A Lonely Sky (6 page)

“Do you have aspirin?” Kim attempted to rise. “I think if I can get rid of this forty cannon salute booming in my head, I might be able to function.”

“Sure.” Julia rose. “I’ll get it.”

A half hour later, Kim was dressed, but sat subdued on her bed. “Do I still look as hellish as I feel?”

Julia, dressed and hungry for breakfast, tried to soothe her friend. “You look tired, but not as green.”

“Thanks.” Kim smiled for the first time that morning. “I’ve been so worried about myself, I forgot to ask if you made it home okay. I mean, I guess you did, ‘cause you’re here, but I hope that guy was nice. I’m really sorry I didn’t leave with you. Believe me, I’m sorry for lots of reasons.”

“That’s okay.” Julia returned the smile, as she remembered her walk with Sam. “He was very nice. He’s an actor. He’s up for a part in a mini-series.”

“Really? What’s his name, again?”

“Sam Lyons.”

“Lyons. Sam Lyons. It sounds a bit familiar but, hell, I couldn’t think straight now if my life depended on it. And my stomach really hurts. How in the world am I going to sing?”

A loud rap on the door startled both girls.

Julia opened the door, finding herself face to face with Mrs. O’Brien, who walked right in

“Good morning, Julia.”

“Hi.” Julia closed the door and leaned against it.

“How are you feeling?” Mrs. O’Brien walked towards Kim. With her face taut, grayish-brown hair pulled into a bun, out-of-date dark gray dress and heavy-heeled black shoes, she resembled a prison matron rather than a trip chaperone.

“I’m doing okay,” Kim lied.

Mrs. O’Brien sighed and folded her hands in her lap. “Kim. I’ve known both you and Julia since you were children. I babysat you for years while your mother worked. You and Julia practically grew up playing in my house with my Jeannie-”

As Mrs. O’Brien lectured, Julia’s own head began to pound. She could only imagine the torture sick Kim suffered as she sat and listened to Mrs. O’Brien drone on.

“Look,” Kim interrupted. “I just want to say again that I’m really, really, sorry, and it won’t happen again.”

“It is my duty, as a chaperone, to report to Mr. Mueller what occurred. And so I did.” She shook her head back and forth. “I can’t imagine my sweet Jeannie
even thinking
of doing something like this.”

“What did Mr. Mueller say?” Kim looked over at Julia as she spoke, worry etched into her pallid complexion.

“He’s speaking to Bob and Chris now, but asked me to relay your punishment.” Mrs. O’Brien stood tall as if reading a verdict. “You, Bob and Chris will be sent home. They’ll refund most of your money, of course.”

Silence fell. Kim’s face flushed and her eyes filled with tears.

“Isn’t that a bit harsh?” Julia heard the words fly out of her mouth before she could censor them. “We’ve only been here a day.”

Mrs. O’Brien spared no sympathy, and ignored Julia. “Mr. Mueller will call your parents after breakfast, Kim. You’ll sing with the choir today and then return to Frankfurt tomorrow morning to catch a flight home.”

A sob escaped from Kim, and Julia ran to comfort her. Julia felt torn. Kim was being sent home, kicked off the tour and Julia knew that she, too, should be going home. She should confess that she had been out as well. But as much as she wanted to do the right thing, the image of her father’s disappointed face flashed before her. She couldn’t admit her guilt. She couldn’t hurt him. Julia prayed for Mrs. O’Brien to leave so she could think straight.

Prayers seemed futile, however, as Mrs. O’Brien lectured on. “What were you thinking, Kim?  Getting drunk with boys? You represent our church!”

Kim sobbed harder as Julia shot imaginary darts into Mrs. O’Brien’s heart.

“I’m just so glad I raised my Jeannie-”

“Get out!” Kim shouted. “Get out. I mean it! I’m so sick of hearing about how perfect Jeannie is. I’m sorry I wanted to go have a little fun. I’m sorry I got caught and have to go home. Okay? Now get out!”

“You are a rude young woman.” Mrs. O’Brien straightened non-existent wrinkles from her skirt and headed towards the door. “I was actually feeling a bit sorry for you, but now I think Mr. Mueller made the right decision.”

“And
I
think I’m going to be sick again.” Kim suddenly rose and made a beeline towards Mrs. O’Brien.

Julia stifled a laugh as Mrs. O’Brien all but ran out the door. Kim followed, but slammed the door shut after Mrs. O’Brien left. She turned to face Julia, and leaned against the doorframe. She sunk to the floor and held her head in her hands.

“Oh Jules, I can’t believe I’m going home.”

Julia sat motionless on the bed. “I should be going too.”

Kim raised her head. “Oh no, Jules. You have to stay. No one knows you were with us. I’m sure Bob and Chris won’t tell. Why go home if you don’t have to?  You didn’t even want to go out with us in the first place. I dragged you into the whole mess.”

“I just feel so guilty, and bad for you.”

“It’s not your fault, it really isn’t. I should have returned with you early last night like I promised. And if I hadn’t been drunk, the punishment might not have been so bad.”

“What do you think your mom will say?” Julia walked over and helped Kim back to her feet.

“Heck if I know.” She wiped a few last tears from her cheeks. “Hell, she’ll probably be glad I threw up in O’Brien’s slippers. She never liked the woman much either, but it was cheap childcare.”

Julia handed Kim a tissue. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

Kim blew her nose, and attempted a smile. “I know, Jules, I know. But hey, we still have today. Let’s make the most of this last day together, okay?”

“Let’s go to breakfast,” Julia said, although still not appeased of her own guilt. “Can you eat anything?”

Kim grabbed her purse and opened the door. “Well, if not, I’m sure I know a good pair of shoes to deposit it in. Let’s go.”

Sam shifted his weight on the small, wooden folding chair, one of many placed outside and around Rothenburg’s Town Hall Square. He arrived late for the concert, but found an empty seat in the back row and spotted Julia amongst the group of choir members. He felt his spirit lift as he watched her.

She loved performing, and joy became her. Perhaps he hadn’t noticed it in the dim bar or in the shallow streetlight last evening, but now Sam noted how understated, yet present, her beauty was. He sat captured as the sun played off the highlights in her long blonde hair and accentuated softness of her radiant skin. No sadness or grief marred her sweet countenance today. Sam wished she might always feel this way.

As if feeling the weight of his stare, Julia glanced his way. He offered a small wave and she grinned as she continued singing. Her smile confirmed that he made the right choice to stay in Germany. Fate dealt him the Julia card for a reason. She needed guidance to stick up to her father and go into theater. Sam would encourage her to do so. Right now that seemed far more important than a party. And if that delayed his return to England, it couldn’t be helped. He could propose to Deirdre anytime.

Sam knew the passion Julia felt on stage. To experience the high of performing and then live without it would be like, well, losing a lover. It was imperative he encourage Julia to follow her dream.
She
needed him to stay. He’d talk with her after the concert and then head back to London.

Sam thought of the hellfire Deirdre would rain for not attending the party. But he’d be in his own private hell if he went through with the engagement. It was a toss up between two wrongs, and last night, no answer seemed right. But this morning, as the rain and his head cleared, he realized what he must do.

The concert soon ended, and the audience was invited to mingle with the American choir. Sam took the opportunity to try to reach Julia, but found himself jostled in a crowd of villagers.

“Bloody hell,” he said, as an elderly woman elbowed him. “You’d think they were the blasted Beatles!”

Sam managed to weave his way to the front of the crowd, only to find Julia gone. He spotted her heading towards the bus parking lot. She seemed to be helping Kim walk. Extracting himself from the throng of well-wishers, he headed for the lot. Only one bus remained, and as Sam approached it, Julia appeared at the door. “Sam!”

“Hello.” He stopped in his tracks and smiled. She was even prettier close up, her long hair the color of the sun, her eyes a beautiful cornflower blue.

She stepped off the bus. “I was just heading back to mingle with the villagers. Kim isn’t feeling well. She’s lying down inside.”

“Ah. I see. I was hoping you might like to mingle with me a bit.”

Sam noticed the slightest hint of a blush adorn her smooth cheeks. She looked down at the ground, but a small smile formed on her lips. “I saw you at the concert. Thanks for coming.”

“My plans changed. My options were to spend the day at the pub getting fabulously drunk, or attend your concert in hopes that you could actually sing.” He bent down to catch her eye, and share the twinkle in his.

“Very funny.” She laughed, and looked up again. She seemed to relax at his joke. “Did you like the concert?”

“Brilliant, yes. Well done. You enjoy singing, do you?”

“Yes.” Julia’s expression became thoughtful. “I love singing, but not as much as acting. Still, it helps to have a musical background for theater as well.”

Sam found his opening, but needed to tread carefully. He didn’t want to upset her again, but felt compelled to push her towards her dream. He reached inside his shirt pocket for his cigarettes, only to find in his haste to get to the concert, he left them in his room. He’d just have to forge on without his crutch.

“Julia, I’m wondering if you gave any thought about what we discussed last evening? About talking to your father?”

“In all honesty, so much happened since I returned last night, I haven’t had a chance. Kim and the guys got caught sneaking into the hotel. They’re being sent home tomorrow.”

“And you?”

“No one knows I was with them.” She smiled, gratitude filling her face. “Thank you so much for walking me back.”

Sam took a chance. “Thank me by talking with your father.”

“It’s not as easy as all that, Sam. You don’t know me, and you don’t know my father. I can’t break his heart. He’s still not over my mother’s death.”

“I’m sorry.” And he was, but not for her father. “You’re right. I have no bloody right to tell you what to do. But, I see a lot of myself in you when I was your age, and you have so much energy and life and you should be able to do what you want with it.”

She remained silent and avoided looking at him.

“I shouldn’t have come.” He turned to leave. Perhaps this was a mistake after all.

“Wait.” He felt the warm, soft touch of her hand on his arm, so different from Deirdre’s ice-cold, thin fingers.

“Sam, I’m sorry. It’s just that you have everything I want and can’t have. You’re an actor. You’re living your dream. You live in England!”

“What does England have to do with it?”

Julia looked away, as if embarrassed. “I’ve always dreamed of going to England.”

“And so you’re in Germany,” Sam teased, hoping to lighten the mood. “You’re getting close.”

“Yes, well you see, that’s just
it
.”

Sam waited patiently as Julia took a deep breath. “I get
close
to what I want, but I never get exactly what I want. I wanted a happy family. My mom died and now my dad is permanently sad and overprotective. I want to be an actress. I acted in high school and now I can’t pursue it. I want to go to England and I’m in Germany. And yes, yes, I know I sound like a spoiled brat, and I know a lot of people my age don’t get to travel or go to college.”

“You’re not spoiled, you’re disappointed.” Sam knew disappointment all too well. “It’s okay to be discouraged, but it’s not okay to quit trying, love. That’s all I mean. Don’t give up on going for what you want. I’m not.”

Before Julia could answer, Kim exited the bus, sickly green and in a panic. Sam stepped aside, allowing her to run a few yards away and vomit.

Julia offered an apologetic smile. “I should go help her.”

“Allow me.” Sam said. As Kim walked toward them, he helped the sick girl back onto the bus. Julia followed.

Kim settled into a seat and Sam turned to Julia. “ I think I should stay until someone else comes. I have a car back at my hotel, and if needed, I could drive her to a hospital.”

Julia took a moment to weigh the options. “Okay.”

She motioned for him to sit across the aisle from her as she sat next to Kim. A few minutes of uncomfortable silence ensued. Sam wanted to talk more about Julia, but her attention focused on her friend.

Kim sat up and looked Sam’s way. “I feel a little better.” The color had returned to her cheeks and her voice seemed stronger. “Julia says you’re an actor from England. I don’t recognize you, no offense.”

Sam laughed. “Well, I’m not surprised. I’ve only done bit parts on American television. I’ve done more theater in London, Shakespeare and the like. Do you act?”