My Once and Future Love Page 6

  When it was time to leave, he took my hand in the hallway. The gesture carried a lot of weight for me—one, he’d never casually done it before in public; two, he’d only taken my hand, not done something else more overt or possessive; and three, holding hands was so normal. He opened my door for me when we reached the car, kissed the hand he held, and walked around to his side. I swooned at the sheer sweetness of it.

  “Just in time for supper at Mum’s,” he said, pulling the car into traffic.

  “You’re hungry after all that candy?”

  “Well, yeah. Growin’ boy, love.” He winked.

  “Pig.”

  “Oink, oink.”

  Vivian didn’t look surprised at all to see us walk through the door together.

  “I didn’t realize you two had plans today,” she said.

  “We didn’t. Jacob caught up with me when I was out by myself.”

  “And gave you a ride home? How sweet of you, dear.”

  “We saw a movie, Mum.” He started for the kitchen. “What’s for dinner?”

  She turned to me. “I took the liberty of picking something up for you today, Elizabeth. It’s on your bed.”

  A present? “Wow, okay. What is it?”

  “Go take a look. There’s time.”

  “Um, thank you.” The kitchen door was closed, so he couldn’t hear me. “Did you talk to Jacob about…?”

  She shook her head. “Why? Did he say something?”

  “No. He was just…nice today. Less intense.”

  She smiled. “I haven’t said a word.”

  Huh. “Oh. Okay, then.”

  I excused myself to my room. A large, flat box sat on my bed. The note on top said for tomorrow night. That was odd—I didn’t have plans for tomorrow. I lifted the top off to reveal folded-over tissue paper.

  Wrapped in the tissue paper was a dress. Lifting it out of the box, the length of the dress fell to the floor. It was semi-formal, a simple sheath design in navy blue. I held it up to my body in front of the full-length mirror. The hem skimmed my ankles.

  Not bad. Right in between drawing attention to myself and embarrassing me. I might have chosen it in a store if I could’ve afforded it.

  “Try it on,” Vivian said behind me.

  “Was I taking too long?”

  She waved off the question. “No, I wanted to see how you like it. Try it on tonight in case any alterations need to be done.”

  “It’s lovely, but…why?”

  She shrugged. “Why not? Besides, what would a visit to London be without attending a society party? I’d love to have your company. It’s a good cause, but you have no idea how much of a bore some of those people are.”

  “Not seeing the incentive here,” I teased.

  “Did I not mention the five course meal? Silly me.”

  Thinking about it, I asked, “What’s for dessert?”

  “Something with far too many calories, of course.”

  “If it’s chocolate, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

  She laughed, her green eyes twinkling. “I’ll try to find out.” She shooed me toward the bathroom. “Try on the dress!”

  “Okay, okay.”

  I shed my clothes, unzipped the back of the dress, and carefully stepped into it. It was sleeveless, so I got the straps situated on my shoulders and reached my right arm behind me to pull the zipper up. The fabric started to magically hug my meager curves. A small slit in back made it easier to walk. Glancing in the bathroom mirror, I almost didn’t recognize my body.

  “Whoa.”

  “Does it fit? Come out and let me see.”

  I smoothed the dress into place and walked out to the bedroom.

  “Oh, Elizabeth…” Vivian started to walk around me. “I had a hunch this would be perfect.” She guided me to the full-length mirror, then gathered my hair in her hands and twisted it up off my neck. “Look at you. So grown-up.”

  “I…I don’t know what to say.” The girl in the mirror looked like a different person. She had possibilities.

  “You like it, yes?”

  “It’s amazing…” I tried to be an adult, though I didn’t feel like one, yet, but Mirror-Beth was one.

  Vivian smiled at me in the mirror. “Then ‘thank you’ is all I need. Change for dinner, now.”

  “Okay.” I walked back into the bathroom and heard her leave.

  I wanted to call Mom. “Crap, it’s Thursday.” I checked my watch. “She’s at ceramics class.”

  Oh, well. I’d tell her all about the party tomorrow.

  After dinner, Vivian convinced Jacob to play something on the piano. To my surprise, he took a random book out of the bench seat, opened it to a page, and started playing like he’d done it a hundred times. I watched his long fingers dance over the keys and wondered what instrument he was really better at—guitar or piano. We clapped when he finished the song.

  “It’s been too long since I heard you play,” his mother said fondly.

  “That’s what you get for stayin’ in California,” he teased.

  “Perhaps it is time for a change,” she said

  “I didn’t know you’d taken lessons.”

  “Started before the guitar, actually,” he said. “And I’ve had to pick it up again at school.”

  “You play very well.” Professional quality, to my inexperienced ears.

  He shrugged. “A little rusty, but it wasn’t too bad.”

  “Play Elizabeth some of the Gershwin.”

  “Mother, I haven’t touched that piece in almost four years.”

  “Well, whose fault is that?” She added to me, “He stole the recital with it, don’t believe any different.”

  “I barely remember any of it. Request somethin’ from this decade.”

  She sighed. “And on that note, I’m going to bed. Be good, kids, and turn out the lights tonight.”

  “Yes, Mum.”

  “Goodnight, Vivian.”

  Left alone, I moved closer to the piano bench. He swung one leg over to straddle it and face me.

  “How much longer are you staying?” He wrapped his arms around my waist, resting them on my hips.

  I sighed. “I don’t know…maybe make it an even two weeks.”

  “Any way I can convince you to stay longer?”

  “Oh, that’d go over well. ‘Hi, Dad, I’m not coming home yet ‘cause Jacob and I wanna hang out.’”

  He rolled his eyes. “I’m serious. What would justify it, then?”

  Lowering my voice to mimic my father, I said, “’Summers are for school or a job, same as the rest of the year. Preferably both.’”

  “Hmm… What if you could shadow a working photographer?”

  Might work… “Like an apprenticeship?”

  “Yeah… I have a friend, see. She shoots gigs for a paper or magazine or some such.”

  “She?”

  He grinned. “Never dated her, love. Too old for me. Anyway, I could give her a ring; see if she’s up to it?”

  “Couldn’t hurt.”

  He pulled me closer. “That’s my girl.”

  I kissed him, keeping the contact light and innocent. “You should go home.”

  “Not tired.”

  “Not why I said it.”

  He smiled, and let me go. “Okay, I’ll be good.”

  I walked him to the front door and we kissed goodnight. Feeling the heat build in my belly again, I gently pushed him away.

  “Goodnight, Jacob.”

  “’Night, Bethie. Sweet dreams.” He stepped outside and walked to the bike.

  I shut and locked the door before I ran to him for another kiss.

  Chapter Seven

  Jacob called the next morning to tell me his friend was free to meet up around lunchtime on Saturday. It was too late in California to call Mom, so I sent her an e-mail about the benefit party tonight and added a line about meeting a photographer tomorrow to pick her brain.

  Vivian wanted me to start getting ready no later than five o�
�clock, so I stayed close to the house, other than picking up the prints I had developed. I never did much with make-up and only knew how to braid my hair, but, whatever put her at ease.

  She came into my room when I was almost done blow-drying my hair. “Come with me, Elizabeth.”

  “What for?” I set my brush on the bathroom counter. “I’m almost done. Promise”

  She smiled. “Just come to my room, please.”

  “Okay…” Still in my robe, I followed her down the hall.

  Her room looked like a decorator showcase in a magazine, everything perfectly in its place. She walked to a dressing table and indicated I should sit on the stool in front of it. I sat. She gathered my hair in her hands and made a twist while I watched in the mirror.

  “You don’t have to do that,” I said.

  “Indulge me. I never had a daughter’s hair to play with.” She tucked the ends of my hair into the twist and slid a comb in to hold it in place. Then, she reached for a few bobby pins on the table. “There. You can dance all night and that won’t fall out of place.”

  Dancing…heh. There were no plans of making a fool of myself in front of a hundred strangers.

  She pulled a make-up palette and a few brushes out of a drawer. I started to move out of the way to let her sit down and finish her routine. She placed a hand on my shoulder.

  “I’m not done with you, yet, dear.”

  “Huh?” I glanced at the make-up. “Oh, I don’t wear that stuff.”

  “Trust me, Elizabeth. I promise you’ll only be a lovelier version of yourself.”

  I chewed on my lip. She didn’t look like she was budging on this. Sighing, I closed my eyes.

  Vivian didn’t take long at whatever she did to my face. I felt brushes touch my eyelids, cheeks, and lips for all of five minutes.

  “Done.”

  “Really?”

  “You can open your eyes, dear.”

  I turned to the mirror, put on my glasses, and stared at my reflection. Mirror-Beth was me, but better. Vivian had used the barest hint of color, but my eyes were defined and I now had cheekbones. The only noticeable touch, really, was the rose on my lips. I’d never worn lipstick before and the texture felt kinda weird.

  “Thank you,” I said finally. Rude of me to stay silent so long.

  She smiled at me in the mirror. “You’re very welcome. Go get dressed, now.”

  “Okay.” I started to leave, then turned around and hugged her.

  “Oh! One more thing.” She went to her dresser and brought back a small box. “A woman is naked without jewelry. And don’t say no.”

  I nodded and went back to my room.

  Carefully stepping into my dress, I zipped up the back, smoothed the fabric down my body, and checked my reflection in the standing mirror. Satisfied my bra straps weren’t showing, I stepped into the kitten heels that were also in the box and stuffed a few things into the new clutch purse. The last touch was the sapphire earrings and necklace set.

  “Elizabeth…”

  “Coming!”

  Three steps down the staircase, I noticed she wasn’t alone at the bottom.

  “Jacob.”

  “Bloody hell…” He stared up at me, his eyes running over me head-to-toe and back again.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I, uh, I always go to this thing. The foundation is in the name of my best friend from boarding school,” he said.

  “Oh. Hold on.” I ran back to my room to grab my bag.

  Vivian frowned when she saw it. “Elizabeth, isn’t that a bit casual for the evening?”

  “Oh, I’m not bringing it in. I want to show Jacob the pictures from his concert later.” I hurried down the stairs.

  “You have photos?” he asked, smiling.

  “Look at them in the car,” his mother said. She nudged us toward the door like a hen. “We’re going to be late.”

  “Yes, Mum.”

  The chauffeur had the door open when we left the house. I couldn’t stop glancing at Jacob in a suit. Just your basic black suit with a white shirt and black tie, but wow…he was yummy. We ended up sitting across from his mother, my camera bag between us.

  “You mentioned an old friend?” I asked him.

  “Uh, yeah. He had cancer. It was the ‘80s and that kind of thing was harder to treat than now. So, his folks set up the charity to fund research.”

  “Is he okay now?”

  He shook his head. “He passed due to an infection.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He smiled and squeezed my hand. “It was a long time ago, love. I normally hate these sorts of parties, but it’s a good cause.”

  “And I get to see him look respectable once a year,” his mother teased. We laughed and the mood stayed light.

  He didn’t let go of my hand.

  We drove out a ways west to an estate with several acres. Behind the ornate black gate stood a house no older than twenty years, by the materials used. My mother would take me on Sunday drives through the rich parts of L.A., and this place would have fit right in. Beautiful, classy, and big, though the landscaping definitely had the English touch I’d gotten to know here. You have no idea how refreshing it is to see no palm trees.

  The car pulled up in front. I whispered a question about leaving my bag there in Jacob’s ear.

  “No problem, love.”

  Vivian had already gotten out, so it was my turn. Not used to wearing a long dress or heels, I was extra careful about not tripping myself and landing flat on my face. I glanced up—or knocking my head on the roof. Successfully upright, I stepped aside to let him out. He took my hand again, lacing his fingers with mine.

  “Nervous?” he asked quietly.

  “Why?”

  “Your hand is cold.”

  I blushed. “Oh. A little, I guess.”

  We moved up the steps. “Don’t be nervous. You look beautiful, and I guarantee you’re smarter than at least half the room.”

  “Stop…”

  “Only speak the truth, love.” He caught up to his mother.

  She gave the butler her invitation. We followed inside.

  “Whoa. If possible, it’s bigger on the inside,” I whispered. Jacob chuckled.

  Past the foyer, we heard voices. He led me into a ballroom set up for the banquet with round tables. A live band at one end played old standards. Vivian had already found our table. She set her purse next to her place setting and started to mingle.

  “So how does this thing go?” I asked Jacob.

  “People arrive, then someone says an introduction, usually a spokesman for the foundation. They start serving food, and the guests put checks in the envelopes on the table. Aside from the donations, it’s mostly an excuse to socialize. Eventually, some get up to dance to the band, or walk in the garden, or leave once they think they’ve been polite. Like Mum said, it’s bloody boring if you’re under fifty.”

  “Why don’t you mail the donation in, then?”

  He shrugged, and unbuttoned his coat. “Don’t rightly know, anymore. Remind me to do that next year.”

  “Deal.” I leaned in to add, “Maybe you’ll be in L.A. next summer.”

  He grinned and wrapped one arm around my waist. “Maybe.”

  We walked around the room for a little while, his mother waving us over to say hello to this person or that. She was so natural at this, working a room. Impeccably dressed in a white dress and jacket, she had a smile and warm greeting for everyone I met. If she had to act with some of them, I couldn’t tell.

  Jacob’s hand rested on my back, a reassuring presence. Crowds were not my thing, and even more so in a group where I felt intimidated. If people closed in around me, I tended to panic and couldn’t breathe. He had to rescue me at Disneyland once, and remembered ever since.

  I loved him for looking out for me.

  “Don’t know about you, love, but I’m parched,” he said after another exchange of pleasantries.

  “Sounds good.” We headed
to the open bar.

  A chime rung through the room. I was about to ask what it meant, when everyone started moving to their seats. Oh.

  There was a very nice speech about the necessity of funds to keep research alive and the current chances of a cure, then the waiters started bringing out the first course. I looked at all the silverware around my plate and gulped. Waiting to see what Jacob did, I took another sip of water. He picked up the outside fork first.

  After three courses of food I could barely identify, I hoped the entrée was something normal. Thank God for chicken.

  He whispered to me, “Don’t worry, we’ll snag somethin’ good later.”

  I giggled. Vivian arched her brow at me.

  “This isn’t so bad,” I whispered back. “Just…”

  “Small?”

  “Yeah.” We shared a grin, and I almost kissed him in front of everybody. “But dessert can’t be bad. It’s…dessert.”

  “Unless it’s coffee flavor.”

  My nose wrinkled up. “You would have to say that.”

  “Ain’t my fault your taste buds are defective.”

  “Eat your chicken.”

  He grinned again and squeezed my knee under the table.

  Dessert had nuts sprinkled on top—which I don’t like, either—but once removed, it was chocolate-y goodness. The shell of chocolate hid some kind of berry mousse. Don’t know how they sealed it in there…

  “Bored?” Jacob placed his hand on my shoulder.

  “Huh?” I shook my head. “No…I was wondering how they made the chocolate thing.”

  He laughed. “You’re adorable.”

  My cheeks turned pink. “Adorable is for puppies and stuffed bears.”

  “Sweetheart, learn to take a compliment.” He stood and offered his hand. “Dance with me?”

  “I don’t dance.” Please don’t make me.

  “Bethie, it’s just swaying in time.”

  Sighing, I put my napkin on the table, and stood. “No fancy maneuvers.”

  He grinned and took my hand. “Scouts honor.” Instead of joining the other couples, he headed for the door outside.

  “Where are you going?”