Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (70 page)

“Enough for you to tie me up?” he inspects.

“And, leave the room, taking Sadie with me when I’m done . . . yes,” I verify.

Joe laughs. “Good thing I didn’t bring any ties then.”

“There are other things I could use to tie you up,” I playfully counter.

“Promise,” he baits.

“No, especially not tonight,” I say with the straightest expression I can manage.

“Looking forward to it,” Joe muses.

“I bet you are.”

Not long after we get settled under the covers, Joe strikes up conversation. “Do you mind me asking you something?”

“Maybe,” I reply.

Joe laces his fingers with mine several times before lifting our joined hands and kissing the top of mine. “Will you tell me something about you and your parents?”

“Why?”

“Just curious. You heard a lot of stories about me today and I would like to hear one about you . . . if you’re willing to share,” he explains.

“Like what?” I ask, oddly not bothered by him bringing it up.

“Anything,” he returns. “Something happy.”

My mind drifts back, trying to recollect a memory, any good memory, which is harder than I expect.

“We had a huge map on the wall in the living room,” I begin. “It was a world map that stretched from the ceiling to the floor and the whole length of the wall.”

“Interesting,” Joe comments.

“Just before my twelfth birthday, I told Mom that I wanted to travel the world when I grew up. She asked me why wait until I grow up? She said that each time I found a place that I wanted to visit during our lessons, to write them down. The next day, she and I went to the printer and ordered the map. She told me that for every place I wanted to visit, that on top of saving to go, we needed to learn each native language. Once we had enough money saved and all three of us could carry a conversation, we’d go.

“So, over the years, we ended up having thumbtacks pinned in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, down into France and Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, India, China, Japan and Australia. Later, we added locations from Africa and South America. We looped red string around each point, charting out different paths. Dad calculated that it would be about three months for us to hit every point on the map for each colored line, so as every penny was saved, we started learning every language for that route.”

“That must have been a fun way to learn all the languages,” Joe says.

“Yeah,” I agree. “I remember for my birthday, my twelfth, when they took me out to dinner and a movie, they gave me some gifts, I told them that I didn’t want them.”

“No?” Joe searches.

“No,” I chuckle. “I told them that I want them returned and all of the money that it cost for them to be added to the jar for our world trip.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Every birthday, or holiday after that, I wouldn’t accept gifts.” I pause for a moment, enjoying the memory. “When the Nelsons, our next-door neighbors, found out about it, they gave me money too for birthdays and holidays as well.”

“That was sweet of them,” Joe comments.

“The Nelsons were very nice. An older couple who could never have children and never adopted . . . I’m not sure why . . . but they practically adopted my parents and me, spending many of the holidays with us.”

“Did you go?” Joe searches.

“Where?”

“To any of the places that were on the map?”

“No . . . we never got to go on the trip . . . ” my voice trails.

“Because of the accident?”

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to go . . . I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.” My head hangs a little in shame. “I didn’t even go to China with Maggie and her family the last time they went. I was too scared.”

“Hey, don’t be like that,” Joe coaxes. “I wanted a happy memory and it’s turned sour.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he comments. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have . . . .”

“It’s okay,” I honestly offer.

Sadie breaks the mild tension in the room by starting to snore. Joe and I laugh, and I pretend that I’m heading back to my room.

“Where are you going?” Joe asks with concern.

Laughing, I say, “Back to my room. You can have her when she snores.”

Joe snatches me up and carries me back to the bed. Our bodies land on the bed and cause Sadie to shift a little, enough for her to stop snoring.

“Stay,” Joe says more than asks.

“No more tricks?” I check, though I don’t mind them.

“No more tricks . . . at least while we’re in Oregon,” he lightheartedly teases.

I smile, excited to know he’s not giving up on the game.

“Goodnight, beautiful,” Joe hums. His lips meet mine.

“Goodnight, Joe,” I reply and then return my lips to his for one more embrace for the night.

For our last day in Oregon, Mr. and Mrs. Covelli, Joe, Sadie and myself go for a long morning hike at one of the local national parks. We stroll at a leisurely pace to enjoy the scenery as well as to not push Sadie after her frolic with the whales. She perked up this morning, used to rigorous days with me on a regular basis, but I think the cold water pushed her over the edge just a tad.

After having lunch out in the sun, we continue on our journey for another hour before heading back to the city. We have an exquisite dinner at one of the local five-star restaurants and follow it up with a show at the Vagabond Opera house for a show of Bohemian Cabaret. The twist that the performers put on traditional cabaret, paired with opera style singing and arrangements is phenomenal to say the least with the tying of elements from Weimar Cabaret, Arabic and Balkan forms. My eyes and ears were wonderfully stimulated and aroused, eager to see another show in the future.

Back at the hotel, the four of us recount our amusement of the performance while having a few drinks in the bar. Joe’s parents share with me all of the different operas and shows they’ve seen over the years and I mention that they need to join Joe and myself for our upcoming show of the LA Philharmonic at the Disney Concert Hall tomorrow night. Joe eagerly insists they join us and Mr. and Mrs. Covelli graciously accept. I suggest that the next time they’re in town and there’s a show occurring at the Hollywood Bowl that they join us as well. Joe agrees and explains the difference between the two settings as well as the interesting acoustics that occur in the outdoor theater in Hollywood.

Once our round of drinks are finished, we say goodnight to each other and Mr. and Mrs. Covelli head back to their suite while Joe escorts me to mine. I take Sadie out for one last time for the night, even though I stopped in after dinner and before the show. She quickly relieves herself and gladly heads back in, seeming a little tired from the past two days of excitement.

Joe doesn’t ask to be invited in or for me to join him in his room. He sweetly kisses and bids me goodnight, reluctantly peeling his lips apart from mine, leaving to head to his room.

After getting ready for the night, Sadie and I curl up on the bed. Oddly, for as tired as I am, I find myself having trouble falling asleep. Sadie and I look at each other and she whines as if she’s having the same challenge too.

“He’s not coming over,” I tell her.

Sadie whimpers again.

“No, I’m not calling Joe,” I confront.

Sadie moves closer to me, nudging my chin with her nose.

For amusement, I say his name and Sadie’s tail begins to furiously beat against the bed several times and stops. Curious, I say Jared’s name and her tag only gently wags. I repeat Joe’s name and Sadie’s tail moves feverishly as she whimpers.

For some strange reason, I’m compelled to video tape her to see if she’ll do it again, convinced that Joe or anyone else would never believe me if I told them about this. I repeat Joe’s name, then Amy, Eric and Kim, then Joe’s again followed by Jared’s, then Maggie’s and Joe’s. I change up the names again, adding Pop-Pop and Nathan to the mix. Each time Joe’s name is said, Sadie whines or whimpers and her tail feverishly pounds on the bed. Anytime I say Jared's or Maggie’s name, her tail only moves a little. If I say anyone else’s name, her tail doesn’t move.

“Seriously?” I complain. “You’ve got to be kidding me?!”

Hesitantly, I get up and grab my room key. Joe’s quick to answer the door after I knock. He takes a step out into the hallway with a curious look on his face, not sure why I’m standing back a few feet away and why Sadie isn’t with me.

“Sadie wants you to join us,” I announce.

With a wicked grin, Joe checks, “Are you sure you don’t want me to join you ladies?”

Without saying a word, I hold up my phone and press play — it doesn’t take Joe long to laugh, indicating he understands.

“That’s some trick you taught her,” he comments.

“I didn’t teach her that,” I confront. “She was too tired to follow me out here, so are you coming or not?”

“Definitely coming,” Joe comments. “I just need to get my phone and key.”

Walking away, I inform, “The door will be open.”

Joe quickly darts into the room and Sadie beams with excitement and snuggles right into Joe and me once we’re settled under the covers. I repeat the show for Joe so he can see it live, and without fail, Sadie does her little trick. Joe takes a turn, saying everyone’s name, including his and mine. Sadie’s tail only bounces vigorously for our names and just a little for Jared and Maggie.

“This isn’t something you taught her, is it?” I speculate.

Laughing, Joe objects, “No.”

I eye him, but believe him.

We quickly get settled one more time, with Joe and I curled into each other, our faces barely an inch or two apart and Sadie draped over our legs. Our hands scratch Sadie’s head as we bid each other goodnight followed by sweet kisses.

Back home, I catch up with Maggie at her place for lunch on Saturday. I’m relieved when I see Maggie, my Maggie, staring back at me. My heart settles quickly when I observe that she and Henry both seem relaxed and refreshed. I ask about their interest to try again to conceive and she confirms that they definitely plan to. Apparently, Maggie needs to give her body a little time to heal, internally that is, to be ready and healthy for the next conception. They’re able to have sex, but they refrain from deliberately doing what is necessary for her to get pregnant.

While we eat, she asks to be caught up on everything for the Raven facility. We review the photos I took as well as the floor plans I received in order to map the layout for the servers in the basement, the security doors and exits as well as protocols for staff in and out of the facility. We also line up which days work best for her to start doing some video interviews with some potential staff this week.

I don’t stay too long after lunch, needing to get back to Pasadena to get ready for the concert tonight at the Disney Concert Hall with Joe and his parents. Getting home, I feed Sadie, then we go for a light frolic outside. After a shower to freshen up, I choose a light purple, silk, floor-length dress for the evening. I add some gold and gemstone earrings, bracelet and necklace and finish the outfit with my sparkling gold Jimmy Choo shoes. Styling my hair a little, I lightly curl it to add some volume and bounce.

Joe and his parents pick me up, all coming up to my apartment unexpectedly. I knew that Joe would come up to escort me down, but I didn’t expect his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Covelli sweetly greet Sadie before entering and peruse my small, humble abode. I make a comment about it being small and nothing like Joe’s place. Mrs. Covelli kindly says that the place suits me and my personality.

Down in the parking area, the four of us file into a Rolls Royce limo that fits us comfortably in the back while our driver takes the streets. After just a little bit of traffic, we arrive at the hall.

Once inside, we take our seats in the balcony. Mr. and Mrs. Covelli seem rather impressed with the architectural structure and layout of the building by their comments since we’ve entered. Sitting side by side, Joe is to my left with Mrs. Covelli to my right and Mr. Covelli on the other side of her. We chat lightly until the lights begin to dim and Gustavo Dudamel takes the stage after the orchestra, ready to conduct them to perform works of art written by Maurice Ravel for the evening.

Dudamel begins with the song Le Tombeau de Couperin and my ears are captivated the moment the violins chime in. The song makes me think of several Disney movies that have used bits and pieces of this emotionally driving work of art, but hearing them strung together as one complete movement, gives it a whole new meaning and life. The second song the Philharmonic performs by Ravel is Miroirs which is a solo piano piece with five different movements. When the third movement begins, Joe whispers that this piece is one of his favorites since it’s called Une Barque Sur L’océan, which when translated means
a
boat on the ocean
. The third song is called Concerto for the Left Hand, but the full orchestra plays a small yet interesting introduction and joins in at several other times in the arrangement. Interestingly, this song was composed for Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein who lost his right arm during World War One. The song starts off with a very low, somber tone, but takes you in several directions emotionally through its entirety. The final song played for us is Bolero which was originally composed as a ballet commissioned by Russian ballerina Ida Rubenstein.

When the performance is over, we take our time to the limo, discussing our enjoyment of the evening. Almost arriving in Pasadena, Joe insists to his mother that we’ll drop of her and his father off first and then Joe will take me home with the Tesla. We say our farewells, dragging them out a little since his parents are leaving tomorrow first thing in the morning.

Back at my apartment, Joe stays for a bit while I change and take Sadie out one last time for the night. Joe lingers a little longer, but knows he can’t stay for multiple reasons. He tucks Sadie and me in bed, sitting on top of the covers once I’m under and sitting up. We talk about a few incidentals, trying to make the moment last.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” Joe questions.

“Maybe,” I answer with a grin.

“Maybe it is,” Joe confirms with a kiss.

My mouth eagerly accepts his, not wanting to let go. After several minutes, Joe groans a little when he pulls away and my hands softly cup his face to keep him close.

“Sorry,” I say.

“Don’t be,” he sweetly replies. “I know I need to go, but I want to stay.”

I don’t confirm or deny my thoughts on the current situation and Joe doesn’t insist on finding out.

He snatches a few more kisses before pulling away. “Goodnight, beautiful.”

“Goodnight, Joe.”

When Joe rounds the corner of my bedroom doorway, Sadie starts whining. She jumps off the bed, following him to the front door.

“Sadie,” I call, chasing after her.

“What’s wrong, Sadie?” Joe asks, bending down to pet her.

Sadie nuzzles into his body, almost knocking him over.

“It’s better I’m up anyway,” I try to brush it off. “I should switch the security lock on.”

Joe doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t need to. He stands back up, sweeps me into him and delivers a sinfully delicious kiss. My body molds to his, enjoying every single touch.

Once Joe’s gone, I head back to bed while Sadie chooses to sit by the door, whimpering. Five minutes later, she gives up and comes to bed.

“You’ll see him soon enough,” I console, scratching her behind her ears.