Always Tried and Proven
Page 34
Sam laughed “That’s good, because it’s a bit too late to complain. I’m here, and it’s for good.” He confided with a grin.
Peter blushed the slightest bit. “I have no doubt.” He confided lightly.
Meanwhile, Rose was hugging her younger child to her, and trying not to cry. “Oh, honey. I am so happy.” She said for Callie’s ears alone.
“I know. Me, too, Mama. You were right, as usual. It figures. I can’t even pick out my own man.”
Rose laughed. “You knew long before I told you that Sam was the one.” She argued.
“Not like this. I wanted him, sure. But to marry him?” Callie rolled her eyes.
Sam joined them, slipping an arm around Callie’s waist.
Rose looked up at him with pure adoration. “Sam. Please say it won’t be too long before you’ll visit me.” She begged, taking his hand.
Sam shook his head. “That’s the tough part of this life, Rose. You never know when we might drop in, or how long we might be away. Perhaps every now and then, you can hop a plane and meet us for a quick vacation.”
“I’d like that. I’m so happy to see this day finally come.” She admitted, tears spilling.
Sam chuckled. “Thanks for being in my corner.” He said with twinkling eyes. “I’m not sure we could have pulled this off, without you.”
Rose blushed. “Nonsense. I’m just glad you prevailed.” She admitted.
Callie sighed harshly. “Don’t you dare pretend I’m not here.” She pouted.
Sam laughed, and kissed her cheek. “Not a chance.” He said in a voice that made her somehow freeze in her tracks. His strong arm around her squeezed, and she knew that he was thinking of bedtime. She almost wilted in embarrassment.
Callie couldn’t understand herself. Where had this uncharacteristic shyness come from? She was no shrinking virgin! It was almost a fear she felt, of what had happened, and what was to come. And yet, not a bad fear; it was a new thing, that caused her a thrill and gladness inside; and yet, it made her tremble to her toes. It was whatever had happened when Sam had kissed her, sealed their marriage. It was like a promise all its own. And she didn’t really understand what made it different. Not at all.
At long last, they changed their clothes, and got in the van with Clyde for the drive to the airport. Sam sat in the backseat with Callie, an arm around her, his tall frame sprawled in the confined space. Callie sat shyly, cuddled against his strong side. Uncharacteristically quiet, but looking relaxed and beautiful in a dress of soft, pink roses.
“How exactly do you always know just what to wear, to drive me out of my mind?” he asked against her ear, when Clyde was preoccupied with traffic.
Callie ducked her head. “Well, I can’t really say. I guess I’ve just begun to know that somehow, we seem to think alike.” She admitted, with a spunk she wasn’t sure she really felt.
Sam chuckled, and tipped her face up to his. “I’ve known that for quite some time.” He assured her, looking into her eyes with glinting expectation and affection. “But I think you may be surprised when you see where we’re going tonight.” He challenged.
“Really?” she answered, trying to look away. Somehow, it had never occurred to her, at all. She hadn’t thought beyond the wedding!
“Really.” He drawled back at her. He lifted her chin, and made her look into his blazing eyes, and kissed her deeply.
A long, blaring honk made them all sit upright suddenly, and Clyde laughed as he slammed on the brakes.
“Driver, there! Can’t you watch where you’re going?” Sam growled teasingly
“There’s a limit to what I can ignore, Samuel Jesse Stringer. Save it for the room, and I might get you there in one piece.” Clyde suggested dryly
Sam laughed, and Callie blushed. Somehow, he complied.
It was somehow hard for Callie to say goodbye to Clyde at the airport. He held her in a protective hug for a long time, just rocking her. For some reason, Callie was close to tears at having to say goodbye to him.
“For heaven’s sake, Clyde. We’ll only be gone a few weeks.” Sam groused teasingly.
“I know, I know. Just keep your pants on for a few more minutes.” Clyde shot back. “Can’t ya see the little thing is scared? She needs just a minute with her new papa, lad. So hold yer horses.”
Sam’s eyebrows went up as he considered what Clyde was saying. She did indeed look like an innocent, being given to the wolf. He couldn’t deny that he had every intention of devouring her completely. He had to resist licking his chops, just thinking about it.
“There, now. Everything is going to be all right, sweetheart. If you have any trouble with the brute, you just call us.” He reasoned gently.
Callie laughed through teary eyes. “You can count on that.” She assured him.
“Don’t bury yourself in the part, Clyde.” Sam warned sweetly.
Clyde patted her shoulder comfortingly, and kissed her forehead. “We’ll see you when you come back home, then.” He murmured. “Don’t forget to have some fun while you’re away. Make the sorry lad get out of bed once in awhile.”
Callie rolled her eyes at Clyde. “I’ll see you soon.” She grumbled.
She shot a look at Sam as he took her hand, and pulled her away from Clyde.
“Thank you, Clyde.” Sam said forcefully. “And goodbye.”
Clyde nodded and saluted smartly. “I guess I’ll just be getting back to camp, then.” He said sadly. He gave each of them a long, affectionate look, and turned away.
Sam shook his head. “What have you done to the man?” he asked his wife, as though in pain. “He behaves as if I’m the enemy, or something.”
Callie shrugged, and blushed. “I haven’t a clue. We’ve just become … much closer lately.”
Sam snorted, putting a heavy arm over her shoulders. “Much closer, and I’ll rearrange his teeth. Believe me, I was sorely tempted to, when I found he'd been sneaking you into Steve's truck at night.”
Callie looked up at her husband in shock, only to find a bemused smile on his face, yet also a faraway look in his eyes.
Finding that Clyde was in no imminent danger despite Sam’s threats, Callie sighed, and gave her boarding pass to the attendant at the gate.
They were on their way to New York City. Callie was in fact, surprised. As the plane taxied for takeoff, she turned quizzical eyes to Sam. “New York?” she questioned cautiously.
He just chuckled. “Any objections?” he asked, turning a tired eye her way.
“Well. No.” she assured him. “I just didn’t picture that as the ideal honeymoon location. But then, I have lived there all my life. Perhaps it is, to you. Not living there and all.”
He gave her an amused look. “Is that a fact?” was all he said.
Callie was quiet and thoughtful as the plane took off, and ascended through the clouds. Sam wove his fingers through hers, and squeezed her little hand gently.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked quietly.
Callie smiled, and shrugged. “Oh, just … trying to take it all in, I guess.”
“What? That you’re married to the brute?”
Callie blushed and shook her head in denial. “Clyde didn’t mean it like that.” She said quickly.
“He’d better not have.” Sam growled, stifling a yawn. “I have begun to suspect that you have bewitched him, as well as me.” He accused. “However, my lady,” he warned, “I must tell you that the tables are turned. You are now my wife, sweet lady, and I intend that you shall know your place.”
“Dear God.” She said without thinking. She didn’t even realize it, but she had stiffened into a frozen, board-like figure at the words.
Sam watched her in utter fascination. “Callie. I was kidding.” He said quietly.
She managed to shoot a look his way, and blushed. “Oh.” She said softly.
Sam’s arm went around her, and his lips caressed her cheek. “Callie, you’re not really afraid, are you?” he urged quietly. “Tell me Cl
yde was kidding about that, too.”
She laughed, and shook her head. “Oh, Sam. I guess I’d rather say it’s more a case of … nerves, or something.” She confided. “I’ve never been married before, you know.”
Sam wanted to shake her, but something compelled him to exercise patience. “What a coincidence. Me, either.” He said teasingly. Callie shot a suspicious look his way, but his eyes were closed, and he’d settled back in his seat for a long nap.
It wasn’t a terribly long flight up the Eastern seaboard, just the length of a perfect rest, as far as Sam was concerned. He woke up as they descended, and smiled at Callie sleepily. She still looked strained and uneasy, so he stretched, and smiled, and squeezed her hand.
They disembarked, and went through the airport madness in relative silence. It continued that way through the cab ride, although Callie became increasingly intrigued, as the cab whirled through the city, up Water Street toward Manhattan.
It finally came to a stop, at an address on at a tall building just south of Battery Park. It was a legendary street passing the piers, the site of the twin towers, and heading north out of the city.
Sam paid the driver, thanked him, and got their bags out of the back. Callie just stood, looking around her in uncertainty. As the cab roared away, Sam straightened, and looked at her with a patient smile.
“Sweetheart. If you can manage these two small cases, I think I can handle the rest.” He suggested lightly.
Callie stood and looked at him rather stupidly, the man that she had just married. He was wonderfully big and handsome, with the wind blowing in his hair, and his vibrant eyes watching her silently.
“Sure.” she agreed woodenly, and picked up three of the smaller bags.
“Don’t hurt yourself.” He warned, hefting several more formidable bags on his shoulders, and heading toward the door of the building behind them. He put down the bags in his right hand, input a series of numbers on a keypad, and opened the glass front door for Callie. It was very nice inside, obviously original Art Deco, done in tones of sand and peach, terra cotta and brown tile.
The floor was of subway tile in an off-white, and a wonderful mosaic of blue and green glass graced the center of the lobby floor.
An elevator with a wrought iron gate awaited, and Sam closed the door behind them. He pushed fourteen, and they began the climb. When the elevator stopped, Sam opened the doors and they exited to the lobby, turning left to the west. A center stairway drew Callie to look down through the square, all fourteen floors down. The floor mosaic in the lobby sparkled and winked up at her, from far below.
She looked up again to find Sam unlocking and opening a door with beveled and leaded glass detailing.
He waited for her, eyes patient. “My lady,” he invited, a smile twitching around his lips. Callie ducked her head and went to him, cheeks matching the roses in her dress. He touched her cheek, and caressed it softly. He picked her up in his arms, and carried her over the threshold. Callie’s eyes were like saucers, her heart was thumping. Somehow, she hadn’t quite expected that.
Sam kissed her softly, and put her down on the other side. She gasped as she looked around her. The entry hall was done in alternating, twelve inch, black and white marble squares. The whole floor was buffed within an inch of it’s life.
There were antiques. A fine, old statuary set, on oak tables of Victorian and Art Deco vintage. Art deco detailing prevailed throughout the place, and it was obviously original, not re-done.
The marble floors gave way to shiny, dark oak planking in the great room, which was done in soothing tones of taupe and almond. Details in bright, glossy white shone brilliantly. Dark brown furniture and accents added richness and depth to the room.
Callie just stood and gaped, looking up at the dentil molding and ceiling medallion under a simple yet elegant crystal chandelier. Then, she hesitantly moved across the muted, floral area carpet to the window seat, which looked out on Battery Park and across the water to Ellis Island and the lady on Liberty Island. Pushing aside the soft, old velvet drapery of brown, she could even see a glimpse of the bridges.
“Sam!” she gasped. “Oh, my. This is spectacular.”
He chuckled. Wait until you see the rest, my love.” He said softly, kissing her neck. He led her through the room to a door on the left, and she found herself in a room of understated elegance, so comfortable that it couldn’t be intimidating, yet so rich and lovely that it took her breath away.
There was an old-fashioned canopy bed, of oak with wrought iron arches overhead, and a central, ornate finial in the center of the canopy. There were two ceiling fans in the room, also vintage, whirring silently into slow, lazy movement as Sam flipped the switch.
There was a luxurious leopard print rug on the oak floor. The bed was covered in ivory silk, with Battenburg lace pillows and accent pillows of leather and suede, and animal hide. A very old armoire was open to reveal a state of the art television and stereo system.
Across the room, sheer curtains beckoned her to sit on the window seat, comfortably covered in soft mohair, and look out at the view. The window was grandly framed in wrought iron and coffee brown velvet drapes that covered the fourteen foot spans from floor to the lip of the tray ceilings.
Callie’s wondering eyes took in the details of the plaster moldings around the tray ceiling, soft roses inset from a foot-wide stripe in taupe, with a bright white geometric pattern running around the room.
Old, period wall sconces with bubble glass tinted everything softly. To the other end of the room, her eyes were drawn to a nook that beckoned her, with her breath held. The walls were papered in a faded, suede zebra stripe. As exotic as it sounds, it was quiet, peaceful and pleasing. There was a chaise done in leopard print, and a pure white area rug on the floor. A floor lamp beside the chaise with a taupe shade and crystal prism fringe, and a small oak table with books, made her want to sink immediately to the chaise and sigh with ecstasy.
Beyond that, she found a completely original small bath, with a claw-foot tub,and marble floors in beige with white veining. A period pedestal sink, a real, separate shower with beveled glass doors, and a very old commode. White milk glass accessories, bubble glass lighting and cabinet fronts on an old, stand up oak bureau, made her shake her head in speechless wonder.
She wandered back out to the main room, to find Sam in an old, period closet. It was complete with an ironing board in a narrow cubby, and full of a man’s fine clothes. She touched Sam’s sleeve thoughtfully as he put their bags on the oak bureau and floor of the closet, and turned to look down into her eyes.
“What do you think? Like it?” he asked lightly.
“Like it? Sam, it’s incredible!” she breathed in ecstasy.
“Want to see the rest?” he asked lightly.
“Yes.” She answered without hesitation. “It’s a two bedroom? How luxurious!” she gasped. Two bedrooms, especially with so much floor space, were very hard to come by, in Manhattan. With a view like this, to the water, it was spectacular. And, beyond costly! Callie knew that the value of this home, decorated as it was, was in the millions.
The other bedroom was furnished as a library, done in dark, old Hunter Green paper, trimmed in gold. There was an oak desk, three walls filled with books up to the six foot level, and two wing chairs of burgundy leather, with a round table between.
Beveled glass made the center of the dark oak table less heavy in the room. The fourth wall had an oak-paneled feature, trimmed in dentil molding and with a wonderful, old oil painting in the center. A stormy seascape with a ship being tossed in the waves.
Reading lamps in green, opaque Tiffany stained glass focused the light downward, while sconce lighting above the bookcases sent soft, sweeping arcs of light up the walls to the ceilings.
Sam looked around him with satisfaction. “This was my room, when we were home.” He said quietly. “Which wasn’t often, but it was a welcome respite when we were. There’s a Murphy bed behind that painting. Very handy
thing. Whenever we had visitors, I’d just flip it up, and the library was ready for whatever might come.”
Callie turned, and gave him a blank look. She blinked, trying to formulate the questions in her mind. “What do you mean?” she finally stammered. “You … you used to actually live here?”
He gave her a teasing look. “Still do, when I get the chance. Which, as usual, isn’t often. It’s still peaceful, but it’s been lonely since Roland left me alone.” He smiled with satisfaction, and stood close behind her, cupping her elbows in his hands. “I’m trusting that it won’t ever feel that way again.” He suggested.
He leaned over and softly kissed her. She just continued to stare in fascination.
“Come along, and I’ll show you the kitchen.” He suggested, feeling things he doubted she was ready to deal with, just yet.
The kitchen was stunning to Callie’s mystified eyes. It boasted checkerboard black and white Marble floors that shone like mirrors. The cabinets were a glossy white, spanking clean. The counter tops were granite, a deep, shining black. In the center of the room, a white country table had been converted into an island, with a gray Marble top, and a pot rack filled with gleaming copper pots hanging above. The paned windows were edged in clear, glimmering Emerald green stained glass slivers, about an inch wide. Other green accents livened up the otherwise monochromatic scheme: Jade salt and pepper shakers, salad cruets, green plants and small, potted herbs provided the pops of accent color
There was a butler’s pantry that was filled with spare, gleaming china. White with silver rims, and gleaming silver tea and coffee service. Crystal ware graced the glass fronted cabinets with dignified charm.
She turned to Sam, speechless. He was awaiting her reaction, obviously, but she didn’t know what to say.
“You can change anything you like, Cal.” He assured her quietly. “It’s been this way since the 30’s really, so I’m certain it’s due for a bit of updating here and there.”