Timing Is Everything

by Steinsiek, Sabra Brown;

  “I promise, Annie. No later than six.”

  “Have a good time, then.”

  “You, too. Enjoy the quiet.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I meant what I said, Annie. Try to get some rest. And I want to talk to you when I get back.” He stood and went into the house before she could argue.

  * * *

  Lunch over, Laura and her mother cleaned up the kitchen. They worked in silence, listening to the faint sounds of the television in the living room where Sean had settled in to watch the game. At least that’s what he always said he was going to do; he really slept through the whole thing. It had been a Sunday afternoon tradition as long as Laura could remember.

  “Feel like taking a walk, Mom?”

  Maria had been aware all during lunch that there was something bothering Laura. They had always been close. Laura hadn’t been a rebellious teenager and had usually brought all her troubles to her mother to talk over. Maria was aware of how lucky she’d been that this was true and was grateful that little had changed. Laura still brought her troubles home to talk through.

  “Of course, mi ‘jita. Let me change my shoes.”

  Stopping long enough to tell Sean their plans, the two women headed out the back of the house and down a path that led to and along the river. Sean watched them until the bright head and the dark one had disappeared from view. He, too, had noticed a restlessness about Laura and was glad she was going off with her mother. They’d work it out, whatever it was. They always had.

  It was cool along the riverbank. The noise of the city was far removed, and there was a peacefulness that Laura let sink into her heart. They didn’t talk as they went along until they came to a favorite spot along a curve in the river. A large boulder jutted out into the water; it had always been Laura’s favorite thinking place. The two women climbed up and sat on top of it, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the light on the river. As Maria waited for Laura to begin, her personal serenity began to enfold her daughter.

  “Mom? How did you know that Dad was the one?”

  So, that was it. Her Laura had met someone. Maria was pleased. It wasn’t that she minded her independent daughter being unmarried or even uninvolved. She just wanted for Laura the same kind of closeness that she shared with Sean.

  “That’s not an easy question, ‘jita. I think that it’s something you just know. There’s someone?”

  “Sí, Mamá.” Laura easily slipped back into the soft Spanish of her childhood. “Do you remember the singer who was here a while back? Taylor Morgan? I told you about him.”

  “I remember. You seemed very taken with him at the time.”

  “I was, I guess. He was very easy to talk to, Mamá, and he reminded me of the way Tomás and I used to talk. But it wasn’t just that. He’s very attractive, Mom.” Laura blushed as she told her, keeping her eyes on the river, avoiding looking into her mother’s eyes. “And now, he’s gotten back in touch. E-mail. I heard from him earlier this week and we were up late last night ‘talking.’”

  “It doesn’t sound like much of a problem, Laura.”

  “But, it is, Mamá. He’s famous. He’s been everywhere, done everything. He’s fascinating, and I’d like to keep him as a friend, but I don’t know why he’d be interested.”

  “It sounds like friendship isn’t the only thing you want from this man.”

  “Oh, Mom,” Laura sighed. “I don’t know what I want, where I want this to go. And now there’s Cary, too. I like him a lot. And he’s here, not halfway across the country. How am I supposed to figure out what I want—and who?”

  “Laura… ” Her mother reached out and turned Laura’s chin so that she was facing her. “You can’t plan this one out, ‘jita. You want to organize everything and friendship—and love—can’t be organized. It has to just happen. I think all you can do is let this take its course and see where it goes. Your heart will tell you what you need to know.”

  Chapter 10

  Taylor and Meg headed to the beaches in St. Petersburg. She loved his convertible, a Jaguar XJ8, and always wanted the top down, even though it tangled her hair. Taylor was always happy to oblige. After all, that was why he’d bought a convertible in the first place.

  Arriving at their favorite beach, within sight of the venerable Don Cesar Hotel, they carried a blanket and towels to the sand. Taylor watched as she ran out into the warm green waters of the Gulf. Meg was like a fish—or a mermaid. She’d loved the water since she was a baby, learning to swim before she learned to walk. Taylor preferred to do his swimming in a pool, but was happy to sit in the sun and watch her as she played.

  The green of the water reminded him of Laura’s eyes. Not that they were even remotely the same shade, he acknowledged. Right now, it seemed that everything reminded him of Laura. He’d been telling her about Tampa all week and wanted to show it to her in person. He was anxious to see her again, and wondered if it was too soon to invite her to visit.

  “Taylor!” He could hear the exasperation in Meg’s voice. “I’ve been standing here forever. What are you thinking about?” she said in a voice uncannily like her mother’s.

  “Not thinking, Meg, just dreaming. What have you found?” She handed him a perfectly formed seashell. “A perfect one, Meg! Good job. We’ll add it to the others.” They had started a collection years before which was kept on the wide windowsill in the living room of his condo. When they started, Meg had insisted that the shells would miss the ocean and had decided they would be “happiest” on his windowsill where they could still see the water.

  She flopped down on the blanket beside him, and he handed her a towel. “What’s up with you, Meg?”

  She gave a world-weary sigh then said, tragically, “School… her voice trailing off in despair. Taylor had to fight the urge to smile. Meg had always been dramatic, and Annie blamed it on his influence.

  “School? Care to be a little more specific?”

  “It’s that stupid private school Mom makes me go to. I hate the uniforms, I hate the campus, I hate the rules!”

  “Megan, that’s not true. I know it and you know it. You love it there, or at least you did. You’re on the swim team, you’re starting drama and chorus; so what’s got you so upset?”

  “Just stuff, Taylor.”

  “Megan Elizabeth Miller, out with it.”

  “There’s a dinner coming up. The chorus is performing.”

  “So? That doesn’t sound like a problem, Meg.”

  “It’s a father-daughter dinner,” she said practically in a whisper. “And some of the girls say I can’t come since I don’t have a father.” She sat very still, staring straight ahead.

  “They’re wrong, Meg. You have me.”

  “Would you come with me, Taylor?” She looked at him with her heart in her eyes.

  “Of course. Just let me know when so I can put it on my calendar,” he said gently, taking her hand in his. He wanted to storm into the school and ask them what the hell they thought they were doing with such a stupid idea, wanted to find the little brats who had hurt her. Instead, he continued, “You’ll have to let me know what color your dress is, Meg. And if it’s strapless or not so I know what kind of corsage I should buy. And will I need to rent a tux?”

  She giggled and said, “Taylor! You are so silly!” She stood up and turned to run back into the water then stopped and came back. Throwing her arms around his neck she whispered, “Thank you, Taylor… I love you.”

  Holding her tightly, he whispered back, “I love you, too, Meg,” before he released her.

  * * *

  On the way back to the house, Taylor stopped at a deli and picked things up for sandwiches. They would be back a little earlier than Annie expected, and he didn’t want her worrying about dinner. When they got there, he sent Meg off to shower and change while he fixed a tray and told Annie what had happened.

  “I ca
n’t tell you how angry I was, Annie! Doesn’t that school know that there are a lot of little girls out there with absentee fathers?”

  “I know, Taylor, but it’s a traditional thing. They’ll give it up eventually. Right now, I have to thank you for being there for her. It’s a big deal, unfortunately.”

  “Well, it’s a stupid idea, but I’ll be there for her. Just give me the date.” He poured a glass of wine and joined Annie at the table. “And as long as we’re on the subject of school…”

  “No, Taylor.”

  “No what, Annie?’

  “No, Taylor, you are not paying her tuition.”

  “Annie, we have this argument every year. Don’t you think it’s my turn to win? God knows I can afford it. I just put it in her trust fund when you turn me down.”

  “Then you can do it again this year, Taylor. She’s my responsibility, not yours.” Annie stood and walked out of the kitchen.

  After a moment, Taylor followed her. She was staring out the window of the family room, tension in every line of her body. Taylor came up behind her and put his arms around her. “Annie?” He turned her to face him, and he was surprised to find her crying. Gently he brushed a tear from her cheek. “Annie, what’s going on?”

  “I’m just tired, Taylor. And this with the school is too much. I just want her to be happy. Is that so much to ask?”

  Taylor pulled her into his arms and held her. Annie rarely cried. He knew now that there was truly something wrong, but he’d have to wait until she was ready to tell him.

  Chapter 11

  Taylor left Annie’s early in the evening. She had stopped crying when they had heard Meg coming. He’d headed Meg off to help him in the kitchen, giving Annie a few minutes to pull herself together. After they’d eaten, Taylor had kissed them both goodbye, reminded Meg to let him know about her dress, then headed for home. He chose to take the long way rather than going straight home. He found that driving sometimes helped him clarify his thoughts… and he certainly had enough to think about tonight.

  * * *

  After Taylor left, Annie and Meg watched a television program together, Meg curled up in her mother’s arms. Annie saw little of the program, but enjoyed snuggling with Megan. She’d chattered for a while about her day with Taylor, but had quieted for the program and was now almost asleep.

  Today was not the first time that Meg had had to deal with the fact that she was fatherless. It had happened before, times that Taylor knew nothing about. Annie had handled it in the best way she could, and it somehow worked out all right. Still, she was grateful that Taylor would be there to help Meg through this one. He was gone so much, though, that she couldn’t let Meg count on him. It was a fact of life that Meg would have to learn to live with, no matter how difficult that was.

  * * *

  Laura arrived home laden with food her mother had insisted she take. She hadn’t had to argue very hard. Cooking was not one of the things Laura enjoyed, so she tended to eat fast food instead. It would be nice to have a few leftovers to look forward to.

  She hit the message button on the answering machine while she put things away. There was a message from Beth about dinner tomorrow with the girls, then one from Cary.

  “Laura? I must have missed you. I wondered if you wanted to go for a drive this afternoon, but I guess that’s out. Can we have dinner one night this week? Give me a call.”

  She put the last of the containers in the refrigerator, then hit the erase button on the machine. Checking her calendar, she called Cary, only to get his answering machine. She left a message that dinner Thursday or Friday would be good or lunch any other day if he could get away. Hanging up, she turned on the computer and went to change clothes.

  * * *

  By the time Taylor arrived home, he had put his worries about Annie aside. He’d known her long enough to know that she wouldn’t talk to him until she was ready. No amount of worrying on his part would change that. He wished she would let him help, but she had been determined from the beginning that she would make it on her own, without help from him or anyone.

  When he let himself into the condo, he immediately noticed the message light blinking on the answering machine. Very few people had his direct number, and it was always a surprise to find a message from one of them.

  “Taylor? It’s Christine. Give me a call when you can. I have some news for you.”

  Christine, his assistant, was supposed to be on vacation. She’d been with him the whole tour and had, as usual, been indispensable. When they weren’t traveling, she kept track of his mail, sorting it and keeping him on top of what he needed to respond to. She was very good about giving him his privacy and would only call if it were truly necessary. As he dialed her number, he wondered what her news could be.

  * * *

  Laura put one of Taylor’s CD’s in the player before opening her e-mail file. Skimming her messages for one from Taylor, she was disappointed to find there wasn’t one. He had said he would be spending the day with Annie, but it was getting late there now. Shrugging mentally, she began to compose a note to him.

  Hi Taylor,

  Hope your day was as pleasant as mine. Mom spoiled me, as usual, with my favorite green chile chicken enchiladas. Yum! I wish I’d inherited her cooking talents instead of Dad’s hair!

  Mom and I went for a walk along the river after lunch. It was a beautiful day; we barely even needed a sweater. It was great to be outdoors.

  Then we came back and totally humiliated my father by beating him at Scrabble. Well, technically Mom was the one who won, but my score was higher than his, too. He doesn’t like losing and has sworn revenge.

  I’ll be checking back in a little later. Hope to talk to you then.

  Laura

  She sent the message, then turned to reading and answering her other mail, hoping he’d log on while she was still connected.

  The doorbell startled her. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and it was nearly nine. Cautiously looking out the peephole, she was surprised to see Cary standing there. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair before she opened the door to him.

  “Cary? What are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Well, you might have been if I’d been able to get hold of you.” He tried to sound like he was teasing her, but his impatience showed through. “I was out and decided to stop by to see if you were home yet.”

  “As you can see, I am. Come on in while I turn off the computer.”

  As she turned to the computer, Cary admired the way she looked in the leggings and sweater she was wearing. They were dating steadily now, but he hadn’t been able to get past her reserve for more than some heavy petting. He wasn’t used to this kind of cool treatment from a woman. Usually, they were all over him. Her hands-off attitude both annoyed and excited him.

  He became aware of a voice singing in the background that sounded vaguely familiar. Since Laura was still occupied with the computer, he picked up the CD case.

  “Taylor Morgan?” he asked, holding out the CD case as she turned.

  “Yes, he was here a few weeks ago. I interviewed him and went to the concert. I like his voice and his style.”

  “Well, his style must have changed, then.”

  “What are you talking about, Cary?”

  “I knew him in New York, back when he was just getting started. Remember I told you about my having the theatre beat? I covered several of his early failures. My ex-wife was in his big show, the one about Italy.”

  Even as she supplied the name of the show, Laura’s mind was reeling. An ex-wife? Cary had never mentioned that before.

  “He was quite the big deal then. Had women falling at his feet. He took them up on all their offers from what I understood. Unfortunately, one of them was my ex-wife, which is why she’s my ex. She’d been carrying on with him before we got married and saw no n
eed to stop after we did. And he evidently had no problem with sleeping with a married woman.”

  Laura found all of this hard to believe. It sounded so unlike the Taylor Morgan that she had met. Of course, that had to have been more than ten years ago.

  “Cary, you never mentioned you’d been married,” Laura said casually.

  “I’m sorry, Laura.” Cary came over to stand where he could look into her eyes. “I wasn’t trying to hide it. It was all a long time ago. We were young, and I was pretty naïve, still a small-town Ohio boy. She just turned out to be very different from the girl I had thought I was marrying. It’s not important to me anymore. The marriage only lasted a few months.” He gave her a rueful smile before he continued, “But, you can see why I’m not too happy to find Taylor Morgan in your apartment, can’t you?

  “Cary, you never did say why you came over.”

  “Because I missed you, Laura. It’s been days since I’ve seen you.” He reached behind himself and turned off the CD player even as he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her lightly, then more insistently until they both forgot about Taylor Morgan.

  * * *

  Taylor hung up the phone. His conversation with Christine had been a real surprise. She was getting married in February and wanted to give him her resignation. She and her husband were going to be starting their own small business, and it would take all of her time. She had said all the right things, how sorry she was, how she’d help train her replacement, but he didn’t really want to go through all that again. He was happy for Christine, but he was going to miss her terribly.

  At least he had until after the first of the year to find a replacement. Maybe a little longer depending on his schedule.

  Right now, he just didn’t want to think about it. It had been far from the relaxing day he’d anticipated.