Midas Touch (23 page)

maybe I could have found you.” She grabbed Sandra’s hands.

“Where were you when you turned eighteen?”

“In Dallas,” Sandra said and sniffed.

“So was I,” JJ said with a sigh. She rested her head on Sandra’s shoulder. “I’ll kill him for this.”

“He’s already dead,” Sandra answered, torn with conflicting emotions for her father. He was the only person who had ever truly been there for her. She closed her eyes and fought the anger that threatened when the realization of what his warped sense of love had cost her. So many things fell into place. His working odd jobs. The constant moving from city to city. Even the missing birth certificate, she could never take to school.

JJ raised up. “Honey, for your sake, I’m sorry that he died. I know this is twice as rough for you. “She took Sandra’s hand. “I never wanted to leave you. I told him I would give up Nelda if he wouldn’t take you from me, but he wouldn’t listen.” She stared across the room and out the large window. “He was a proud man and felt like I deliberately set out to destroy him.”

“I feel as though I should be angry with him, but somehow I can’t make myself.”

“He was your father. He had his good points. Remember the good times and don’t dwell on the past. Nelda taught me to live in the present and to accept the things you can’t change. I knew I would never give up looking for you, but I had to let go of the obsession of finding you. Does that make sense?”

Sandra nodded.

Silence fell between them as they sat looking at each other.

“We’ve got so much to catch up on,” JJ said. “We don’t even know each other. I want to know everything there is to know about you.” She patted Sandra’s cheek. They looked around, realizing for the first time that they were alone. JJ stood and took Sandra’s hand. “Why don’t we go find Nelda and Cory. They’re probably frantic by now. They will want to hear this, as well.”

They found Nelda and Cory sitting in the living room.

Glancing at the tall grandfather clock, Sandra was shocked to see it was already after three. Cory rose and hugged Sandra to her.

0

“I’ve found my mother,” Sandra sobbed in Cory’s ear. “Thank you.”Cory clutched her closer as Nelda held JJ.

“Sandra, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything,” Cory said. “I knew JJ had been searching for her daughter named Sandra for years.

That’s why I checked your driver’s license and asked about your name at dinner last week. I told them your name was Smith because I was scared. I was afraid to trust you. There were so many things I didn’t know about you. I wanted to trust you, but I was so scared.” She shook her head and shrugged. “I’m so sorry”

“It’s all right,” Sandra said, caressing Cory’s cheeks. “I understand. Let’s sit down.”

Cory led Sandra to the couch and sat her between JJ and herself while Nelda settled on the other side of JJ.

“I should have known,” Nelda said, turning so she could see everyone. “The first night I met you at Cory’s, you looked so familiar. I kept thinking I knew you from somewhere. Now I see it in your eyes. You both have the same color eyes.”

“It didn’t help any that Sandra and I kept trying to hide her real name,” Cory sighed, before stopping suddenly. “Why isn’t your name Garrison?”

“He changed their name,” JJ supplied.

“I thought your name was Smith,” Nelda cut in.

Cory shook her head. “No, I was stupid and told you it was Smith because I was afraid to trust Sandra. I thought there had to be more to the story of why she was here. And, I knew you would recognize her name.”

“Well, what is your name?” Nelda demanded, truly confused by now.

“Sandra Tate. I’m from Dallas.”

“The
architect!”
Nelda’s eyes widened. “But how …”

JJ held up her hands. “Why don’t I start at the beginning and Sandra can fill in her part of the story as we go along.” JJ and Sandra repeated the story they had only moments before told each other.

It was well after dark before Sandra and Cory left to return to San Antonio. Sandra found herself torn between staying with JJ or returning to San Antonio with Cory. She finally decided to return to San Antonio with Cory. JJ and Nelda would come in as soon as they could arrange for someone to feed the horses for a few days. They would bring Sandra’s bike back in their truck.

It was after midnight. Cory and Sandra lay in Cory’s bed, unable to sleep.

“We’ve got a lot to decide,” Sandra said, rolling into Cory’s arms.

“I’ve been lying here thinking about that.” Cory hesitated.

“Sandra, I don’t want to sell Peepers.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to. What would you think about me opening an office here? I can leave Allison in charge of the office in Dallas. She can handle things there as well as I can.”

“Would it work?”

Sandra smiled at the excitement in Cory’s voice. “I think so.

I want to get back to designing buildings.” She rolled to the edge of the bed and turned on the light.

“What are you doing?” Cory asked, blinking against the sudden brightness.

Sandra crawled out of bed and walked naked to her backpack

that lay on a chair. She removed the Federal Express envelope and returned to bed. On the way back from Rockport, she had asked Cory to stop at the motel on the pretense of picking up clothes. She sat clutching the envelope to her, suddenly afraid.

“What’s that?”

“I bought you something. At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I don’t know. Don’t be mad at me, okay?”

Cory sat up in bed. “You silly thing. Why would I be angry with you for buying me something?”

“I only did it because I love you. I couldn’t stand to see you hurting. I was going to leave it in your office Sunday night before I left.” She gave up explaining and reluctantly handed Cory the envelope.

Cory ran her hand over the envelope without opening it.

“Sandra, if this is what I’m thinking it might be, I can’t take it.

Sandra felt the cold knot of fear in the pit of her stomach.

She sat up on her knees. “Why not?”

“Because I’ll never be able to repay you. I don’t want you to ever think I only care for you because of your money.”

“Cory, stop it. Please, don’t do this. I spent eight years with a woman who only stayed because of my money. Trust me when I tell you, I know when people are after my money. We both know how that feels.”

Cory looked at her stunned. “Who told you about that?”

“JJ told me. She was right to do so. It made me understand you better. Now please, try to understand me. I’ve had more money than I’ve known what to do with since I was in my early thirties, but I’ve never experienced the kind of love I have for you. Let me give you this,” she pleaded, touching the envelope.

Cory blinked away tears. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Tell me you’ll let me use your plans to renovate our home.”

Cory sat quietly for a long moment before taking Sandra’s hand. Can we plant an apple tree in the front yard?”

Sandra pulled her close and kissed her. “Baby, we’ll plant an entire orchard of apple trees if that’s what you want.”

Sandra’s first week back in the Dallas office had been a wild series of events. Her announcement that she would be opening a new office in San Antonio and placing Allison in charge of the Dallas office came as a complete shock to everyone but Allison, whom she had spoken with earlier.

Margaret had taken the news much better than Sandra had expected and agreed to move to San Antonio to keep working for her. Then she shyly informed Sandra that Minnie would be moving with her, and was it possible Sandra might be in need of an extraordinary gardener? Sandra agreed that with thirty acres they would certainly need a gardener. Sandra teased her unmercifully until Margaret threatened to cook nothing but tuna casserole for a week. Sandra quickly relented.

Sandra arranged to visit Carol late Thursday afternoon.

They met at a restaurant downtown. Carol spent the entire meal talking about her father’s impending wedding to Miriam Bell.

Miriam’s husband had died ten years earlier, leaving her an estate valued at slightly over three million dollars. Carol was sure her father and Miriam would make the perfect couple.

Sandra smiled as she paid the tab. Carol would never change.

She handed Carol an envelope containing the deed to the penthouse.

“You always liked the place more than I ever did. You might as well keep it.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Carol asked as she peeked into the envelope.

Sandra shrugged. “I guess I just want you to be as happy as I am.”

“You could live there with me,” Carol offered with a small smile.

Sandra shook her head as she stood, kissed Carol’s cheek, and wished her the best in life. Carol never asked how Sandra was or where she’d been for the last two months, and Sandra did not bother to tell her.

On Friday, Sandra packed her personal items and shipped

them to San Antonio. She left the furniture for Carol. Margaret would be staying with Minnie until the house in San Antonio was completed and Sandra and Cory were ready to move in. Sandra closed the penthouse door for the last time. Turning the key, she smiled. She was finally closing that chapter in her life. She went down the elevator, climbed on her bike and headed for the airport to pick up Cory.

They arrived at Laura’s just before five. Laura met them at the door smiling. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to meet someone you know,” she teased Sandra, hugging her tightly.

Sandra introduced them and Laura gave Cory a hug. You must be very special to her,” she said, studying Cory.

“Let’s hope so,” Cory said, throwing Sandra a special look.

“Come on in. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Sandra tells me you’re a great cook,” Cory said as they made their way to the kitchen.

She only shows up when she’s hungry, so that helps a lot.”

Sandra noticed the table was set for four. “Who’s joining us?

“Someone I’ve been seeing. I hope you don’t mind.”

“You’ve finally found Mr. Right?” Sandra beamed. “Why haven’t you told me?”

“It happened kind of quick. I wanted to be sure before I told you,” Laura said and pulled a pan of rolls from the oven. “In fact, I should probably …” The roar of a motorcycle sounded from the driveway.

“He rides a bike?” Sandra asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Sandra,” Laura said, and began to fidget.

“It’s all right. I’m just joking.”

The front door opened and footsteps sounded in the hall.

“Oh,” Sandra teased, looking at Cory. He just walks right in.

Already past the doorbell stage, huh?”

“Leave her alone,” Cory scolded.

“Hey, there.”

Sandra turned and stared. The kitchen grew deathly quiet.

“Did I come at a bad time?” Dee asked.

“Dee,” Sandra managed to gasp. “Dee is, Mr. Right?” She

was shouting, but couldn’t stop herself.

“I prefer Ms. Right,” Dee replied, smiling. “I take it you didn’t get around to telling her,” Dee said, stepping into the room and kissing Laura.

A swirl of emotions rushed over Sandra. She had not seen Dee since that wild night they had spent together. Plus, there was the fact, Dee herself admitted to being unable to practice monogamy. Sandra felt she should warn Laura. If she stood silently by and Laura got hurt, it would be her fault.

“What happened to your being straight?” Sandra demanded.

“You always told me if the right person came along, anyone could swing either way,” Laura reminded her.

Sandra rubbed her face. “Dee, don’t do this,” she pleaded.

Dee held up her hands. “I know what you’re thinking, but I asked her for a commitment.” She looked at Laura, and Sandra saw the look of love pass between them. Sandra felt guilty. What if Laura or Cory ever found out about the night she and Dee had spent together? Sandra looked guiltily from Dee to Cory and then to Laura.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Laura began, “and I know all about it,” Laura assured Sandra.

“How’d you know what’s she thinking?” Dee asked puzzled.

“After you’ve known her for as long I have, you’ll know what she’s thinking before she does. It’s written all over her face.”

“So what’s she thinking?” Cory asked, raising her eyebrows at Sandra who blushed deeply, causing them all to laugh.

“Dinner is getting cold and we can discuss this later,” Laura urged. Sandra sent her a grateful glance. She would tell Cory about Dee, but preferred to do so in private.

After dinner, Cory and Dee insisted on doing the dishes.

Sandra and Laura used the time to walk down to where the horses were.

“Are you upset with me?” Laura asked, leaning against the fence.

“Surprised and maybe a little worried, but no, I’m not upset.

I want you to be happy. It’s just that…” She stopped, not sure how to phrase her doubts.

“You’re worried Dee is going to love me and leave me,”

Laura said.

“The Dee I knew was not interested in monogamy.” Laura turned to watch the horses. “Do you plan on staying with Cory for the rest of your life?”

Shocked that she would even ask, Sandra replied firmly, “I love Cory and intend to do my damnedest to make the relationship last. I want to grow old with her.”

“Yet you actively participated in a night of lovemaking with Dee with the intent of it only being a one night stand.” One of the horses walked up, and Laura rubbed its neck. “If I had shown any interest the day we kissed in the yard, would you have made love to me?”

“Probably,” Sandra answered honestly, a little confused about where the conversation was going.

“Then it’s possible to engage in non-monogamous sex with one person and still be able to settle down with someone you love?”

Sandra relented. Laura didn’t need her overbearing protection. “I don’t know why I hang around you,” Sandra said, wrapping her arms around Laura and pulling her back against her.”Because until a few weeks ago I was the only sane thing in your life, and I never made you eat tuna casserole.”