Chapter 32: Miami Bound

Hath and David were lounging on the sofa on Sunday afternoon, when Hath mentioned something about New Year’s Eve. “Baby,” she said, “what do you say to just hanging around here tomorrow night? I know you have to go home Wednesday to spend time with your kids before you go on tour, and, well, I thought we could have a quiet night at home.”

David was quiet, just holding Hath in his arms.

“What’s wrong?” Hath asked.

“Nothing really,” David said, “I just kinda had a surprise planned for you for tomorrow.”

Hath turned to look at David. “Really?” He just nodded. “What kind of surprise?” Hath asked.

“One that involves packing up that sexy red dress and getting on a plane with me,” David said, his eyes narrowing.

“Hmmm…” Hath said. “And just where would we be going my love?”

“I love it when you call me that,” David said, nuzzling Hath’s neck.

“And I love saying it, but you’re avoiding the question,” she replied.

David laughed. “If you must know, and if you want to, we’ve been invited to a party with Teek and Alejandra.”

Hath’s eyes went wide. “A party? Where?”

David hedged, “In Florida.”

Hath laughed. “No shit, Dick Tracey, I do know where Tico lives. No, I mean where specifically?”

David sighed. “It’s a party at Billy Joel’s place.”

David hardly got the words out when Hath bolted up, her hands clapped over her mouth. Billy Joel was one of her all time favorite performers, and the first concert she’d ever gone to. And the third, and fourth. “No frickin way,” she said.

“Yes frickin way,” David answered amused at her reaction.

* * * * *

Late Monday morning, David and I were zipping through the air on the way to Miami. We were going to be met at the airport by Alejandra; Tico was out with his son. I still can’t believe I’m going to this party. Holy shit. I’m dressed for traveling in jeans and a t-shirt, and my gown and all the trimmings are packed gently in a garment bag that I was NOT trusting to the airlines. It was in the overhead bin, and I kept looking up as if making sure it was still there.

David was watching me, and laughing a little at my behavior. “Are you alright?” he asked.

I just looked at him. “Truthfully, I’m nervous as all hell,” I said. “This is really the first public thing I’m doing with you where people may actually care about who you’re with.”

David frowned. “Why does that worry you?”

I stared at him. “You are kidding, right: I’m hardly red carpet, rock star girlfriend material.”

David shook his head. “Baby, you would fit right in with paupers or princes. You are whatever you want to be. I’ve never known you to care one whit what other people outside your family think. You’ll be fine. You’ll smile that pretty smile of yours, and completely knock them off their feet. Besides,” he leaned in with a lecherous grin, “in that dress? Darlin’, you’ll have them lining up to meet you.”

I rolled my eyes at David. “You should have stopped the bullshit parade at ‘pretty smile’. I have no illusions, David. I know I’m not glamorous or perfect. I’m just a regular woman from a regular life.”

“And that’s what I love most about you,” he said. “You are a regular woman first and foremost. Not some glam hound, not a pretender, and you don’t change your behavior to suit the audience. You are real and honest, and,” he leaned in to kiss me, “and I love you. Don’t worry about anything.”

Yeah, right. OK, so we settled in to enjoy the rest of the flight, and when we landed at the airport, I bust a gut laughing when I spotted a sign being held up that said “Joker/Goddess”. Holding the sign was a gorgeous, tall brunette with a killer figure and fabulous long hair. “There’s our ride,” I whispered to David. When he saw Alejandra, he burst out laughing, and dragged me over to her. He wrapped her in a bear hug and spun her around, kissing her soundly when he released her.

“Ali, this is Hathor. Hath, this is Alejandra,” he said.

I put out my hand, and the other woman took it. “I’m pleased to meet you, Alejandra” I said.

“You must call me ‘Ali’,” she said, “and you will be ‘Hath’.” She pulled me in for a hug, then looped her arm through mine and led me away to baggage claim, chatting the whole time. David laughed at me when I had a small suitcase to bring along with the garment bag. He had complained that it was only one night, and what the hell could I possibly need a suitcase for, and I told him that I had all my makeup and stuff in the bag, and I was NOT leaving without it. I got my very first “yes, dear” on that one! Ha ha ha.

We got my stuff, and Ali led us out to her car. Once we got our bags stowed, she took us on a little tour of the area before heading back to the estate. I couldn’t help but gape at the wrought-iron gates that swiveled open silently at the touch of a button mounted to the dash. She drove up to the front door, and said, “Here we are!” and led us up to the front door.

The place was gorgeous, and we went on a little tour, ending at the suite that David and I would share. It had a sitting room, bedroom and bath of course, and a separate dressing room. Everything was done in tasteful shades of peach, from the duvet to the carpet to the upholstery on the furniture, to the towels in the bathroom. “It’s just lovely, Ali,” I said, and smiled at her.

“OK,” she said. “T and Heck will be back soon, and then we can have a late lunch. After that, David, you’re on your own. It’s girl time.” David rolled his eyes.

Ali was a wonderful, warm person, and she could tell that I was overwhelmed. She was going out of her way to make me more comfortable, and I loved her immediately for that. As we were coming back downstairs, I heard a door slam and a deep voice call out “Querida, donde estás?” Ali’s face lit up, and she ran down the stairs to her husband. He dipped her back for a kiss, and stroked her cheek. I blushed and looked away, letting them have their private moment.

Tico came over to us, and shook David’s hand, pulling him in for a man-hug, then enveloped me in a hug. “Good to see you again, Hath,” he said.

“Likewise,” I said smiling. I squatted down to look at the beautiful dark-haired toddler that clung to Tico’s leg. “Hola, hombre pequeño,” I said to him in greeting, calling him “little man”. “Me llamo Hath.” I put out a hand for a high-five, and the little boy shyly touched his palm to mine. In soft Spanish, I told the little one that I had a niece who was about his age, and asked him if he liked trains. His eyes went wide and he nodded. I pulled a small toy engine from my pocket and held it out to him.

The little boy looked to his father for permission, then took it from me. “Muchas gracias, señorita Hath,” he said, and my heart melted.

“De nada, mi amigo,” I said to him, and ruffled his hair. I looked up at Tico and Alejandra, and they were smiling at me. Whew. I’m glad I thought to take the little toy with me. Hector was running the train up and down on the floor, making little choo-choo noises, and he was just so cute. David was looking at me like he’d never seen me before.

“What?” I said to him.

“You speak Spanish?” he said. I just laughed. “Not really; but I am fluent in Italian, and the two languages share many similarities. I did take classes in college, though, and I guess it stuck.” He just shook his head at me.

“You just keep amazing me,” he said softly.

“Baby, you’ve only known me for two months,” I reminded him. “I’m gonna be amazing you for quite some time still.” I laughed at that, but David just smiled and stared at me.

“Good,” he said.

Ali came to my rescue, asking us if we were ready to eat. Her son put her hand in mine and told me I was to sit next to him at lunch. As he pulled me into the kitchen, I smiled over my shoulder at everyone. I’m glad I have a way with kids and animals.