Chapter Sixteen
California Bound
Going to Santa Monica proved easier said than done. Unless you are your own boss and have enough money to burn, last-minute vacations are not the norm. The next morning, Rebecca nearly ripped off my head when I asked her for the rest of the week off. She profusely expressed how highly unprofessional I was to expect her to grant me a leave with such short notice. And perhaps it was a bit unfair, but I hardly ever called in sick or even took all my vacation days.
Did I mention my boss was a heartless, illogical harpy of a witch?
My real foolishness was expecting anything short of her insults and irrational explanations as to why I couldn’t take a few days. I’d practically busted my ass the last few weeks making sure every detail pertaining to the show was completed. Plus, it’s not like I’d leave without first ensuring things would be under control while I was away.
I nearly fell backward when, after groveling at her feet, she at least let me take off on Friday. It wasn’t what I’d wanted, but it was better than nothing. I strolled back into my office dreading the call I was going to make to Tom.
“You’re absolutely sure there is nothing you can do?” he asked as soon as I told him about Rebecca’s quasi-approval, the tone in his voice was absent the joyous bounce I’d grown accustomed to.
“Baby, I tried. This woman is impossible.”
“Is she ever going to let you take a vacation?”
“Vacations are usually planned, giving me time to get things in order. This is too sudden. I wish I could, but it’s just not going to happen. I got Friday off and that was after getting a serious ear spanking from her. We have the weekend at least.”
“To hell with her.”
“Hell is her home, remember?”
“I could take care of you, you know.”
“Oh, baby. Not the quit-your-job-I’ll-pay-your-bills speech again. I don’t need anyone taking care of me.”
“Why don’t you come and work for me? You could have all the vacations you want.”
“Really? And exactly what kind of work would I do? I know nothing about real estate.”
“You’d be my personal assistant.”
“I’m sure you already have one of those.”
“I’ll fire her.”
“Seriously? I’m not quitting my job and I’m not coming to work for you. I really want to go to Santa Monica, but all I have is Friday. Take it or leave it.”
“You make it sound like this is just for me.”
“It’s not. But what else would you have me do? Wait. Don’t answer that.”
“I was looking forward to spending the week with you. I’m disappointed, that’s all. But, if three days is all we’ll have, then I promise to make the best of it.”
“Thank you.”
“My flight is not ‘till ten tonight. Can I see you after work?”
“I have dinner plans with Jen.”
“So, cancel.”
“I can’t. She’s already going to have a heart attack when I tell her about California.”
“You haven’t told her?”
“You know how she gets. She’s gonna give me the overprotective speech and I’m going to have to reassure her I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“Do you?”
“Do I…what?”
“Know exactly what you’re doing?”
“Are you going to continue to question my decision to come see you?”
“Only because you always seem so doubtful about things…when it comes to me.”
“You need to relax.”
“I’m trying. I’m just anxious to see you.”
He was right—as always. I still wasn’t sure I was doing the right thing by following him to California, but I knew talking about it wasn’t going to make me feel any different. I changed the subject. “Hey, listen. While I have you on the phone, there is something I need to discuss with you before I come this weekend.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve been thinking and…and I think sex should be off limits.”
There was utter silence on the other end.
“Tom? You still there?”
“Yeah, I’m here,” he groaned.
“Did you hear what I said?”
He blew out a deep sigh. “Is that what you meant by slowing things down?”
“I know my tendencies, and I don’t want things getting cloudy.”
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“What do you want me to say? I want you, Sara, and not just your body. If that’s what it’s going to take to prove to you I’m for real, then fine. We can sleep in separate rooms. It will probably drive me crazy not to be able to touch you, but if it means that much to you, I promise to be a gentleman.”
“Thank you. It does mean that much to me.”
“Can I still hold your hand for a midnight walk down the beach?”
“So, you’re gonna overwhelm me with romance instead?”
“Baby, what’s so wrong with romance?”
I could only imagine the wounded-kitten eyes on the other end. “Tom, what girl doesn’t like romantic midnight walks down the beach? I love that about you. Just need to get used to all this attention.”
“I get it. I’ll try to tone it down, but I’m not making any promises.”
“Didn’t think you would.”
After giggling for ten more minutes about who was going to hang up first, I finally mustered up the courage. A subtle smile continued to linger on my lips long after I severed the call. What I didn’t have was the bravery to tell Jen about my trip to Santa Monica.
I waited until Thursday.
I already knew what she was going to say. I called her before leaving work, hoping she’d be home in the evening. Thankfully, it was her night off, and I decided to soften the blow by offering to buy her favorite takeout so she didn’t have to cook. After dinner, we sat on the couch and I finally told her I was leaving for the weekend to meet Tom in California.
“California?” Jen jumped off the couch and paced. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“Jen, I don’t know what the problem is.”
“I thought you guys were going to take it slow. Going away on a weekend trip is not taking it slow.”
“You seriously need to relax. First of all, you were the one who told me I needed to start dating. That I needed love in my life.”
“I also said you needed to take a breath and slow it down. What do you think is gonna happen out there?”
“We agreed to no sex this weekend.”
“What?”
“Yup. Told him I wanted to figure things out just as much as he did, and if we are to find out what is really happening between us, I didn’t want sex muddying things up.”
“And he said okay?”
“Yes, babe. He is not a bad guy.”
“I never said he was a bad guy, Sara. I like Tom. I want to see you happy. That’s why I’m freaking out. I don’t want you screwing this up.”
“You know, I’m really getting sick and tired of you telling me I don’t know how to live my life. I know I made mistakes in the past. I screwed up with Josh, but that life is over. I want to start again and Tom might be the one to help me. So, can you puh-leaze have some faith in me. I know what I’m doing.”
She sat next to me and I took her hand in mine. “Jen, ever since my mother died, you’ve taken on the role of protecting me, of sheltering me from the pain of the world. I couldn’t be more grateful for having someone like you in my life. You were the only one left when everyone else took off. I didn’t just lose the most important woman in my life. My father, the man I had grown to admire as my hero, also died when he married the woman he was having an affair with. I lost both my parents, and you adopted me. You weren’t only my best friend, you were there for me even more than my own sister. I can never forget what you did for me then and what you’ve done for me always.”
She lowered her gaze. “Sara, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I know you mean well and you’re simply looking out for me. Trust me, I know what you are afraid of, but I can do this. I’m not going to screw it up, I promise. Tom’s not like other men. He’s special…and unusual. He sees through me and he knows there’s pain buried deep, but he doesn’t press me, he only has to give me his warmth and it’s enough to soothe me.”
She sat silently, looking at me with worried eyes, but finally she conceded. “Okay. Fine. But bring me back a souvenir.” She gave me a warm smile, and I threw my arms around her, smothering her in a hug.
“Thank you, babe.”
“As much as you like to think I shelter you like a daughter, I know I’m not your mother. I could never fill those shoes. You don’t need my permission to go after your prince.”