Family for Keeps & Sadie's Hero (20 page)

The boat darted forward. Her arms jerked straight. She locked her elbows and prayed.

When she rose out of the water, she wanted to shout her joy. She wobbled. Tensing, she focused all her attention on staying up for longer than a second.

Minutes later she crashed into the water. Elated that she’d finally gotten up on her skis after only four tries, she was ready to go again. She wanted to fly over the wake like her friend Sally did.

“We need to head back, Sadie. Come on in.” Her father reached out to help her into the boat.

She whipped the wet hair out of her eyes and grasped her father’s hand. “I did it!”

Her father didn’t say a word. All Sadie could remember was the frown carved deep into his tanned features as he hoisted her out of the water….

The sound of the steamboat’s horn jolted Sadie from her memories. Leaning on the white railing, she watched the people on the pier and tried to compose herself before having to face Andrew.

He shifted next to her. “You were a million miles away,” he murmured close to her ear.

“No, just a journey into the past.” She glanced at him and saw the puzzled expression in his eyes. “I guess this is a day for that.”

“I thought this was your first trip to New Orleans?”

“It is. But it’s not my first time being on a river.” She hoped her crisp tone conveyed her reluctance to discuss her past. They each had memories they didn’t want to delve too far into.

“What did you think of this ride?”

“I could get used to this mode of transportation. It’s slow, relaxing. I like listening to the paddle wheel. Sorta like a waterfall. I could fall asleep listening to it.” She twisted to face him squarely. “I doubt I’ll be very good tomorrow at school. Think we can bottle this sound and play it later on our way home?”

He smiled. “I’ll check the musical repertoire on the plane. Maybe there’s something that’ll help. But to tell you the truth I don’t even know if it has a sound system.”

“You don’t?”

“I’m always working.”

“The story of your life?”

Momentarily a dark storm edged into his expression. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I think we’ve had this discussion about all work and no play. I have no intentions of trying to change you.”

“You don’t?” Skepticism was evident in his question and the lift of his brow.

“Nope. You’re a big boy now. If you want to work your life away, that’s your business. Of course, at the end of a day you might ask yourself what you’ll have for it in, say, twenty years.”

Andrew didn’t reply but turned away as if he were interested in watching the docking process. Sadie thought he was going to ignore what she’d said until he looked at her and declared, “After I get the presidency, I’ll have that time to play.”

She arched a brow, much as he had a moment before. “You will? You keep saying that. Are you sure you won’t just substitute another goal that will drive you to work even harder?”

His frown furrowed his brow, his lips compressed into a slash. “I think it’s time for us to leave the boat.”

He started to walk toward the gangplank. Sadie placed a hand on his arm to halt him. “Forget what I’ve said, Andrew. I don’t want those careless remarks to dampen the rest of the afternoon. I’ve had such a good time so far. The French Quarter was wonderful. Everything I thought it would be. Is it a deal? Next time you can just put your hand over my mouth to stop me from putting my foot in it.”

The tension eased from his shoulders. He stuck his hand out for her to shake. “That’s a deal I’ll accept. Now let me understand. I can put my hand over your mouth anytime I think you’re going to stick your foot into it?”

She narrowed her eyes in mock anger. “No. Only when referring to your diligent work habits and nonexistent play—”

He pressed his hand over her mouth, the rough texture of his palm warm against the softness of her lips. “You were saying?”

She glared at him and mumbled, “Funny.”

“I try to be, in rare moments of playfulness.” He hooked his arm through hers and began to lead her toward the gangplank.

“Then you think I should savor this rare moment?”

“Funny,” he said, mimicking her tone and look. “We need to hurry if we’re going to make this next stop before it’s too late.”

She glanced at her watch. “It’s a little early for dinner. Where are we going?”

“Why do you think I’m going to tell you when I haven’t all afternoon? I like to surprise you.”

“Did I tell you I hated surprises? I actually open all my Christmas presents ahead of time then rewrap them so no one knows.”

His laughter filled the air with a richness she could get used to. “I think my family figured it out, though. They don’t bother to wrap them anymore. They just give me mine in a bag with a token amount of tissue to cover the gift.”

“I can just picture you getting up when everyone else in the family is asleep and sneaking into the living room to open your gifts.”

“That’s why my parents could never get me to sleep on Christmas Eve. I couldn’t wait for Santa Claus and those presents I didn’t know about. It used to kill me. My curiosity is a horrible burden I must bear.”

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

“Do I note a touch of sarcasm?”

“Never from my lips.”

Darrell and Ruth’s driver was waiting for them by the curb. Sadie had a strong suspicion the man knew Andrew’s plans. The driver went about his duties in silence as though Andrew had mapped out everything before they had started. Of course, he had. Andrew wouldn’t know any other way to do it. Spontaneity wasn’t in his vocabulary. She would have to see if she could change that—at least for this one day.

When they pulled up to a tall building by the Mississippi, Sadie wasn’t sure what to expect. When they arrived at the Top of the Mart, Sadie was charmed by the spectacular view it offered of New Orleans. She saw the wide river winding through the Crescent City, the haze that clung to the horizon. The late afternoon sun was sinking in the west as they were shown to a table. The day’s shadows lengthened over the city as though they were fingers reaching out to all its parts.

“This is beautiful. What a way to see a place.” Sadie craned to look as far as she could.

“This is definitely a different perspective of New Orleans than the one a person gets from the French Quarter or the river.”

“It’s romantic. I didn’t know you had it in you,” she said without thinking, regretting the words the second they were out of her mouth.

“Ouch, I think.”

“What I mean is that you are so practical and…” Her voice faded into silence as her gaze found his.

She looked away, forcing herself to concentrate on the sights of New Orleans at dusk. The yellow-orange western horizon set the sky on fire. Streaks of various shades of red ribboned across the heavens like streamers on a colorful package, enticing her to open it.

The silence between them lasted until after the waitress took their orders. When Andrew leaned forward, his words returned her attention to his face. “I have to admit that I don’t usually have time to be, as you say, romantic. But in New Orleans I find it easier. This city lends itself to romance.”

“Yes, it does have a certain flair.”

“But you are right about me being practical. I’m a businessman first and foremost.”

She heard the warning in his voice. “Are you saying a businessman can’t be romantic? Is there something you take in college that wipes that from your system?”

“No, I believe it’s in my genes. You’re right, I can’t speak for other businessmen.”

His chuckle flowed over her, and she wished again that he would laugh more. Sadie liked the way he relaxed when he smiled. His whole face lit, warming every inch of her. “Being practical doesn’t mean you can’t be romantic. I would say being romantic was very practical. A few romantic gestures can go a long way in a relationship. That can make life much easier, don’t you think?”

“I’ll keep that in mind when I have time for a relationship.”

“Ah, yes. Your fight for the presidency. Why do you want to be the president of the company?”

His eyes widened. He waited until after the waitress had placed their coffee in front of them before answering. “Why not? I’ve done just about everything else I wanted to at IFI. It’s the next logical step.”

“You sound like a restless man. Never satisfied with what you have.”

“You make ambition sound like a dirty word.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Yes,” he answered without a thought. “If I weren’t, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. There’s one thing I don’t do. I don’t waste my time.”

“Has today been a waste?” Sadie couldn’t believe she was asking the question, but often, to her regret, she spoke her mind.

His probing look snared hers. He brought his cup to his mouth and took a sip, never breaking eye contact with her. “No. Contrary to what you believe, I sometimes do recognize the need to get away from the office.”

Sadie was the one to look away first. She studied the darkening landscape of New Orleans, which glittered with lights. It reminded her of Christmas, her favorite holiday.

“In fact, Sadie, I’m grateful that you stayed. I’d forgotten what New Orleans could be like. I’ve enjoyed seeing my birthplace through your eyes.”

The warmth in his regard robbed her of coherent thought. From across a crowded room, his gaze had a way of drawing her toward him, and suddenly she was frightened by the power this man was beginning to have over her. She had never given another human being that kind of power since she had given up trying to prove herself to her father. She prided herself on being her own person, never depending on anyone for emotional support. But the newfound feelings swirling inside of her were making a mockery of that declaration. Were she and Andrew more alike than she cared to acknowledge? Neither wanted to admit depending on another. But whereas he prided himself on standing totally alone, she sought the Lord’s guidance.

When they left the restaurant in the French Quarter, Sadie took a deep breath of the cool night air, enhanced with Cajun spices and the scent of the river nearby. “I’m stuffed. That was delicious.”

Andrew started to guide her toward the limousine waiting by the curb, but she hung back. “I need to walk this dinner off, Andrew. We’re not far from the river. When do we have to be at the airport?”

“The plane doesn’t have to be back until tomorrow morning.”

“You mean we could stay out all night,” she whispered as though she were a teenager plotting to foil her parents.

“I thought you had school tomorrow.”

“I do, and I suppose after not sleeping much last night I would regret it. But it’s fun to defy the laws of nature every once in a while.”

Andrew walked to the driver, said a few words to the man, then came back to Sadie. “I told him to take my luggage to the plane and to tell the pilot we’ll be a while longer. We’ll take a cab when the mood strikes us to leave. What do you want to do? It’s your turn to show me what you want.”

It took a supreme effort for Sadie to keep her mouth from dropping open. “What about your plans?”

He snapped his fingers. “Erased.”

“At the stroke of midnight you aren’t going to turn into a pumpkin?”

“No. And I suspect I require less sleep than you do.”

She tucked her arm through his, liking the feel of him at her side. “Then let’s walk. I believe I remember that Jackson Square isn’t too far from here.”

When they arrived at Jackson Square, Sadie surveyed the crowd of people milling about, the artists displaying their work, some musicians entertaining the tourists with the blues. The aroma of various foods vying for dominance saturated the air. The sounds of laughter and conversations wafted to her. “I want something to take back to Cimarron City. Let’s get our portrait drawn.”

“Together?”

“Yes, cheaper that way.” Sadie tugged on his arm.

After negotiating a price for their portrait, Andrew sat slightly behind her and to the right. “I hope this doesn’t take too long. I’m not very good at just sitting,” he whispered into her ear, sending tingles down her neck.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me? Now be good. This isn’t a painful process.”

Ten minutes later Sadie had her doubts about that. It was pure torture to be sitting so close to Andrew, breathing in his clean scent, which mingled with the aromas of the river, Cajun spices and flowers in the park. Feeling him along her back and side, she decided this was definitely not a good idea and scooted away from him. His hand clamped on her shoulder and stopped her movement.

“Sit still. I thought I was the one with the problem,” he whispered. “I don’t want to have to sit here any longer than necessary.”

Andrew started to remove his hand from her when the young man drawing the portrait said, “No. I like that better. Drape your arm like this.” He came up to them and positioned Andrew’s arm along hers so he cradled her to him, as though they had been friends a long time.

Okay, so she had made it worse rather than better by trying to put some space between them. She could do this. Surely it wouldn’t last much longer—she hoped. But ten minutes later her nerves were as taut as a stretched rubber band about to snap. She was tired. That had to be the reason for this unusual reaction to Andrew, that and the spell New Orleans had cast on her.

“There. Done,” the man said, a smile of satisfaction on his young face.

Sadie was almost afraid to look at the portrait. She knew what she would see, and she was disconcerted when she finally stood and peered at the drawing. The dreamy expression on her face spoke volumes that she wished she could have masked, but she had always been easy to read. A burden she had to bear, she decided as she slanted a glance at Andrew to gauge his reaction.

He studied the portrait, his brow knitted with a thoughtful expression as if he had just discovered something he wasn’t sure about. She knew that feeling. The portrait before them showed a couple who looked perfect together, a couple who belonged together, two halves of a whole. What had been captured on the canvas in such a short time exposed her to the world, and that bothered her more than she cared to acknowledge. This definitely hadn’t been one of her better ideas. All she wanted Andrew to do was pay the young man, wrap the portrait up and never peer at it again.