Where Does My Heart Belong? (16 page)

CHAPTER
40

The
flight home is uneventful.  After Sandy serves us lunch, she sits down with me
and we talk.  I’ve met her twice before but I don’t really know her. She’s a
gorgeous girl, tall and slim with long blonde hair and blue eyes.  She tells me
that she’s 40 and never been married.  She loves people, loves to pamper them. 
I think that she’s the perfect flight attendant.

“Sandy,
I can’t thank you enough for offering to drive me home and then stay with me
until Tony gets back.”

“Think
nothing of it.  I’ve been on vacation for over a week now and I’m starting to
get restless, this will be a great change of scene for me.”

After
we’ve been in the air for about an hour John lets me sit up front and I get
myself re-acquainted with the jet.  I wish I could fly with them every day the
same way that Sandy does.

Once
we get home and get the van unloaded, I show Sandy around the house.  She’s
amazed with it and asks if I’m going to keep it.

“I
don’t know yet.  I love it to death here in Sea Cliff, but this house is much
too big for one person.  It was designed for guests and entertaining.  Plus,
the floor plan is awful for someone who wants to raise a family here.  If I had
kids I would never want to put them alone down on the lower level while I slept
upstairs.”

"Libby,
I know this is none of my business, but are you pregnant?"

"You
can tell?  Do I show?"

"No,
not really, but I've been watching the way you carry yourself and the way you
protect your stomach with your hand and arm.  I'm the oldest of six.  After
watching my mom with her pregnancies, I can spot a pregnant woman a mile
away."

"Yeah,
I'm pregnant, but please Sandy don't tell anyone.  Tony is the only one who
knows.  I'm not even sure I can carry this baby full term; I've already had one
miscarriage.  I don't want to say anything until I know everything is going to
be okay."

"Your
secret's safe with me.  Who's your doctor?"

"I
don't have one yet.  My doctor in Stanford told me I was pregnant when I thought
I had another problem, but I don’t have anyone here."

"I
have a great ob/gyn, Robert McIntosh.  If you want, we can go there tomorrow
and you can fill out the paperwork to have your records transferred and then
make an appointment.  Dr. Mac has one of the best reputations in town; you
won't be disappointed with him.  He specializes in infertility and high risk
pregnancies.  What do you say?"

"Sandy,
you are just too much, thank you.  I’d like that if it isn’t too much trouble
for you."

"It’s
no trouble at all and you haven't seen anything yet.  Girlfriend, I'm going to
take such good care of you for the next two days.  Right now, I think we should
start with a soak in that beautiful sleigh tub upstairs and then I'll give you
a mani-pedi.  Now, what do you want to do for dinner?"

“We’ll
probably have to order in.  Tony and I made sure there wasn’t anything left in
the refrigerator before we left.”

“Okay,
but I want you to have a nutritious meal, no fast food.  There’s a place called
Pandora’s that serves up rotisserie chicken, roasted turkey, baked ham, St.
Louis ribs and meatloaf with all kinds of side dishes.  They’ll deliver. 
Decide what you want and what time you want to eat and I’ll order it while
you’re soaking in the tub.  Tomorrow we can go shopping and get you stocked up.” 

"I
think you should give up flying and come to work for me full time as my
personal assistant," I tease.

"Someday
I’d like to be a personal assistant but right now I just love flying too much
to give it up.  But, Libby, just remember that when I'm home I’m only a phone
call away if you ever need anything.  I sure hope we can become friends.” 

“I’d
like that Sandy.  I’d like for us to be friends.” 

After
a great dinner of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and baked
beans we go into the family room and talk.

I
open up to her and tell her about Red.  "I don't know if I'll ever be able
to trust another man.  Tony is the most wonderful man I've ever met but we're
just friends, we're not involved romantically."

"Maybe
not now but I've seen the way he looks at you.  He's in love with you, Libby. 
He's probably scared to tell you because he doesn't know how you'll
react."

"I
know he is. He whispered it to me one time when he thought I was asleep.  I
love him as a friend, but it’s not the same way I loved Red.  But that’s enough
about me. Let’s talk about you.  So what did you think of Luis? I saw him
looking at you with a gleam in his eye.”

 “Gracious
Lord, Libby, he and Tony are two of the best looking men I’ve ever seen.  Tell
me about him.”

“I
don’t know too much.  Today was only the second time I’ve met him.  He’s 10
years older than Tony is, so that would make him 44.  He owns a vineyard and
winery in Sonoma County.  He’s a widower with two kids.  His son is a senior in
high school away at a boarding school back east somewhere.  His daughter,
Carmen, is twelve and lives with him.  That’s about all I know.  Do you want me
to see if I can fix you up with him?” I tease.

“I
don’t think so, Libby.  My job is not conducive to relationships and I don’t do
flings.  I’m never home and when I am, it’s just for a day or two.  Getting
married and settling down has never been all that important to me because I
can’t have kids.”  Her face crumples and she starts to cry.

“Oh,
Sandy, I’m so sorry.”  I put my arms around her and hold her while she sobs
against my shoulder.

“I’m
sorry, Libby, I don’t usually talk about it, but when I do I get maudlin.”

“It’s
okay, it’s okay, that’s what friends are for, to be there for one another, to
listen to the good and the bad.  I’m so glad you want to be my friend.”

“I
do, Libby, but now I think I’d like to go to bed.  I can’t wait to take a shower
in that glorious bathroom and go to bed in that scrumptious bedroom.”

“You
got it.  Let me secure the house and then we’re off to lullaby land.”

CHAPTER
41

The next morning Tony
calls around 8:00.  They're in Eugene, Oregon and should be here in 8 or 9
hours, depending on how many stops they make.

"That's great, how do
you feel about steaks on the barbie tonight?  Sandy and I are just getting
ready to go shopping."

"That sounds good.  I
can't wait to see you, babe."

 "Me too, Tony, I
miss you.  You guys drive safely now and kiss Angie for me." 

After I'm through talking
to him, Sandy and I go to her doctor's office where I make an appointment and
sign the papers to have my medical records transferred.  After that, we go
grocery shopping.  We pick out some beautifully marbled steaks and decide to
have baked potatoes, salad, and asparagus to go along with them.  Then she
helps me stock up for the next week. 

After we get home and put
the food away, I take her outside and show her around the grounds.  It’s so
pretty and private.  The whole thing is fenced with metal fencing and lush
green hedges, trees, and foliage.   They completely obscure the yard from
prying eyes.  Out in the front yard there’s a table and chairs where we could
eat if the weather was nicer.  In the back, there’s a pergola, with a
glassed-in front, that keeps it comfortable even when the wind is coming off
the ocean.

“This is really something,
Libby.  You don’t take care of all this yourself, do you?”

“No, I fool around in the
flower gardens but I hire professional gardeners to keep up the foliage.  It
seems like they constantly needs trimming.   There’s no way I could do it all. 
Let’s go back to the house.  This wind and fog is starting to feel cold. “ 

Once in the house we
starting preparing for the evening meal and then at 5:15 I hear the buzzer at
the security gate, they’re here!  I open the garage doors and watch as they
drive in.  Angie jumps out of the car, races into the house, and grabs me in a
big hug.  Then she looks and stares at Sandy.  “You’re beautiful,” she says. 
“What’s your name?”

“I’m Sandy and I’m glad to
meet you.  Libby has told me all about you.”

“Your yellow hair is
beautiful.  Can I touch it?”

“Of course you can.”  Oohing
and aahing Angie goes over and strokes her hair.  Sandy’s long beautiful blonde
tresses captivate her.

The guys come in all happy
and laughing.  Tony gives me a hug and as I’m looking over his shoulder, I see
Luis giving Sandy one.  Oh, my, what’s happening here?

“Okay, guys, why don’t you
sit down and relax, would you like a drink?  Sandy and I will get dinner
started.” I tell them.

Luis says, “No sitting
down for me but I would like that drink.  Show me to the bar, little brother
and then I’ll help Sandy in the kitchen.  Libby, I don’t mean to put you down,
but Tony says you can barely boil water.  Why don’t the two of you have some
alone time, and Sandy and I will deal with the culinary work?”

That sounds good to me so
Tony and I go over and sit on the sofa.  He puts his arm around me, and then he
leans down, and peers at my stomach.  “How’s that little baby doing down under
there?”

“Fine, I guess.  It’s
still there.  I’ll know more next week.  Sandy took me to her doctor yesterday
and I made an appointment for next Thursday.

“Great.  Can I come with
you?”

“Sure, but if you think
you’re going to come in the exam room and watch me have a pelvic, you’ve got
another think coming.”

“Of course not, I just
want to be there to support you.”

“Okay, it’s a date then. 
Hey, look at this.”  I jab him in the ribs.  Sandy and Luis are carrying things
out to the grill on the balcony.  They can’t take their eyes off each other. 
“Oh, my, I think romance is in the air.”

“Yeah, he’s smitten.  One
look at her the other day and he can’t get his mind on anything else.  He
badgered me to tell him about her but I couldn’t tell him anything since I’d
just meet her for the first time too.  Has she said anything about him?”

“She said that he was the
best looking man she’d ever seen, next to you that is.”

He laughs.  “Well, we’re
just going to have to wait and see where this goes.  Luis hasn’t looked at
another woman since his wife died 5 years ago.  This is a first.  Maybe I’ll be
getting me a new sister-in-law one of these days.  Oh, I almost forgot,
tomorrow I’m taking Angie back to my folks for the rest of the summer.  She
misses them and her cousins.  Is that going to be a problem for you, me staying
here without her?”

“Of course not, but I’ll
miss her like crazy.”

Luis yells from the
kitchen, “Get ready to eat, I’ve prepared a feast.”  After a great dinner, he
wants to dance.  “Show me to the stereo,” he yells.  “Let’s get this party
started.” 

While Tony goes into the
family room with him, I corner Sandy and ask her if everything is going okay.

“Oh, my God, Libby, I’ve
never had this kind of attraction to a man.  And I don’t mean just his good
looks either.  I’m scared to death.”

“Where’s our women?” Luis
hollers.  “It’s time to boogie.”  I think he’s had more than just one drink.

“Let’s talk about it later
when we go up to bed,” I tell Sandy.  “If you get too uncomfortable, let me
know.”

“The only thing that’s
going to be uncomfortable is when I have to say good-bye to him tomorrow.”

“Oh, boy, you’ve got it
bad, don’t you?  Come on.   Let’s see what they’re up to.”

We join them in the family
room where they’ve rolled up the rug and moved the furniture around.  Luis puts
on Joe Cocker’s
You Are So Beautiful to Me
and grabs Sandy.

Angie wants Tony to teach
her to dance so he puts her feet on top of his and dances around the room with
her.  I sit on the sofa and smile, watching them.  I’m glad I don’t have to
dance.   I don’t want to be that close to Tony.  Ever since we went to Eagle
Valley, he’s been getting more and more familiar towards me.  Putting his arm
around me, brushing my hair away from my face, and calling me pet names.  I can
relate to Sandy, I’m getting scared too.

“All right,” Luis yells. 
“Libby, get on this dance floor.  Let’s see what kind of moves you have, girl.”

“I don’t dance that well,
Luis.  Tony tried to teach me country line dancing but it didn’t go so hot.”

“Forget that crap.  Tony’s
a great ballroom dancer.  He’s better than most guys I’ve seen.    Mama made us
all take dancing lessons when we were young.  Get up here, girl. We’ll do an
old fashioned waltz.”

“Do it, Libby, do it.  I
want to see you dance with Daddy.”

So, I do, and it’s
wonderful.  Tony is a great dancer, not as flamboyant as Waldo is, but he’s
better than anyone else I’ve ever waltzed with.

“All right, Libby girl,
that was great.  Let’s do a Tango.”

“Not right now, Luis,”
Tony says.  “I need to put Angie to bed.”  I look over and see that she’s
trying not to fall asleep.  “We’ll take her down and then we can have that
Tango.”

After we come back from
putting her to bed, Luis has an announcement to make.  “I’ve invited Sandy to
come out and see the vineyards and winery.  I want you guys to come too.  I’ll
let her pick the date since she’s the one with a schedule.  How about it? ”

“That sounds great, Luis. 
Just let us know when.  I’d so like to see all of that again,” I tell him. 

“Fantastic, I’m looking
forward to it, but right now I think I should have Junior here show me where
I’m going to sleep tonight.  I think I’ve had a little too much to drink
tonight.  I usually don’t drink like this, but this is like a special occasion
for me.”

We all say good night to
one another and then Sandy and I climb the stairs to our bedrooms.  “Do you
still feel like talking?” I ask her.

“Yes, I’m really wired,
are you okay?”

“You bet, come on in my
room.  I’ve got a microwave/refrigerator combination.  We can pop popcorn, have
a drink, and talk.”

And talk, we do, we stay
up way too late bearing our souls to one another about the Vera boys.