Wandering Heart (9781101561362) (23 page)

She patted Millie another moment, then coaxed her down and brushed the dog hair off her bathrobe. “Maybe someone just gave her up and let her loose. Or they moved and left her,” Audrey offered, partly to soothe her own conscience. “People do that, you know.”

“Yes, they do. I’m surprised she didn’t tell you by now what really
happened.” Rob’s expression was perfectly serious, but Audrey knew he was teasing.

“She doesn’t like to talk about it,” Audrey said with a grin.

“Obviously. Well, whatever happened, it looks like she’s ours now, like it or not.”

“I like it,” Audrey said quickly. “She’s so sweet. You know me, I was always more of a cat person, but Millie is the perfect dog. I wouldn’t want any other dog in the whole world.”

Rob smiled. He rose from his seat, and quickly kissed her on the forehead. “Maybe you and Millie were meant to find each other.”

“I think we were,” Audrey agreed. She glanced down at the dog again, who seemed to know they were talking about her. “I really do.”

Rob went outside, and Audrey started cleaning up the kitchen. It was hard not to think of her sister’s news. She wished she could just be happy for Tara and Dave and not think of herself at all.
But I’m only human,
she reminded herself,
weak and flawed—sometimes more flawed than other times
.

After cleaning the kitchen, Audrey headed for the garden, hoping to burn off her unhappiness with some hard work. The pungent smell of the tomato plants mixed with the scents of herbs and other vegetables were familiar and comforting, yet she felt her eyes begin to tear as she raked out weeds from between the rows of tall, staked tomato plants. She loved all the plant scents and the sight of carrots and lettuce and beets pushing up through the earth. Was it even possible for her and Rob to give all this up? The thought hurt so much that she raked harder and faster. A bit of dirt flew up and got in her eye. She stopped and wiped her eye with a tissue. “Oh, blast …”

When she looked up again and blinked, she saw the blurry outline of a man walking across the meadow that stood between her buildings and the inn. He was looking down, watching where he
walked, taking each step with care. She thought it might be Daniel for a moment, but Daniel didn’t walk that way.

Then he looked up and waved at her and she realized who it was. She dropped the rake and screamed, holding her hand to her cheeks. “Rob! Where are you? Come out here right this minute!”

Her husband ran out of the barn, still holding a pitchfork, bits of hay clinging to his hair and clothes. “What is it? Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

She shook her head and pointed. “Look! I can’t believe it. It’s Nick Dempsey! He’s come to visit us! Just like he said he would. He’s really here. He really came!”

Rob spun around and stared at the movie star, who was now a bit closer. When he smiled, Audrey could see how his brilliant white teeth sparkled almost as much as the mirrored lenses in his aviator sunglasses. He wore a billowy-sleeved white shirt with worn jeans and cowboy boots—a casual, down-home ensemble that probably cost thousands of dollars, she guessed. She had to laugh. The perfect outfit for visiting a farm.

Audrey spun around and gripped her husband by both arms. “I’ve got to go inside and change my clothes. I can’t show him around looking like this. Talk to him a minute. I’ll be right back.”

“Me? What can I talk to him about?” Rob looked pale and alarmed.

“Talk to him about our cheese. He loves cheese. Really,” she shouted over her shoulder. She dashed back to the house with Millie at her heels, barking her head off.

“Silly dog. Don’t you bother Nick Dempsey. That would be the one unforgivable thing, Millie,” she warned her beloved pet.

Audrey shed her dirty garden garb, washed her face, combed her hair, and pulled on a sundress in record time. As she ran out of the
house again, she remembered to grab the digital camera that sat on the dining room table.

“And the batteries are charged! Thank you, God,” she said aloud, totally serious.

She flew outside again and found Rob and Nick sitting at the little umbrella table, just outside the farm shop.

Nick jumped up as she approached, the perfect gentleman, stretching out his hand. “Audrey, how nice to see you again.”

She thought she might faint when he not only took her hand but leaned over to give her an air kiss.

“Welcome, Mr. Dempsey,” she managed breathlessly. “We’re so happy you could find the time to drop over.”

I really never thought you’d take me up on my invitation,
she nearly said aloud but caught herself just in time.

“This is such a pretty place. I can see it from my window at the inn. The goats are so cute, prancing around,” he said, glancing at the herd, which was now grazing in the meadow by the inn. “It’s captured my curiosity. And that cheese you gave me was awesome. Got to get some more of that.”

“There’s plenty more where that came from,” Rob promised.

Audrey stared at him. Why did her intelligent, erudite husband suddenly sound like Old MacDonald?

“It’s such a hot day. Would you care for some lemonade?” she offered. “We make it ourselves.”

“That sounds nice but water would be fine,” he replied. “Please don’t go to any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. Come into the shop. I have sparkling or plain.”

“Oh, sparkling, please,” he said eagerly. She could tell he didn’t expect to have a choice at this island outpost.

“Can I get you anything, honey?” she asked her husband.

He shook his head. “I think I’d better get back to the barn and finish spreading the hay. You show Mr. Dempsey around, Audrey. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Audrey couldn’t believe her husband was giving up a chance to hang out with Nick Dempsey, but she just nodded. “Okay, honey. See you later.”

Nick followed her into the shop and Audrey walked to the back of the store, where she took two water bottles from the refrigerator.

“Oh, isn’t this pretty.” Nick strolled around the small shop, looking at the displays. He had slipped off his sunglasses, and they hung from a little red rubber cord around his neck. “You sell lavender, too?”

“Yes, we make soaps and oil and other things. We sell them here and at other stores in the area. We’d like to get wider distribution. My husband is putting up a website. It takes a little time.”

“Of course. But this stuff is popular now, aromatherapy and all that.” Nick picked up a bar of soap and breathed in the scent. “My wife loves lavender, says it helps her de-stress and detox. I’ll have to buy a few things for her.”

“Don’t be silly. We have gift baskets all made up and ready to go.” Audrey plucked the largest from her display. “Just let me throw a bow on this and you can take it away.”

“Oh, you can’t do that. I have to pay you. You already gave me a king’s ransom in cheese,” he pointed out.

“That’s our pleasure, Mr. Dempsey,” she said as she wrapped the basket in cellophane, adding a purple satin ribbon and a Gilroy Farm business card. “We enjoy your films so much. I’ve seen all them at least twice. It’s the least we can do for you.”

“That’s very gracious. Thank you so much,” he said as Audrey handed over the basket. “I’ll get a lot of points for this when I get home, believe me.” He glanced outside. “Can I meet the goats?”

“Sure,” Audrey said, still marveling over his interest in their farm.

He left the gift basket on the table in the shade. He seemed pleased with it, she noticed. It was truly a gift from the heart, a fan’s gift. But you never knew. Maybe Nick and his wife would find the lavender and goat’s milk lotion so wonderful, they would order vats of it, delivered by air to California, and tell all their friends and mention it in interviews. It only took one plug from a mega-star in a magazine to get flooded with orders.

She had to get Rob working on that website. She was going to tie him to the chair in front of the computer tonight.

Audrey led Nick along the thin path that wound around the meadow. Millie followed, running circles around them and barking at the goats from time to time.

“Is she herding them?” Nick asked curiously.

“Just trying to play with them—or tease them,” Audrey said.

Just then one of the larger goats, Hermione, leaped in their direction, making a loud
baahing
sound.

Nick ducked and put his arm up to shield his head, as if they were under fire. “My goodness, do they all do that?”

“From time to time. They can jump pretty high. We had to raise the fences. A few can still get loose.”

“That guy was really airborne.” Nick watched the goat, looking a little nervous. Audrey thought this was funny, since she had recently seen him in a movie where he faced terrifying wild animals in Africa.

“What is it like to work with animals in a film? Is it difficult?” she asked.

“Not too bad. I like animals. They usually seem to like me, too,” he said, still looking warily at the goats.

“But they do have professional handlers,” he continued. “A lot of
the dangerous or unpredictable ones are filmed separately, and it’s all pulled together with computers.”

“That makes sense.” Seeing the way he reacted to the frisky goat, Audrey was sure now that he had not faced down that roaring, ferocious lion in his last film. Despite his rugged looks and the roles he’d played, Nick was not exactly Mr. Nature. Audrey decided this up-close-and-personal visit was very enlightening … and amusing.

She spotted her husband across the meadow, going into the cheese shed. “There’s Rob. Would you like to see how cheese is made?”

“Absolutely. That’s one of the main reasons I came. When I have my restaurant, I might want to make my own cheese. I want to serve real artisanal foods.”

That was just a fancy way of saying homemade, Audrey knew. “Our cheese is very artisanal,” she assured him.

Rob gave Nick the full tour, explaining each step of the process and how the equipment worked.

“It’s quite an operation and spotlessly clean, too,” Nick said, sounding impressed. He glanced at his watch, and Audrey could tell he was getting ready to go. She felt the camera in her pocket and realized they hadn’t taken any photos of him yet. Who would ever believe this story without some actual evidence?

“I hate to ask you this,” she said, feeling suddenly shy, “but would you take a few pictures with us? It’s such an honor to have you here. I’d love to hang them in the shop.”

Nick graced her with a megawatt smile. “I’d be delighted. Where should we do it—in here, with the cheese machine?”

“I was thinking more outside, with the goats.”

“The goats?” he asked, his smile fading.

“In the background, I mean. I thought the meadow and barn would look nice.”

“Right. That sounds perfect.”

They all trooped outside, and Audrey took a few pictures of Nick leaning casually against the Gilroy Goat Farm sign. Then Rob took a few of Audrey standing next to Nick. Nick slung his arm around her shoulders, and Audrey smiled so widely her face hurt. She expected she looked sort of loony in the photos, but that was all right. No one would be looking at her.

Rob handed the camera back to Audrey. “Would you like a lift back to the inn, Mr. Dempsey? I can bring my truck around.”

“Thanks, but I have a car coming. I’m heading into the village for a little more sightseeing. I’m due on the set again tonight.”

“When will the film be done?” Audrey asked, curious to know how long he would be around.

“Not too much longer, I hope. We are running behind schedule, though. We could wrap up here early next week, and there will be a few more scenes to shoot at a studio in L.A.”

Audrey nodded. “I can’t wait to see the movie. I hope you finish quickly so it comes out soon.”

“That makes two of us,” he said in a mock-serious tone. “Acting looks like fun, I’m sure, but working on a film is like being in a pressure cooker.”

Rob smiled. “The grass is always greener?”

“Exactly. You folks are lucky, living the simple life, close to the land, in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. No traffic, no noise. No one bossing you around: Action. Cut. Do it again. And again. Go to some publicity appearance and smile for the cameras. Smile, smile, smile …” He sighed dramatically. “You know what I mean. I envy you, I really do.”

“Thanks, that’s nice of you to say. We do feel blessed to have found this place,” Rob replied.

They truly did have a special life, one even a movie star envied. Which made it even harder to consider giving it up, Audrey thought. Even for the prospect of starting a family.

“You wouldn’t care to change places with us—just temporarily?” Rob joked with him.

“I would love that. But I’m booked with projects for the next three years. I’ll have to get back to you on that offer.”

“Sure thing. Call anytime,” Rob said.

Audrey wondered if they would still be here then. Even three months suddenly seemed questionable.

Nick picked up his gift basket, and they walked him to the front of the house to wait for his car. Millie had disappeared somewhere but now trotted over to Audrey, wagging her tail.

“She really is a beautiful dog. She looks like she’d do a great job herding goats,” Nick suggested.

Millie sat next to him, looking very calm and well-behaved.
What an actress!
Audrey thought.

Nick reached down and stroked her head. “What soft fur. What a pretty girl …”

“She is pretty. Wait, let me take just one more picture, with Millie.” Audrey pulled out the camera and took a few steps back, focusing on her dog with the movie star.

“This is going to be so cute. I love posing with dogs,” Nick said. He turned to the dog, giving her his full attention. Millie stared up at him a moment, looking calm and adoring. Then she jumped up and put her big paws on Nick’s brilliant white shirt. He put his face next to hers and they both turned and smiled for the camera.

“Oh my gosh, that was perfect!” Audrey said. “It’s so adorable! I think we’ve got our next Christmas card.”

“Really? Can I see?” Nick walked toward her, eager to see the
photo on the camera screen. Then he looked down at his shirt, his eyes widening with dismay. But he didn’t say a word. He just looked away and managed to smile.