Growing up way too fast, Andy thought.
On Wednesday evening while she was away, Andy was sitting on the pool deck with a glass of wine. “Hello?” he said as he picked up the phone, not checking the caller ID.
“Hey there, it’s Addy.”
“Well, this is a nice surprise, what’s up?”
“I’ve been locked up writing, I had some things that crept in and spoke to me,” she laughed.
“Sending me a sample?”
“Actually, I’ll be in Orlando on Thursday – taping the Helen Show. You free Thursday night for dinner?”
“I can be, I’ll drive over,” he said.
“No, I’ve got a reservation at the Ocean Inn; thought I’d just cancel if you weren’t available. I’ll be there by eight. Meet me for a drink?”
“I’ll give you a few to check in and I’ll be there by 8:30. I’m anxious to see what you’ve got,” he replied.
On Thursday, he went to the hotel as planned. She’d been seeing someone, an account exec from her record label, for a few months and he was curious to see how she acted, she’d been more laid back the last few times he’d seen her, remembering their last encounter at this hotel. He looked in the bar, but didn’t see her and turned just as she breezed her way toward him.
“Well, hello,” he said and kissed her cheek.
“I need a drink, but I won’t order the Cuvee,” she laughed.
“Go ahead, I’ll stop you,” Andy said with a chuckle.
Chef was at the bar and heard her laugh and went to the table. “Look who’s back in town!”
“I brought some ideas I’ve been working on to the ‘Magic Man’ here for a listen,” she said.
“Andy,” Chef said, “nice to see you. You don’t need to wait ‘til Adaleigh is in town to come visit.”
“My girl is a creature of habit and she loves The Bistro,” he laughed.
“His daughter,” Adaleigh said when she saw the question on Chef’s face.
“Don’t guess she can hang out here in the bar, right?” Chef laughed.
“Not hardly,” Andy said, “although, she’s ‘almost ten and not a child’, she tells me.”
Adaleigh ordered the Cuvee and Andy asked if Chef could bring the bleu cheese stuffed dates to go with it.
She pulled out her phone, “Rough, but take a listen to this and tell me what you think. This one is my favorite.” She found the music that she wanted him to hear and turned the volume up a bit.
Why can’t it be
Just you and me
The road we’ve traveled is long.
It’s a rich, right feeling
Keeps me reelin’
Can’t be that this is wrong…
“Sounds good, soulful,” he added. “Got the ear buds?”
“Mmm hmm,” she said nodding, and dug through her bag.
He put them in his ears, leaned back in the booth and closed his eyes as he listened to the entire piece. When he finally opened his eyes, Adaleigh was watching intently.
“Well?” she asked anxiously.
“I hear violins, piano, and soft snare drum with that, not the guitar,” he replied.
“And?”
“Let me have whatever you’ve got and take it to the studio and listen. How long are you in town?”
“As long as you want me,” she said, and as she said the words Andy heard a vulnerability that he’d never noticed with her. She wasn’t pushing herself like she had in the past.
“So, how’s things?” he asked changing the subject.
“It’s been busy! Exciting, hectic, crazy busy, but I love it, all of it,” she said with a grin.
“I never dreamed what it would be like, it’s very enriching and I’m not talking about my bank account,” she laughed. “People tell me a song reminded them of this or that, or that they could feel their story in my voice. I just never dreamed… it’s very rewarding.”
“Sometimes I miss that feeling, I miss the interaction with the crowds, and then I remember how good being home feels. I’m too old for all that travel, plus I like being home for Carlee. Her dad doesn’t give her much of his time, or self.”
“Why do you think that is?” she asked.
“He never got over Beth moving him out of her life, leaving him for me. I think in the back of his mind he thought their love was strong enough for me to be there. But there was too much history there, with Beth and me, I mean.” He looked up and added, “But we aren’t here to talk about all that.”
“Danny left me at a show in Tucson,” she said with a sad laugh.
“He what?”
“Yeah, I’d been on the road non-stop for several weeks. He decided to go on the road with me, hang around if we were gonna make it as a couple. He didn’t like it, didn’t like the chaos, the hours, none of it. In the end, he was back in his suit at the office. After he left, he called a few times, but I think we’d both realized by then that our lives wouldn’t mesh. I stopped answering, he stopped calling,” she told him with a shrug of her shoulders. “Where’s Carlee,” she asked, turning the conversation to a different course.
“She’s at camp, and I gotta tell ya, I can’t wait for her to get home. She’ll be with me for two weeks. The more I get her, the more I love this single-dad thing. Her dad’s on business out-of-town, again. He is missing out on so much, Adaleigh.”
Chef came to the table with the appetizer and refilled their glasses. Adaleigh looked around and saw it was a pretty light crowd and invited him to sit. “We’re just chit-chatting over some new ideas.” After he was sitting she took her phone and said, “Here’s a sample, have a listen,” she said.
She played about a minute of it and stopped it. “That’s all,” she laughed. “Just a tease!”
“Witch,” Chef laughed. “I love the first one, I’ll be anxious for the next one!”
After a while Andy decided to call it a night. “I’m whipped, bring some music to me at the studio and we’ll let Marco have a listen. I’ll be there by ten.”
“I’ll bring coffee and bagels,” she said.
“Got good coffee there, just bring the bagels. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Later, as he lay in bed Andy thought about Adaleigh, ‘Addy’, she had said. He guessed by their conversations that she was in her mid-thirties and an only child. He knew her parents lived somewhere close to Asheville, North Carolina. They were, in her words, ‘rejects from the 70s’, somewhat Bohemian, and they ‘landed’ in an artsy community near old downtown Asheville. She’d grown up with music and had played guitar since she was thirteen. She’d spent several years playing coffee shops in and around Asheville before venturing out to ‘see what would happen.’ He liked her tonight, she wasn’t brash as she had been in the past, she was pleasant, fun, and he enjoyed her company.
Friday morning, when Andy entered the studio Marco and Adaleigh were already inside waiting. “Someone made coffee, right?” Andy growled as he dropped his things on the console. “I’m not a happy camper until I’ve had the go-juice.”
Marco raised his cup and said, “Ready, just like you like it!”
“Suck-up,” Andy laughed.
He went to the little kitchen, poured a cup and joined them.
“You only heard one of the songs,” Marco said. “There’s some good shit on here!”
“Hit me with the best,” Andy said, and kicked back in his chair.
Adaleigh was sitting Indian-style on the floor, “There’s a chair here,” he said.
“This is comfy to me,” she said and leaned back against the wall.
Marco keyed up the track and started it. Andy leaned back in the chair to listen while Marco tweaked and fiddled with sound. Adaleigh waited anxiously.
“Wow, Adaleigh, sexy…” Andy said.
“Well, sexy is exactly what I was goin’ for,” she laughed.
Around six, Marco said he needed to go. “Meeting a hot blonde for dinner…”
“Have fun,” Adaleigh said.
After he was gone, Adaleigh said she was gonna head for the hotel. “I guess I’ll see you Monday.”
“Actually I’m picking Carlee up tomorrow afternoon and we’ll be hanging out for a few days. I’m hungry, you?”
“I could eat,” she laughed. “Wanna go see what Chef is whippin’ up tonight?”
“Sure,” Andy said, “I’ll meet you there.”
Adaleigh left to go freshen up and Andy locked up and went to meet her.
When he arrived, Andy ordered a bottle of the Cuvee that he knew she liked, told the waitress when Adaleigh arrived that he’d like Chef to join them. After she left, he settled back in the same circular booth they’d shared previously, and waited. Finally, she arrived and slid in beside him.
Chef came a moment later and told them, “I have some delicious fresh crab tonight; how about some crab cakes with a lovely gorgonzola, mushroom and spinach sauce?”
“That sounds wonderful!” Adaleigh replied, “Andy?”
“It does, bring it on,” Andy said.
“I love when you’re here Adaleigh, I get to prepare yummy creations, not just the basic stuff,” Chef laughed.
She’d changed into a skirt and sleeveless silky top and pulled her hair up in a knot on top of her head. He’d noticed how attractive she was before, but tonight she was pretty, soft and feminine looking. She was more low-key than she'd been in the past. This ‘different Addy intrigued him…
As they shared their time and meal together, they talked, and laughed, both seeming to enjoy it.
“This is nice,” Andy said and Adaleigh looked up.
“It is,” she smiled.
When they were ready to call it a night, Andy told her, “I’ll walk you to your room.”
When they reached the door, Adaleigh put the key in and pushed the door open. “Thanks for dinner, I enjoyed it. I guess I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
Andy leaned to hug her, kiss her cheek, and say good night, but when his arms went around her a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time came over him. He pulled her a little closer and she turned in his arms, placing her hand on the back of his neck, pulling him to her, pressing her lips to his.
“Adaleigh,” he said as he leaned back to look in her eyes. “Can we do this with no strings, no commitment?”
“Just two people who want each other? A night of crazy sex? No kiss and tell?” she laughed.
“Can you? ‘Cuz I can’t commit to more than that,” he said and waited.
She pulled him into the room and let the door close. Without saying a word she started to unbutton the blouse she wore. Under it was a lacy black bra. He’d seen the silhouette of it through her top all evening. She let the blouse fall away and reached to tug the t-shirt he wore from his jeans and lifted it over his head, then reached for the buckle on his belt.
“Wait,” he said and took her hands in his.
She eased away and turned to get the bag she’d dropped on the floor when they came in the room. She pulled a small bag out and dug through it, then said, “Catch,” and chucked a condom his way. “My dad is all about being prepared, for anything,” she laughed. “I paid attention.”
Andy smiled and moved closer. “That’s not what I meant, but I’m glad for lessons in emergency preparedness…” he whispered in her ear, pulling the clip from her hair.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, we can do this with no strings, no commitment, with no expectations beyond tonight, just a night of crazy sex…” and then she reached for his belt buckle again. As she moved closer he slid the zipper on her skirt down; she let it fall to the floor. She stood before him now in the bra and matching black lace panties. He’s seen her naked the night she was drunk, but seeing her like this was way sexier, because this time, he wanted her.
She ran her hands over his chest, and then up his back, pulling him closer for another kiss. He slid the jeans down his hips and she knew he was ready. Leading him to the bed, she lightly pushed him back into the pillows. He reached to pull her to him.
“Wait,” she said, “I know what I’m doing.” She climbed on the bed, straddling him with her knees on both sides of him and sat back. He bent his legs and she leaned against his knees, just watching him a moment, admiring the body before her. Fifty-seven and he’s still got it, she thought.
Finally, she reached to unhook the bra that fastened in the front. Andy tried to sit up, to reach for her. “No,” she told him. He lay back into the pillows, she heard his breathing change. He was getting anxious, and she wondered how long it had been. She felt sure he hadn’t remained celibate since Beth died, so she figured he could wait a minute longer. She smiled down at him.
“You’re making me crazy,” he said.
“You agreed to crazy sex, so that’s what we’re doing.” She stretched forward, sliding her hands up his chest, her body slithering up his, her hair falling forward. She ran her hands down his sides; raising herself she slid his under shorts down and he kicked them away. He was naked now, and she rose and sat back against his legs again, to look, and make him wait just a little longer.
“Adaleigh,” you’re driving me insane,” Andy said when she squirmed a little.
“Ah, insanity… I like it…” she laughed seductively. Finally, she rolled off and lay beside him, slipped her panties off, and their night of ‘crazy sex’ began.
At midnight, Andy turned to her and said, “I gotta go. I need to get some sleep before I go get Carlee.”
“OK, I’ll see you Tuesday,” she said snuggling into the covers.
Andy pulled his clothes on and leaned to kiss her. “I’ll see you later, sleep well,” he said and went out the door.
When he got home, he showered and crawled in bed. He’d enjoyed the evening with Adaleigh – all of it – but he hoped he hadn’t made a mistake. Time will tell, he thought.
~ ~ ~
Carlee stepped off the bus and flew straight into Andy’s arms.
“Papa!”
“Hey, sweet girl, I sure missed you.”
“Ditto,” she said. “I’m starving!”
“Imagine my shock at this news,” Andy chuckled. “Let’s gather up your stuff, we’ll drop it at the house and go get a bite to eat. Your dad called this morning and said he got called to Atlanta...”
“Whatever,” she interrupted him.
“Respect,” he reminded her.
“Whatever,” she replied and broke into giggles. “Sorry, but I’m not shocked that he won’t be home. Do I get to stay with you or Nanny?”
“I called Angel,” he said with a smile.
“Yay!”
Carlee wanted to go to The Bistro. Andy called ahead, and when they arrived and the hostess led them to their favorite table. They were looking over the menu when there was a commotion at the entrance. Andy looked up as Adaleigh entered and several excited guests were trying to get a picture with her. Andy was relieved that the locals had gotten used to him being out and about, allowing him his privacy, especially when he was with Carlee.
Carlee looked over her shoulder and saw her, “Why is she here?”
“Here, here? I don’t know, maybe she’s hungry,” he laughed. “She’s in town because she was in Orlando and has some new music she wants to get started on. He looked down at his menu and asked, “What are you having?”
“Turkey Club,” she said. “It’s kinda rude if you don’t invite her to sit with us, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think so. This is our time, I’ve missed you, and I didn’t know she was coming, so we aren’t obligated to entertain her,” he replied.
“Well, I think you should, just to get her away from all that,” Carlee said.
“Are you sure?” he asked and Carlee nodded. He rose from his seat and went to the front of the restaurant.
“Well, hey there,” Adaleigh said.
“Come join Carlee and me,” he said.
“No, I don’t want to crowd your time,” she said.
“Come on, it was Carlee’s idea.”
They approached the table and Adaleigh leaned to hug Carlee. “It’s nice to see you!”
“You too.”
“How was camp?” Adaleigh asked.
“How ‘bout we order and then we’ll catch up,” Andy suggested, watching to see if Adaleigh showed signs of regret for the evening they shared, but she acted as though nothing even happened.
“Catch up! That makes me want fries,” Carlee said as Andy shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“Miniature comedian,” he laughed and Adaleigh grinned.
Through their meal, Carlee told them about camp – it was her second year and she was already talking about going back the following year, ‘because she loved it’ she told them.
“I know you won’t understand this,” she said matter-of-factly and Andy grinned. “But I feel Mama there. Everywhere I turn, I can feel her when I’m there,” she continued.
“I’m sure you are right, Carlee,” Adaleigh replied. “I’m lucky enough to still have my mom. She’s a P.I.T.A. sometimes, but I’m glad I can still talk to her whenever I want.”
Andy looked and Carlee had that scrunched face that she made when she didn’t understand something. “P.I.T.A.?” she repeated and then suddenly she said, “Oh! Now I get it,” and broke into giggles.
Adaleigh engaged her in conversation about her mama, and as Andy listened he felt both proud and heart-broken. She spoke like someone very knowledgeable, but, he thought, she is….
“I should get going, I have a few errands to run and then I’m going to stretch out by the pool for a while.”
“Make sure you use sunscreen,” Carlee said. “We know these things.”
“I will,” Adaleigh told her. “I enjoyed this a lot, thank you for rescuing me!”
“It was a nice time,” Andy said.
When they got home Angel was there waiting and Carlee hugged her like she hadn’t seen her in years. “What’s for supper?” she asked.
When I Look to the Sky Page 5