[Second Chances 02]California Dreams (5 page)

Samuel led Jane back to his bungalow and headed for the kitchen, letting her wander through his front room at her leisure. There was a small gas fireplace against one wall with a few pictures scattered across its top.

After getting the salmon in the oven, he started tossing a salad, watching her as he was able; she picked up each picture and looked at it for several seconds before replacing it and moving to the next one.

When she came to the last healthy picture of his mother and he, she turned and caught him staring at her. Indicating the picture, she asked, “Your mom?”

Samuel nodded, for once not feeling the familiar tightness fill his chest when asked to speak about his mother. “That was taken a few months before we found out she was sick. I was on summer break and we drove along Route 1 heading north.”

Jane replaced the picture and asked, “Where were you headed?”

Samuel shrugged his shoulders, “That was the beautiful part about it. We didn’t have a destination in mind. We took 2 weeks and decided to see how far we could get in the first week and then head back home.”

“Where was your dad?” Jane asked.

“Working, just like always.” Samuel smiled at her, “What’s with all of these questions?”

Jane shrugged, taking a seat at the table in the small dining nook, “Well, I figure you know all kinds of things about me via Trent. I really don’t know that much about you.”

Samuel finished the salad, wrapped the loaf of bread in foil and placed it in the oven to warm up and set the timer for the salmon.

Jane watched and then commented, “I’m very jealous of your kitchen. Double ovens. Is that a warming drawer?”

“Yes. When I bought this place, I renovated it before I moved in. I love to cook and decided that I may as well put everything I could possibly ever want in it the first time.”

Jane couldn’t sit still any longer and began to wander around the large space, opening drawers, oohing and aahing when she found something she liked. “You know there are people out there that would kill for a kitchen like this.”

Samuel smirked, “Even you? I must remind you I am a federal officer and anything you say can, and will, be used against you.”

Jane turned, hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes at him, “Did you just read me my Miranda Rights?”

Samuel mimicked her stance, asking, “Did you just threatened to kill me over my kitchen?”

They stared at each for several moments, trying hard to keep their stern expressions upon their faces. Jane’s started to crack, but she was able to firm her lips and hold on. Samuel wasn’t as skilled and lost it after two minutes, leaning over to place his hands on his knees as he laughed, “Sorry. “

Jane laughed along with him and then turned to the oven. The timer hadn’t gone off yet, but she opened the door anyway. “This looks like it might be finished,” she told him, glancing over her shoulder.

“There are hot pads in the drawer to your left.” Samuel grabbed another padded towel to cover the counter where she sat the cooking pan and foil wrapped bread moments later.

Opening the fridge, he began to search for the tartar sauce, cringing when he realized he had used it all the last time he had fish. Shutting the door, he apologized, “Sorry. It looks like I’m out of tartar sauce.”

He looked so upset; Jane patted him on the shoulder. “Not to worry. I can make some if you’d like.”

Samuel looked at her and smiled, “You know how to make tartar sauce?”

“Sure. It’s actually pretty easy. Let me see if you have the ingredients.” Jane opened the fridge and began removing items: dill relish, mayo, and lemon juice. Placing them on the counter, she opened the cupboard she had surveyed earlier and took down some onion powder as well.

Grabbing the salt and pepper, she began adding ingredients and then mixed it all together. Dipping her finger in the bowl, she tasted it and then held it out to Samuel to taste as well. Rather than using his own finger, he dipped hers in the bowl and then brought her finger to his mouth.

“That’s good.” He smirked when she quickly pulled her hand away and wiped it on the nearby towel. A blush stole over her cheeks and he hid his grin at how nervous she had become.

Jane couldn’t believe he had just put her finger in his mouth! Taking a shallow breath, she stepped away from him and tried to get her racing heart to settle down. She liked Samuel. A lot. But she wasn’t ready to deal with the emotions and feelings that he brought to the surface yet. Not yet. She needed more time to figure out where her life was going before she decided to open that can of worms!

*****

“Mommy, I’m ready to get out of the tub, now,” Daniella shouted to Grace.

Grace smiled and grabbed the little girl’s nightclothes and walked into the connected bathroom. “You are? Did you wash behind your ears?”

“Of course I did. Princesses always have clean ears. How else will we be able to hear our loyal subjects when they cheer for us?” Daniella was still in princess mode, and Grace had dutifully brought the pink and purple nightgown with the ruffled hem and screen-printed Disney Princesses adorning the front.

“Well, I think I know of at least one little princess that has had a very long day and needs her beauty rest. Come on, up you go.” Grace held onto her small arm as she stood up in the draining tub. Lifting her up, she placed her on the bath mat, handed her a small towel to dry her face with, and then used a larger towel to help her dry her body off.

As she ran the towel over her back, she noticed a faint bruising over her spine, “Daniella, did you bump into something while we were visiting Aunt Sara?” She lightly brushed her finger over the bluish skin, puzzled at how she could have sustained a bruise in that particular place and not cried or complained about it.

“No, momma. I didn’t knock over anything. I’s was real careful.” Daniella was so sincere, Grace chuckled and chalked the bruise up to another one of the mysterious marks that often found their way onto her daughter’s skin.

Daniella yawned and Grace hurried to finish drying her hair, helped her put her nightgown on, and then brushed her hair out before braiding it down the back of her head. “All through.”

She bent and picked the little girl up and carried her to her bed, noticing that she was already half asleep.
The trip really wore her out!

After tucking her in bed and making sure her nightlight was on, she left the door ajar and headed towards her own room just across the hall. She stretched and ran her own tub of water. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was barely 9 p.m., but that didn’t matter. Daniella was out for the night. Jane had a key and could let herself back in the house.
There’s no reason I can’t have an early night as well.

Grace took a quick bath and then readied herself for bed, looking over her planner for the next several weeks before turning off the light. She had a planning meeting in the morning about the upcoming semester’s programs, and right after New Year’s, Daniella was scheduled to start her new preschool classes.

The call that an opening had become available had come weeks before their lives had been disrupted. The preschool was one of the few places where children could be tested at the end of May for Kindergarten readiness, regardless of when their birthdays were.

If they were found ready, they could start Kindergarten at the age of four, instead of waiting until they turned five. With Daniella’s birthday falling in December, she would have to wait another year before she could attend the public schools. She was already too smart for her own good and another year might make her a nightmare for a Kindergarten teacher. She had begun to start sounding letters out and could read simple words already.

Grace was firmly convinced that she was going to be ready for Kindergarten come August, but the only way to insure that happened, was to attend this preschool and then test into their Kindergarten classes. The private school was expensive, but after her husband’s death, Grace had saved most of his life insurance so that Daniella would have these types of opportunities in the years to come.

Her schedule running through her brain, it was almost thirty minutes before she finally fell asleep, but it felt good to be back home and in control of her life once more.

“I shouldn’t be more than a couple of hours. Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Grace asked Jane one last time.

Jane smiled and shooed her out the door, “Go. Princess Daniella and I have a tea party to attend, don’t we sugar?”

“Yes. But first, you promised we could make finger sandwiches.” Daniella got a funny look upon her face and skirted around Jane to reach her mother, pulling her hand until she leaned down. Daniella whispered, loudly, “Mommy, she’s not really going to put fingers in sandwiches, is she?”

Grace and Jane both struggled to contain their laughs as Grace answered her daughter, “No, Dani. They’re called finger sandwiches because they’re little and you eat them with your fingers.”

Daniella seemed to think about that for a moment and then smiled, “Okay. I gots it.”

“You do?” Grace asked, wondering what exactly was going through her daughter’s head. “Explain it to me so I’m sure.”

“Well,” Daniella told her, placing a hand on her hip and pointing with a finger of the other hand, “If you eats it with your hands, it’s okay as long as you call it finger stuff. Like, finger pizza, or finger carrots. But we wouldn’t want to eat finger cereal.” Daniella made an icky face and shook her head. “No, that would just make a mess.” Turning to look at Jane, she instructed her, “You’s got to use a spoon for cereal. Not a fork, cuz that makes a mess too.”

Jane couldn’t contain her laughter anymore and asked, “Tried it huh?”

Daniella looked saddened as she nodded her head, “Yep! Forks have holes in them.”

“That’s about right.” Looking at Grace, she nodded at the clock, “You’re going to be late if you don’t head out right now.”

Grace gave her daughter one last hug with a reminder to “Be good for Aunt Jane.”

As she drove into the arts center, she thought about the upcoming semester and all of the things that needed scheduled.
I hope we got our new funding.

The San Diego Center for the Performing Arts was a non-profit organization that helped promote the musical arts. Grace was in charge of the Vocal side of the center, not only coaching and directing several ensemble groups, but she was also in charge of the Southern California Children’s Choir – or SCCC.

The SCCC was a choir designed especially for children in grades two thru eight and was an audition-only group. The choir had been started to give talented kids a place where they could learn and develop their talents long before entering the public school higher education classes.

The three hundred voice choir met from September thru May every year, with the season broken into two semesters. The second semester would begin in only two short weeks, and Grace was still undecided about the songs they would be performing this semester.

She arrived at the center to see many cars she recognized, as well as a few she didn’t. She made it to her office without seeing anyone, and then realized that the meeting was ready to start. She hurried to the theatre, entering from the back and taking note of everyone present.

Derek York, the director of the center, was surrounded by people she didn’t know, and she smiled as she approached.

“Good morning, Grace. I trust you had a pleasant trip to Montana?”

“Yes, I did. But, it is good to be back home.”

“We’re glad you’re back as well. Let me introduce you to our guests. This is David Simpson and his wife Deirdre. You might have heard of her husband’s endeavors in education with the Simpson Preparatory Academy?”

“Why, yes! In fact, my daughter is slated to begin preschool there on Monday.” She shook hands with Deirdre, a very stately looking woman with a kind face and the gentlest touch.

She turned to shake hands with David as well, “My daughter is very excited about joining your son’s class.”

“Ah, you’ve already met Brad then.”

“Not yet. We’re scheduled for a tour this afternoon.”

“Well, be warned. I hear his wife Teresa is planning to bring the newest litter of kittens by the school later today.”

“Kittens?” Grace asked, already envisioning how much trouble she was going to be in when she would have to refuse her daughter’s tearful pleas for one.

“Yes, but don’t worry, your little one will forgive you. Mine always did.”

Grace smiled, “Let’s hope you’re right. We haven’t had to fight the ‘I want a pet’ issue yet.”

Deirdre grinned, “Oh, you are so in for it tonight. I remember whenever my boys would take it into their heads that they needed a new pet. I always said ‘No’ right away because I knew who would ultimately end up taking care of the poor animal. My husband however, always left the door open just a teensy bit so they thought there was still a chance.”

“I didn’t want to completely crush their dreams,” David said with a laugh.

“No, you left that to me.” Deirdre gave him an indulgent smile. A loving smile.

“Well, since I’m the only parent Daniella has, I guess I won’t have to worry about that. How many other children do you have?” Grace asked, making polite conversation while Derek dealt with a problem a few steps away.

“Three boys in all. You know Brad runs the preschool program at the school. Michael is physician that believes homeopathic and natural remedies can work side-by-side with modern medicine, and then there’s Mark who is currently on location somewhere in the Middle East on an archaeological dig site.”

“Wow! You must be very proud of your boys.”

Deirdre smiled, “Yes, we are. I only wish the younger two would settle down and follow in Brad’s footsteps.”

“Dear, they’ll settle down when they’re ready. Sorry, she’s been wanting grandchildren for some time now. I hear you’re the miracle worker with the children’s choir.”

Grace blushed and nodded, “Well, the kids do all of the work, I just help them keep together.”

David chuckled, “I don’t believe that for a moment. Derek here was just telling us that you have a wonderful season planned out.”

Grace looked at Derek who was still talking to some staff but gave her a thumbs up. She nodded in recognition of the sign, and turned her attention back to the Simpsons, “It looks like Derek might be tied up for a bit. Have you already had a tour of the facility?”

“Yes, dear. We were actually just waiting around to meet you before we took off. Now that we’ve done that, please tell Derek that he can expect to receive a sizable check in the mail. What you’re doing here is wonderful and we would be honored to help underwrite your spring semester.”

Grace was floored, “Really?! I mean, Thank You!” Stumped for anything else to say, she shook their hands again.

“We would love to come by and watch you work with the children,” Deirdre said with a smile.

“Of course. Anytime. Really. We start meeting the second Monday in January and you are more than welcome to come and watch.”

Deirdre smiled at her and patted her on the arm, “We’ll plan on it.”

“Come along dear, we’ve taken up enough of Grace’s time.” David pulled his wife away with a small wave and Grace then watched as David escorted his wife out of the theatre.

Derek came up behind her, “Well that makes our jobs a lot easier.”

“Derek, he said he’s going to underwrite the entire semester. Does he know how much money that comes to?”

Derek smiled and nodded, “Yes, because I told him.”

“How did they find out about us? Did you ask?” Grace was still in shock.
I don’t have to fundraise this semester! Yeah!

“They helped their son chaperone his preschool class when they attended your fall concert. They were very impressed.” Derek pulled her into a half-hug and then made an announcement to the other staff members who were waiting for the planning session to begin. “The Children’s Choir has all of it’s funding for the next semester.”

Cheers went up from her co-workers, and Grace grinned and cheered with them. It looked like this year was going to be a good one.