with her free arm. “I know, dear. Strange as it may sound, I remember being eighteen. I met my husband at university here.”
“In L.A., here?”
I knew his dad had been American, but I assumed they came from England when he started at my school.
She nodded. “I wanted to get out on my own, away from what I was used to, you know, and met this brash young man in my Philosophy class. I turned him down twice before we went on a date, and then I discovered he was sweet, too. A lot like Jacob.”
We handed the attendant the boarding passes. “Wow. So you were sweethearts?”
“Goodness, yes. Probably quite sickening.”
We made it into the tunnel and onto the plane. The seats were spaced farther apart than I was used to. I actually had room to stretch my legs. “Do you mind if I take the window seat?”
I stowed their carry-ons above while Vivian stepped aside to let people continue down the aisle.
“Not at all.”
I had never left the US before—flown cross-country, but never across an ocean. I wasn’t sure how I’d bear waiting five hours just to get to that part. My book would be killed in four. Then, what?
“I should’ve brought a second book.”
“What’s that?”
“I was just thinking about the length of the flight. My book isn’t long enough to keep me occupied for eleven hours.”
She smiled, understanding. “Well, they will show a movie, though keep in mind it’s likely you’ll doze off at some point.
I shook my head. “I’m too excited to sleep.”
“Mm-hmm…”
We chatted for a while, me picking her brain about famous stuff close to her house. Vivian insisted there was enough room to put me up and assured me I wouldn’t be a burden.
Still, I hoped it wasn’t far from his apartment.
Reading until they served a meal, I then finished off the book before the in-flight movie started. It was some think-y drama about adults with issues and I nodded off from boredom.
A light sleeper, though, I woke when we got dinner.
“Hey, it’s dark on this side of the world.” We left Los Angeles at 10:30AM, which made it around eight in the evening now, but with the time difference… “What time is it in London?”
“It’ll be close to six in the morning when we exit the plane.”
“Oh, wow. No way Jacob will be up to meet us at the airport.” It was a bummer I had to wait longer to see him.
His mother laughed. “Indeed! He didn’t like waking early as a baby.”
A clear summer night, the moon reflected off the water below. Far below, but hey…scenery.
We landed around 6:00AM. Ten at night at home, so I would be thinking about bed in another hour. Instead, I was looking at breakfast.
A car with personal driver picked us up and I started to wonder about the family Mrs. Lindsey came from.
When the car eventually stopped in front of a manor, I knew Vivian had been holding out on her. “Friend’s place?”
Vivian’s cheeks colored slightly. “No. It belonged to my parents, and my grandparents before them.”
“No wonder you don’t have a job in L.A.”
“I have been fortunate, yes, but one does not need to be blatant with one’s wealth. And I was quite happy to be a young bride in California, once upon a time.”
By appearances, she was younger than my parents.
People opened doors for us and more people took our luggage to other rooms. I spun in a circle in the foyer, taking in the grand staircase, chandelier, and gold-framed paintings. My sneakers squeaked on the marble tiles.
“Elizabeth, it’s not polite to gawk,” Vivian whispered in my ear.
I dropped my chin and my eyes and followed upstairs. Mrs. Lindsey took a right and stopped at a door.
“This is your bedroom. I’m only down the hall. There is an intercom system throughout the house, so if you need a servant for any reason, buzz.”
“Servant?” I asked, my voice taking on an airy quality as I took in the bedroom.
“It’s a long way to the kitchen if you crave a midnight snack.”
The room had a four-poster bed and a window seat. Fresh flowers graced every table and the duvet looked to be a silk blend from the subtle sheen of the fibers. More exploring revealed a huge closet, and a luxurious bathroom with a claw-foot tub.
I ran my hand over the fluffy towels.
“The room is satisfactory, I hope,” Vivian said from the door.
“It’s amazing and you know it. Are they all like this?”
“Identical? Gracious, no. But each individually beautiful, yes.”
“Jacob never mentioned this place.”
She didn’t look surprised. “He spent most of his time at school while we lived in London, coming home for holidays. California was where he was born and where we came back to. I imagine he’ll end up there again, too.”
“I won’t mind.”
Vivian smirked. “Undoubtedly. Try to take a nap. Then we’ll have brunch and try to rouse my son.”
I folded back the covers of the bed once she left and opened my luggage to get pajamas.
A few hours later, a ringing telephone roused me. “Hello?”
“Did I wake you?” Mrs. Lindsey asked. Her tone said she knew she did.
“A little. Did I miss breakfast?”
“No, dear. We’re setting the table now.”
“I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
I hung up and rolled out of bed, then washed my face, ran a brush through my hair, brushed my teeth, and dressed in a blouse and shorts.
Hearing voices when I walked down the stairs, I followed the sound. The object of my affection stood at the kitchen island munching on strawberries.
He talked to his mother with his back to me. At twenty now, his body had matured since I last saw him two years ago. His shoulders were broader and he was no longer adolescently skinny. The bleach had grown out to only being on the tips of his hair.
“Ah, there you are,” his mother said.
He turned around. “Bethie!” The biggest smile I’d ever seen spread across his face. With two strides, he wrapped his arms around me and twirled me around. “What are you doing here, love?”
“Surprising you.”
He set me down and backed up to arms-length to look at me. “Bloody hell, you changed in two years.”
My cheeks turned crimson. “A little bit.”
“Little! You barely fit under my chin now. How was graduation?”
“Salutatorian. Got beaten out for first in class by a tenth of a grade point.”
“Aww,” he teased. “Want me to beat ‘im up?”
“It was a her, and no, but thanks for the offer. Should I ask about your grades?”
He coughed. “Maybe later.”
Same ol’ Jacob.
God, he looked good. His face had matured a bit, too, bringing out his cheekbones. His skin was paler than in California, but no less attractive. Today was Saturday, and he wore a tee and low-slung jeans with a studded belt through the loops.
Only man I knew who refused to wear shorts unless at the beach.
“Come eat, kids.”
He took my hand and led me into the dining room. What Vivian called “brunch” was no simple spread. The polished table probably sat twelve and was set with china and sterling silver flatware.
“Is this what they mean by an English breakfast?”
Several serving dishes were spread before us.
“That you can stuff yourself silly on a good fry-up? Pretty much,” he said.
“A little variety never hurt anyone,” his mother said. She sat at the head of the table, her plate already filled.
He handed me a plate and asked, “How long do I get to keep you?”
Forever, my silly heart answered, but my rational side said, “Uh, I’m not sure? I have to be at UCLA in September, but your mom made the travel arrangements.”
“Well, any mother that brings me a Bethie present earns my everlasting devotion.”
She shook her head, but said, “You’re welcome, dear, though this is just as much for Elizabeth, if not more so. Traveling abroad diversifies a young woman’s education.”
He sat down with his pile of food. “On that note, you have to come see us play tonight.”
I smiled. “I’d love to. I brought the t-shirt.” I sat to his right since he’d chosen the corner seat next to his mother.
My internal clock thought it was three in the morning. Mrs. Lindsey, on the other hand, was still bushy-tailed. I didn’t know how she did it. With eggs, fruit, pastries, and sausage in my belly, I felt like another nap. A yawn escaped my mouth while they caught up. Embarrassed, my hand flew up to my lips to hide it.
He poked my side. “I heard that.”
“I’m sorry. My body thinks it’s the middle of the night.”
“Aww, past Bethie’s bed time?” he teased.
“Shut up. You’ve had jet lag before.”
“Not my fault you didn’t plan your flight around your natural schedule.”
“In the same room thirty minutes and you’re picking on me.” I propped my chin on my hand. “Hmm, why did I miss you again?”
He leaned closer, blue eyes sparkling. “’Cause I’m irresistible. A magnet for females young and old.”
“Watch it,” his mother and I said in unison.
He laughed, and stretched in his chair. “So easy.”
I hit him with my napkin and stood to take my empty plate into the kitchen.
“Elizabeth. Someone will take care of that for you,” Vivian said.
“Pffft, nonsense. No offense, but I carry my own weight.”
I brought the dirty dishes into the kitchen and set them by the sink, then looked for the dishwasher. All I saw were drawers. Well, fine, guess I’d do it by hand.
Yeah, I had a bit of guilt over the cost of bringing me here. Even though it was obvious now Mrs. Lindsey could afford it and then some, I still didn’t feel right letting her staff wait on me hand and foot. I didn’t incur debts.
“Love, what are you doing?” Jacob asked behind me, amused.
“Washing my dishes, duh.”
“Looks like you’re puttin’ someone out of work.”
“Huh?”
He took the glass from my hand. “They’re paid to do a job, Bethie. They’re not slaves.”
“I know that.”
“Then remember you’re on vacation and relax.”
Hard to do when he smelled so good. “You haven’t called in a long time.”
“Keep me busy, school and the band. Lose track of the days.”
I glanced down at his wrist. “It’d help if you wore a watch.”
He nodded once, conceding the point. “Probably. Wanna see my world, or do you need that nap?”
“I can make do with caffeine.”
After two years away, he wasn’t getting out of my sight.
He grinned. “Brilliant. See you out front.” Then walked out.
I found a Coke in the refrigerator, took it up to my room, and freshened up, slammed the soft drink, belched (oops), and grabbed my purse/camera bag.
Mrs. Lindsey wished me a good time on the way out.
I stopped short when I saw his mode of transportation. “Nuh-uh.”
“It’s perfectly safe,” he said from the bike.
“It’s a motorcycle. And I remember how you drive.”
He held up a second helmet. “Don’t you trust me, Bethie?”
Oh, not the pout…damn him.
I took the helmet and stuck it on my head. “If you kill me, I’m haunting you forever.”
He rolled his eyes. “Hold on tight and you’ll be fine.”
Hold on tight, eh? To what?
He climbed on the bike and looked back at me expectantly. I straddled the bike behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Put your feet on those little pegs,” he said. I did. He pulled my arms further around his middle. “Tighter. You’ll fly backward when I accelerate with a grip that loose.”
“Okay.”
He started the motorcycle. I had a death grip. Oh-god-oh-god…
When he made it roll forward, I hid my face between his shoulder blades.
Air started moving very fast past my body.
Sorry, Mom and Dad…