DESIGN FOR LOVE (23 page)

He raised his hands defensively. “I know, I know, meanwhile, how does next week sound?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, I guess.”

“Fine, leave it to me. I’ll set it all up.”

“Just one thing. Where will they be shooting?”

He grinned over his shoulder as he left her office. “Oh, just about everywhere, here, at your house, just everywhere!”

She let out a heavy sigh, “Great!”

* * * *

Although in her sub-conscious she had been putting it off all day, Francine finally picked up the phone in the late afternoon and called Ruby’s number.

She answered on the second ring. “Hi, this is Ruby?”

“Ruby, this is Francine, Hi.”

Ruby’s voice was suddenly filled with warmth. “Oh, hi, Francine, I’m so glad you called!”

“Is Steve there?”

“No,” Ruby gave a little chuckle. “You’ll probably be pleased to hear that he’s at work.”

Francine was more shocked than pleased. “Work?”

Ruby sounded really proud. “Yes, he’s got a job at the local high school as a substitute music teacher. They told him if it works out he could be taken on full time next semester.”

Francine was genuinely pleased, “Ruby, that’s great!” and then she had further thoughts. “And how is
he
liking it?”

“He’s loving it, just one slight problem.”

“Uh, oh, such as?”

Again Ruby chuckled. “Now all the school band want to go on the road like a rock group!”

Francine actually found herself smiling. “No kidding?”

She decided to get back to the purpose of the call. “I just wanted to let you guys know that I’ve spoken to Alison and everything looks okay.”

Ruby was genuinely pleased. “Oh, Francine, he’ll be so pleased!”

“Look, Ruby, do me a favor,” she began. “Don’t let him screw it up. Alison’s been hurt once, it would break my heart if it happens again.”

“I know,” Ruby answered. “Leave it with me, I’ll do my level best.”

“Thanks, oh and by the way,” Francine was warming to Ruby by the second. “Alison also knows about you too, Ruby.”

There was a touching pause at the other end. “Really?”

“Well, if Steve’s going to make it, I can’t think of anyone better to help him and if you help him, it also helps me.”

“Look, Francine,” Ruby’s voice became even softer. “I really think he’s going to succeed this time. He never stops talking about seeing Alison, so you can relax a little. He’s had a long time in the wilderness and now he wants to make up for all he’s missed!”

“Great, well, tell him I’ll call later in the week and we can set something up for the week-end. And one other thing, Ruby, he’s one hell of a musician. Those kids are lucky to have him as a teacher!”

There was real emotion in Ruby’s voice. “Now he’s out of the woods, he’s also a heck of a nice guy, Francine. Don’t worry, it’ll work out okay, believe me.”

“I’m counting on it, bye.”

“Bye, Francine, and thanks.”

As Francine looked up, Vince was standing in the doorway, “Sorry, Boss, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“That’s okay, come on in.”

“So, you’re going to do it then?”

She sighed. “I guess so. You know, Vince, when we got back from England after just a few days, I felt as though I’d missed such a great chunk out of Alison’s life. Just imagine how Steve feels?”

“Yeah, true. But if he hurts you guys in any way, he’s a dead man!”

She smiled. “Been watching those Jackie Chan movies again, have we?”

He grinned. “Well, you know what I mean?”

“Don’t I always, Rainbow Man?”

“Always.”

It was about 7.30 that evening when Francine made her way to the car park across the street. As she approached her car, the door of a nearby car burst open and a man jumped out. She stepped back in shock until she realized it was Roger.

“Jeez, Roger, you almost gave me a heart attack!”

“Francine we need to talk!” he began.

“I thought we’d already had this conversation.”

He looked incredulous that she could still be resisting his charms as he raised both arms up and down in exasperation. “What is it with you? I thought we really had something going?”

She looked him straight in the eye, fearless and defiant. “Let me see, oh yes, let me take inventory,” she closed her eyes and tapped the side of her head with her finger as if jogging her memory. “Ah, ah, that’s it, we had lukewarm sex, punctuated by your libido rising like an elevator every time a new bosom appeared on the horizon!”

“Now, that’s not fair!”

“You’re damned right it’s not fair on any woman to have to put up with that. End of story. Now, I’m telling you for the last time, stop bothering me or I’ll have the law on you!” she walked away towards her car leaving him standing there open mouthed and angry.

He howled after her. “I’ve got a reputation to maintain, damn it, Francine!”

She simply raised her hand and flapped it idly back towards him as if to say. ‘Who cares
?’

CHAPTER 43

On Saturday evening, as Francine was finishing dressing Alison in her best outfit, the child was clearly nervous.

“So, what does he look like, Mom?”

Francine tried to sound casual although her own stress level would probably have busted the blood pressure monitor at that very moment. “He looks just like Daddy always looked, darling - same old Daddy, just a little older, but still someone who loves you very much.”

“So, what do I have to do?” the questions kept coming.

“Nothing, my darling, except be yourself. Remember, Daddy’s probably a little bit nervous too, since he hasn’t seen you in a while. Don’t worry, I’ll be here, my baby.”

“Okay.” Alison seemed placated. Just at that moment the doorbell rang.

Alison jumped at first but Francine calmed her down, “Relax, darling, I’ll get the door.”

The child sat back in her seat, nervously twiddling her fingers.

When Francine opened the door, Steve was standing there, a small package in his hands, a nervous smile on his face. He looked smartly dressed and totally clean. “Hi, Francie!”

She smiled a welcome. “Hi, come on in,” she turned to Alison, “Look who’s here, sweetie.”

Steve walked in and looked at Alison for a long second. Mingled in that tearful first glance, Francine could see a kaleidoscope of emotions. Pride, remorse, excitement and apprehension all flitted across his first glance at his daughter.

“Hi, Princess.” he began as Alison rushed into his arms as the two hugged each other.

“Hello, Daddy.” she replied, eyes closed as if in a secret ecstasy. Francine looked on, involuntary tears already rolling down her cheeks as Steve quickly wiped away his own as he held the child at arm's length.

“My Goodness! You’re so beautiful, my baby.” he rasped in a voice suddenly husky.

The child was smiling up at him. “You look just the same, Daddy. I missed you so much!”

He hugged her to him. “Me too, baby, me too!” over Alison’s shoulder as he hugged her to him, Steve looked up at Francine, eternal gratitude in his eyes as he silently mouthed the words ‘
Thank you’
to her.

He extricated himself from the hug and smiled at Alison. “I brought you a little something, baby.”

Alison’s face lit up. “You did?”

“Yeah, open it.”

He handed Alison the small package and she quickly opened it. Inside was a CD with no label on it. The child looked at it curiously. “What’s this, Daddy?”

He grinned. “It’s a song, written especially for you.”

“A song?”

“Yes, when Daddy was touring on the road, I wrote this and the group recorded it.”

Francine was watching all this unfold like she was in a trance.

“What’s the song called?” the child asked.

“My Alison!” Steve replied.

The child clapped her hands in glee. “Cool! Can we hear it?’

Francine already had the CD player open. “Of course, darling.” she put the CD in and they all sat back to listen.

It was a beautiful ballad with a soft gentle beat and as she sat there listening, Alison’s face was a picture to perceive. Steve looked across at Francine as if to say ‘How am I doing?’

Francine smiled as if to say.
‘
Y
ou’re doing fine’.

By the time the song ended, Francine stood up and Steve, thinking he had outlived his welcome, stood also but she motioned him to sit.

“No, sit down, Steve. Look, I’ve got some calls to make, so you guys start catching up, I’ll leave you to it for a little while.”

Steve smiled in relief. “Thanks.”

As Francine closed the door behind her, the two of them were already in conversation.

“Okay,” Steve began. “How’s school, and I don’t just mean all those cute boys who keep smiling at you!”

“Daddy!” Alison laughed.

In the next room, Francine sat down and heaved a sigh of relief before looking wistfully out of the window. Although she had only feelings for one man who was always out of reach, she still felt an inner satisfaction that perhaps due in some degree to her previous ultimatum, she had been instrumental in re-acquainting her precious daughter with a father that hopefully she could continue to look up to.

So, why did she feel so melancholy? It was as if the pieces of everyone’s lives around her were being put together, all with the exception of her own. Even the continuing success of her business was somehow not the adrenaline rush she had expected.

Without love and someone to share it with, nothing seemed the same, she theorized.

As the rain started to fall outside against the background of excited laughter from the next room, Francine finally felt the tears start to form and soon they were streaming down her cheeks as a sudden engulfing wave of emptiness seemed to consume her very being.

She quickly dried her eyes and pulled herself together before rejoining Steve and Alison. The next item on the agenda, she had already decided, was to organize a visit to the movies, this time for Steve, Alison and Ruby!

At Francine’s suggestion that Ruby be included in the next visit, Steve’s eyes moistened once again before he gave Alison a farewell hug and promised to see her again soon.

As the child waved goodbye to her father through the window, Francine was watching her face closely. It was as if a new sparkle was back. It was then that she began to realize just how vulnerable children can be after a broken marriage. How they seem to try and compensate by retreating inwardly to try and handle the burden, but in so doing, something is always left in their psyche. A form of hidden scar that most adults have trouble in identifying, let alone being able to help it to heal.

Right now, on her daughter’s face, evidence that such healing had started was clearly evident. She turned to the child. “So, my darling, are you okay?”

Alison smiled. “Yes, Mom. Isn’t that cool! My
very own song!
”

Francine gave her a squeeze. “Yes, darling, that’s
very
cool! Your Daddy’s a great musician!”

Alison was excited. “I can’t wait to let Cindy hear it, she’ll be
so
jealous!”

Francine shook her head as if to say ‘Kids!’

CHAPTER 44

“Hi, sweetie!” Yvette’s happy voice came on the line when Francine later answered the phone in the living room.

“Oh, hi, Mom.”

“How did it go with Steve?” Yvette was also extremely protective of her precious grand-daughter.

“Surprisingly well.”

“Really?”

“Yes, he’s changed a lot, Mom. He’s also recorded a special song for her, even named it after her.”

“That’s nice. Did she like it?”

“She
loved
it! So, now the next stage is to let Steve and his girlfriend counselor Ruby perhaps take her to a movie.”

Yvette still sounded protective. “Well, keep a close eye on it, Francine.”

Francine sighed. “Don’t I always?”

“Of course, my love. But that’s not the only reason I’m calling. Your father and I want to take you and Alison out for a fancy meal on her birthday next Saturday.”

“What do you mean by fancy?”

“How about the Top of the Reunion Tower in Downtown?”

Francine smiled. “Wow! That’s fancy all right. Shall we meet you there?”

“Yes, that’ll be fine. The table is booked for 7.30.”

“Thanks, Mom, Alison will love it. She always wanted to have a meal up there.”

“See you then. Bye, my darling.’

“Bye.”

A family meal with Mom and Dad, Francine gave a wry smile. Two other lives back together, so why did she feel so happy and yet strangely so sad at the same time. She was half afraid to admit that she already knew the answer.

Now, the next big project was to decide what to buy Alison for her birthday, but before she figured that out, she gave Steve a quick call to remind him, but he already had it planned and agreed to drop off Alison’s present on the Saturday morning.

And so, by Saturday evening, as Francine left her car with the valet at the impressive Hyatt Regency Hotel in Downtown, Dallas, both she and Alison were dressed in their elegant best.

They had arrived a little early since the traffic was not as heavy as Francine had expected and as they ascended in the express elevator to the top of Reunion Tower, the spectacular panoramic view of Downtown Dallas unfolded before them.

Alison, her face pressed to the outside window of the elevator, was looking out wide-eyed at the scene below.

Francine squeezed her shoulder. “Excited, darling?”

“You bet. Will Grandma and Gramps be there when we get to the top?”

“Maybe, baby, we’ll soon find out.”

With that the elevator pinged and the doors opened onto the foyer of the exquisite restaurant at the top of the tower. The sun had long since set and through the windows, across the elegantly laid tables, seating equally elegant diners, the lights of Downtown sparkled way below.

Alison stood there transfixed. “Wow, Mom, this is so cool!”

Francine smiled. “Yes it is, my darling,” she looked around for signs of Yvette and Carl but they were nowhere in sight. She turned to Alison. “Stay here a second, darling and don’t move while I find the Maître ‘D’ to see if he’s already seated them.”