“Try the eighties,” Leo told him.
“Hey, Natalie.” Jake grinned. “You look a little overdressed for this.”
“Funny.” She smirked. “Leo is taking me out tonight. To celebrate.”
“Celebrate?” Jake frowned.
“Didn’t Leo tell you that we’re engaged?”
“Leo?” Jake looked at him with shock. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.” Leo nodded.
“Well, congratulations, man.” Jake suddenly seemed to notice Tia. “And who are you?”
“Sorry.” Leo quickly introduced her. “Tia is Julie’s niece and she’ll be the chef on the boat.”
“You’re a cook?” Jake’s eyes lit up. “Cool.”
“Well, today I’m more like the cleanup crew,” she admitted.
“Anyway, we wondered if you could give her a ride home,” Natalie said to Jake. “Because Leo is taking me to Plouf tonight. Our reservation is for 6:30.”
“Plouf?” Jake pointed to Leo. “You’ll need to dress a little nicer than that, buddy.”
“Yes,” Natalie agreed. “Slacks and jacket required.”
“How about we get this stuff loaded,” Leo told Jake, picking up a couple cushions and tossing them into the back of the pickup. “I want to load this table last so we can drop it at my place before you head back to town.”
“Why do you want this at your house?” Natalie stared down at the table.
“Because I’m keeping it,” Leo said as the guys hoisted up a chair.
“Keeping it?”
“Yeah, it’s a cool old piece. I’ll restore it and—”
“But it’s so bulky and clunky and ugly.”
“It’s solid teak, Natalie. And it’s nautical. Probably as old as the boat,” Leo explained.
“I’m going to get my stuff and lock up the cabin,” Tia said quickly. “You need anything inside, Leo?”
As he called out a “no,” Tia went on board, but she could hear the discussion continuing. Clearly Natalie didn’t intend to have any “old junky pieces” of furniture in her home. Apparently that meant Leo couldn’t either.
By the time Tia returned, they seemed to have smoothed things over. Jake was pointing out that they could pay a lot for a piece like that from Restoration Hardware, so Natalie announced she would reserve her final opinion until after she saw it refinished.
“See you back at my apartment.” Natalie kissed Leo and hurried off down the dock. Then Tia helped with the last of the items to be loaded, and the three of them climbed into Jake’s pickup.
“So you’re really going through with it, man?” Jake spoke over Tia’s head as he slowly drove up the dock. “Getting ready to put on the old ball and chain?”
“Funny.” Leo looked out the side window.
“I mean, Nat’s a nice girl. And I know you guys have been friends forever. But I really expected you to be the last one to fall, man. I’m not sure what to think.”
“Well, don’t strain your brain over it,” Leo teased. “I wouldn’t want to be the cause of reducing your already limited brain cells.”
“Nice way to talk to your best friend. Hey, does this mean I gotta rent a tux and be best man at your wedding?”
“That’s right,” Leo told him. “Misery loves company.”
“Ooh, better not let Nat hear you talking like that.”
“Here’s my Jeep.” Leo opened the door before the pickup was completely stopped. “Maybe I should just take Tia home so you can—”
“I don’t mind taking Tia home.”
“Yeah, but you have to drop off my table and make it to the thrift store before they close.”
“Oh, sure,” Jake said with a sarcastic tone. “You get to be engaged and take the cute little cook home and everything. Real fair.”
Tia laughed as she got out. “Pleasure meeting you, Jake.”
“Pleasure’s all mine. And maybe Mr. Selfish will let me take you home next time,” Jake called as she closed the door.
“Your friend’s a card,” Tia said as she got into the Jeep.
“He’s a funny dude, all right.” He started the engine. “I feel bad that I’m not taking you to the hospital. Especially after I told Julie I’d pop in and see Roland tonight.”
“How about if I send your love?” she offered.
“Thanks. Tell them I’ll come by tomorrow.” He drove without talking, and for a change, Tia felt no need to fill up the empty space with words. She decided as he pulled into the driveway that she was glad he wasn’t taking her to the hospital. It would be a relief of sorts to get away from him. “Have a good dinner,” she said brightly as she hopped out. “And thanks for the ride.” Before he could say anything, she shut the door and hurried up to the house.
After a quick shower to clean up, she called Julie to see if there was anything she wanted from the house. Julie gave her a short list, then asked if Tia could bring her ukulele. “Seriously?” Tia asked as she removed the towel from her damp hair. “No one in the hospital will mind?”
“I don’t see why. And Roland asked.”
“Then I’ll definitely bring it. I took a bunch of photos to show you what we got done today,” Tia said cheerfully.
“I can’t wait to see them. And you too.”
“Well, I just need to dry my hair and get a bite.”
“Take your time. They’re just bringing in dinner now anyway. No hurry.”
Tia felt clean and refreshed as she carried her ukulele up to the hospital entrance. She wasn’t too thrilled about how much it had cost to take a taxi up there, but it would be worth it to spend time with Julie and Roland. Maybe she could talk Julie into going home with her. She felt certain her aunt would be in need of a good night’s sleep by now. Roland ought to be able to get along without her for one night.
“There she is,” Julie announced as Tia poked her head into the private room.
Tia held up her ukulele case. “I hear there’s a need for some island music in here.”
“Tia!” Roland’s face broke into a smile. “Welcome to my world.”
Julie was already across the room, tightly embracing Tia and exclaiming how glad she was to see her.
“Come over here,” Roland commanded. “Let me get a better look at you.”
Tia complied, going to stand by his bedside, trying not to stare at all the tubes and wires connected to him. “How are you doing?”
“Depends on who you ask,” he said wryly. “According to the nurses, I’m doing great. But the doctors won’t let me go home. And if you ask Julie, I’m just downright cantankerous.”
“I never said that,” Julie protested.
“You don’t have to.” He winked at her, then grasped Tia’s hand. “You are even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. You and Julie must’ve got all the pretty Italian genes in the family.” He chuckled. “We know they skipped Tony completely.”
“Thanks.” She smiled shyly.
For a while they just chatted congenially together, catching up on the latest news back in Norton and the restaurant, and how Tia had been upgraded to a first class flight, and what she’d ordered at Le Bernard last night.
“Where’s Leo?” Julie asked. “Parking the car?”
Tia explained about Natalie’s restaurant reservation. “It kind of caught Leo off guard. But it was to celebrate, you know.”
“Celebrate what?” Julie asked.
“Their engagement,” Tia told her.
“What?” Julie and Roland said simultaneously.
“Oh, yeah, it’s pretty recent news.” She told them about how the couple decided to become engaged over lunch yesterday, including the part about how Natalie gave him an ultimatum. Suddenly she remembered and said, “Oh, I wasn’t supposed to tell that part. Sorry. Just pretend like you never heard it.”
Roland chuckled. “It figures that Natalie would have to twist Leo’s arm.”
Julie didn’t say anything, but her brow was creased.
“Anyway, Leo s
ends his love, and he wants to stop by tomorrow.”
To change the subject, Tia produced her camera and started to show them the pictures of the wallpaper being stripped and finally of the completely emptied main cabin.
“Wow,” Julie exclaimed. “It looks bigger.”
“And it looks like a boat again.” Roland described how he remembered the boat as a small child, before his mother gave it the “English flower garden makeover,” as he called it.
“I know your notes said that you wanted it all gutted,” Tia said to Julie. “All the furniture, carpeting, and wallpaper removed. But there was one piece that seemed worth saving.”
“I can’t imagine what.”
Tia explained about the big round coffee table. “Underneath the whitewash, it looks like solid teak. I hated seeing it go to the thrift store and Leo decided to keep it. Is that okay?” She looked from Julie to Roland.
“It’s fine with me,” Roland said.
“Me too.” Julie peered at the last photo. “The only room I plan to keep is the stateroom. Although I want it freshened up.” She put her hand on Roland’s shoulder. “I want you to like it too. Because no matter what you said a few weeks ago, I think you’re going to want to go out on the boat sometimes.”
He looked into her eyes. “As long as you’re there, I will be glad to go out.”
“You might even enjoy it.”
“I expect I will.”
Julie leaned down to kiss him.
“Say, Tia, do me a favor, will you?” Roland said.
“Of course.”
“Take your aunt to get a real dinner.”
“But I already ate—”
“I saw you picking at the sad excuse for a Swiss steak,” he told her. “Go with Tia and get something good to eat. Please, I think I could use a break.”
“But I—”
“Take her, Tia,” he commanded. “Even if you have to drag her kicking and screaming.”
“Come on, Aunt Julie.” Tia took her by the arm. “Let’s give Roland some breathing room.”
“We won’t be gone long,” Julie called over her shoulder.
“No, I didn’t think so.” He waved. “Tia still has to come back and play some island music for me. I want to daydream that I’m sunbathing in Maui.” Tia returned his wave, feeling a twinge inside of her as she imagined what a grim place the world would be for her aunt if Roland didn’t make it. How sweet—and yet precarious—it must be to love someone so dearly.
9
As they went into the elevator, Julie let out a long, weary sigh.
“You must be exhausted,” Tia said as she pushed the button for the correct floor.
“It’s only been about thirty hours, but I feel like I’ve been in this dreary place for at least a week.”
“How about if you come home with me tonight?” Tia urged her. “I’m sure Roland can get by without you for one night.”
“I can’t leave him, Tia. Not for more than just a few minutes. And not overnight.”
“But you look so tired.” Tia studied her aunt’s pale face. “No offense, but you look like death warmed over.”
“Thanks.” Julie pointed up. “I’ll blame the fluorescent lighting.”
“You really won’t consider going home to sleep in your own bed?”
“That recliner in his room isn’t too bad, actually. I’m fine, really.”
“You’re sure I can’t persuade you?”
“I promised myself that I wouldn’t leave until Roland’s had his surgery and is completely out of the woods.”
“Oh.”
As they exited the elevator, Julie grabbed Tia’s hand, looking intently into her eyes. “If I went home and Roland died . . . well, I would never forgive myself.”
“So it’s still that close—touch and go?”
Julie nodded grimly. “Those tubes and wires are literally keeping him alive. If a machine quit working, or an alarm didn’t sound, or the nurses didn’t come in time . . . well, that could be the end.” She started to cry, and Tia wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly.
“I get it. I know how much you love him, Julie. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to leave.” She sighed. “You guys are really lucky, you know?”
“I know. And I’m just not ready to lose him.”
“Of course not.”
Julie stepped back, retrieving a tissue from her pocket to wipe her face. “I only leave his side when he’s fully awake. I figure if something went wrong, he would be able to press the help button or even call out. But if he were asleep, well, I just don’t know.”
“Okay, I get that.” They continued walking.
“You see, I’m a very light sleeper.”
“That’s good.”
“Even though the staff here keeps telling me it’s okay and that I should go home, I’m digging in my heels.” They went into the cafeteria.
Tia nodded. “I won’t nag you about it anymore. I promise.”
“Thank you.” Since neither of them felt particularly hungry, they got chicken noodle soup and found a vacant table in a quiet corner. But after only one bite, Tia knew she wouldn’t be finishing it.
“How do you mess up chicken noodle soup?” Julie asked quietly.
“Pour it from a can?”
“You really think?”
Tia shrugged. “Kinda tastes like it.”
“People always joke about hospital food, but I never really took it seriously. I’m not complaining since I haven’t had a real appetite lately. But I do feel badly for Roland. It’s like adding insult to injury. Here he is bedridden, but they have to torture him with bad food as well?”
“I wish I could cook you and Roland something good to eat.”
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
“Do you think it’s allowed?”
“As far as I know, he doesn’t have any food restrictions until the night before his surgery. That’s tomorrow night. And, of course, no alcohol.”
“Maybe I could prepare a healthy meal to bring tomorrow.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful, Tia. Do you want to?”
“I’d love to. Does Roland still love cannelloni?”
“He often says that no one makes it like you do.” Julie made a mock frown. “Not even me.”
Tia patted Julie’s shoulder. “Well, that’s what I’ll bring.”
“In the meantime, I’ll check with his doctor. If there’s a problem, though I can’t imagine there would be, I’ll let you know.”
Tia realized she’d need to do some grocery shopping. “Do you still have your bike?” she asked. “The one I borrowed that summer?”
“Yes. Feel free to use it. But you could also use Roland’s car. That reminds me.” Julie reached into her purse, extracting a set of keys. “These are Roland’s keys, but you keep them for now.” She pointed out the various house keys, the mailbox key, and Roland’s car key. “Be sure you put the emergency key back under the flowerpot, in case you accidentally lock yourself out. That happened to me once when the front door shut. Not fun.”
“Good point.” Tia dropped the keys into her bag.
“Really, feel free to use Roland’s car.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Tia didn’t want to admit it, but the last thing she wanted was to drive Roland’s pristine Beemer around the busy streets of San Francisco.
Julie let out another long sigh.
“Are you going to be okay?” Tia asked with concern.
“Oh, that wasn’t for Roland.” She made a sheepish smile. “I suppose it should be. But quite honestly, and just between you and me, that was for Leo.”
“For Leo?” Tia suddenly felt anxious again. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t believe he’s engaged to Natalie.”
“Do you know Natalie?”
“Not very well.”
“She actually seems very nice.”
“How do you know her?”
Tia explained about dinner the night before and th
en at the dock that day. “I mean, she’s not someone I can exactly relate to, but she really does seem nice. And she seems to truly love Leo.”
“No doubt.” Julie put her napkin over her unfinished soup bowl.
“You don’t like her?”
“I don’t like her for Leo.”
Tia didn’t know what to say.
“Not that anyone cares what I think.” She made a forced laugh. “And not that I don’t have enough other things to worry about. I should probably keep my nose out of other people’s business.” She stood up. “I feel like we need to go back.”
“No problem.”
“Visiting hours end at nine. That only gives you half an hour to entertain him with your ukulele.”
As they walked to the elevators, Julie turned to look at Tia. “If Leo didn’t bring you to the hospital, how did you get here?”
“A taxi.”
Julie shook her head with a dour look. “I don’t like that. Lone girl riding a taxi into the city at night.”
“It was just fine,” Tia assured her. “Don’t worry.”
They were nearly to the elevators when Julie pointed across the lobby. “Well, look who’s here.” She waved with enthusiasm. “Captain Leo!”
By the time Tia turned around, Leo had swept Julie up into a big hug. “Sorry to be late. And sorry for all you’re going through. I was going to bring flowers, but I—”
“Better that you brought yourself,” Julie told him. “If you can give Tia a ride home, I won’t feel so worried. I was just lecturing her about girls alone in taxis at night in the city.”
He smiled at Tia. “Happy to take you home.”
“I hear you’ve gone and gotten yourself engaged, Captain Leo.” Julie shook her head as if she was skeptical. “Is it really true?”
He looked uneasy. “Yeah . . . it’s true,” he said quietly.
“You don’t sound very enthusiastic or eager,” Julie challenged him as they got in the elevator. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”
All Summer Long Page 8