Julia 20
When he wraps his arms around me, the whole world melts away. The people dancing around us just seem to fade into the background. All at once, the sounds of loud chatter and clinking glasses are drowned out by the crickets and the wind as it whispers through the leaves. I look up, at him and at the sky beyond him. It isn’t until right now that I truly understand the meaning of the phrase ‘blanket of stars.’ There are millions of tiny, glittering points of light winking at us from every direction. If I could just find a way to affix a sound to each of them, they would create a beautiful, celestial symphony.
I sigh contentedly as I snuggle in closer to my husband, putting my head against his chest. The beat of his heart nearly matches the beat of the music swirling around us. Matthew holds me tightly, guiding me gently from side to side and in a circular motion around the dance floor created just for this occasion on the back lawn of a spectacular mansion. We are in Nassau County, in an area known as ‘The Gold Coast,’ where some of Long Island’s most affluent citizens call home.
Michael and Danielle Milano are huge arts patrons and are hosting this gala as a fundraiser for The Walton String Quartet. From where we are dancing, I can see the young couple as they make their rounds to every table. With his height and dark good looks and her blonde hair and stunning features, they’re hard to miss...as are the two perfect little boys who chase around after them. What are their names? Mark … no, Mason. Mason and Steven … the little guy runs like David …
“I know what you’re thinking, Mama Bear.” Matthew says, resting his chin atop my head. “You’d like to have our little monster running around out here too.”
“Well … maybe a little …” I confess.
“Are you having a good time, or are you counting the minutes till we can leave?”
I stop dancing and look up at him with a disbelieving smile.
“Are you nuts? Dancing with you under the stars on a beautiful night? I can’t think of any place I’d rather be right now!”
He leans down and gives me a sweet and gentle kiss.
“How about the Gold Coast Inn?” he asks when he pulls away.
“Ah, well, yeah, that might give this a run for the money. They say that place is amazing, with a fireplace in each room …”
“ … and a hot tub for two,” he adds.
“Well, I guess I’m not the only one who’s seen the ad on TV,” I tease. “Why?”
“Because we have a reservation there tonight.”
“What?”
He cannot be serious. The most modest room at the Gold Coast Inn starts at five hundred a night. And, if I know Matthew Ayers, he didn’t give the modest room a second look.
“I was right the first time! You are nuts!” I exclaim, shaking my head.
He just smiles and shrugs.
“And what about David?”
“No worries there, I booked Natalie for an overnight with him weeks ago. She’ll stay in our room tonight and make sure he gets to his play date in the morning so you and I can enjoy a late check out … in the hot tub, I hope.”
He’s giving me his most suggestive grin.
“And what am I supposed to wear?” I challenge.
He leans close and whispers in my ear. “Well, you won’t be needing any clothes tonight, I’ll make sure of that. As for tomorrow, Nat packed an overnight bag. It’s already in the car.”
That little Mata Hari! She didn’t drop so much as a hint!
He stands back and surveys me with a very self-satisfied smile on his face. I’m about to comment when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
“May I cut in?”
It’s Philip Tonka, our friend, and a fellow cellist. It was his spot that I took in the Walton Quartet.
“Of course!” I say, stepping back to leave him and Matthew together with a giggle.
“Oh, no!” Matthew groans, shaking his head and waving his hands. “The last time I danced with this guy, he stepped all over my toes. I think you’d better take this one, Julia.”
We’re all laughing as Philip whips me around in a dazzling spin that makes me dizzy, but impresses, nonetheless.
“Wow, Philip, I had no idea you can dance!” I marvel.
He gives me his big, kind smile.
“My mama raised me right,” he says, suddenly lowering me into a deep dip.
“Hey! Stop making me look bad!” I hear Matthew call from the sidelines.
The band has moved on to a slower song by the time I’m upright again. ‘Moonlight in Vermont’, I think.
“Oh, this is an oldie but a goodie!” Phil murmurs appreciatively, pulling me a little closer for the low-key melody. He hums a few bars of it under his breath. “You’re too young to remember this,” he observes.
“Oh, I know it, it’s just been a long time since I heard it. Hey, how are you feeling?” I ask, my tone turning more concerned. “It hasn’t been that long since the surgery. Should you be out here … doing stuff like this?”
“Like what? Dancing with a beautiful woman?”
He makes this sound lecherous and I swat him on the arm. “Dancing with a married woman, Mr. Tonka!”
“Oh, of course! Good thing you reminded me,” he chuckles, then becomes more serious. “I am. Feeling better, that is. And you’re right, I shouldn’t be able to be out here dancing. But it’s a sign that the surgery was a success. If I were having balance problems, it might be a sign that there are still problems with my ears. But so far … so good!” he says, dropping me into a deep and unexpected dip.
I laugh and snort all at the same time. Definitely not my most ladylike appearance. He brings me upright again after a few moments and we return to our gentle glide around the parquet tiles laid in the grass, my long silvery dress swishing around my ankles with every spin.
“How’s David?” he asks after our first full rotation.
“Wonderful! He’s so funny and sweet … when he’s not being cranky and horrible,” I laugh.
“I hear he met some Walton fans when you were on tour,” Philips says, gently approaching a topic he’s clearly unsure about.
“Yes he did,” I confirm, giving him the confidence to continue.
“How was that? For you, I mean?”
He’s never come right out and said it, but I’m certain that Philip knows Jeremy is David’s biological father. Maybe from something Brett said. Maybe Matthew. Maybe he just saw the resemblance between the two of them and put it all together. I don’t mind. This man is a gentle soul who has genuine affection for my family.
“To be honest with you, Philip, it was pretty horrifying,” I admit. “I was totally blindsided by Trudy Corrigan. I had no idea she’d be there, or I would’ve made sure David was back at the hotel with Natalie.”
“Why? Would it have occurred to you that she would recognize him?” he asks, genuinely curious.
“Of course, she’s a mother. And a grandmother.”
“So?”
“So, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d recognize my own grandchild, even if I didn’t know he existed! It’s not just a physical thing, it’s an instinctual thing. You know how it seems like some mothers have eyes in the back of their heads? They do! I call it the ‘Spidey Sense’ but some people say it’s a mother’s intuition.”
“Huh,” he says looking down at me with great interest. “Still, maybe it’s best that you were blindsided. Sort of just tearing the Band-aid off, if you know what I mean. It had to happen sometime, and it might have been better this way, rather than you agonizing about it forever.”
I think about this for a moment as we circle the floor again.
“Yes, you’re probably right about that. Still, it was really … unsettling.” I sigh with exasperation and roll my eyes. “Oh, who am I kidding? It was terrifying, Philip!”
“I’m sure it was! Have you heard from her since then?”
I shake my head.
“No. We were both pretty emotional and we decided it would be best to take some time to consider things. She’ll be here next month to help Maggie with some of the wedding plans. We’re going to get together then.”
“And what about your big day?” he asks.
“What big day?”
He’s looking at me expectantly and I suddenly realize what he’s referring to.
“Oh! The CD release party? Yeah, that might as well be a wedding,” I groan. “The guest list gets longer every time I turn around. They’ve changed the venue twice now to accommodate everyone. I tell you, Philip, I’d just as soon skip it.”
“No, no, don’t say that. This is huge, Julia. You need to revel in this, because these moments are few and far between for most of us. Enjoy the spotlight for once,” he says with a grin.
“You’ll be there, won’t you?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” he says emphatically.
“Afraid I have to steal her back, my friend,” Matthew says, gently cutting in on us. “The lady and I have to make the rounds and be on our way.”
“Madam, it was my honor,” Philip says, giving me his most chivalrous bow.
“The honor was all mine, kind sir,” I return with a gracious bow of the head.
“Good night, Philip!” Matthew calls over his shoulder as he puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me off into the cool breeze of early fall.