As they chatted, Andy told him they had a car service picking them up in the morning for a day of touring.
“That’s no way to visit this place!” Paul laughed. “Take my car, take your time and enjoy! I’m happy for you to use it.”
“Oh, no, we really couldn’t do that, but I appreciate your kind offer,” Andy replied.
Paul dangled the keys and Carlee leaned across the bar to kiss his cheek. “Charmer…” he said in his heavy accent, and laughed.
“But, where should we go?” she asked him.
He took a placemat and wrote out directions to Littlehampton on the English Channel. “Tour the Harbor,” he told them, “Lots there to see, the pier, shops, plenty of restaurants and cafés, but make your way to The Vicarage in Worthing for lunch, finest seafood on this coast.”
The next morning, they rose early and walked to the pub. Paul had coffee waiting in travel cups. “Tank is full, coffee’s fresh. Be back by dinner and I’ll have the finest fish and chips you’ve ever tasted!”
They climbed into the little Fiat and made the short trip to Littlehampton. When they reached the harbor they parked and walked. It was an enjoyable time, no rush for anything and it was everything Paul told them it would be. There were all kinds of little shops and Carlee dragged Andy into them all. They had a great time seeing sights neither had ever experienced; beautiful old buildings. They took a stroll through Mewsbrook Park, and enjoyed a swan pedal-boat trip around the lake. They stayed a few hours, and then headed to Worthing.
Lunch was local fare - mussels for Andy, and prawns for Carlee. It was as wonderful as Paul said it would be. They shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio and conversation. After lunch they found a winery, and went in to sample. Carlee had grown up knowing of Andy’s appreciation of wine. It wasn’t about drinking; it was about savoring. She found that she liked his favorite whites much better than any of the reds.
“What’s your favorite?” Andy asked the girl who was assisting them.
She poured one called Machus and told them it was one of their best sellers. “It’s like springtime on your tongue!” she laughed. “A tad sweet, but not like dessert wine,” she said.
They tasted and both liked it. “Six cases please.” He made arrangements to have three of the cases shipped home and loaded the remaining three in the car. Carlee looked at him curiously. “You’ll see,” he told her.
It was getting late and they decided to head back to Arundel, taking their time to enjoy the scenery along the route. They would leave for London the next morning. After topping off the tank, Andy pulled the little car in front of the pub. They entered, and a small crowd of locals had gathered. As promised, Paul had fish and chips, ready to drop in the fryer.
“Paul, I need your help please,” Andy said, walking toward the door.
“They are all regulars,” Paul explained as they left the building. “I didn’t put the word out.”
“It’s good. It was a great day; it’ll be a great evening!” Andy replied and they each returned with a case of the wine. Andy went back and got the third. He pulled six bottles from one of the cases and pushed it aside for their travels. Paul put the rest on the counter. “These are for you,” he said, referring to the remaining wine, “with our thanks.”
“Machus for everyone!” Paul shouted. He started playing Traveler music, and when “Simple Life” started everyone in the pub sang along. It was the end to the perfect day.
It’s good sweet lovin, beyond any doubt
It’s making sweet I’m talkin’ about
It’s makin’ sweet good lovin’
It makes us complete…
Tuesday morning, they packed to head to London. Paul took them to the train. Carlee hugged him, and thanked him for showing them a great time. “Come back anytime,” he told them as he waved them away.
~ ~ ~
The train ride, including a transfer, took about two and a half hours. Andy had a car waiting for them at the station. He booked a suite at White’s Hotel. He’d stayed there before, and knew that Carlee would love it. They’d be there for four nights.
“Rest up a bit,” he told her after they settled in. “I made a reservation downstairs for dinner at the restaurant, Six.”
“Wow, I peeked as we were checking in! Nice…”
While Andy rested, Carlee wandered around the suite. It was classy and beautiful. She walked to the window in the common area, they were on the seventh floor and from the window she could see a lush green park and the London landscape in the distance. She sent notes and pictures to Kimmy, Jenna, Nanny and Pops.
Time got away from her. Quickly, she jumped in the shower and threw on a little make up, pulled her hair into a knot on top of her head with a clip, and slipped on a bright yellow sundress and sandals. She peered in the mirror. Turning left and right to check, she liked what she saw, grabbed a light sweater and walked into the common area where Andy was waiting.
He was wearing a sport jacket, and Carlee exclaimed, “Wow! Papa, look at you!”
“No, look at you! My sweet girl, you are beautiful, sure you want to spend your evening with this old fart?”
“I do,” she hooked her arm through his and said, “Let’s go, handsome!”
The restaurant was fancy, and full. He’d reserved a corner booth for them. As they entered, heads turned their way. Carlee was sure some recognized Andy, and she knew some saw an older man and young woman together and that piqued their curiosity.
As they walked through the room to their table Carlee took note. She had been in fancy restaurants with Andy before, but this one was really fancy. The walls were a creamy beige color, like old paper. The art was modern and low-light set a soft-glow through the room. They slid into the booth as a young man came to the table to fill water glasses. Andy saw him looking at Carlee, and smiled. He looked too. She was looking down, smoothing her napkin on her lap.
“I’ll have tea please,” she said, not really looking up. “Only iced, not hot, and no lemon, thank you.”
He was still looking at her and Andy chuckled.
“Helloooo? Anyone in there?” she said, finally looking at him.
When he didn’t reply, Andy cleared his throat. “Tea, yes, iced, with lemon, right, yes ma’am,” he stammered.
“No, no lemon, thank you,” she corrected him with a little huff.
“Right, no lemon,” he looked away, quickly, in Andy’s direction. “And you sir?”
“I’ll have a glass of the Chenin Blanc, please.”
After he walked away, Carlee was intently studying the menu. He watched her and smiled. “I think that young man’s kind of like me,” he said.
“He is nothing like you,” she said, scrunching her nose as she did when she didn’t understand something.
“Oh, but I think he is; he’s taken by your beauty,” he told her, and she grinned.
The young man returned with their drinks. Andy watched him watch Carlee.
“Carlee, my dear, what are you thinking?” Andy asked as the young man waited.
“Papa I’m looking at this menu and I have no idea what some of this stuff even is!”
Carlee… The young man smiled; Papa…
“Matthew, we’ll need a few minutes, thank you.”
As he walked away Carlee asked him; “How’d you know his name was Matthew?”
Andy looked at her and chuckled. “His name tag, sweetheart.”
“Oh…!” she giggled.
Andy went through the menu with her. She listened intently, and then said, “You order for me, you know what I like.”
Andy caught Matthew’s eye and he made his way back to their table. “Have you decided?” he asked, not making eye contact with Andy, instead looking at Carlee.
“Carlee will start with the salad, with ranch, and I’ll have the crab and watercress please. We’ll ponder over the main course a little longer, thank you.”
“Yes sir,” he said as he walked away.
Matthew returned with the
salads a few minutes later, and Andy ordered their dinner, ending with, “And a bottle of the Asti Champagne, with two glasses, please.”
As they ate the salads, they chatted about plans for the next day. “Everything is close, pretty much in walking distance, if you can keep up with me,” Andy joked. “Where shall we start?”
She pulled out her phone with the wish list she’d made, and scooted closer, leaning into him so that he could see her phone. “We can plan a walking route, but these are the places I’d like to see,” she said.
Westminster Abby
St. Paul’s Cathedral
London Bridge
Tower of London
Windsor Castle
Guards Museum
Harrods
Royal Weddings Walk
“In that order?” he asked as he looked over the list.
“No, and not all tomorrow,” she laughed.
“Good because I have a surprise for tomorrow evening.”
“I love surprises!” she said cheerfully.
Matthew returned with the champagne. He wrapped the bottle and eased the cork out with a ‘POP!’ Carlee thanked him as he poured just a little in her glass.
“Have a taste,” Andy told her.
“It’s good!” Andy nodded and Matthew filled her glass, and then his. He took their plates away and returned a few minutes later with their dinner.
“Will there be anything else, sir?” he asked, watching Carlee.
“Not now Matthew, but we will save room for dessert. I happen to know the lady likes ice cream,” he whispered and laughed, “So, come back later.”
They enjoyed their meal, and Matthew checked back several times before they were finally ready for dessert.
“Carlee, I think that young man likes you.”
She looked at him as he returned to take their plates. He is kind of cute, tall, dark hair, and eyes a shade of blue like none I’ve ever seen before she thought and grinned. “Matthew, are you from here?” she asked him.
“Student, miss,” he replied, “Westminster School of Media Arts and Design, photography,” he added. “I came here from Savannah School of Arts.”
“Savannah, Georgia?”
“Yes ma’am,” he smiled.
“I didn’t think you had an English accent. We’re from Florida, well I am. My Papa is a reformed Texan,” she laughed.
“I know who your Papa is,” he looked at Andy. “It took me a while to figure it out, but I know.” He looked back at Carlee, trying not to stare, and smiled.
“Are you from Savannah?” she asked. Andy watched as she rolled into a conversation with him.
“No, I’m a Floridian, as well; I’m from Jacksonville.”
“You’re a ‘cracker’!” she laughed, easily.
“Born and raised,” he laughed.
Andy cleared his throat. “Sorry sir.”
“We have a big day planned for tomorrow. This is my daughter’s graduation present.” Andy said. “What’s good for breakfast here?”
“Oh, don’t be fooled,” he laughed, “porridge is nothing more than plain ol’oatmeal. I like the scones; tomorrow they’re brown sugar. The best, in my opinion,” he said, and then laughed; “if you’re interested.”
“Scones are like sweet biscuits, right?” Carlee asked.
“Not quite, but close enough,” he laughed. “The clotted cream is good, as well. I should get your check so you can get back to rest up.”
“Put it on our room, please. Do you work tomorrow?” Andy asked.
“I have class early and then I come in for dinner.”
“We’ll miss dinner tomorrow,” Andy said.
“I work on Wednesday,” he said, looking at Carlee.
“We’ll see you then,” Andy replied.
“Thank you sir, I’ll look forward to it. Good night miss.”
“Carlee,” she said, in voice that seemed to dance its way to his ears.
“Good night, Carlee.”
After they returned to their room Carlee went to wash her face and slip into her pajamas. Andy was on the sofa looking over a newspaper when she returned and plopped down beside him.
“Papa, were you flirting with that young man for me?” she asked, pulling the paper away to get his attention, and he laughed.
He looked over the top of his glasses. “Who me?” he asked with a chuckle. “He seemed like a nice young man, and he was obviously interested in you.”
“He was kind of cute,” she said.
“If you say so,” he replied as though he didn’t notice.
“Oh, you know so or you wouldn’ta been working it!” she laughed.
The next morning, they went down for breakfast, and as they took their seats a waiter came to the table. “Miss Carlee?” the young man asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
He reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “This is for you.”
She looked at Andy, and he had a big grin.
I’m done with class at noon, start my shift at five. I’m available if you need a tour-guide. Matthew
There was a phone number on the paper, and she refolded it and put it aside.
“Well?” Andy said.
“Well nuthin’” she replied. “That was kinda bold…”
“Bold?” he asked. “Matthew or me?”
“Him,” she said.
“Did he ask you to sleep with him?” he asked with a big grin.
“Papa! No!”
“Then what was ‘bold’?” he asked.
“He left his phone number…”
Andy sat up straighter, put a serious look on his face, and said, “Wow. That was bold, quite horrible, actually.”
“You are teasing,” she said. “I’m serious.”
As he watched her, he remembered…
~ ~ ~
She’d had boyfriends through her high school years. Most were ‘fun’ boyfriends. Carlee wasn’t interested in anything serious. She just wanted to have a good time. She dated one of his musical prodigies, Zane Rogers, for a short time during her senior year.
Andy had been at the studio working and Carlee stopped by after school, like she often did. When she stepped in, Andy and Marco were at the sound board. “Hello love,” Andy said as she kissed his cheek.
“Hey doll,” Marco said turning to her for a hug. “What’s up girl?”
“Just stopping by on my way home, who’s that?” she asked about the guy in the booth.
“Zane Rogers,” Andy said.
“Oh, the new guy,” she said.
Zane was the ‘next big thing’ according to the music industry. He and Andy had worked together about three months. His friend Nigel Rose from Traveler, put him on Andy’s radar, and he liked what he heard. Zane was playing coffee houses in and around Austin, Texas, when Nigel met him, he saw potential. They’d already released his first single, You Get to Me, and it was doing well.
Weak in the knees
Can’t think, can’t breathe
You shake me up
It’s you girl, you get to me…
Andy turned up the sound so Carlee could hear the new material they were working on. “What do you think?” he asked her as Zane was singing a new song; “Come Back, Baby.”
You left me here
I’m alone and lonely
Come back baby
You’re my one and only…
Carlee listened, glancing at the young man in the recording booth. He was tall and tan with sandy blonde hair, Surfer Dude, she thought. “I think little girls all across the land will love it so much they will pee their pants,” she said sarcastically.
Marco let out a big belly laugh. Andy grinned, rolled his eyes and shook his head. He loved Carlee’s wit. “Hang around and I’ll introduce you,” he told her.
“Maybe another time, I need to get home. I’ve got a ton of schoolwork. I really just wanted a hug.” Andy got up from his seat at the board. “No, I meant from Marco,” Carlee laughed. “
Dinner’s on me tonight. Which drive-through do you want?” she asked him as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.
“How about The Bistro?” he replied.
“Late? I have to finish a report.”
“It’ll be late, he’s got a couple more songs he wants to cut,” Andy motioned toward Zane. “How ‘bout I call you when we are getting close to finishing up, you can call something in and I’ll pick it up?”
“Deal!” Carlee laughed, and breezed out.
When the track was complete, Zane stepped out of the booth and Carlee was gone. “Who was the hot redhead?” he asked Andy.
“Careful my man, that’s my daughter,” Andy laughed.
“She hang out here often?”
“Sometimes,” Andy smiled at his interest. He didn’t seem like Carlee’s type, but it wasn’t his place to decide. Zane was a good-looking guy, and Carlee was right; his music was on the Pop side of the spectrum - young girls loved him.
“I’d like to meet her,” Zane replied.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
As they ate dinner that evening, Andy told her, “Zane wants to meet you.”
“Who?” she asked.
“Zane Rogers.”
“Oh yeah, the guy behind the glass today…”
“Uh hunh,” he replied.
“Yeah, well, maybe next time I stop in and he’s there,” Carlee replied, seemingly unimpressed.
“He said you were ‘hot’,” Andy laughed.
Carlee put her fork down and looked at him seriously, “Well, of course he did,” she said, and busted out laughing.
She stopped in a few days later. Zane was there, and Andy introduced them. They talked a while and exchanged phone numbers. Zane called her the next day.
The following Friday Carlee agreed to meet him at the theatre for a movie. “I’ll just drive myself,” she told Andy. “That way if he’s a butthead, I’m gone…”
Andy laughed, but he knew Carlee was serious. That first date night Zane was a great companion, polite, sweet, and she decided that she would see him again. He ended the night walking her to her car and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
When I Look to the Sky Page 10