When Love Calls (22 page)

“I heard that,” both Kennedy and Madison said in unison as J.T. chuckled and continued to the dining room where Juliet and Tony were setting the huge dining-room table. J.T. made introductions. Having already met Juliet, they hugged and talked about their lunch at the Capital Grille. J.T. and Tony joined the conversation, then escorted Alyssa out onto the veranda where Jace and Colonel Wheeler stood at the grill cooking and Mamma Lou sat talking to Randolph.

“Hey, there you are,” Randolph said, standing.

“Hi, you’re out here now?”

“Yeah,” Randolph said, walking over and kissing her briefly. “That living-room discussion was getting too deep for me. Chatting with Mamma Lou is more my style.” He watched J.T. walk over to the grill and begin giving instructions. A few seconds later, he followed.

“Hi, Mrs. Gates,” Alyssa said, taking the seat Randolph had. “I didn’t know you were going to be here this evening. It’s good to see you again.”

Louise smiled. “You never know when I’m going to turn up. How’s Allie doing?”

“Good. I moved back in to be with her.”

“Yes, that’s right. She told me you were going to.”

Alyssa nodded. “I thought you were going back home.”

“I am, at the end of the week. As a matter of fact, I was even thinking of inviting Allie to join me. Do you think she’d want to?”

“To tell you the truth, Mrs. Gates—” she began.

“Mamma Lou,” she corrected.

“To tell you the truth, Mamma Lou, I’m not sure she’s up for it.”

“Has she had another problem recently?”

“No, not since the day you were there.”

“Good, then maybe I’ll give her a call and invite her,” Louise said, then saw the worried look on Alyssa’s face. “Don’t worry so much, she’ll be just fine.”

Alyssa nodded, not feeling much better, but decided to put it off until later. Then their conversation turned to Crescent Island as Louise began describing the most beautiful scenery.

Shortly afterward, Taylor came out and got Alyssa.

A few minutes later, Alyssa found herself sitting in the kitchen at the counter, laughing and talking as if she was part of the family. Since everyone had a job, she was assigned to help Kennedy make the salad and dressing, which apparently involved rocket science, since nearly everyone had something to say about it.

Tony wanted olives but no cheese and Raymond wanted cheese without olives, obviously to be contrary. J.T. wanted arugula and Jace insisted that arugula made the salad too peppery. Taylor finally ended all discussion when she banned them from the kitchen and insisted they finish grilling dinner without burning it, which also became a bone of contention as the battle of who made the better steak, salmon and chicken kabobs began.

Starting with drinks on the veranda, Alyssa stood talking to Hope. She was amazed to find out that she and Raymond, both doctors, ran the facility called Ray of Hope, which was getting a good deal of national attention lately.

Raymond and Randolph joined them and the four of them laughed, talked and joked like old friends. A few minutes later, Trey Evans and his younger sister, Regina Evans, arrived. Taking a short break, Regina was in her last semester of college and looking forward to starting her new career at her brother’s company.

Eventually dinner was served up on platters and placed in the center of the huge dining-room table. Everyone took their seats and began to eat. Midway through the meal, Kennedy excused herself, and Juwan followed.

All talk ended as everyone began staring at each other wondering what was going on. Then, moments later, the couple returned and explained that Kennedy had a stomach flu and had been feeling ill the past few days.

Later, after dessert was served, they all sipped coffee or tea, ending what was probably the most enjoyable evening Alyssa had had in a long time. At midnight, Randolph took Alyssa home. On the drive home she felt like she was on cloud nine.

The following week proved to be even better. Randolph stayed in D.C. and they were able to spend most of their free time together. She spent the next four evenings either out with Randolph or on the phone talking with him.

Thursday evening they had plans to eat dinner at his place. Randolph called to tell her that he’d be held up and for her to stop by his office after work, so that they could leave from there. At six-thirty Alyssa signed in at the security desk, then was escorted up to Senator Randolph Kingsley’s office by one of his office staff.

She’d been to the Capitol Building many times but had never actually gone to a senator’s office.

“Good Evening, Ms. Wingate.”

“Hi,” she said. “Umm, Kent. Hi, we met a few weeks ago.”

“Yes, we did. If you’ll follow me, I’ll have you wait in the senator’s office.”

“Oh, that’s okay. Don’t go to any trouble for me. I can just sit outside here in the outer office.”

“No trouble at all. Please, this way,” he insisted. “You’ll be more comfortable in here.”

“Okay, sure,” she said, finally getting that he didn’t want Randolph’s guest sitting out in the open for all to see. Kent showed her into the inner office and she took a seat on the side sofa.

“There are several magazines on the table. May I offer you something to drink? We have coffee, tea, sodas, wine, brandy and water.”

“No, thank you,” she said. He nodded and turned to leave. “Oh, Kent, may I have a glass of water please.”

“Of course, chilled, bottled or sparkling?”

“Chilled bottle would be fine.”

He walked over to a side panel, pulled at the molding and opened a small refrigerator. He took out a bottle of water and grabbed a crystal glass from a tray on top. He opened the bottle and filled the glass. As he placed it in front of her he smiled. “May I offer you anything else?”

“No, thank you. This is fine.”

She picked up her glass and sipped. She hadn’t realized how dry her throat was until she drank the water. The cool refreshing liquid eased down her throat, relieving the dryness. She sat back and took another sip while looking around the tastefully decorated office. Dark mahogany wood, refined and classy, it was exactly as she had imagined. This was definitely a senator’s office.

She picked up the magazine on top of the side table beside her and began flipping through the pages. A few minutes later, Randolph came in. He looked around quickly, then spotted her sitting on the sofa glancing through a
Washingtonian
magazine. She looked up and smiled. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself,” he said, walking over to her. He dropped a leather folder down on the coffee table, then reached down to take her hand. He drew her up into his arms and held her tight, just standing there a moment with her in his arms. His comfortable moan made her shiver with delight. “I missed you,” he whispered close to her ear as his lips brushed the side of her cheek.

“I missed you, too. Are we ready to go?”

“Unfortunately I’m going to have to cancel our dinner plans this evening. I have to work. But I have a better idea.”

“A better idea, huh? What is it?” She smirked coyly.

“I’m scheduled to go home tomorrow morning. Why don’t you come with me?”

“What do you mean home? To Alexandria, right?”

“No, my home in San Francisco,” he said.

“California?”

“Of course, California,” he said.

She stepped aside and walked over to the window. Her mind swirled in a whirlwind of concerns as she looked out at Washington, D.C.’s evening skyline without really seeing it. He came up behind her and put his hands on her arms gently.

“Somehow I’m not getting the gleeful response I expected,” he said.

“I’m sorry.” She turned back around to face him. “But maybe it’s not such a good idea for me to go out there just yet.”

“Why not?”

“My grandmother might have a problem.”

“That’s the perfect part, we’ll bring her along. It’ll be great. I’ll finally get to meet her and I’m looking forward to showing you my California. We’ll start at the marina district, then on to the Presidio, then cross the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin Country through the rolling hills of Los Carneros, which straddles both Napa and Sonoma just north of San Pablo Bay. The scenery alone is worth the trip,” he said excitedly.

“That sounds wonderful, Randolph, really. But I don’t think we can make it this weekend. I’m pretty sure that my grandmother already had plans.”

“Then you can come alone.”

“I might have to work Sunday,” she lied unconvincingly. The disappointment on his face was obvious and tore at her heart. “Why don’t you call me when you get back in town?” she said as she leaned up and kissed his cheek quickly. She grabbed her purse from the sofa, turned once to smile, then walked out, closing the door quietly behind her.

Randolph stood staring at the door, expecting Alyssa to come back through laughing about the joke she just played on him, but she didn’t. He waited there, knowing that she wasn’t coming back.

A few minutes later, Kent knocked, then opened the door.

“I took the liberty and made a second reservation on tomorrow’s flight to California.”

“Change it. I’m going alone. And see if there’s a flight later tonight,” he said, then picked up the leather folder and walked out.

It wasn’t exactly a graceful exit or the smoothest excuse, but it was the best she could think of given the circumstances. There was no way she was going to take her grandmother to California to meet Randolph. And as for her going, she was already too far gone emotionally with him. When this ended, and she was positive it would, she’d have a hard enough time getting over him as it was.

Overwhelmed with regret and guilt, she left the Capitol Building quickly and drove home, trying her best to focus on traffic, but her thoughts kept slipping to Randolph’s expression. He knew she was lying, but he didn’t know why. She hated to hurt him, but she knew it was best.

Halfway to her grandmother’s house she detoured to the Wingate Lounge to see her dad. They ate dinner and hung out awhile, and then she went home. Her grandmother was already asleep when she got there. Feeling miserable, she crawled into bed early and spent all night tossing and turning and feeling guilty.

“Good morning, Grandma,” Alyssa said quickly as she passed the door and headed downstairs. Then she stopped and inhaled deeply. What was that smell? She took another step, then stopped again. Chanel No. 5 perfume, her grandmother’s favorite. She walked back to her grandmother’s bedroom and peeked in. The door was half open and she could see that her grandmother was up, dressed and…packing?

“What are you doing, Grandma?”

“Packing,” she said simply.

“Yes, I can see that, but why are you packing?” Alyssa asked, fearing that her grandmother was experiencing another memory-lapse episode. “Maybe we should pack later and take a rest now. It’s still early.”

Allie, hearing Alyssa’s soft patronizing tone, turned to stare at her. “What on earth is wrong with you? You sound like you’re talking to a two-year-old.”

“Are you all right?” Alyssa asked.

“Never mind that, are you all right? You look as if your nerves are about to jump out of your skin.”

“I’m fine, I’m just a little concerned about you.”

“About me?”

“Grandma, look what you’re doing. You’re packing a suitcase at seven o’clock on a Friday morning.”

“I know it’s Friday, so of course I’m packing a suitcase at seven in the morning. I have to if I’m going to be ready when he gets here.”

“Ready for when who gets here, Grandma? Vincent?” Alyssa asked, using her soft, calming voice again.

Allie sat down on the bed and looked at her, shaking her head. “Honestly, Alyssa, I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately. What on earth are you talking about?”

Alyssa sat down on the bed beside her grandmother.

“Sweetheart, my friend, Louise—you remember Louise Gates—well, she invited me to go to Crescent Island for the weekend. I told you about this earlier.”

“No, Grandma, you didn’t.”

“I didn’t? Well, I’m sure I intended to. But I’m sure I did. Your memory must be slipping, sweetheart. Anyway, Louise and I talked again last night and she told me that her grandson Raymond and his wife, Hope, are going over to the island for the weekend. I’m sure I mentioned this to you yesterday.”

“Maybe,” Alyssa said, knowing she hadn’t.

“So since Raymond and his wife invited me along for the ride, I accepted. I thought it would be a nice change of pace. Did you want to come, too?”

“No, thank you. I might have other plans this weekend.”

“Good, looks like we’re both women of leisure.”

“Definitely,” she said, smiling brightly, having no idea how Louise knew about Randolph’s trip to San Francisco and how perfect it was for her grandmother to also have plans for the weekend.

“I think that it’ll be good to visit there again. It’s been over thirty years since I last visited Crescent Island. If I remember correctly, the island is like paradise, simply beautiful. Will you be all right here alone for a few days?”

“Yes, Grandma, I’ll be fine. When is Raymond coming to pick you up?”

“At eight-thirty this morning, so you go on to work because I need to finish packing. They’ll be here before you know it.”

“Grandma, what if I need to contact you?”

“Louise’s phone number is in my phone book downstairs.”

“Okay, Grandma, have a great weekend. When are you coming back?”

“Tuesday,” she said, smiling happily.

“Okay, I’ll see you Tuesday.” They hugged and kissed. Then Alyssa stood up and left. But on her way out she copied Louise’s phone number into her cell phone with every intention of calling her the first chance she got.

Chapter 16

F
riday was supposed to be a superslow day, but as soon as Alyssa walked into the office she could tell that there was a crisis brewing because everyone seemed to be in a panic. “What’s going on?” she asked Nina, who was sitting at her desk, drinking coffee.

“I guess you haven’t heard the news this morning.”

“No, not yet. Why? What happened?” she asked.

Nina shook her head. “There are press conferences all over the place. No one’s really talking, but what I gather is that one of the senators on the Special Committee for the Aging has been reprimanded by the Ethics Committee, and indictments are pending.”