Memories (23 page)

 Tomorrow, she and Traycee were headed to New York City for their last summer buying trip of the season. Dani was only responsible for the sportswear and jewelry showings this time, but would help Traycee with any ordering questions she might have after the coat shows.

 Dani looked at the laptop one more time to assure herself she was familiar with the new ordering procedures for Chance's. Instead of filling out endless paperwork, they were going to send information electronically to Chance's via computer so orders and invoices could be sent immediately.

 As she stared at the screen her mind went instead to thoughts of Miguel and the two days she planned to spend with him at his Southampton home. She had talked with him for only a few moments on the phone to let him know when she was coming and all he said was that he had a couple of things planned that he hoped she would enjoy doing.

 What sort of 'things' do you do with a man you once loved, then hated, then fell back in love with only to be put off by him again, she wondered? What exactly did he want from her and what did she have left to give?

 "All ready for your trip tomorrow?" Trindell's voice made Dani's head snap up and she placed a hand over her heart.

 "Carl, you scared me."

 "Sorry," he said and sat down on the corner of Dani's desk, something she had never seen him do before. Dressed in simple gray slacks and a white shirt crisscrossed with maroon suspenders and sensible black leather shoes, his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows and his tie loosened, he looked like a man on the tail end of another era, another time. The fatherly concern that creased his face reminded her of Robert Young in
Father Knows Best
.

 "Got that thing all figured out?" he asked, pointing to the new laptop computer on her desk.

 "Oh yes, no problem. Just making sure I have everything in order."

 "I'm not worried about that," Carl said, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes. "You always do. That 'thing' will come in handy on this trip," Carl continued, "especially since you'll be taking some vacation time while you're there."

 Dani tipped her head in question. "Is that a problem Carl, because if it is..."

 "No, no, not a problem at all," he interrupted her. "I'm glad you are taking some time off, you really need it after all the work you've had these past months. I think the time will do you good. You've been very preoccupied these past few weeks. Besides," he stood up and rubbed the back of his neck, "this thing will get all the orders to us so you won't have to worry about rushing back."

 Dani only nodded, not sure what to say. She knew Carl was trying to get at something, but being a man of few words, she realized it was hard for him. He paced a couple of steps and then turned back to her.

 "We've worked together a long time, haven't we Dani?" he asked quietly.

 "Fifteen years," she offered.

 "Longer than most people stay in one place in the retail business."

 Dani nodded again, remembering the many changes that had occurred in the office staff over the years, especially the most recent with Janette and Traycee.

 "You know. Dani," Trindell trailed on. "I've seen a great many people come and go through the years, and some I don't even remember. But you're someone I'm really going to miss when the time comes for you to leave."

 She looked up at him in stunned silence. Finally, she found her voice.

 "What makes you think I'm ever leaving?"

 Trindell smiled in that knowing, fatherly way. "Nothing. I just wanted you to know that. Well, you have a good trip to New York and enjoy your time off." He lingered only a second, then headed back to his office as Dani watched him go, a confused expression on her face.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

 The trip to New York City was uneventful for Dani. To her, it was just another buying trip in another large city. Before she knew it, Friday arrived and all the orders had been placed and sent off to Chance's via computer. Traycee was on the airplane heading home and by early afternoon Dani was riding the train through Long Island toward Southampton.

 Miguel had offered to pick her up at her hotel but she insisted on taking the train instead, afraid of the two hour car ride alone with him. She had her suitcase on the floor beside her and her coat bag, holding the red wool coat, lying over the back of the seat next to her. She'd brought the coat on a whim, but hadn't yet worn it and didn't know if she would. The March climate in New York was warmer than that of Minneapolis, but heavy coats were still necessary some days.

 As the train entered the Southampton station Dani's heart pounded harder in anticipation. What would she say when she saw him again? Was there anything left to say?

 Picking up her suitcase and coat bag, she stepped out the double doors of the train and let her eyes scan the station. In only moments they found a set of gray eyes looking back at her.

 "Hello, Dani," he said as he walked up to her with long strides and placed a light kiss on her cheek. "I'm so glad you came."

 Dani was relieved that her hands were full of luggage because his casual welcome, especially the gentle kiss, unnerved her. How could the slight brush of his beard against her cheek cause so much turmoil inside her? All she could muster was a simple, "Hello, Miguel."

 "Here, let me take those for you," he offered, relieving her of both suitcase and coat bag. "I have the car just outside. Follow me."

 Dani did just that, moving as if in a trance. He led her outside the station to a black, four-door sedan, first unlocking her door then rounding to the back to place her things in the trunk. No limousine, no driver. For some reason, this surprised her.

 She studied him a moment as he loaded her luggage. He was dressed simply in blue jeans, sneakers and a moss-green sweater. He didn't look at all like the rich coat mogul he had become; he looked like the Miguel she remembered from long ago.

 Looking up at her, poised to slam the trunk in place, he questioned her puzzled look. "Something wrong?"

 "I guess I expected a limousine," she said before thinking, then turned slightly pink from her own words.

 The trunk slammed as Michael chuckled. "That's only for business," he said. Unlocking his own door, he looked over the roof at her. "Are you disappointed?"

 Dani shook her head. "No. Not at all." Then they both slipped into the car and he took off.

 Once they were out of the station traffic, Michael slipped a glance in her direction. "You look good," he told her.

 "Thanks."

 "Did you have a successful buying trip?"

 Dani fingered the armrest beside her. "Yes, it went well. Traycee, she's our new coat buyer, she found some great buys at your showing."

 "Oh, that's good," he replied as he watched his rear-view mirror before turning into the left lane. "I hear the show was a great hit this year. We had a larger amount of orders than usual."

 She looked up at him, surprised. "Weren't you there on Thursday?"

 "No," he said, shaking his head in affirmation. "I always stay here on Thursdays. That's my meeting night. Besides," he added, "that's what all my employees are there for. And I trust my management's judgment."

 "Oh," was all Dani could manage. Still looking up, she studied him closely. His hair and beard had gained some gray strands since the last time she'd seen him and his face looked a bit thinner than before. But he still looked handsome and the sparkle was still in his eyes when he glanced over and caught her staring at him. She snapped her attention back to the road ahead.

 "Guess what I found the other day?" he asked, but didn't wait for her to answer. Reaching down between the seats he picked up a cassette tape and popped it into the player. "Hotel California" by The Eagles began strumming through the car speakers.

 "I didn't even know I still had this," he told her, smiling like a child at his discovery. "When I found it, I immediately thought of you."

 The song embraced Dani like a comfortable sweater, bringing back the warmth and love of their California days. Only the good memories swept through her mind, the beaches, the sunsets and little Vanessa. If he'd had a motive for playing this song, his plan worked.

 Brimming with past emotions, she reached out a hand and placed it lightly on his arm. "I'm really sorry about Vanessa," she told him, knowing it had to be said before anything else could be.

 "I know," he whispered back, then looked over at her with an attempt at a smile. His eyes were soft and moist, the pain still evident in them, and the light strokes of time that appeared around them only added to their charm. Looking into them that brief moment gave Dani the sudden urge to draw him into her arms and kiss his pain away. Instead, she dropped her hand from his arm and her eyes back to the road in front of her.

 When they reached the house he parked right outside the front door then once again made the trip to the trunk to retrieve Dani's luggage. She followed him through one of the large doors into the grand entryway and once again marveled at the home's beauty. The white marble below her feet gleamed to perfection, while thick Abusson rugs with patterns in black, white and green lay strategically placed, adding warmth. The oak stair railing shimmered up its curved arm to the top of the grand staircase. To her left, the afternoon sun spilled in through the white French doors that dominated the ocean side of the living room. An oversized fireplace of marble and oak trim stood invitingly in front of the overstuffed brown leather sofa, even without the glow of a fire within.

 "I'll take you up to your room," Michael offered, bringing her attention back to him. "Then you can change into some play clothes and get comfortable."

 Dani looked down at her navy, wool pantsuit, silk blouse and heels. "Play clothes?" she questioned, one eyebrow raised.

 "Sorry," he chuckled. "I guess I've been with Michelle too long. I just meant something more comfortable than work clothes."

 "Ah," she nodded her head and followed him up the curved staircase.

 They took a left at the top of the staircase and passed several doors before he stopped in front of the last one at the end and set the suitcase down to open the door.

 "I hope you like this room; it's the cheeriest one in the house."

 And it was. She stepped into the largest bedroom she'd ever seen in her life, done up in white wicker furniture, yellow walls and white lace curtains over the tall expanse of windows and French doors facing the ocean. The bed was dressed in a very old, yet lovely star quilt in yellow and calico print with several toss pillows strewn over the pillows. Lace doilies, yellow calico print pillows and tablecloths adorned every chair and table in the room, each a different print, yet each blending beautifully to bring the room to life. Dani loved it immediately.

 "There's a small bathroom through that door," Michael offered, pointing to the right. "And the French doors open out to a balcony outside."

 She looked toward the doors, then back at Miguel. "It's beautiful. I love it."

 He smiled his little boy smile. "I thought you would. It seemed like the perfect room for you."

 Staring at her a moment he noticed how the soft yellow walls brought out the highlights in her hair and made her blue eyes brighter. For an instant, he wanted to touch her hair, just run his fingers gently through it. But instead, he backed his way to the door, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I'll wait for you downstairs. Michelle should be up from her nap. I thought we could go for a walk on the beach."

 Dani nodded her assent, smiling at his sudden shyness and the way he was backing away from her nervously. It struck her as funny how this man who usually seemed so in control, with his sharp wit and flair for teasing, could suddenly behave so differently.

 Once he left, Dani dressed quickly in a cream cashmere sweater and jeans, slipped on a pair of brown loafers and headed to the bathroom to pull her hair back. The bathroom was small, but lovely, done it lemon yellow with a white pedestal sink, brass fixtures and a large gilt-framed mirror over it. The shower stall was also white, brass and gold, with a yellow striped shower curtain. Expertly, she pulled her hair back in a French braid, banded the end, then headed out of the room and back the way she had come just minutes before.

 Michael and Michelle both looked up from their seated position on one of the rugs as Dani descended the staircase. There was a Pomeranian puppy prancing between them, almost dancing with the excitement of the attention it was receiving. The puppy's glossy red coat paralleled that of the spiraled tendrils that touched the shoulders of the little girl sitting beside Michael. They both smiled up at her, making her heart pitch for a single moment as she felt transported in time to the same man with another little girl at his side.

 Michael stood up, slinging a giggling Michelle up into his arms as the puppy bounced happily at his feet.

 "Wow, you're fast," he exclaimed to Dani. Then shifting his attention back to Michelle he said, "Honey, this is the lady I was telling you about. You met her last summer. Her name is Dani."

 The little girl smiled as Dani stepped up to her. Touching her arm gently, Dani said, "My, you've grown a lot since the last time I saw you. And your hair's much longer, too." She gently touched one silky tendril, unable to resist it.