He kept his tee shirt on and replaced the pajama bottoms with wrinkled jeans. They would have to do. Hopping on his Harley he sped to Starbucks. He knew from Natalie’s friend Connie it was the primo meeting place for non-dates. He hoped the plea from Emily was a non-date, just an exchange of ideas for the gym renovation. She was cute, but he had his eyes and heart set on Natalie.
~
Natalie stared at the caller ID on her phone. Billy Ashford? Candy’s bro? What could he possibly want? They had dated twice, sort of. The time he took her surfing on The Point in Newport was special. Bill Lord Senior had set it up with the idea her gym could offer surfing lessons. The plan hadn’t panned out, but being with Billy was fun. She bit her tongue and responded to the voicemail by pushing a button. What she heard almost blew her away.
CHAPTER TEN
Natalie hadn’t gotten ready for bed yet, but she had decided to peel off her gym attire. Putting on a long flowing skirt with a crazy pattern on it, one Connie had designed, and a funky strapless top, she marched into Starbucks, the non-date scene, according to Connie. She started to order a Frappuccino, it was such a hot night, when Billy placed an arm around her waist and drew her to a table.
“I ordered for you. Hope that’s okay?”
“Yes, fine, thanks.” She felt as if she’d lost control. Then, she saw two sets of arms waving. Emily and Bryce? How could that be? A set up?
Billy was also taken back. “What is going on? Did you invite them?”
She shook her head and squeezed his arm. “Just let me deal with it. Okay?”
~
Natalie was exhausted. She crawled into bed in her fancy skirt and top. She had only done that once before in college. The non-date scene was a disaster. She wished there had been another place to meet with Billy. They had been stuck in Starbucks. Before they could excuse themselves they were seated with the other couple. Boring! Emily talked about color and design and Feng Shui, Billy talked about exotic cars, Bryce didn’t talk much, and Natalie hardly talked at all.
Natalie had thought it would be fun to bring up Cindy and Rob’s almost new baby. He was such a cutie, always grinning and never crying or squirming during Connie and Jaeda’s wedding. The rest of them looked at her like she had three heads. Then, she remembered little Robbie was a Candy Cane baby, special to them, but just a baby to anyone else. Ugh. She really needed to expand her horizons. Make more and new friends. She should get out more, but where? She wasn’t into the party scene; only drank a sip of wine at the most; couldn’t afford things like tennis or golf, two Newport glam sports. She knew how to play bridge, but not a great way to meet new people, especially men. Eligible men. Maybe church. She had read in the bulletin there was a singles group starting soon. But, it wasn’t just the friendship of men she craved, just friendship. Bible study used to provide friendship and camaraderie with other women, but when she got so busy with the gym she dropped it. Was the nudge she felt from God?
~
Bryce felt empty. That Emily girl was a super cutie, but she wore too much makeup and talked too much. Especially about things he didn’t understand. Feng Shwee – what was that? She had offered to come to his condo and rearrange his furniture. No way. He liked it just the way it was. He liked his brown carpet and tan sofa and leather recliner with the handle on the side. The only thing missing was a warm body to curl up with at night. Well, he hadn’t had one since Sara ditched him in college almost ten years ago. His parents kept pressuring him to adopt a cat. He liked cats and believed in their mission to rescue them, but he wasn’t a cat person.
He crawled into bed in the same tee shirt he’d put on earlier and clicked his phone to silent.
~
Billy was confused. He was usually an in control guy, at least when re-selling exotic cars as a broker. He had made a small fortune doing it thanks to an anonymous gift from a group called The Memory Men. He still didn’t know who they were, but he was grateful. The only thing they had asked was to give back when his business became stable. He had tried to do that, but wasn’t sure who to give to. He needed guidance. Why was giving so hard? Why was hooking up with Natalie again such a big deal? They should have met somewhere else but Starbucks. So plebian.
He would call her tomorrow. Or, was it too late tonight? It was only ten. He dialed.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Melanie groped for her chiming phone. Who at this hour? School started tomorrow, and she wanted to be bright-eyed for her adorable little three-year-old students.
“Wha … who?”
“Sorry, Mel. I am in limbo, floating around in space. Need to talk. Okay?”
“Uh, yeh.” She didn’t want to tell Natalie she was in the process of falling asleep.
Finally she turned off the ringer. Poor Nat, confused by two men. Not uncommon, but in Nat’s case when she didn’t date much . . . maybe. Were both men jerks? Or, did they really care for Natalie? She prayed for Nat and for God to give her wisdom and discernment. Isn’t that what Candy Canes did?
~
Natalie had just hung up with Melanie when her phone rang. She really should replace that annoying wild animal ring with something more generic, maybe go back to the Blue Moon one. Not everyone liked to hear barking sea lions, especially when she was around others. She said a tentative “hello,” although she knew from caller ID it was Billy. She let him bumble and ramble, then said, “What? I’m tired, Billy. Is there a point to this call?” She slapped a hand over her chest. What had she done? Had she been mean when Billy was just trying to connect with her? Why was he apologizing for the Starbucks fiasco? It was, as the song said, “Just one of those things.”
“But,” he said almost too loudly, “I should have asked you on a proper date.”
She finally, hoped, she’d convinced him it was fine, nice to be with him again. “Can we do it again sometime? Maybe at that cute little place on the Peninsula?” Oops, was she suggesting a more pricey rendezvous? But, she knew from Candy that Billy was rolling in big bucks from his car dealership.
They finally hung up laughing about the Starbucks encounter. She waited for sleep to come, but two men jostled in her dreams.
~
Vivian Lord turned to pull into her driveway when she noticed her son Billy’s car across the street. Why was he here? She hadn’t expected him for dinner tonight, and she knew he wouldn’t like the chopped salad she and Bill planned to have. He was a meatloaf or pot roast guy. After pulling in the garage, she pushed the white button to close the garage door and went into the kitchen. Billy was sitting at the counter with his cheeks in his hands. Her husband Bill was perched next to him tapping the granite counter with a pen. “Billy,” he said, “you need a better plan.”
“What are you two discussing?” she asked after plopping two bags of groceries on the counter across from them. “Business?”
“You want to tell her, or should I?” Bill asked.
“Aw, Mom, do you remember Natalie?” Her son looked troubled as he clasped his hands on the counter in front of him.
“Newcomer? That Natalie? One of the Candy Canes?” she asked. Billy nodded. “Why? You like her? Dating her?”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes and no.”
Vivian raised her brows to form brown peaks. “Explain, please. Tell all.”
“There isn’t much to tell, ‘cept that I blew it.” He lowered his chin and drummed fingers on the counter. He explained to Vivian how awful the surprise encounter at Starbucks was. “I was nervous, also angry we ran into those other people who Nat knew, but I didn’t.” He twisted the paper napkin from under the mug of coffee his stepdad, Bill, had plunked in front of him. “I talked too much. All about exotic cars. The girls had no interest, and that Bryce guy wasn’t into them, either.” He turned to Bill and grinned. “He is into cycles, like you.”
“But fancy cars, that’s what you know best, Son. It’s your business.” Bill laid a hand on his arm. He had never used the moniker Son to Billy before. Sounded nice, but how would Bill Ju
nior feel about it?
“But, you forgot, Billy, about the phone call.”
“Oh, yeh. Not cool, huh?” The older man shook his head and rubbed his hand across its shiny spot.
“Maybe, Billy . . .” Vivian’s gaze seemed to float above his head, “Maybe you need to expand your horizons. Find an interest in something other than Maseratis and Porsches. Or, at least take a girl for a ride in one of them. A special evening.”
~
Billy chuckled to himself. Mom was right. Why is it even thirty-two year olds went to their moms for advice? Even when Dad was alive, he would say, “Ask your mom.” Bill Lord had made an attempt to guide him, and at least he listened. Isn’t that what shrinks say – that they listen and the patient responds sometimes solving his own problem? Bill was a good guy, though. Mom was blessed with him. And to think Candy had swooned over him for a while. Also, over Bill Junior. He wondered how the younger Bill Lord really felt about his dad marrying Mom. She seemed very content. Especially now that Candy and Devin had remarried. And, Devin was sober and on the way to becoming a noted architect. They had gotten back from their second honeymoon in Catalina right before Connie and Jaeda got married. Ha, ha! Second honeymoon was in this case an accurate phrase. At first he, and others, wondered why they went to Catalina again. They explained that’s where they went on their first honeymoon because that’s all they could afford. Now, with Dev’s new prestige, they could afford more but wanted to repeat a good experience. Longer, and for the fun of it.
Billy pulled into his car lot and swung his own fancy BMW into its spot. He had an idea that might appeal to Natalie. Saying a quick prayer, something he didn’t do often anymore, he dialed her number.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Natalie wasn’t sure what to wear, but at least Billy had asked her for a real date. “Wear cute, but casual,” he said. “Pants would probably be good.” She pulled a Cashmere sweater over her tumbled russet locks and tucked a printed silk scarf at her neck, tying it into a bow. She was satisfied it looked cute. Her leggings stopped just above her ankles and the green suede Toms shoes. Part casual, part cute, part warm as Billy suggested.
She gasped when he pulled up in a vintage Bentley coupe, silver. He ran to the passenger door and swooped down low while holding it open for her. “Borrowed it from the owner who wants me to get an exorbitant price for him.” He sniggered. “I probably will, too.”
“Should you be driving it?” she asked.
“He said only to take it on a hot date.” He almost giggled like a girl.
Before she climbed in she spun around. “Do I look hot enough?”
“Very.”
They both laughed enjoying the moment of frivolity that eased the tension. Billy hummed all the way to the Peninsula and pulled into one of the small public parking lots.
“Aren’t you afraid to park this fancy car here?”
“Nope. Fully insured to the max, and I do have the guy’s written permission to drive it.”
They started with the bumper cars, then ice cones for a break. The Ferris wheel was next. She noticed Billy whispering to the operator, and it looked like he slipped something into the teenager’s hand. Maybe his business card? Maybe he wanted to give the kid a treat with a ride in a luxury sport car. That was nice of him.
Since it wasn’t a weekend night, Balboa wasn’t all that crowded. Billy and she were the only people on the wheel. She had always been a little acrophobic, but if she closed her eyes when she got to the top, she would be okay. Halfway up, though, it was wonderful to see the panorama of Newport Bay – children playing on the private beaches in front of enormous houses, sailboats skimming the smooth water and the tourist boat riding close to the shore to point out famous homes of movie icons. She could hear snippets of the announcer’s voice, but couldn’t make out exactly what he said. Once she saw the big boat pause, and she was sure he was telling a fun story about a house that someone famous had lived in, maybe John Wayne. Boat guests clapped loudly. That she could hear.
Billy was holding her hand, suddenly very tight. She turned to tell him he was hurting her when the Ferris wheel stopped with a jerk. At the very top. She knew her eyes must be filled with terror when she turned to him.
“I’ve got you, Nat. Don’t be scared.”
“I am scared. I am terrified of heights.”
“It’s okay. He is just making a small adjustment to the wheel. Something about only two people riding it.”
Then it computed. Natalie focused on Billy’s face. “You did this, didn’t you? On purpose. That’s what you were talking to him about before you got on.”
“Uh, not exactly. I – I thought it would be fun, special to be way up high with you.” He gripped her hand tighter with both of his. “I didn’t know you were scared of heights. I will try to signal him, or yell at him to get us down.” He looked at her ashen face with remorse. How could he have been so callous? But, he really hadn’t known. Then, he had an idea, one he would bring up over coffee later.
~
Natalie couldn’t believe what Billy suggested. She gripped her paper coffee cup so hard the black stuff almost sloshed out. What a ridiculous idea – sky diving! He explained, Claire, the girl who worked in his office as receptionist and book keeper was overcoming her fear of heights by learning to sky dive. “Yes,” he said, when Nat’s eyes took on donut expressions. “She says when you sky dive you don’t look down, so there is really no fear of heights. You feel safe.” He tilted his head. My, she was truly attractive. She had eyes like Mom, and the same color of hair. “You also don’t go alone. You jump tandem. A more experienced diver holding your hand.”
Natalie looked anything but convinced. How could he encourage her? Maybe if she met Claire? He loved daredevil things; maybe that’s partly why he loved to surf. He had always wanted to sky dive, but with a companion. Some things were not fun to do alone, and some things were more exhilarating with a person you cared about.
~
Nat was sure she would wet her pants. If not just from talking about this ridiculous idea, but certainly if she ever tried to do it. She definitely needed to pray about it, needed Candy Cane prayer.
She slipped into a long tee shirt for bed over her undies, then dialed. Using the group phone idea that Connie had set up, Candy came on first. Then Cindy all the way from Costa Rica, but with a California prefix. Melanie chimed in.
“What?” Cindy was the first to ask.
“Yes, what?” both Candy and Melanie asked in unison.
“Your bro, Candy.” She might as well be direct. Candy knew her own brother better than any of the others. “I think he’s crazy.”
After Candy heard the story, she laughed. Devin laughed behind her. “He goes for off the wall stuff,” Devin said. “When Can and I were married the first time, he wanted me to climb Mt. Everest with him. Can you imagine, a drunkard doing that?”
“Nat,” Cindy said, “do you have the courage to try it? To trust God? It sounds like a great experience. And,” she added, “it might really help you get over the fear of heights. Like the Claire girl says.”
Melanie chimed in. “Oh, my gosh, girl, I will go with you in a heartbeat. I have always wanted to sky dive.”
Natalie took a deep breath, a very deep one. “Okay, Mel. If you really will, if I can have you holding my hand on one side and Billy on the other . . . I might try it.”
Noelle and Connie never picked up, but that was okay. Those married gals were busy. But, where was Doreen? Hopefully out with Bill Lord Junior. The girls prayed for a wise decision for Natalie and for courage. She knew she would need it.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Billy realized Natalie hadn’t understood how complicated learning to jump was. Her hands were shaking. Beside her Melanie was grinning and almost dancing. Billy held her hand, but not too tightly so as not to stop the flow of blood. Had he done the right thing when he pressured her? He remembered how she had taken to surfing with him, was almost a natural. But when she ha
d jumped out of the sky dive wind tunnel, there was only air. What had he done?
Last week she had done her tandem jump with an instructor tied to her back to pull the chute cord. She had no parachute on, none allowed at this point. Scary. She had to trust. Billy wasn’t sure who was more scared, him or her, but she got through it. “Without wetting my pants,” she laughed later over coffee.
She had taken the ground course with Billy. The six hours seemed to last forever while she fidgeted. Next week she could do a solo jump. Not exactly alone, but with two instructors, one on each side, all three of them wearing a chute. He hoped by that time she would be ready.
~
Melanie had gone through the same preparation and drill. But, she was much more relaxed than Natalie. Maybe it was because she shared her diving dreams with her preschool students. As Jesus said, in Matthew 19. “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Her precious three and four year olds were excited for her. Their parents even made a banner for her to encourage her.
Go, Ms. Melanie, DIVE!
It was hung across the entry gate to the preschool for all to see. Many parents came into the office to ask about it. Some worried it would encourage their tiny tots to try such a thing, but most were super proud of Melanie, even left notes of encouragement for her.
Natalie's Deception (The Candy Cane Girls Book 5) Page 3