A Holiday Romance (5 page)

“Yes, you too Momma. Bye.”

Latisse barely had time to get comfortable in one place and she was off to yet another impromptu performance of her life. The flight from Chicago to San Francisco barely allowed a moments rest, much less recovery. It’s not as if either one of them had any rest last night after the party and all.

Had she really even gotten to reflect on last night? It surely demanded some reflection, and reliving and replaying over and over. Every emotional upheaval, the fatigue, and even feeling a little out of control the past few days had been worth it. Last night he had felt safe and unique, and very special.  Although it was a little unsettling not being sure what the next minute would bring, but so far trusting her instincts had been okay.

It was Christmas day. After breakfast with Mrs. Blanchard, the two of them had packed and had been taken to the airport, where the “corporate jet” whisked them off to her long awaited vacation in Napa Valley.

So much had happened in the last couple of days, she would have thought some of the anticipation for the California trip might have waned, but in reality, she was really looking forward to some time quietly alone with Guy to try to figure out what was happening, and where it might go.

Latisse was actually fairly comfortable with what was happening, it was the where it might go that needed some time to sort out.

Before Latisse could even get comfortable in the plane and even start to relax, they were making a descent. After touchdown in Sacramento, the limo took them directly to the Napa Inn. 

Guy met the concierge as if they were old friends. After a short, quiet conversation they were being shown to their room. Before they entered behind the bellhop, Guy pulled Latisse into his arms and whispered.

“I took the liberty of arranging separate suites. I know what the past few days have been like for me, I can’t even imagine everything you’re going through. I just thought we could both use some privacy while we figure out who “we” are. Is that all right for you?”

He had this bad habit of making her speechless. It was as he had read her mind.

“And I figured we’d both need a place to work I know I can’t just take off completely.”

The bell person opened the double stained glass doors with grapes and a vineyard scene into a foyer. There was a large open design central room with a full kitchen along one side with open seating to the main room. Two short doors opened into identical bedroom suites with private baths and Jacuzzi’s. There were two rooms, a bedroom and an office for each. There were double French doors leading out onto a covered porch outside with tables, chairs, a small bar with chilled glassware and a view of the vineyards.  

“You do know it would be okay to just talk to me first if you want, I wouldn’t mind, but this is beautiful and perfect.”

Guy winked and said “well we don’t have to use all the rooms if we don’t want, do we?” Just then his cell rang. He glanced at the number and without any change in appearance, or mood, he just put it back in his pocket.

“Let’s get settled a little and regroup,” looking at his watch, “a little “walk about” and drinks at four?” That was a couple of hours. “Sounds great,” said Latisse as she chose the bedroom area closest to the kitchen without thought. “Please wake me if I fall out, promise?”

“I promise.” said Guy. Latisse smiled.

She barely got off her traveling shoes when the overstuffed king sized four poster bed called out gently to her. “Just lay down here on my Eider down comforter for just a minute, just one minute.” And that was it. Latisse was out, sound asleep.

She was walking through the house, maybe it was the Napa Inn, it looked or felt vaguely familiar, but not comfortable. There were too many rooms and hallway after hallway, she just kept walking. She thought she could hear people behind some of the doors, but she didn’t enter any of them. The hallway came out onto a small patio. It was cold and dreary on a broken cement slab. The snowy mountains of Sierra Nevada stood in clouds. A line of dead looking grapevines, no leaves or fruit, just brown vines tied onto wire strings, ran between the porch and the mountains.

Latisse then realized she was dressed as a princess, or was wearing the beautiful yellow dress from the Christmas Eve party. And she wasn’t alone. Daryl was there standing with some cheerleader and seven or 8 little kids all in basketball or cheerleader costumes. Off to the side was Guy. Handsome, good smelling Guy dressed in a prince suit with a red sash and a long sword hanging from a belt at his side.

Guy just stood there smiling. Daryl and his crew were also still. No one moved or spoke. It was if they were waiting for her to what? Say something, feel something, do something?

As she turned to contemplate Daryl, she immediately felt a sense of relief. Relief because she was over and done with it both intellectually and emotionally. She wasn’t willing to give up one more iota of energy to the chaos that was Daryl. Even as she was realizing this in her own mind, the image of Daryl, the cheerleader and kids was fading away leaving only Guy.

As she turned to face “prince” Guy, she was filled with a warm and hopeful feeling. “Hopeful?” Latisse questioned herself, “what am I hopeful for exactly? Guy just stood there smiling and smelling a little like gingerbread.

Had it really only been two days? Latisse thought with absolute clarity. “I’ve got a couple of questions for you, Sir.” She said to smiling prince Guy. He just kept on smiling. Latisse walked up to him and knocked on his head like she was knocking on a door and repeated “Hello, I have a couple of questions for you, sir.” Guy just stood there like a smiling prince statue. She was just about to knock prince Guy’s head again when she realized someone was knocking on the bedroom door.

“Questions for you” Latisse mumbled to the door knocker as she awoke. “UM, hello? A few minutes please.” And she sat up on the four poster bed trying to clear her head. “What time is it?” Latisse yelled out.

“Little after three.” replied Guy from inside the suite, “Just checking, I’m sorry.”

“No, no really, I was out over an hour. Guess I needed it. Be right there.”

Latisse got up and rinsed her mouth and checked the mirror, it could be worse. She lightly washed her face and pated it dry. On the way out she donned the Napa Inn complimentary slippers she had seen in the bedroom. She went out into the main room to see Guy pouring a glass of the Napa label Cab. He crossed to meet her halfway with the wine when he saw her enter.

“So you think you can get me all liquored up and have your way with me.” Latisse took a glass and before taking a sip, kissed Guy gently on his lips.

“But that will only work the first twenty or thirty times, Sir, I just want you to know that.” They settled in on the couch.

“Merry Christmas, we’re here. I can’t quite believe it. I wonder if the others are still at the Hyatt at Dulles?

“I doubt it. You know it is Christmas and we should make a few plans, you know, like dinner?”

“Oh, yeah, are you hungry baby? I saw some snack things over on the bar.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I do, what are my choices?”

“In or out.”

“Oh,” Latisse had to consider this a minute. It was almost 4PM Christmas day, she hadn’t even opened a suitcase much less thought about going out to eat.

“In. What else?”

“No, that makes it easy. We can order from the Inn, they running a full kitchen, I checked. I hoped you would say “in.””

“And movies? And definitely the Jacuzzi I think.”

“Two great minds with a single thought, who’d have guessed?” Guy smiled at Latisse appreciatively.

They sat in comfortable quiet for a few minutes sipping the Napa Caberet. Latisse’s stomach made an audible growl.

“Well maybe some of those snacks for the moment.” She said getting up and going to the bar area. “Can I ask you something?”

“You, my dear, may ask me anything, anytime.”

“Okay so, your people told me our business meeting had to be Christmas Eve, it was your only window until after New Year’s, but here you are with me. What’s up with that, were they just blowing smoke, you know?” she said and shyly looked down without finishing the vulgar remark.

Guy smiled and said, “fair question and very observant. Didn’t you wonder before now why a guy like me was alone for Christmas Eve and the holiday? Oh, I get it,” he paused looking serious, “you just took me for a loser type and was just taking pity on a nerdy guy alone on the holidays. That was so noble of you, my dear. Always thinking about others.” 

“I am that good, aren’t I? Latisse retorted and giggled. There was a little pause. Latisse could see Guy considering his answer carefully.

“I’ve kind of been seeing someone. And, well, to tell the truth I’m supposed to be somewhere with her right now. I was actually going to use the trip to break it off with her. But after meeting you,” Guy paused and looked , really looked deeply into Latisse’s brown eyes and said “I don’t know where this is headed. What I do know is that I feel strongly enough about you, about us, that I couldn’t spend another second with her.” I know it was cowardly of me to call her, but I did from Washington. I just wanted to have a clear conscious when we had dinner in D.C. I told her to take whomever she wanted but that I was sorry, we were done.”

“I am so sorry Guy, I had no idea.”

“Why would you, the last few days have been the happiest I can remember in so long. You’ve given me back joy and beauty, and hope damn it, real hope.

“Hope for what Guy, it’s kinda funny you say that. Hope I mean, what do you hope for?”

 There was no hesitation in Guys response. He had obviously considered the question recently.

“Joy, satisfaction and happiness. You have given me all three in the past few days like no one else ever has. I hope I get to enjoy you, be a part of you for a very long time.”

“And this other girl just took it like that, no muss, no fuss?”

Guy looked just a shade uncomfortable but said nothing.

“No, I wouldn’t think so.”

Guy admitted “she’s called a couple of times but I haven’t picked up. I don’t know what else to say and –“he trailed off.

“You don’t want to be the bad guy, no pun intended, on Christmas, I get  it. But, not answering- ignoring her is just as bad. I don’t know. You kind of strike me as a decisive kind of guy, pun intended. Are you like rehearsing in your head or something?

My Momma always says it’s easy for people to be good when everything going their way. But the true test of character is how you act in adversity, that’s when your true personality comes out. Tells a lot about a person, how they act under stress.”

“Your Momma sounds like a very smart lady.”

“She is. She also taught me to not take anything for granted. Your little trip with the ex wasn’t here to Napa by any chance was it? I mean, she’s like not right next door, is she?”

Guy gave his best “caught in the act” look but started laughing. “Oh that would be good wouldn’t it? That’s an old Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Jerry Lewis set up I think. No, she should be half way round the world.”

Latisse wondered where he had planned a Christmas trip with his recent girlfriend half way around the world, but was too polite to ask.

“Well, you already heard about my last fiasco and every other little detail of my life sitting on the plane at Dulles. You were my captive audience.”

Ít was my lucky day.”

“I hope it was our lucky day.” And they kissed, passionately, almost spilling the wine.

The wine made by grapes in California uses the genetics from the vines themselves combined with the soil, sun and moisture from a relatively small area of the pacific coast to produce a range of varietal wines from several family owned vineyards and wineries. One the day after Christmas, Latisse and Guy toured wineries and learned a lot about how wine grapes were cultivated, harvested and processed. The final scents and flavors of the wine are as much what happens to the grapes after they’re picked. Oak sheaved casks the wine ages within, the temperature of the aging vaults.