a real mess.”

Julia said goodbye to Chris and Bob, and as she did, Sam stood by her side. Together they watched her friends head to the airport doors.

Kim turned one last time and waved. “Take good care of her, Sam, or I’ll come to England and kick your blooming’ arse!”

Sam and Julia laughed as the threesome disappeared into the terminal. Suddenly finding herself alone with Sam, she felt lost for words. She glanced up at him as he looked at her and winked.

“Last chance to run away from me,” he said.

She drew a deep breath. So many thoughts suddenly swirled through her mind - her father, John, the stage, England, college.

“No, she said, straightening her shoulders, holding her head high and picking up her carry-on. “Take me to London.”

Julia woke as the car jolted to a stop. Righting herself, she peered out the front window, unable to see anything other than a thick fog and an enormous iron gate.

“Good evening, and welcome to London,” Sam said.

His voice startled her. For a moment, she hadn’t known where she was, but as she turned to watch Sam light a cigarette, all came rushing back. She glanced at the car clock and confirmed the late evening hour.

“How long have I been asleep?”

Sam rolled down his window a crack. “Well love, you fell asleep as we were about to take our ferry ride across the Channel. I thought you might like to see that, but it was dark by then, and you were quite out. I fear I bored you to sleep with my incessant chatter about my career.”

“No, no.” She remembered their drive through Germany and Belgium. Sam had recounted his humble beginnings as a theater student, his work after graduation in Repertory Theater, and the persistence that led him to the possible role in a BBC mini-series.

“Your career fascinates me, Sam. And, I meant to ask you more about your family.”

Sam inhaled on his cigarette and exhaled out the window. “Well, speaking of family, here we are, at my aunt’s. Her home is beyond that gate, up the road.”

Julia peered out her window again, trying in vain to spy the house. Even though Sam had described the home he once lived in, Julia still couldn’t picture it.

She waited as Sam jumped out of the car and opened the locked gates with a large key. Returning to the car, he started it up, and drove slowly up a long and winding path. An immense mansion suddenly rose up from the dark.

Julia gasped. “This house is like something out of a movie!”

“Yes, and it has as much heart as the woman who owns it.” Sam continued to drive up a circular driveway, stopping in front of stone steps that led to the house. “Shall we go in?”

Julia ran a hand through her hair. “I must look a mess.”

“Then you’re the prettiest mess my aunt shall ever meet.”

Julia felt a rush of warmth rise to her cheeks. “You’re crazy.”

“So I’ve been told.” Sam reached for the car door. “Shall we go?”

Moments later, Julia found herself inside a home she only envisioned in dreams. A gold chandelier and marble arch crowned the entryway. To her left, two long, dark corridors led to other rooms she could only imagine. A few feet ahead of the entrance, another set of twin arches, supported by grandiose columns, opened into a Great Hall boasting a grand staircase to the left. The floor sparkled beneath her worn sneakers, and Julia feared moving further lest she smudge the intricate marble flooring.

She startled as she peered into the Great Hall. Another pair of eyes stared back.

“That’s my Aunt Polly’s portrait,” Sam said, standing beside her and motioning to the gold-framed picture on the far wall. “From a while back.”

“She’s beautiful.” Julia could not turn away from the raven-haired beauty who glared into the entryway as if overseeing all who entered. Polly McTeel sat in a high-backed chair, dressed magnificently in a beaded, gold gown and emerald jewels, a tiny terrier lying content in her lap. A slight smiled adorned Polly’s rosy cheeks, and her dark hair, swept up in the fashion of the day, sparkled with jewel-encrusted combs. But it was Polly’s eyes that captivated Julia, for despite their beauty, they hinted of hidden mischief and secrets.