“We’re going to David’s on Sunday. He says he’s got a surprise for us,” Janet said. “He said casual and that he’d fire up the Jacuzzi if anyone wanted to use it, so take your suit.” Sarah’s clothes were all hung and put in drawers.
“Come on, let’s have a drink and wait for your Dad,” Janet suggested.
Her mom led her out onto the patio where a pitcher of margaritas waited. Sarah gratefully accepted one and crawled up onto one of the teak loungers. Her mom set some guacamole and chips down on the end table between the two loungers, poured a drink for herself and sat down as well. “So are you dating anyone back there?”
“I’ve been too busy, Mom. The company I was working for got bought out in a hostile takeover. The owner of the new company asked me to come and work for him. It’s been really exciting. I’m doing things that I never envisioned doing six months ago. So far, it’s been great, but it keeps me busy. We’re on a very tight deadline, an important deadline, one that I’m determined to meet.”
“How important can a deadline for a video game be?”
Sarah looked up. Her father was standing in the doorway leading from the great room to the patio. Sarah, frustrated, sighed. “It’s important. A number of people’s jobs depend upon meeting it, Dad.”
Janet frowned at her husband, but he took no notice. She rolled her eyes, got up and poured him a drink. He was never going to learn when it came to Sarah. “Hi honey,” She gave him a kiss and a margarita.
Edward Adams was tall, gray and very good looking, even in his early sixties. Like her mom, her dad kept in shape, and the two of them were a formidable pair. “But a video game company—“
“Dad, can you leave it alone just this once? Please?” Sarah spat out.
“No, I just want to understand, Sarah. Tell me about your work. Explain it to me.” Her dad sat down on the edge of her chaise lounge to listen.
Sarah surrendered. For the next hour, she walked her father through the details of her work.
“So you’re working for this corporate pirate?” Edward asked.
“Yes, because it gives me the opportunity to save some jobs and change a game I like into a game I could love,” Sarah said.
Her father patted her ankle. “Well, it sounds more important than being a paralegal.”
“Actually, Dad, the skills are much the same.” Sarah took another deep breath. Was he never going to let her get down off the witness stand?
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t make more of your master’s degree, Sarah. I mean—”
“Please, Daddy, can we just let it go?”
Edward heard the quiet desperation in Sarah’s voice and said, “Yes, of course, munch,”
Sarah cringed a little at the old nickname. Her father always said she was too small to be a munchkin and therefore could only be a munch.
Tossing down the rest of his margarita, he stood up. “Well, let’s get dressed and we’ll go to Jalisco’s for dinner.”
Sarah and her parents went out for dinner and drinks. When they got home, Sarah excused herself and went upstairs to her room. She logged in to her work site to check and make sure nothing had caught fire in her absence. An email was in her in-box from Eamon.
Hope you’re getting some R&R in sunny California. Atlanta is hot and stormy. Don’t let the parents vex you too much. E.
Sarah wrote back:
Very little sunshine here in the mornings. Too cold to swim. Summer doesn’t really begin in San Diego until July. Already vexed, hexed and spellbound by the folks. I need a cleric – send one please. Hope the convention is going well. All quiet on the Wickerworld front for the moment. See you next week. S.
Suddenly her instant message lit up.
Sorry to hear that they’re giving you grief. Do you want a rescue?
Sarah replied:
No, I can deal, honest. They don’t mean to vex me. They love me. I see David on Sunday; he’ll help me muddle through. Thanks for the offer.
Eamon replied:
Just remember who won the contest. That should help.
Sarah replied:
Chauvinist ! LOL! ‘Night
Eamon replied;
Goodnight.
Sarah logged off, took a shower, climbed into her bed and read until she fell asleep.
Saturday began with a marathon shopping spree with her mother. In the space of about five hours they hit just about every important discount outlet in San Diego County. Sarah did her best not to buy anything, but her mother insisted on purchasing a cocktail dress for her for their evening out later.
Only Sarah’s determined insistence that she had a perfectly fine pair of shoes and purse to go with the dress kept her mother from buying accessories as well.
They got home just in time to shower and change. Sarah had to admit that the little red cocktail dress her mother had insisted on buying was sexier than her little black dress. Sarah guessed that her mom was matchmaking again.
Greg Ingalls and Sarah had been friends in high school. Perhaps her mother hoped that an old friendship could blossom into something more. She suspected that her mother was yearning for some grandchildren. It seemed that neither she nor David had any intention of providing them at the moment. No wonder her mother plotted.
Sarah took a final look in the mirror and then went downstairs to join her mother and father. They met the Ingalls at the Oceannaire Seafood Room for an excellent dinner. Then they went to the Civic Center to see The Book of Mormon.
Sarah and Greg had caught up with each other over dinner, and they sat together during the musical. He offered to drive her to the bar where everyone was going for a drink. His parents decided to ride with hers.
“Do you think we’re being set up?” Greg asked her once they were in the car alone.
“Well, I don’t know about your mother but mine is definitely seeking grandchildren,” Sarah said with a laugh. “My parents should have had more kids. Maybe one of them would have been inclined to marry early.”
Greg laughed as well. “You know, it’s not that I don’t want to marry, it’s just that I can’t seem to find the time to date anyone these days.”
“I know what you mean. But whatever happened with Heather? I mean, you used to really like her.”
Greg shook his head. “I don’t know. She went back East to school and I stayed out here. By the time I finished law school, we’d lost touch.”
“You should look her up on Facebook, or the other social websites, Greg. You’d be amazed at how many old friends are out there on the social network,”
“Strange. My firm has a page on Facebook but I’ve never bothered to set one up for myself.”
“You should. At the very least, I’d friend you,” Sarah told him.
Greg pulled his ear. “I might. Hey, let’s give the parents a thrill and go clubbing. I may not date, but I do know some of the hot spots. In fact, Flux back at the Gas Lamp District is a hot spot right now.”
“Sounds good. Let’s do it!” Sarah told him.
Sarah and Greg had a drink with the parents and then excused themselves. The Ingalls were delighted to hitch a ride home with Sarah’s parents.
On their way to the club, Sarah brought up Facebook on her phone and began searching for Heather. To her surprise, she found her still using her maiden name. Sarah sent a friend request and almost immediately received a positive response. She then sent a private message and discovered that Heather was in San Diego and currently single. Sarah gave her the name of the club they were going to and invited her to show up.
About forty-five minutes after they sat down, Heather came through the door looking for Sarah and Greg. Since Sarah hadn’t said a word to Greg about what she was doing, he was totally and completely stunned when Heather appeared at their table.
Greg stood up and took her hands. “Hey, you! Where have you been?” He kissed her cheek, but Heather took Greg’s face between her hands and gave him a long soft kiss on the mouth. “Lost in the wilderness,
Greg lost in the weeds. But I’m home at last.” She kissed him again, and then she turned to Sarah. “Damn girl, it is so good to see you!”
Sarah gave her a big hug. “Greg and I were talking about you and I played a hunch. Can you join us?”
“Count on it.” Heather gave Greg a come hither look and said, “Greggy, get me a drink will you? Something light, with an umbrella.”
Greg practically ran for the bar.
“Is he...?”
“Not married, not seeing anyone. He’s been too busy climbing the legal ladder at his firm, but all he’s talked about tonight is you and how he was sorry he lost track. How about you? Married?”
“Divorced, but no kids, thank God. It wasn’t a happy or healthy relationship but I’m am over it and well out of it,” Heather told her. “And you?”
“I was engaged, got jilted. Been too busy to date. There’s a guy, but he doesn’t want to get serious and I don’t want to play that game,” Sarah explained.
Heather flicked back her auburn hair. “So do you live here?”
Sarah shook her head. “Kansas City.”
“Kansas City? What do you do, tip cows?”
Sarah did an exaggerated eye roll. “We’re a little more sophisticated than that, Heather. Give us some credit. We tip pigs too!”
Heather burst out laughing.
About that time, Greg got back with Heather’s drink and Sarah was basically forgotten. She got asked to dance, propositioned a couple of times and then decided to call a cab.
“Hey you two,” she told them. “I’ve got a cab coming. You two go on, I’m still on Midwest time and the hour is late.”
Greg and Heather politely offered to take her home, but Sarah demurred. “Nope. Heather you have to promise to stay in touch, and you have to promise to help Greg set up a Facebook page.”
Heather gave her a thumbs up and Sarah waited by the door for her cab. It came soon enough and Sarah went home. The cab cost a small fortune, but it was worth it. She thought about her own matchmaking efforts this night and hoped that something good would come of it. Now if only there were an old flame for her…but the only old flame she remembered, aside from the fiancé from hell, was the boy she had a crush on in kindergarten.
Sarah tip-toed up the stairs and went to bed. She got up the next morning and stared at herself in the mirror. Gird your loins, Sarah. One more hurdle, the great reunion and then you can retreat with honor. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see David—she did. It was just that she didn’t want to listen to her parents rave on and on about how well David was doing. But it was going to happen whether she wanted it or not.
She took her dirty clothes downstairs and washed them while she waited for her parents to get up. Sarah packed as much of her things as she dared.
David’s house was not on the beach, but it was as close to the beach as you could get in Southern California these days, and there was a great view of the ocean from his patio and pool area. After some consideration, Sarah put on a sleeveless dress with a tropical print in greens, yellows and pinks. She chose a white cardigan to wear with it—the ocean breeze would be cool until late in the afternoon. A pair of white sneakers that had been in and out of style since the fifties completed the outfit.
She went to the linen closet and found a beach towel to roll her bikini into, and she was ready to go.
Noodles was begging for a walk, so Sarah left a note and took the daschund out for his morning constitutional. By the time they got back, her Mom and Dad were prowling around the kitchen grabbing a bowl of high fiber cereal and some coffee.
Sarah joined them at the breakfast bar.
“So how did it go last night?” Her mom asked. “You and Greg have fun dancing?”
“It was magic, Mom, absolutely magic,” Sarah assured her.
“You mean, you and Greg—“
“No, not quite. I found Heather for him. Heather was enchanting, Greg was charmed, and I, like a good fairy godmother, waved my wand and teleported back to fairyland.”
“What?”
“Mom, I used the internet to locate Heather. By luck or serendipity, she’s living in San Diego again.” Sarah shrugged. “Don’t you remember? Greg was always wild about her. And he and I have never been more than friends. So it wasn’t my loss, but I hope it’s Greg’s good fortune.”
“Sarah—“
Sarah could hear it in her mother’s tone of voice, in the way she said her name. Sarah was about to get the treatment, the clucking and hovering that made her feel like she was three years old. Well, she wasn’t having it. Not this time.
“Mom, please! Don’t start! You want to know what makes it so hard to come and see you and Dad?” Sarah looked at both of them. “It’s that you treat me like your handicapped child.” Sarah stood up and twirled around. “I am not broken! I am not injured! Look at me, guys. I’m young, healthy; I have a great job that I really love, and I’m making it on my own! Can’t you see that?” Sarah shut up. She was shocked at her own outburst. But instead of apologizing, Sarah just grabbed herself a bowl and poured herself a serving of high fiber cereal.
Edward stared at Sarah for a long moment then he said, “Do you really feel we see you that way, Sarah?”
“Yes, Dad, I do,” Sarah insisted. “I realize that my decision not to go into medicine disappointed you—“
“It wasn’t that, honey, it was the fact that you couldn’t seem to find anything at all that you wanted to do,” Edward said.
“Look, I it took me awhile, but that was because I always knew that if I pursued the things that made me happy, you would be disappointed. I got stuck between what you expected of me and what I wanted,” Sarah explained. “I love you both. Do you know how hard it is to disappoint you?”
“We just want you to be happy, Sarah,” her mom said sadly.
Sarah heard the pain in her Mom’s voice. She got down off her stool and went over and hugged her mother. “Momma, you know that no one can be happy all the time. But right now, I am about as happy as anyone has a right to expect, honest to God.” Sarah hugged her mom once more. “I love you, Mom, don’t forget that.”
“I love you too, sweetie.” Her mother patted her cheek.
Sarah turned to face the tougher problem. “Dad—“
Her father was sitting there hunched over his cereal bowl his brow knitted together. Sarah couldn’t tell if he was angry or just deep in thought.
“Dad?”
Her father looked at her. “I didn’t realize…you’re my little girl. I tucked you in whenever I could and read Goodnight Moon so many times I can still quote it from memory. I used to have nightmares, terrible nightmares in which you were lost or taken and I couldn’t find you. I thought I was taking care of you.” Her Dad looked down at his cereal again.
“Well, you were, Dad. But when I give you what you expect, you always expect more. I just gave up, because I didn’t want what you wanted for me. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you. But I’m never going to be what you wanted in a daughter. You need to face that. I just wish you could love me for who I am.”
“I do love you, Sarah. You’re my child.”
Sarah hugged her father. “You’re right Dad. You do love me. I know that. I just wish you could like me a little more.” Sarah returned to her cereal.
They sat silent for awhile. Sarah looked over at her mother and said, “So Mom, what are you wearing to David’s today?” Her mom perked up and the conversation drifted back into the well-worn dialogues that they’d always shared.
David was waiting as they drove around his circular drive and parked. Sarah was out the door and in her brother’s arms in about ten seconds.
“David!” She squeezed him tight and leaned back to get a good look at him. He was handsome as ever. His hair was darker than hers, a warm brown like their mother’s, but he had their father’s hazel eyes just as she did. And he was fit and tan and his eyes were bright. He seemed really happy. “Oh, David, it is great to see you!”
/> David kissed her cheek. “You too, sis. Wow! That’s some hairdo.”
She laughed. “You should see it when I fluff it up a la Emo!”
David looked over Sarah’s head at their parents. “Hey Mom, Dad, come on in. There’s something Margaret and I want to tell you.” With his arm around Sarah, he turned and walked through the front door.
Standing inside was a tall, beautiful woman, with red hair and green eyes and freckles Sarah saw eagerness and trepidation in her eyes and guessed at once what David’s news was.
“Sarah, this is Margaret Wilson-Browne, who is now my fiancée. Meggie, this is my sister, Sarah.”
“Oh I knew it, Ed. Didn’t I tell you?” Janet said.
Sarah watched her mother almost squeal with joy as she kissed Margaret’s cheek. Sarah kissed David’s cheek and then went over and took Margaret’s hands in hers. “Wow, this is great. It’s really great to meet you.”
“You too, Sarah.”
“So when is the wedding?”
Margaret shook her head. “David and I thought we’d check with both sets of parents and get dates. Then, maybe, we can find one we all can love.”
Sarah laughed at that. “Here’s my number so if you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to scream at, there’ll be a place to call. I guarantee I am much less expensive than a real shrink.”
Margaret laughed. The parents came over and whisked Margaret away. David came up and stood beside Sarah. “So, what do you think?”
“Well, based on a minute of conversation and some really good vibes, I think she’s a keeper.” Sarah smiled up at her brother. “How did you meet?”
“I was covering for a friend in an ER and Margaret came in with a puncture wound to her foot,” David explained. “I cleaned the wound and gave her a tetanus shot, but it was hard to concentrate because she was rockin’ a teeny-tiny bikini underneath a gauzy cover-up that didn’t really cover-up, you know? I wanted to cry when she left the ER all patched up, but a few days later she came in with a thank-you gift. I wasn’t there, but the nurses took pity on me and told her where to find me. The rest, as they say, is history.”
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