“Dr. James.”
“Jillie, I have great news!” His voice was brimming with excitement.
“What?” She became excited just hearing the thrill in his voice.
“I’m appearing at Tucker’s next weekend.”
“Wow, that’s great. Who are you opening for?”
“No, not opening! I’m the headliner. Jack called and his next weekend cancelled and he asked me to step in.”
“Are you ready? Well, I guess that’s a stupid question.”
“I’m coming up to the house. Want come up, Doc?”
“Ah, let me think. I could commute. When are you coming up?”
“In the morning.”
“Robert, I’m so happy for you. See you tomorrow, I’ll be up right after work. Robert, I love you.”
“I love you. Talk to you later.”
The first work day after a weekend was usually a zoo, and this Monday was no different. It was five o’clock and all Jillian wanted was dinner, a bath, and some quiet time. Pulling into the alley, she saw that Emma was home. As soon as she started up her back porch steps, Emma stepped out onto the back porch. “Hey, kiddo. You look tired. Was it a typical Monday?”
Jillian thought: she’s in a bright and cheery mood…and look at that smile. Something’s up.
“Yeah, a real zoo,” Jillian yelled back.
“Do you want to go to Dini’s buffet with Gary and I?”
“I don’t think so. Thanks for asking.”
Emma laughed. “In about thirty minutes. You might change your mind.”
Jillian waved and opened the back door. It was unlocked. Strange, she thought. I locked it this morning. She paused, wondering whether to go in or not. She looked past the mudroom and into the kitchen, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. She quietly walked through the kitchen and into the hallway towards the front door and the stairs. Suddenly, a hand reached and touched her on the shoulder.
“E-ee-eeek!”
RJ stepped out. “What’re you screaming about?”
She slapped at him. “You frightened the wits out of me. I almost wet my pants. Don’t you know that you could give someone a heart attack?”
“I thought you’d be surprised to see me.”
“I am. Just give me a sec to catch my breath. What are you doing here? I just spoke to you a few hours ago. How did…?” She didn’t finish the sentence.
“Remember, I have a plane? And presto I’m here.”
She nodded. He put his arms around her and they welcomed each other.
An excited Robert said, “Hey, I have to give Emma and Gary an answer, whether we’re going to Tahoe this evening or tomorrow?”
“So, Em knew you were in here when I was just talking to her?”
Robert gave Jillian, the rabbit.
“What do you mean? We’re going to the lake?”
“Only if you want to. You could pack a few clothes and we could go up tonight.”
“How long are you planning on staying there?”
“Forever. I’ve decided to change my permanent residence to Lake Tahoe. I have a moving company coming to pack the day after tomorrow. Marcella’s agreed to move up, too. So, whatcha think? Are we going to invite them up?”
Jillian’s heart jumped with anticipation, as they’d be much closer. “Marcella?”
“Remember, she’s my housekeeper, cook, and all-round great gal. She’s been with me for over five years. When I asked her she said with all her kids married and living all around the country, she’d move with me. Remember, the servant’s rooms off the kitchen?”
Jillian nodded yes, then said, “Let’s have Emma and Gary come up tomorrow. We have tonight to ourselves?”
“Done. I’ll run over and let them know, while you pack.”
Packing was the last thing Jillian wanted to do now. She smiled and started up the stairs, as RJ headed out the back door to Emma’s.
It was almost half-light when they arrived at the Tahoe house. Robert hurriedly unloaded the car. “Let’s go out onto the dock and watch the sunset.” He took her hand and they sat on the wooden bench at the end of the dock, looking west towards the California side of Lake Tahoe. The sky was brilliant with cinnamon-colored ribbons of color throughout the blue-gray mixture of clouds. The sun quickly set behind the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Robert slipped down off the bench and onto one knee in front of Jillian.
“YES!” she shouted.
“Yes, what? I haven’t said anything yet. Give me a chance.”
She was quiet but smiling.
“Jillian James, I don’t want to waste anymore time. I’ve cost us too much time already. Will you marry me?”
He looked at her. She hadn’t said anything because her eyes filled with tears and tears that ran down her face.
“Oh, darlin’, don’t cry. I want you to be happy.” Robert whispered.
She sobbed, “These are tears of joy, tears of happiness, tears for us. I’d be honored to be your wife. YES! YES!” Jillian noticed there were tears on Robert’s face as well.
Robert put his arm around Jillie’s waist and they stood watching the darkness creep across the sky.
Walking back to the house, Jillian said, “Tomorrow?”
“Well, I was thinking next weekend. Jack offered Tucker’s yacht, if we want to be married on the lake. Also, he said Tucker’s would give us a reception. How does that sound? That way, we’re giving our family and friends some ten days’ notice.”
“YES!”
“Is that all you’re going to say?”
“Do Gary and Emma know? I’d guess Lynda knows.”
“Yes, I talked to Gary about tonight. They’re coming up tomorrow night after work to spend next week with us. You know what? I’m famished. Let’s go into to town and have dinner… your choice.”
“Let me think… how about the Chart House?”
“Done.” He called and made reservations.
On their way out to dinner the gate guard stopped them, emerging from the guardhouse carrying a small silver gift bag.
“Miss James, someone left this off at the gate for you.”
“Thank you. RJ, I wonder who this is from?…I’ll bet Lynda and Jack.”
“Wouldn’t have a clue. Maybe from one of your fans.” He saluted the guard and rolled up window.
They turned onto Highway 50 heading towards South Shore. Jillian didn’t open the sealed bag right away, but just fiddled with the handles, and looking for any writing on the outside of the gift bag.
“Are you going to open it or worry it to death?”
“I thought I’d open it when we get to the Chart House. Should I open it now?”
“Whenever, it’s addressed too you.”
After they made the turn onto Kingsbury Grade, Robert asked Jillie to help him watch for the driveway, since the Chart House driveway was sometimes hard to see until you were right upon it.
Once inside and seated at their table, Jillian noticed that several people had recognized her escort but no one approached their table.
“Here goes,” she said as she began to pick the tape that sealed the bag. She reached in and pulled out a blue velvet box. She looked at Robert. He was smiling.
In all her excitement she’d forgotten that he hadn’t given her a ring. She opened the box and tears filled her eyes. The ring was the same one he’d given her several months ago - - a large solitaire princess-cut diamond set in platinum. She sat the box down on the table, shook her head, and said, “Robert John Montgomery, you’re full of surprises. Thank you. I love you.”
He picked the ring out of the box. “Well, let’s see if it still fits.” He slipped the ring on her finger. “Perfect.”
Jillian looked at her newly adorned finger and smiled at Robert.
The waiter realized earlier what was taking place at their booth and had held off coming to their booth. He now returned with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Jillian saw what the waiter had at the exact time RJ saw what he was carrying. She held her breath. The
waiter leaned over and whispered close to RJ’s face. “Sir, it’s non-alcoholic… compliments of the Chart House. Shall I pour? And are you ready to order?”
“Thank you, please do. Yes, we are. I think my lady will have the sautéed scallops and the salad bar. And I’ll have the rib eye, rare and the salad bar, also.”
“Please help yourself to the salad bar. Congratulations.”
The next morning, Tuesday, Jillian returned to Yerington to see her morning patients. All the girls in the office took notice of her ring, questions about when and where. “Yes, we’re getting married. No, I don’t know when. The ceremony will be private, but you’ll will be invited to the reception.”
At noon, Jillian headed over to Emma’s shop for lunch. “Em, would you do me a favor?”
“Sure, anything.”
She was looking down, fidgeting with the large stone ring. “Would you please be my matron of honor next Saturday?” She held up her left hand.
Emma screamed, “Are you joking? Yes. WOW! Does Lynda know?”
“No, I wanted you to be the first to know. I don’t even think that RJ’s told Gary yet. All I know is that it’s spectacular.”
Emma got a serious look on her face. “Are you sure about this? He’s only been out of treatment for a few months.”
“I love him. Every time I look at him, I see a man not country superstar, Robert John Montgomery. We’re ready for anything, as long as we’re together. Look what we’ve been through.”
“What kind’a plans do you have?”
“Well, Jack’s offered us Tucker’s yacht if we want to be married on the lake and he said that Tucker’s would host us a reception. He told us not to worry, that everything would be taken care of. So, I guess Lynda probably knows.”
“That’s going to be really romantic. Let’s hope Mother Nature will cooperate and give you a sunny day?”
“I was thinking that.”
“What can Gary and I do?”
“Just be with us and celebrate our happiness.”
“Can do. Hey, is it a secret?”
“It’s not going to be a secret for much longer. All the girls in my office know, not to mention the people sitting around us at the Chart House last night. When we came home last night, there was a reporter hanging around the gate. I guess the news is out that he’s making his comeback. I’ve gotta go. See you tonight.”
As her best friend hugged her, she whispered into Jillian’s ear, “I’m so happy for you, Jillie. Love you.”
“Em, I love you.”
Later that evening Emma and Gary arrived, she was loaded down with bride magazines. Jillian knew that she and Em would be busy tonight. After giving them the house tour and the couple got unpacked, Gary and Robert went into the recording studio and began to plan the upcoming show.
Jillian had planned on making dinner and secretly couldn’t wait to get into the kitchen, to use all the high-tech appliances and toys it had to offer. Robert said their foursome would meet Lynda and Jack at Tucker’s Seafood Cove restaurant. Jillian was pleased. She and Emma hadn’t seen Lynda in several days, and the Seafood Cove was where she and RJ had their first date.
Dinner was pleasant; the guys talked about the upcoming shows and the girls discussed wedding plans. Only a couple of older ladies approached the star for his autograph. He was very pleasant to them, answering their questions, and signing their slips of paper. As Jillian had anticipated, she and Emma spent several hours looking at bride magazines, searching for the perfect dress. They decided to call it a night at 2 a.m., since both had to work in just a few hours.
Jillian and Emma rode down to Yerington the next morning. They decided to meet after work and commute back to Tahoe together.
Jillian met with Joy, and they moved her schedule around, so she’d have the next couple of weeks off. It’d been decided a couple of months ago at the last doctors’ meeting that the group would satellite to Tahoe, and now was the perfect time to complete their plan. In the afternoon, Jillian picked up the printed invitations to the reception at Mason Valley News. She quickly scanned one of them, it read:
We cordially invite you to our wedding reception at Lake Tahoe, our favorite place in the world. It will be this Saturday at one o’clock at Tucker’s Hotel/Casino. We ask for no gifts, as we feel blessed that we have family and friends, who have supported us in the past, today, and will in our future. We look forward to you coming to Tucker’s to celebrate with us.
God Bless, Robert and Jillian
The following days passed quickly, as Robert made plans for his return concert and Jillian planned the wedding. Marcella arrived, and Jillian helped to get her settled. Emma and Gary stayed with the couple. Emma rearranged her appointments so she could close the shop for the week. Gary worked with RJ at Tucker’s preparing for the upcoming concert. Everyone was busy in their own little “worlds.”
Chapter 32
Friday morning before dawn Country Heart Entertainment’s jet left Los Angeles to pick up six family members attending the wedding; the stops would be in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. The six passengers became acquainted during the flight to Lake Tahoe. They arrived at the high mountain destination at four o’clock. The pilot circled the lake and the jet’s passenger’s looked out the windows at the beautiful emerald-colored lake below. Lynda and Tucker’s limousine was waiting at the airport to pick up the three couples. After introductions and hugs from Dan and Grace, Lynda motioned towards the open door. She was bombarded with questions regarding the wedding. She told all that she hadn’t yet been really involved with the wedding plans, but was working on the reception. She also told them that they were guests of Tucker’s. Once they arrived at Tucker’s, they were escorted to their suites. Lynda informed the group that there’d be a pre-wedding dinner party at seven upstairs in the private dining room, the Tahoe Rim Room.
Lynda left the couples to unpack and relax before the party. There was a welcome note in each one of the couples’ rooms, which read:
We both would like to welcome you to Lake Tahoe. We are so thankful that you can be with us to witness our union. We feel blessed that we have family who have supported our past, and will always be there for us in our future.
Love and God Bless, Robert and Jillian
When Jillie and RJ were getting ready for the party, she said, “Why do I feel so nervous?”
“Well, you’re the bride and brides are reputed to be nervous. Right?”
“I guess so. I can’t find the dress I want to wear,” she said, moving the clothes in her closet. “I should’ve brought more clothes, more dress-up stuff.”
RJ moved into her closet and pointed to a gray tweed dress. “This is nice. Haven’t I seen this dress before?”
“Hey, you’re good. I wore this dress the first time I came to have dinner with you. And I believe you’re wearing the same outfit you wore that evening.”
He smiled. the rabbit.
It didn’t take long for Jillian to relax, after seeing her parents and getting reacquainted with Mike and Natalie. As always, Jillian, Lynda, and Emma acted more like sisters than friends. Their laughter made all feel comfortable. Jack made sure that Tucker’s met all explications of the wedding guests.
The party ended early, as tomorrow would be a big day for all. Only two passengers returned to Robert’s house that evening. Jillian, Lynda, and Emma were spending the night at Jack and Lynda’s house in Tahoe Keys. Lynda said that the bride couldn’t spend the night before her wedding with the groom. Jillian explained to Lynda that although they’d been sleeping together, he respected her wishes.
After Jillian was ready for bed, she called RJ.
“Hey, Doc.”
“Hey, yourself.”
“I miss you. Are you comfy? I was lying here thinking how strange life is. Several months ago I would’ve been drunk and passed out by now, not getting ready for my wedding tomorrow. You came to Seattle and the rest is history. Your two friends married my friends, and now we’re all family.”<
br />
“I know. You’ve survived.”
“WE survived. Doc, you have no idea how much I love you. Tomorrow, we’ll become one. You’re the answer to my prayers. Do you want to say prayers together?”
“Sure.”
Kneeling, they said their prayers. She promised God that she’d always feel blessed. He thanked God for today’s strength and for tomorrow.
“Good night, Robert. I love you. Tomorrow’s our special day. Just imagine! Both a wedding and a concert!”
“Goodnight, my love, until tomorrow.”
When Jillian awakened, she thought: Today is my wedding day. She felt weepy and thought she needed to control her “sap” today.
Lynda knocked and stuck her head in the doorway. “Jillie, are you awake?”
“Yep, come on in.”
Lynda came in carrying a tray, Jillian smelled coffee.
“How sweet. You didn’t have to bring me coffee.”
“Hey, it’s your day and the bride gets pampered. Girl, can you believe you’re getting married in just a few hours? And look who you’re marrying!”
Jillian shook her head. Her friend was still “star-struck.”
“Lynda, how are you going to handle all the celebs that Jack deals with daily?”
“Those are just people. Just think, a while back, we were watching him perform in Seattle, now all this.”
“Have you forgotten that he’s gone from purgatory to today? Think of all that we’ve been through. Every day’s a struggle for him, but each hill is less and less steep as the days pass.”
“You know what I mean.”
“We should be getting around, as this ship sails at ten.”
Tucker’s 56-foot yacht was docked at one of the Tahoe Key’s docks. When Jillian, Emma, Lynda, and Jack boarded, their family members were already on board.
DASHED DREAMS Page 23