silent again with only the radio between them.
As the songs continued to play, she felt a wave of nostalgia for her adolescent years. Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer came on, and she began to sing to herself.
The soft sounds of humming and actual singing pulled Matthew out of the self-imposed trance he’d placed himself in since Cali entered his car. Looking over, his eyes watched her lips as she mouthed every word perfectly. Smiling, he teased, “I didn’t picture you as a hair band fan.”
She jumped a bit and then smiled back at him. “What can I say? Who doesn’t love Living on a Prayer ?”
He laughed. “True, very true…So is it just Bon Jovi, or were you into all the other hair bands of the eighties, as well?”
She turned her body to face him. “I would have to say I was quite smitten with most of them. How about you? Where you a hair band fan?” she asked with a bit of teasing in her voice.
“Well as you said, ‘Who doesn’t love Living on a Prayer?’ ” His smile was radiant. It took her breath away and drew her in at the same time. She wanted to see more of it. She needed to see more. “I was quite a fan of The Bangles, too. You know Walk Like an Egyptian .”
It was her turn to laugh. “Oh my, does that bring back memories.” He laughed too. They spent the rest of their drive trying to out do the other with their favorite songs from their youth.
Just before three, Matthew pulled into the Stanton driveway, laughing freely with Cali over shared adolescent experiences, the tension in the air that always hung around them having disappeared.
Getting out of the car, they smiled as they walked up to the house.
A man close to their age came through the back doors and met them in the hall.
“Cali! It’s so good to see you again.”
Cali smiled and they hugged each other tight. “Hi David. It’s great to see you again.” Stepping back she asked, “My dad keeping you busy?”
He laughed. “Doesn’t he always?”
“Do you know where Alvin is?” Matthew asked in a clipped tone, cutting their reunion short.
“Oh, yeah. He’s down the hall in the master suite,” David answered before turning back to Cali. “It looks to be a pretty sweet set up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many gadgets.”
Matthew gave a curt nod and marched down the hall where David indicated. As he walked away, Cali saw the stiff set of his shoulders and the purpose behind each step. What happened to the laid back laughing Matthew of a few minutes ago?
She turned her attention back to David; as he was still talking to her. The two had grown up together when she’d spent summers here as a kid. His dad had been the grounds keeper of the Stanton lake house for many years, and now he had taken over the position. Cali stayed and talked to David until she heard movement down the hall. Apparently, it was almost time for their meal. That was good. She was starving.
***
When Matthew arrived, he seemed normal enough, but when Cali entered the dining room, so did the tension. Alvin noticed it almost immediately. He knew something must have happened between the two of them, but he couldn’t imagine what. Matthew Andersen was one of the most professional men he knew and very easy to work with. Cali was his little girl, and well, he couldn’t even think she could have done something. It was a mystery, and by the end of dinner, he was no closer to solving it.
As Carolyn cleared their plates, Matthew excused himself to go make his rounds.
He didn’t spare one glace at Cali.
“So, sweetheart, how are you adjusting to life back in civilization?”
Cali picked up her coffee and took a sip. “I wasn’t gone that long, Dad.”
He laughed. “But I’m adjusting fine. Jessie’s been a big help. It’s great to have her around again.”
Alvin sighed. “Yes, she’s something isn’t she? I know I miss her cooking after two weeks of hospital food.”
Cali laughed. “I imagine so. Speaking of…how did
As the songs continued to play, she felt a wave of nostalgia for her adolescent years. Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer came on, and she began to sing to herself.
The soft sounds of humming and actual singing pulled Matthew out of the self-imposed trance he’d placed himself in since Cali entered his car. Looking over, his eyes watched her lips as she mouthed every word perfectly. Smiling, he teased, “I didn’t picture you as a hair band fan.”
She jumped a bit and then smiled back at him. “What can I say? Who doesn’t love Living on a Prayer ?”
He laughed. “True, very true…So is it just Bon Jovi, or were you into all the other hair bands of the eighties, as well?”
She turned her body to face him. “I would have to say I was quite smitten with most of them. How about you? Where you a hair band fan?” she asked with a bit of teasing in her voice.
“Well as you said, ‘Who doesn’t love Living on a Prayer?’ ” His smile was radiant. It took her breath away and drew her in at the same time. She wanted to see more of it. She needed to see more. “I was quite a fan of The Bangles, too. You know Walk Like an Egyptian .”
It was her turn to laugh. “Oh my, does that bring back memories.” He laughed too. They spent the rest of their drive trying to out do the other with their favorite songs from their youth.
Just before three, Matthew pulled into the Stanton driveway, laughing freely with Cali over shared adolescent experiences, the tension in the air that always hung around them having disappeared.
Getting out of the car, they smiled as they walked up to the house.
A man close to their age came through the back doors and met them in the hall.
“Cali! It’s so good to see you again.”
Cali smiled and they hugged each other tight. “Hi David. It’s great to see you again.” Stepping back she asked, “My dad keeping you busy?”
He laughed. “Doesn’t he always?”
“Do you know where Alvin is?” Matthew asked in a clipped tone, cutting their reunion short.
“Oh, yeah. He’s down the hall in the master suite,” David answered before turning back to Cali. “It looks to be a pretty sweet set up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many gadgets.”
Matthew gave a curt nod and marched down the hall where David indicated. As he walked away, Cali saw the stiff set of his shoulders and the purpose behind each step. What happened to the laid back laughing Matthew of a few minutes ago?
She turned her attention back to David; as he was still talking to her. The two had grown up together when she’d spent summers here as a kid. His dad had been the grounds keeper of the Stanton lake house for many years, and now he had taken over the position. Cali stayed and talked to David until she heard movement down the hall. Apparently, it was almost time for their meal. That was good. She was starving.
***
When Matthew arrived, he seemed normal enough, but when Cali entered the dining room, so did the tension. Alvin noticed it almost immediately. He knew something must have happened between the two of them, but he couldn’t imagine what. Matthew Andersen was one of the most professional men he knew and very easy to work with. Cali was his little girl, and well, he couldn’t even think she could have done something. It was a mystery, and by the end of dinner, he was no closer to solving it.
As Carolyn cleared their plates, Matthew excused himself to go make his rounds.
He didn’t spare one glace at Cali.
“So, sweetheart, how are you adjusting to life back in civilization?”
Cali picked up her coffee and took a sip. “I wasn’t gone that long, Dad.”
He laughed. “But I’m adjusting fine. Jessie’s been a big help. It’s great to have her around again.”
Alvin sighed. “Yes, she’s something isn’t she? I know I miss her cooking after two weeks of hospital food.”
Cali laughed. “I imagine so. Speaking of…how did
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