Midnight in Brussels (8 page)

Allan George Livingston was delivered to Paula and Drake on February 22, George Washington’s birthday so they gave him George’s name. The happy parents adored the little fella from the moment he popped into the world.

At the first sounds of the baby’s cries announcing his arrival, Drake beamed as he looked at Amanda and said, “Listen to the noise A.G. is making. That child has got some strong lungs on him if you ask me.”

Three months had passed since A.G. was born.

It was the last Sunday in May when Amanda drove out to a barbecue at her sister’s house by the river. Drake had given Amanda a brand spanking new red Ford 150 super cab pickup truck on her birthday the month before. Although she hadn’t wanted him to do it, she was grateful she hadn’t had to use her savings to buy a car, and it was obvious she adored her truck, the first vehicle she’d ever owned. It was her baby to be proud of, and it was in her name. She wondered what Arlie would think about her owning such a fancy truck and learning how to drive.

Nearly a year and a half had passed since Arlie had disappeared, and they weren’t any nearer to solving the mystery than they’d been the week after he was gone. Amanda had resigned herself to the fact that he was probably dead. She just couldn’t imagine he could still be alive and not trying to contact her, regardless of his reasons for leaving. Surely he would want a divorce if he were alive after all this time.

Richard had been pressuring her to marry him every time they were together. She hadn’t given in to his frequent sexual advances and was feeling guilty about it, but she just couldn’t go all the way with him. She used the excuse of still being married, but that was fast becoming a lame excuse for she was beginning to want him in her bed. The desire was building. In fact, she looked forward to the sensual kisses and embraces that almost pushed her past the point of no return. She knew she was falling in love with him and was fighting it with all her might.

As she drove, she recalled seeing Richard a couple weeks before. He’d knocked on her door and when she opened it and saw him standing there grinning, holding a guidebook on traveling in Europe in one hand and a bouquet of yellow roses in the other, she couldn’t help but feel love for him. He was perfect. She could find nothing wrong with him.

That evening she had made dinner for him, they sipped wine, and as they cuddled on the sofa, he asked her to marry him once again. With tears in her eyes she had put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, not giving him an answer.

He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom and they lay on the bed together for the first time, but fully clothed.

“I love you, Amanda,” he said hoarsely as he brushed her hair back from her face. He cleared his throat, embarrassed at the sound of his voice. “I want to make you happy and give you everything you want, darling. I’ll never leave you.” His fingers traced the arch of her eyebrows and he kissed her nose. “Do you love me a little bit?”

Instead of replying, Amanda pulled him to her and gave him a long, deep, wet, passionate kiss that left them both dizzy and weak. Then she moved from the bed and took his hand, leading him back into the living room.

“It’s time for you to go back to the hotel now. It’s after three. Paula will be here in six hours to go shopping, so I’ve got to get some sleep.”

He was hurt that she couldn’t tell him she loved him, couldn’t say she’d marry him. Something kept holding her back, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. He believed he could persuade her eventually.

“Where’s my little A.G.?” Amanda called out as she burst into the Livingston house through the back door into the service porch that led to the kitchen.

“We’re in here!” Paula answered from the family room. “Watching the game.”

Amanda took off her coat and left it in the kitchen draped over a chair. “Gimme that little bear!” She reached for A.G. in the playpen and picked him up; giving him enough hugs and kisses to last a lifetime. “You little baby bear … baby, baby bear … you’re my favorite little cub, yes, you are. I’m going to eat you all up. Yum, yum, yum.”

A.G. began giggling as she nuzzled under his chin and blew on his neck.

“So, where’s Richard?” Drake asked. He guzzled his beer and got up from the leather recliner to get another one.

“He’s driving out by himself. Called and said he wasn’t sure when he’d be through with the meeting.”

They all heard the horn honk.

“There he is now.” Drake rushed towards the back door.

“Well, I guess he’s excited about seeing Richard,” Amanda said as she put A.G. back into the playpen and then sat down next to Paula.

“More excited than you are, little sister?”

Amanda smiled at Paula.

“What’s going on, Amanda?”

“I’m making an announcement today.”

“Oh, Amanda!” She reached over and hugged her before Amanda could respond.

“Where’s my little darlin’? Where is she?” Richard didn’t take the time to take off his sheepskin jacket as he barreled through the kitchen and set a cooler box on the table. “It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen my woman. There you are! Come here, you little angel.” He headed straight for Amanda.

She stood up and he smothered her with an embrace and a kiss that would melt the thickest glacier in the Swiss Alps.

“I don’t think I could have made it one more hour without you in my arms. I’m never going to be away from you that long again. Never.” He turned towards Drake and Paula. “I love this woman, you know that. And I want to make this formal right now.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew a red velvet ring box. He opened it and took a 10-carat ring from its perch and lifted Amanda’s left hand. “Will you marry me, Amanda?”

Amanda’s face flushed and her pulse quickened. She was having trouble breathing, gasping.

“She’s going to faint, Richard!” Paula rushed to her side and they guided her to the sofa.

“No, no. I’m all right. It’s okay. Could I have a drink, please?” She turned pale as she leaned her head back on the sofa and looked up at Richard, tears in her eyes.

“The champagne is in the cooler I set on the kitchen table, Drake. Let’s have a toast.”

“You got it!” Drake hurried to the kitchen.

Richard reached again for Amanda’s hand.

“Richard, sit here beside me.” She patted the seat. “I have something I want to say. C’mon, sit down.” She took a couple deep breaths, looking back and forth at the faces of Richard and Paula.

Drake returned with four flutes and the open bottle of champagne. “Here we go, time to celebrate.” He began pouring and handing out the glasses.

Amanda hesitated while the three happy faces stared at her, waiting. She lifted her glass. “A toast to this lovely man who I adore more than any other. To you, my dear Richard.”

They all took a sip.

She looked down at the glass she held in her lap. “But … I’m going to Bruges, Richard. I have my plane ticket,” she continued as her eyes met his, “and I’ve taken a leave of absence from work. I’ll be leaving on Thursday and will be gone at least two months. So I can’t commit to marrying you just yet.” She reached for Richard’s hand and looked at Paula. “I don’t know what lies ahead for me; y’all can understand that, can’t you?”

Richard was paralyzed. Paula was wide-eyed and Drake’s mouth fell open. They all stared at Amanda. No one spoke. The silence was a departure for them. Even A.G. was quiet; it was as if he understood that now was the time to be silent.

“I made the decision and finalized it last week. I’d planned to tell y’all today. Wanted to surprise you. You know this is what I’ve always wanted to do. All three of you know that. It hasn’t been a secret. And, Richard, I didn’t know you were going to do this today. I’m so sorry. I don’t want to hurt you. But it’s been my dream since I don’t know when to go to Belgium. I just have to. Paula, you know how I feel.” The tears were spilling from her eyes. What she’d hoped would be a happy announcement was turning out to be a fiasco.

Richard blinked back his own tears and squeezed her hand. “Well, we can get married on Wednesday and I’ll go with you. I’ll take the time off. We’ll make it a honeymoon, darling. I’d love to show you Europe. Venice, Paris, the Swiss Alps, and all the places you want to see. I’ll take you.”

“No, Richard. I have to do this by myself. Please try to understand. Please?” She stood up and walked towards the window and watched the Kern River flowing by through the trees.

Richard had recognized the determination and sincerity in her eyes, and the pain. Of course he realized what going to Bruges meant to her and he suddenly felt he’d managed to make it harder for her to be joyous. He went to her and turned her to face him.

“My darling, I do understand. I shouldn’t have sprung this on you like I did. I know you need to do what you’ve got to do. And I’ll be right here waiting for you when you get back. You can bet on that. Drake, pour us some more champagne, let’s celebrate! My baby’s going to Belgium!”

Drake snapped out of his stupor and topped off the glasses.

“I want you to hang on to this ring, darling. It’s yours, regardless of what happens.” He slipped the ring on her finger and closed her hand in his. “I know that one day you’ll be my bride. I can wait for that day.” He voice cracked and he used his fingers to wipe his tears.

Amanda covered her face and began weeping.

Richard drew her to him and held her close. “No, no, my dearest Amanda. Please don’t cry. I don’t want you to cry. Come on, now. Let’s celebrate your dream trip. Okay?” He held her at arms’ length and grinned at her. “I mean it, darlin’. No more tears. You don’t want to make a grown man crumble at your feet, do you?”

Paula reached for her, too. “Now, come on, honey. You just sit down and tell us all about your plans. How’re you gonna get to the airport? This is really good news, you know. Ain’t it, Drake? She’s finally going to Europe. Can you believe it? Your dream is comin’ true, Miss Amanda Jeffries— I mean Conroy! We ain’t gonna mention that scalawag Arlie’s name anymore!”

They laughed.

She pulled Amanda to the sofa and sat down next to her. “Now, show me that monstrous rock on your finger. That’s the biggest dad-gummed diamond I’ve ever seen in my whole life! Drake, how come you never gave me one of these? Huh?”

The laughter grew and they all began celebrating Amanda’s dream that was finally coming true.

Chapter 14

For over eighteen months Arlie had lived in the small copper mining town of Miami, which was situated between another mining town called Superior and the county seat of Gila County, Globe, Arizona. The area was generally referred to as Globe-Miami.

Miami is in the Tonto National Forest with a population of around 2,000, a residential community, not much going on otherwise.

The original downtown area consists of boarded-up buildings, shacks, and dozens of antique stores. As for bars and eateries, in a three or four block-square area, there is an art gallery/coffee shop on Sullivan Street, an outdoor bar shaded between its neighboring antique shops on Miami Avenue, but most of the locals frequent the Shamrock Bar which is on the main highway and Judy’s Cook House toward Globe. Mexican restaurants are also spaced on the main drag between Miami and Globe. Miami is a collector’s paradise, not a culinary haven.

The two men who had found Arlie – Scott and Jimmy –were employees of the Miami copper mine. But after Arlie’s lengthy stay in the hospital and his slow recovery, their failed attempt to get him a job at the mine without I.D. or memory turned out to be a godsend. Scott decided to start his own construction company, something he’d wanted to do for years. So Arlie became his partner, for he proved himself to be as talented a carpenter as he was an electrician. Jimmy stayed with the mine, unable to afford the drop in pay for a new enterprise.

Scott was divorced and owned one of the larger shacks in downtown Miami on Gibson Street. So Arlie bunked with him.

A small town seemed right to Arlie. He didn’t want to go anywhere else. It felt comfortable. He felt as if he’d always lived there, but he still couldn’t remember who he was or where he came from.

Although his lower back had been broken, it mended after being in traction for seven months. His legs and his left arm had healed miraculously, but he was left with a slight limp.

Now Arlie was known as John Cramer, a name the hospital staff had given him when he couldn’t remember his own. His wallet wasn’t on him when he was found. There was nothing else in his pockets, no car keys, no money. It was as if he had been dropped from the road with a bullet wound through his shoulder. Nothing else was known about him, except that he must have been married, he wore a wedding band. That bothered Arlie more than anything else. Somewhere he had a wife. He wondered if he had children.