Heart to Heart

by Meline Nadeau

  Hello, I am still here! “Excuse me,” Jane interrupted. “I like my hair long.”

  Antoine and Serena looked back at her in the mirror. They didn’t expect insubordination. “Well, for today, maybe just here?” Antoine held a comb to the top of Jane’s shoulder.

  “No shorter, please.” Jane said.

  Serena didn’t leave for a moment, but parked herself at the beautician’s chair next to Antoine and chatted about this season’s trends. Antoine finished Jane’s haircut, and began drying her hair.

  “What do you think, sweetheart?”

  “Oh, it’s quite nice!” Jane said. Her hair fell in gentle curves around her full cheekbones, and her large eyes were revealed with a long wispy bang. To his credit, Antoine had left Jane’s hair slightly below her shoulders, the longest layer lay against the swell of her breast.

  “Isn’t she adorable?” Antoine squealed to Serena. He’d become playful now that his work was being appreciated. “Brows?” he said, arching his.

  “Definitely,” Serena replied.

  “Off you go to the wax room,” said Antoine, dramatically swishing the cape away and releasing the chair to the floor. Jane stepped off the chair and meekly followed Serena.

  Into another chair, and looking at her new sandals to avoid the bright light that shone on her face, Jane felt a technician wipe beneath her eyebrow with a strong smelling, cool cotton pad. Then the woman eased hot wax onto the unwanted hairs. In a matter of five minutes, Jane’s heavy brows were sculpted into a new shape. Lydia had always done her brows for her, but since Lydia passed away, Jane had let them grow in.

  Jane and Serena munched on pita sandwiches and were given sweet, iced tea, on their way to the next beautifying stage. Jane was given a pampering facial, and then sent to yet another room for a make-up lesson. Serena, with boundless energy, sat on the sidelines, giving directions to each person, as though she were Jane’s personal beauty guru.

  Once more, they piled bags of plunder into the boot of the car, this time consisting of cosmetics, hair products, and expensive skin treatments that Serena insisted Jane must use.

  “Ready for more?” Serena said.

  “More?” What more could she do to me? Jane thought.

  “Yeah. It’s only five o’clock. Billy won’t be home until late tonight, if at all.” Serena started the car and began driving from the salon lot. Jane recognized the area, and knew they were a few minutes from the condo, but Jane wasn’t sure exactly where Serena was heading. That became a lesser issue than what was being done with Jackson.

  “What do you mean ‘if at all?’” Jane questioned. “He didn’t say anything to me about Jackson overnighting elsewhere.”

  “So?” Serena said.

  “So? Oh yes. I’d quite forgotten. I am just the nanny. No need to consult me, I suppose,” Jane hissed.

  Serena was silent.

  “Where are you taking me? Or am I just meant to go along with whatever you people decide for me, like Jackson?”

  “Oh, Jane, stop being such a drama queen,” Serena said tiredly. “I’ll take you to Billy’s place if you want. Just calm down.”

  Jane felt quite put in her place by Serena’s remark. She starred out the window. The last thing she wanted to do was give Serena more evidence that she was overreacting. Had she always been so emotional? Jane berated herself for not being able to go along with things. Then again, why was Serena doing all of this for her? Jane hadn’t noticed Serena mentioning any friends. Perhaps she didn’t have any. Perhaps, in her own way, Serena was trying to forge a relationship. Jane tried to let that sink in, and foster compassion, but it didn’t work. She just wanted out of this bloody car.

  Minutes later, Serena pulled the car into Billy’s garage. Without a word, the two women gathered their purchases and headed into the house. Serena took her bags into the master suite. Jane had no where else to put hers, so tried to make a tidy pile by the sofa that folded out to make her bed each night. The slippery bags just kept sliding off one another. The messy appearance of her life — tumbling bags belonging to a chic new person that she didn’t recognize, and the old cases full of frumpy clothes, started to depress her.

  Serena stayed for a while in the large bedroom, and Jane was glad for the privacy. She was holding her face in her hands when Serena was suddenly standing in front of her.

  “Do you like pizza? You have that in England, don’t you?” Serena’s voice was breezy.

  “Of course,” Jane said. “And yes, I like pizza.”

  “What do you say that we order one, and watch a movie or something?”

  “Sure.” Jane answered indifferently. But, actually, it sounded like rather a nice evening.

  “And you can stop stewing, Nanny Jane. I phoned Billy, and they expect to be back tonight around ten.”

  “Brilliant.” Jane was glad for a temporary respite. But she couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning, when Serena and Billy would leave for their weekend trip, to dedicate some museum. She needed a few days’ peace.

  Chapter 26

  “And then what did you do?” asked Jane, as she folded the last of Jackson’s clothes. They’d had a marvelous day, all to themselves. Serena and Billy had left very early in the morning for the airport.

  Jane and Jackson visited the park down the street. Then they took a bus and Jackson applied for a library card and checked out some books. Then they walked to a local farmer’s market, and bought fresh fruit, warm with sun and glorious smelling, which they’d had with sandwiches for their lunch.

  “I played outside with my cousins. They have a big sandbox thing in their garden, and you have to be careful of ants because they breath fire or something, I am not sure. We’re going back to see Uncle Calvin, because it will be someone’s birthday next month, in San Antonio. And we’ll go out on Lake Medina, then, on a boat.”

  “Did you see much of San Antonio? What about that place you told me about, where they fought a battle?”

  “The Alamo. Not this time. Daddy says we’re to go next time.”

  Daddy? “When did you start calling him that?”

  “Serena said I ought to, before we left. So, I did. After the first time, it was quite easy. He is my father, you know.”

  “Well, of course, darling. I was only curious. What would you like to do, now?”

  “Josh and Jeremy, those boys from two doors down, will be here, straight away. They come from school at 2:30. I don’t know, until then.” He got up to take his library books to his room, as Jane thought a quick nap might be in order, to revive her from the sun.

  • • •

  The waiter finished pouring non-alchoholic champagne for the happy couple.

  “I love you, baby,” said Billy, hunched over the table to be even closer to his fiancée. “I don’t know what I woulda done if you hadn’t said yes.”

  “I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t get around to finally asking me,” Serena replied and leaned in for a kiss.

  “Finally? C’mon, now, I haven’t known you more than a couple of months!”

  “Four.”

  “Okay, honey. Four months. Not too long to wait, specially since you live in a different state.”

  “Not for long.”

  “No, not for long. So, you’re Miss Planner. When do you wanna get hitched?”

  “Get ‘hitched’? Very romantic, Billy. Actually, I don’t want any fuss. I had all of that going with Richard, and the whole idea of a wedding seems abysmal.”

  “Well, whatever makes you happy, honey, you know that’ll work for me. It’s my touring schedule to work around, is all.”

  “Let’s just get the paperwork and go before a judge.”

  “Oh, now, Serena, are you sure? That’s not really your style, is it?”

  “What is that supp
osed to mean?”

  “Well, now, don’t get upset, darlin’. I just mean, you’re so classy, and you like to do things right. Do things big. I don’t want you regretting’ anythang later on.”

  Serena put down her champagne flute. Billy understood he was on dangerous ground. “Darlin, I am sorry … .”

  “Billy, I don’t want a big wedding. You know my parents won’t ever approve of you. They don’t even like events like this weekend. No matter how many people get together to celebrate the musical legacy of my grandfather, and build museums like this in honor of his music, it will never make sense to them. We don’t make sense in a lot of ways, but I know we’ll be happy. Here’s what I want: I want to get married quickly. I want you to buy me a big house that I can make our home. And I want me and you and Jackie to be a family.”

  Billy beamed, hanging on her every word, and pumping his foot like a dog wagging his tail.

  “Let me tell you something else,” Serena continued. “I was so sure that’s what I wanted that I’ve already got my stuff in storage, ready to move down here. I’ve even been looking into a good school for Jackie. I adore him, Billy. I’ll take good care of him when you’re on the road, and we’ll always be waiting for you when you get home.”

  Billy was quiet, unable to trust the emotion in his voice. He just nodded his head. He’d been at the very bottom in his lifetime, and now he was on the mountaintop. He never thought he could be so full of joy.

  They smiled at each other for a long time. Then Billy said, “I know a guy with a real nice jewelry store. We’ll go as soon as we get back to Dallas.”

  Serena excused herself to go to the ladies’ room to freshen up. After washing her hands, she reached into her bag and applied a thin coat of gloss to her lips. She grabbed her comb to refresh her hair.

  Her relationship with Billy had turned out to be everything that she wanted. She had come to see that she was a little more like her mother and sister than she had thought, but he didn’t mind if she quit her job and became a lady who lunches. It was best for Jackson and Billy that she be tending a home base for them both. More importantly, she loved Billy because he was an amazing person, so kind, and a brilliant musician. Whatever her own faults might be, he was pure gold and she felt humbled that he really did love her. Her heart was touched at what a good father he was to Jackson; Billy was a natural. They were going to be happy, happy, happy.

  “What?” Billy asked her.

  “Nothing, I am just happy, that’s all. I am glad that we’re flying back this evening. I can’t wait to tell Jackie the news. He’s been waiting for a family, I mean having both a mom and a dad, for a long time, Billy.”

  “Yeah, I think he has.” Billy’s mouth shoved into a hard line.

  “I didn’t say that to make you feel guilty, sweetheart,” said Serena, pushing her hair out of her eyes. A sudden wind ruffled the canopy as they left the restaurant and stepped into their limo.

  Billy handed his fiancée into the car, scooted in, and closed the door behind himself.

  “I know that’s not what you meant, and I didn’t really take it that way,” Billy whispered. “I don’t think we can be responsible for things that we don’t even know ’bout in life. It’s hard ’nuff just to do your best with what you do know.”

  “Mmm, that’s true.”

  They snuggled close in the backseat for the ten minute drive to the airport. The plane was waiting at the gate when they arrived. Belted in the small aircraft, the couple discussed the blues museum dedication, and the excellent turn-out. “You are such a charmer during interviews, Billy,” Serena teased. “A little flirtatious with that lady from Rolling Stone, I noticed. I am going to have to keep an eye on you.”

  “You’ve got nothing’ to worry ’bout, baby. I was just bein’ friendly.”

  The small jet grew dark. A bolt of thunder cracked in the distance, and the plane began to feel like a bucking bronco. Serena could see that Billy was getting a little nervous. He had never liked flying sober. She recalled him telling her that he had a panic attack, returning from England. Apparently, Jane was a comfort to him, even held his hand when he reached out, like a child. And he admitted this kind of situation had him wanting a drink.

  “It was as worse as anytime since I left rehab,” he’d told Serena. “But I knew I couldn’t, because I can’t trust myself. I knew Jane would’ve called me on it.” Serena was glad Jane had been there, and she was thankful that Billy wasn’t making this flight alone. She fished for a something to say to divert his attention.

  “I spotted a house close to the horse barn that I want you to take a look at,” Serena said. “It’s an old estate, once owned by a Yankee who’d made a bundle in trains with Mr. Vanderbilt.”

  “Uh-huh. You been shopping’ darlin’?” Billy said with a chuckle. “I’ll buy you whatever you want, long as I got the money. Jackson would like bein’ close to them horses, wouldn’t he?”

  “Yes, but of course he could keep his own, at this place. There are 53 acres.”

  “Whoa!” Billy whistled. “That’s a lot of property.”

  “Well, we’ll want our privacy, won’t we?” Serena winked at him.

  “Is there a garden?”

  “A garden? I thought you’d be more interested in building a recording studio out there!”

  Billy wiped the perspiration from his upper lip, and forced a smile. “I was thinkin’ about Jane. She’ll probably wanna see what she could grow here.”

  Excuse me? Jane, gardening at my house? Serena’s thoughts were in a jumble that had nothing to do with bumping across clouds. Won’t the wretched woman be going home soon?

  “Billy, I don’t know — ”

  The captain interrupted Serena, his voice seemed as though he were on the other end of a telephone, distant and tinny in the small space. “Folks, I am sorry about these rough conditions … . .”

  He no sooner got the words out of his mouth, and the plane seemed to fall like an elevator dropping to the ground. Serena clapped her hand over her mouth, in an effort not to lose her dinner.

  The captain choked out a short curse, his mind obviously on guiding the airplane through the angry wind. “We’ll be landing in about ten minutes.” With a loud click, he disconnected.

  Serena looked at Billy. He was ashen. She put her hand on his cheek, and he appeared not to feel it. He stared away from her, out the window. Her heart squeezed with pity for him, and she made herself swallow the words she wanted to spit at him about the English nanny.

  What a joke, she’d felt like she was babysitting the dour woman, and Jane was more irritating than any spoiled child. In fact, that’s what she was. Sure, Jane had had some hard knocks lately; Billy had told Serena about Jane losing everything. But she wasn’t doing anything about it. Jane just wanted to be part of their lives, instead of getting her own.

  If they made it off this damn plane alive, Serena was going to see to it that some things changed, and soon.

  Chapter 27

  Monday morning found the foursome at the breakfast table together. Serena allowed Jane to make the meal, figuring that Jane ought to be doing something to earn her keep.

  “So, today, we’re goin’ shopping for one of the biggest diamonds in Texas, and then tomorrow, I am goin’ to Austin to start rehearsals.” Billy said, cramming his mouth full of eggs. Jane was a good enough cook, but he’d added spicy salsa to his eggs.

  “Rehearsal? Are you going to make another recording, then?” Jane asked.

  Serena thought, So, now Billy has to clear his work arrangements with you, Nanny? She shot a cold glance in Jane’s direction.

  “Naw, Miss Jane. We’re rehearsin’ for our new tour, and that’s just a good place to meet right now. We’ve got eighteen dates lined up, and we fly out next week. Mmm, you make strong coffee, Miss Jane, but I sure do like it!”
Billy laughed, and drained his cup.

  “I don’t understand,” Jane said.

  She admits she’s clueless. That’s a start. “About what, Jane?” Serena answered.

  “Well, if I am not mistaken, Austin is a bit far for you to come back here, tomorrow evening. And then you’ll be leaving on tour. What about Jackson? He hasn’t seen you since Thursday last, before you went to the museum dedication.”

  Jackson became very interested in the sausages on his plate.

  Oh, this ought to be good. Serena cleared her throat and sat back to watch the entertainment. Billy was staring blankly at the foreigner. This would teach him how easily they could do without her. It was time Jane learned the reality of the music business, and Billy was going to give her a crash course.

  “Jane,” Billy began slowly.

  Just tell her how it is, Billy! Serena could hardly sit still.

  “I believe, Miss Jane, that you’re right. Jackson should come with Serena and me today.”

  What?

  “You don’t mind, do ya, baby?” Billy turned to her with serious eyes. It was time to be on her best behavior. She could see that Billy felt he’d made an error as a father; he would be defensive if she didn’t support him.

  “Of course! I always love having Jackie with us!” She grinned warmly at Jackson, and was rewarded with a smile. Actually, even though it wasn’t as romantic buying wedding bands with a child, she loved spending time with the darling little boy. And leaving Jane behind at home made it even better. “The three of us can drop by the house I want to buy, because I’d like for Jackie to see it, too,” Serena added for good measure.

  “Miss Jane, it’s got lots of room for a garden. Why you could have your own flowers out there — ”

  “Billy,” Serena cut him off. “I think running a florist shop is a little different than turning 53 acres of sunbaked pasture into a flowerbed.” Serena smiled her most charming at Jane. She couldn’t read the woman’s thoughts; Jane had a good poker face.

  “What happens when you go on tour, I wonder?” Jane said, still worrying at Billy’s obligations like a dog with a bone. She looked squarely at Billy, like a callous British headmistress. Uh-oh, honey, thought Serena. You just don’t know when to stop.