“OK,” Allee agreed. “But don’t sell my house.”
“That Victorian beauty?” Tina grinned. “If I get a chance to get the commission on that home it’s a done deal. I’ll plaster that sold sticker on the “for sale” sign so quick it’ll make your head swim, even if you are my best friend. Business is business, you know. Of course, if you’d like to make an offer, all you need is about three months’ salary in earnest money to get your loan application going.”
“In my dreams. I couldn’t afford that place with ten roommates.” Allee propped her chin on her hands. “I would love to live in a house like that someday.”
“Well, you know that old saying about wishes being horses? We’d all take a ride.”
The following morning, Allee hopped out of the shower and dressed for work as usual. She slipped the white peasant-style blouse over her head, fluffing and straightening the deep lace neckline ruffle. The long, full skirt was a riot of color, with each successive ruffle a different bright hue. She tied the red sash around her waist, added some dangly earrings, and tucked the huge red silk flower behind her ear. While adding bright red lipstick, she checked her reflection. Given her natural inclination toward neutral colors, she felt uncomfortably conspicuous in the Senorita Tortilla outfit.
She tied her sandals and hurried to her car, making sure she allowed plenty of time to arrive by ten-thirty. She was always exceptionally careful driving to and from work, not wanting to encounter a traffic policeman while wearing her crazy costume. Working conditions at the buffet were much better than she remembered. Apparently Mr. Helmut decided she was right about treating his employees with respect.
24
Paul jolted his car to a stop, staring at the ‘For Sale’ sign in front of a beautiful old house. The contact name was Tina Bandolino. A first name of Tina, with an Italian-sounding surname? Could she be the owner of that red sweater Allee wore? Deciding it was worth a try, he scribbled the company name and phone number on a slip of paper and tucked it into his wallet. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
As soon as he finished his day at work, Paul took out his phone and called the real estate office. “Good afternoon, may I speak with Tina Bandolino, please?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Bandolino is out showing property right now. One of our other agents will be happy to help you if you’d like.”
Paul fidgeted with his class ring. “I really want to speak to her personally.”
“I’m afraid she’s only working part-time right now. Let me check her calendar.” After a short delay, the pleasant-voiced woman returned. “Miss Bandolino will be back in the office next Wednesday. In the meantime, I’ll be glad to leave her a message to call you.”
Paul persisted. “Did you say she’s showing property this afternoon? Is it possible she will be back in the office afterward?”
“Maybe, but I can’t say for sure.”
“I’ll risk it. Since I’m new in Montgomery, can you give me directions to your office?”
Paul couldn’t resist eager expectation as he drove to the real estate office. Although he reminded himself he was probably meeting someone who didn’t know Allee, there was also a possibility he was only hours away from seeing her again.
When he opened the glass door to the real estate office, a security guard gave him a suspicious stare. The receptionist peered over her half glasses. “Good afternoon, uh, Captain Chevalier.” Paul gave her points for recognizing the rank insignia on his uniform and having the presence of mind to check his name tag.
He glanced at the name plate in front of her. “Hello, Mrs. Walker. I spoke to you earlier. I’m hoping to catch Miss Bandolino.”
Mrs. Walker’s smile reassured Paul that perhaps he was not under suspicion of being a stalker, despite the security guard’s persistent glower. “Tina hasn’t checked in since you called, but you’re welcome to wait. Help yourself to a soda or some coffee.” She motioned toward a cubby hole stocked with a small refrigerator and a coffee machine.
“Thank you. I’d love a cup of java.” He proceeded to brew a cup advertised as French roast. One taste told him it should have been labeled dishwater. He stirred in sugar and powdered creamer in hopes of disguising the taste. Casting about for a way to pass the time, he opened a magazine and leafed without interest through pages of homes for sale. An hour later, after a failed attempt to engage the security guard in conversation, he decided this must not be the day.
As if on cue, Mrs. Walker gestured toward the window, pointing out a red SUV pulling into the parking lot. “Here she comes now.”
Paul followed the receptionist’s pointing finger.
With her driver’s help, a petite blonde emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle. She balanced on one leg between two crutches. Tina! It had to be her, struggling with the injuries that kept her away from Paris.
He rushed to hold the door for her.
“Thank you.” Tina nodded toward Paul. As the woman passed through the doorway, Tina turned and stared into his face before moving on inside. The woman who’d driven the SUV took a soda from the fridge and popped the tab. Tina turned around to take another long look at Paul as he followed her through the door.
“You.” Tina said, pointing at Paul.
The security guard hopped from the stool where he perched.
“You’re the guy in the picture of the Eiffel Tower,” she said.
Taken by surprise, Paul hurried to introduce himself. “Yes. I’m Paul Chevalier. I met Allee Bell in Paris. Today, I drove by a home on Grand Avenue and saw your name on the for sale sign. I remembered Allee talking about her friend who sells real estate, and I’m hoping that’s you.” When Tina didn’t answer immediately, he continued, “I went to Allee’s apartment, but she has moved. Please, can you tell me where to find her?”
“Well dip me in chocolate and call me a bonbon.” Tina went to the chair where her driver now sat fanning herself and drinking from a soft drink can. “Emily, I need my phone.”
Paul stood as if rooted to the floor. Phone? What for? Was she calling Allee?
Tina tapped the screen, and then held up the Eiffel Tower picture Paul recognized instantly. “Do you remember this?”
Paul moved closer, his eyes glued to the picture. “I sure do. That was one of the best days of my life.”
Tina flipped to the image of Paul and Allee dancing and pushed it toward him. “And this?”
Without thinking, Paul took Tina’s phone and stared at it before touching Allee’s face on the screen. “I never should have let her go.” He returned Tina’s mobile to her. “I need to find her. Won’t you please help me?”
She took out a pen and scribbled on the back of a card. “This is my sister’s address. Pick me up there at six-thirty and I’ll take you to see Allee.”
“If you’ll tell me where she is, I’ll go there right now.”
“Oh, no.” Tina smiled and put her phone away. “I have an appointment to show a property in a few minutes, and there’s no way I’ll miss being present for this reunion.”
From her chair, Emily spoke without moving her eyes from the magazine. “Leave it to Tina to parlay everything into high drama.”
25
Allee fed a steady stream of dough balls into the tortilla maker’s intake conveyor belt. She was barely aware of the patrons watching the fresh tortillas churning out of the machine’s little oven onto another belt that dumped the finished product onto platters for immediate serving. She stole a quick glance at the big clock at one end of the huge buffet room. Ten more minutes and she’d be done for the day. She hoped Tina would drop by for dinner, as she sometimes did if she could catch a ride.
At a few minutes past six-thirty, Allee shut down the machine and covered the last few tortillas with plastic wrap. Pulling off her latex gloves, she made sure her glass-enclosed area was neat and clean. She waved a farewell to the evening shift supervisor and left through the front door, where she found Tina sitting on a bench.
“Hey, w
ant to grab something to eat?” Allee asked.
Tina smiled and shook her head. She pointed toward the parking area beyond the kiddie rides Mr. Helmut kept running night and day.
Allee tried to follow Tina’s gesture. She saw nothing out of the ordinary. Kids were riding the miniature Ferris wheel. A woman loaded her toddler into a carrier. A tall man walked toward the restaurant. Her heart stopped. The man looked so much like someone she knew that she involuntarily spoke his name. “Paul?”
“Allee.”
She wasn’t sure which one initiated the embrace, but it felt good to be held in his arms. “I can’t quit thinking about you and the wonderful times we had together in Paris.” He hugged her tightly. “I can’t tell you how I’ve missed you.”
Nestling her cheek against his muscular chest, Allee murmured, “I thought I’d never see you again. What are you doing in Montgomery? How long will you be here?” He didn’t move away, and neither did she.
“It took a lot of doing, but I’m assigned to Maxwell Air Force Base, right here in Montgomery, most likely for the next four years.” He smoothed her hair and lightly kissed her forehead. “I couldn’t let you go, Allee. I hope you aren’t upset with me for barging in unannounced. When you didn’t answer my texts or take my calls, I thought maybe…”
“I broke my phone.” She turned her face upward. “I’m so happy to see you, and I’m thrilled you’ll be living here.” Finally, rational thoughts registered. She glanced toward Tina, who appeared to be taking a picture. “I look a mess in this silly costume.” Allee snatched the silk flower from behind her ear.
“I think you’re the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.” Paul pulled her closer to him.
“Better than the Eiffel Tower, all lit up at twilight?”
“No comparison.” He wiped her tears with his thumb.
Tina waved a hand. “Turn this way and smile.”
“Oh, for crying in a bucket,” Allee exclaimed, as she tried to stop weeping. “Tina is doing a video of us.” Instead of following Tina’s instructions, she gazed into Paul’s eyes. He returned her intense look, and instinctively she knew what would happen next.
Allee and Paul shared a long, lingering kiss.
“Got it. Perfect. Great ending.” Tina grinned.
Paul caressed Allee’s cheek with the back of his hand. “This isn’t the end. It is only the beginning.”
“OK.” Tina put away her phone. “Drop me off at Emily’s house tout de suite. For you non-speakers of French—Allee, that would be you—I mean right now, immediately, with no further delay.”
“Don’t you want to have dinner with us?” Paul helped Tina stand and position crutches under her armpits.
“Thanks, but I’ll take a rain check. It appears to me you two should have some time alone.”
At Uncle Tony’s, the Italian restaurant Tina recommended, Paul and Allee settled into a cozy little booth for two.
“What happened to your move to Colorado?” Allee ignored the menu placed before her.
“I called in every favor I’ve ever done for a buddy to get my orders to the Air Force Academy canceled. My boss talked to a friend of his at MPC. That’s the Military Personnel Center. This guy knew about a captain who was requesting a compassionate reassignment to Colorado Springs. With a lot of prayer and an enormous number of phone calls and messages back and forth, it all panned out.”
“Was that the special project you suddenly had to work on during my second week in Paris?”
“It was indeed. I was desperate to find a way to be near you.”
A waiter stood by them. “Shall I come back?”
“What do you recommend?” Paul asked.
“The special.” The young man pointed to a spot on the menu.
“I’ll have that.” Allee didn’t bother to read the description of the special. All she cared about was Paul.
“Sounds good to me, too.” Paul handed the menus to the waiter. He took Allee’s hand in his. “What did we order?”
“I have no idea.” They shared a laugh.
“As soon as my assignment change was official, I texted you.” Paul rubbed her fingers. “When you didn’t reply, I tried a phone call, which went directly to voice mail. I was worried you didn’t want to talk to me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m planning to get a new phone Monday.”
“What’s special about Monday?” He angled his head slightly to the left, a gesture Allee had come to know indicated his deep concentration.
“That’s my day off, and it’s after payday. So, I’ll have the time and the money to replace not only my phone but also my toaster. How’s that for an exciting agenda?”
“Hmm. That doesn’t sound like enough activity to fill up a whole day. I can probably arrange to leave work a little early. I could pick you up around four o’clock, and you did promise to show me Hank Williams’s grave site. Deal?”
“Deal.” Allee moved back slightly to allow room for the plates of ravioli the waiter delivered.
“What about tomorrow?” Paul ignored his food. “May I take you to church?”
“You don’t waste any time, do you?”
He shrugged. “I’ll back off if you tell me to.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Otherwise, I’ll be pursuing you relentlessly. You don’t know how I’ve prayed to find someone like you, Allee. When you left Paris, I was a basket case, thinking I’d never see you again.”
Allee’s heart raced, obliterating Tina’s frequent advice to play hard to get. “I leave for church at nine.”
“I sent roses to the address on that ripped envelope, the one you left at my place in Paris. The fellow who lives in your old apartment said his wife liked them.”
“I still live in that same complex, but I moved to apartment two-oh-one. Roses, huh? Pretty nice. I’m sorry I missed them.”
“Me, too. I was hoping to worm my way into your good graces. Number two-oh-one. 9:00 AM. Got it.”
26
At the end of August Allee returned to teaching, more than pleased to turn in her Senorita Tortilla costume. In late October, she and Tina met for lunch at Uncle Tony’s Italian restaurant.
“Check this.” Tina pointed to her regular pair of shoes. “My cane doesn’t get me as much sympathy as my boot and crutches, but I’m not complaining. And believe me, I’ll never take driving for granted again.”
“You look great.” Allee hugged her friend. “I don’t even notice a limp.”
“It’s there, but they think with physical therapy it will eventually disappear. It could have been a lot worse. Hey, I brought you something. It’s not new, but I think you’ll like it.”
Allee accepted the gift bag. “Is it all right to open it now?”
“Of course.” Tina held up two fingers to the busy hostess. “If you were supposed to open it later I would have waited and given it to you later.”
As soon as they were seated, Allee peeked inside the bag. “Oh, Tina, thank you. But are you sure you want to give this away?” She shook out the folds of the infamous red sweater.
“You took it to Paris, and it’s in a ton of your pictures. So, yes, take it home and enjoy it.”
“What a wonderful friend you are, Tina. I have some beautiful memories associated with this sweater. I’ll always cherish it.”
“Don’t get all gushy. The real reason I’m giving it away is that it looks better on you than it does on me.” She opened her menu. “Why am I bothering to look at this? I never have anything but spaghetti and meatballs. What do you hear from Paul?”
“He’ll be back from his temporary duty at the Pentagon in one more week. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed him.”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. He’s gone two weeks and you get the vapors and need smelling salts. Think about me. Alex has been in Michigan since August and won’t be home until after graduation in December.”
“And then you’ll have a beautiful Christmas wedding.” Allee smiled and closed her menu.
Tina smiled. “I wish it was tomorrow, not just because I’m in love with Alex. I’m also beyond ready to move out of my sister’s house. She’s a sweetie, and so are her husband and her kids. But I’m ready for some peace and quiet, and most of all, some privacy. And after we’re married I’ll have a last name people can both spell and pronounce.” She leaned forward. “So, has Paul popped the question yet?”
Allee puffed her cheeks and exhaled noisily. “What were you just now saying about privacy?”
“I take that to be no. It won’t be long, that much I’m sure of.”
“Maybe you should offer your services to the government.” Allee sprinkled dressing on her salad. “Since you can foretell the future and all.”
“Pretty good. You can be almost as sarcastic as me when you try.” Tina cut a large meatball into pieces. “I recommend dragging your handsome captain by some jewelry store window displays, and give the diamond rings a long, soulful look. I mean, assuming you want him to propose.”
“Very subtle.”
“OK, I guess I have to ask straight out. Do you love Paul? No, wait, let me reword that. Have you finally admitted to yourself that you are in love with him, and have been ever since you came back from Paris?”
Allee twirled the stem of her tea glass. “Did you sell my Victorian house yet?” As close as she and Tina were, Allee could not bring herself to share her feelings for Paul. Yes, she loved him and desperately wanted to marry him. But she wasn’t about to let anyone know that—even Paul himself—until she saw total commitment from him. If she was headed for heartbreak, she wanted to endure it privately, without making a fool of herself in front of her friends and family.
“As a matter of fact, I have a pre-approved buyer who’s about ready to make an offer on that house.”
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