Love Never Dies (17 page)

“So, have you been keeping yourself busy?”

“I’ve actually been attending some lectures at the Santa Barbara campus since it’s not far from my physical therapy. I’ve also been doing research on the Los Angeles county area and want to travel south sometime to visit
Disneyland
and
Universal Studios
.”

“I remember doing all that,” said Julia.
“My brother and I used to make it our summer ritual to visit either
Knott’s
or
Disneyland
. My parents refused to go to both every summer so we had to alternate. When they finally opened
Magic Mountain
they were relieved because it was so much closer.”

“So you grew up in this area?”

“Actually I spent my formative years in LA before moving to Goleta when my dad got a job connected to an architectural firm catering to the engineering research center attached to the university. I think I was probably about ten at the time and from the beginning knew Santa Barbara was where I wanted to live my life. So here I am nearly twenty years later.”

“And what a lovely spot it is,” stated Simon
, gazing out onto the softly rolling hills giving way to the majestic Pacific Ocean.

He had to agree
Santa Barbara was one of the loveliest secrets of southern California, located just north of Los Angeles and Ventura. The city, with its old trees and quiet neighborhoods, belied the bustling university and civic center. One could visit the stately mission, attend an amazing variety of activities at the university, or simply drive along the beautiful highway fronting the beach. True, Santa Barbara was pricey and overdeveloped but Julia couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

“So you received your degree from UCSB?”

“Yes I did, though I actually attended UCLA for two years as a freshman and sophomore while entertaining the notion of becoming a screenwriter or cinematographer. However, I gradually changed my mind and decided to be a teacher after working with handicapped children during a special university sponsored program at the UCLA Medical Center. I still love LA and Hollywood. In fact, I’m heading down to UCLA at the end of the month because my principal, Connie Fernandez, is a Flamenco Dancer and she’s part of the entertainment during the annual Hispanic festival.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun,” said Simon.
“Just when are you leaving?”

“The day after Halloween.
Connie designs the most beautiful flamenco dresses of flaming yellow, red, and white and is quite an accomplished dancer. A few of the staff are planning to head down to watch her on November
first and she wants me to film her in action.”

Julia continued
chatting about her principal, relating how they’d become good friends over the past three years and played racquetball occasionally at the local gym. Simon desperately wanted to ask her more about her jaunt down to Los Angeles, but decided to hold off. It was too soon to tag along, so after dinner he casually walked her to the blue Taurus. Julia raised a hand to him before driving off into the fading light. A movement touched his periphery vision and he observed a man pull away in a silver sedan. Simon’s heart lurched since Adam Gable was known to prefer silver vehicles. Unfortunately, the car disappeared before he could take down the license plate number, propelling him to give Stan Garten a call.

Over the next two weeks Simon kept a low profile, continuing his physical therapy doggedly and occasionally visiting Angie and Paul for lunch on the weekends.
He was always friendly and disarming, never once indicating any interest in Julia other than casual friendship and saw her only occasionally, always in the presence of Paul and Angie.

On Wednesday, October
twenty-seventh, Paul gave Simon a call. Simon had just gotten back from physical therapy and was in a thoroughly rotten mood. There wasn’t any part of his body that didn’t ache, and while he was certain the treatment would be beneficial in the long run he still cursed his body’s inability to heal itself without help. He growled a terse hello into the phone.

“Is this a bad time?” returned Paul’s pleasant voice.

“Hey Paul. I’m really sorry, but I just got back from physical therapy and I’m not feeling
too chipper. What can I do for you?”

“I actually have a big favor to ask and please feel free to say no if any part of it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Go ahead, shoot,” said Simon, putting on the kettle.

“M
y sister is heading down to UCLA this weekend to take some footage of her boss’ flamenco dancing session during the Hispanic Celebration.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about it,” said Simon as mildly as possible, trying to disguise his intense interest.

“You know Julia hasn’t ventured out much alone, and well I was kinda hoping...”

“That I’
d make some excuse and tag along?”

“Yes, that’s it.
She staunchly refused having either Angie or I come down, saying she didn’t need chaperones, and I know you’ve been wanting to visit LA and check out Hollywood Boulevard and
Universal Studios
. I thought... well... that maybe you could somehow convince her to let you come along?”

“And how
am I going to do that Paul? She’s been fine with having lunch occasionally and talking about Seth for old time’s sake, but if I tried to join her in Los Angeles, she’d suspect I had ulterior motives.”

“But you do have
an ulterior motive,” said Paul. “To help her recover.”

“
Okay,” sighed Simon, pouring hot water over the tea bag to brew. “And just how do I go about hitching a ride with her?”

“C
an’t you just show up? She’s staying at the Getaway Suites near Westwood and maybe you can kinda check into the same hotel?”

“So the
Los Angeles county area has about ten million people right?”

“Yeah,” replied Paul.

“And you want me to just
happen
to bump into her? I don’t think so.”

“Y
ou have a better idea?”

“Sure, I’ll
tell her you’re incredibly worried about her and if she doesn’t allow me to tag along you’ll be in her suitcase.”

“I’m sure
that
would work,” Paul scoffed.

“Well it better than just
bumping
into her at the Hispanic Festival. If I do that, she’ll probably think I’m some sort of stalker and call the cops. You leave it to me; I’ll work it out. And Paul, you should look on the bright side. At least she
wants
to venture down to LA; certainly that’s got to be considered a breakthrough.”

“Yeah, but she seems so melancholy all the time.”

“Well, what can you expect? What’s it been now, ten months?”

Paul sighed morosely on the other end of the line.
“So you’ll do it?”

“I’ll tr
y but you owe me BIG time. You keep promising to take me to a Lakers game, and this time I’m going to hold you to it. I’ll give you a call and let you know what comes of my finagling. Just keep your fingers crossed.”

Simon didn’t waste any time and rang Julia up that very evening.

“Do you mind if I stop by?” he asked.
“Something’s come up and I have to speak with you.”

“Alright,” said Julia
, surprised at the urgency in his voice. “Come right over.”

Simon liked the airiness of her modern apartment; its cool cre
am walls complimented by the bright green drooping stems of healthy house plants. Mira immediately ran up to him and sniffed his leg, giving her curled tail a wiggle before leaping onto the couch.

“Off the couch Mira,” reprimanded Julia. “You know you’re not supposed to sit there!”
The dog sadly but obediently jumped down onto the rag rug designated as her special spot. She circled twice and sank down, resting her beautiful pointed muzzle upon dainty paws before following Simon with her dark brown eyes.

“Something to drink Simon?”

“No, I’m fine,” he answered, sinking down onto the comfortable couch after giving the furry dog an affectionate pat. The heavy breathing designating the Keeshond breed proved comforting, enabling one to always know the whereabouts of their faithful dog.

“So what is it?” asked Julia, adjusting the embroidered pillow Grandma Rose had made for her before leaning back in her mauve recliner.

“It’s about your brother.”

“Paul
?” cried Julia alarmed. “Is something the matter?”

“Well not per se.
Listen Julia, Paul rang me up this morning, requesting I accompany you to LA.”

“What?”

“He’s worried about you Julia. He’s afraid you’ll get all melancholy without some sort of support around and since he knows I want to explore the region, asked if I could somehow hitch a ride with you.”

“I see,” said Julia car
efully. “And were you against this
plan
?”

Simon shrugged vaguely.
He wore his normal uniform of a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and a worn pair of trainers. “I wouldn’t say I’m exactly against it, but I’m smart enough to know you don’t need a chaperone
or
a babysitter.”

“Well you can just tell him that I
am
a-okay
,” said Julia huffily, and rose to snap off a brown leaf from one of her philodendrons. She was clearly seething.

“M
aybe we can come to some sort of a compromise. I know you’re totally capable of going down and enjoying yourself this weekend. You’re spending much of your time with your boss, right?”

Actually Julia wasn’t.
A fellow flamenco dancer named Alvaro Lopez had attracted Connie’s eye and she’d already told Julia she planned on getting to know the middle-aged man better this weekend.

“I’
m spending
some
time with her, but believe she has other arrangements as well.”

“You love your brother right?”

“Why of course.” She turned toward him, the dead leaf dangling from her fingers. “Why do you ask?”

“Think about why your brother doesn’
t want you to be alone and try to understand how much it would mean to him to know you’re there with someone you know. It’s an easy solution; allow me to visit an area I’ve wanted to explore anyway and make your brother feel a whole lot better in the bargain. Besides, it’s better than his other suggestion.”

“Which was?” asked Julia
, placing her hands on her hips and shooting him a hostile glare.

“That I was supposed to discreetly bump into you either at the Getaway Suites or at UCLA.”

“Of all the nerve!”

Simon chuckled and raised his hands in mock surrender.
“The fact you can get so indignant about your meddling brother is probably a good sign. What do you say Julia; do we go down to UCLA and have a good time, making your brother feel good about himself in the bargain, or do you tell him off?”

Julia pursed her lips, not realizing how appealing she appeared in her oversized pink sweater, scruffy sweats, and sheepskin slippers. “You’re right.
He’s only concerned about me.” She waved a warning finger at him. “But we’re not going together. If you want to follow me down to LA, that’s one thing, but I’m taking my own wheels and only spending time with you
if
and
when
I
choose. Do you understand that mister?”

“Of course,” agreed Simon innocently, “but I was just wondering if you could make one exception to this total independence plan.”

“And what is that?” hissed Julia, instantly suspicious.

“
Do you think you could spare one hour to escort me to the Avenue of the Stars?”

“I can’t believe it.
Simon Hayes a pure unadulterated tourist?”

He raised both hands above his head.
“Guilty as charged. It’s been a lifelong fantasy of mine to stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and check out all the famous movie stars’ handprints in their forecourt.”

“You have got to be kidding!”

“Look, if I’m struggling to pacify your brother could you at least indulge me a bit?”

Julia laughed out
loud. “So who’s your favorite movie star?”

Simon
looked a little embarrassed. “I’ve always had a thing for Olivia de Havilland. Ever since I saw her in
Gone with the Wind
I was a goner.”

“And anybody else?”

“If I could find Bogie’s or Cagney’s handprints, or actually any of those great forties movie stars, I’d die a happy man.”

Julia chuckled.
Simon was just full of surprises. “Alright, I’m leaving from school on Friday afternoon. Do you know where Hyatt Elementary is?”

“Nope, but I believe
you’re going to tell me,” he said.