CHAPTER 1
Country Cousins Visit New York City
Lightning cracking all around us and thousands of cars bumper to bumper. Ribbons of red lights from the heart of New York City flowing through a hundred arteries bound for a thousand destinations.
"I'm late!" I muttered frantically to myself, "I'm late for the arrival of my cousin, Jan, and her two daughters. Their plane arrived thirty minutes ago! They are probably frantic by now, especially in this city! Landing in this storm and thinking they are stranded, and of all places, New York City! They probably wish they were back in Rockvale, Tennessee, already! A place where there are no traffic lights, no traffic jams ... just peace and quiet, except during the Fourth of July celebration or a ball game. Peace and quiet, boy, does that sound good—unbelievable really!"
Finally! The exit to the airport was in sight. So much for my mental visit to quaint little Rockvale. We were back to big city reality here. Oh no, all this traffic! "Get over Jack, I'm coming through," I yelled as I swerved in and out of traffic, as if they could hear me anyway. Oh, I was almost there! Boy, would it be good to get a touch of the past through Jan. I was so anxious to hear what was going on in that little village and see if it has changed or remained the same. It made me feel rather peaceful inside already just remembering what it was like back there all those years ago ... Thank God, the storm was clearing!
"Hey, cuz!" I yelled. Jan turned and a beaming smile of relief and happiness rushed over her face. We hugged and laughed, yet I knew both of us were on the brink of tears. I backed up quickly and grabbed her arms and said, "Well, look at you! Rockvale must definitely be agreeing with you!" She laughed and said, "It sure looks like the big city life is for you."
I saw two beaming young faces and said, "Oh, my goodness, look at these two beautiful young ladies!"
"This is Amanda and this is Linda," Jan said as she put her arm around each one of her daughters. I gave both of them a big hug and they were almost as tall as me and only fourteen and fifteen!
"I just cannot believe both of you. We have waited too long for a visit!" I exclaimed. "The last time I saw you was twelve years ago when I flew in for a class reunion. My, how time flies and things change!" I avowed. "I should have known both of you wouldn't be little girls anymore! The last time I saw you Linda, you were real proud you could go to the bathroom by yourself. Amanda, you were sitting on the couch with your doll watching Sesame Street." They looked at each other and giggled.
"Well, we can visit at home. Let's get going! I want to apologize for being so late. I didn't mean to worry you. I guess you were already scared to death flying here in that terrible storm!" I exclaimed.
"Oh, it was horrible! We were saying our prayers," Jan stated. Her eyes were as big as half-dollars just telling me about it.
"We asked our angels to carry us in safely and they did!" Linda said.
"Mama, Linda and I had joined hands and had our heads bowed praying out loud. When we finished and looked up a stewardess was staring at us and she sort of smiled and walked on to the back. Then we noticed the people sitting around us were looking at us. They all quickly went back to what they were doing, reading their newspapers or books, or working on their laptops," Amanda explained.
"Mama, I forgot to tell you, the man sitting behind us, you know, the one in that really nice suit with the red tie?" questioned Amanda.
"Oh yeah, I know who you mean. He looked like a successful businessman to me," Jan said.
"Yeah, that's him. Well, when we were getting our luggage he came by me and said, 'Thanks for praying. I knew we were in trouble up there, but I didn't know what to do and I should have known! Thanks for not being ashamed to pray in public. I'm the one who should be ashamed. Your prayers, I believe, saved us and the three of you taught me a valuable lesson. I feel refreshed, I believe would be the word!' Mama, he had such a soft smile and tender look in his eyes. I believe it really touched him," admitted Linda.
Jan softly said, "Oh-h-h ... see y'all, some good came out of that storm after all!"
I looked at Jan's face and saw a fulfillment that I couldn't really explain. How do you have to feel inside to look like that on the outside? Well, it must have something to do with religion, I guess. Seems like they are happy about it. I never got that excited about it myself.... Is there something I missed?
"Stay here and I will get the car. By the way, always be aware of who is near you and what is going on around you," I instructed bringing myself back to reality.
"Are you serious?" questioned Jan.
"Afraid so," I said. I walked to the parking lot and turned to observe them. Their heads were shifting about watching everyone close to them and what they were doing. It was rather amusing.
I got the car and pulled up to them, but they kept looking at the car instead of moving. "Wow! Mama, look at her car!" announced Linda.
"Golly!" laughed Jan.
"Man, a gold Jag!" squealed Amanda.
I got out and grabbed one of their suitcases and said, "Let's load up ladies, it is time to head to Manhattan." Off we went into the evening sun, streets still wet, but the sky clear and fresh. We were jabbering a mile a minute heading for the heart of the city. I yelled, "Quiet a minute!" as we began to cross the Queensboro Bridge. They all laughed and looked at me and I announced, "Welcome to New York City!" as they looked across the bridge at all the skyscrapers of Manhattan silhouetted in a golden sunset. That was a picture in itself! They were intrigued with the trillions of lights coming on everywhere and the excitement on every corner. They were like little kids in a candy store, except louder!
"Look at that man with the green spiked hair. It must be ten inches high!" yelled Amanda.
"That's nothing, look at all those store windows over there. What a huge store! Oh-h-h, would I love to shop there all day!" Linda sighed. I was really enjoying this! Yes, it is a city of constant motion, no matter what time of day or night!
We pulled into the parking garage of my apartment building, got the luggage, and caught an elevator. We stepped out on my floor and they loved the decorated hallways and beautiful pictures. "This way girls ... we will look at the pictures when we are not carrying luggage," I sighed, rather short-winded, as they snickered.
"I feel like I am sinking down in this carpet," whispered Amanda.
I unlocked my door, turned and looked at them and announced, "Ladies, here is your home away from home this week," and slung the door open.
"Wow, look at this!" squealed Linda.
"Man oh man, this is fantastic!" exclaimed Amanda.
"Oh ... golly!" laughed Jan.
The girls scurried in the door, sat their luggage down and ran over to the windows. I didn't want to miss one second of their excitement and the look on all their faces. "This is too much," Jan implied as she walked in and sat her luggage down. I was chuckling at their reactions as I closed and locked the door behind us.
"Mama, look at the sky with all the purple and orange colors. It looks just like the poster of New York City at dusk," Amanda said.
All of a sudden all three of them got quiet and the wonderment of the skyline at dusk just overtook them. I could understand that. I had been looking out those windows for twenty years now, and it was still breathtaking.
"I ain't believing this!" whispered Jan.
"It is always clear and beautiful after a storm moves out this time of summer. You enjoy the view and I bet, I just bet you would like some cappuccino," I offered.
"Yes! The last few shopping trips to the mall Mom treated us to cappuccino. We love it!" said Amanda. "I bet you have one of those fancy machines too," she said as she and Linda dashed to the kitchen.
"What flavors do you have?" she asked.
"Well, I have French Vanilla, Swiss Mocha, Irish Creme, and ..."
"Never mind, stop right there! Amanda and I want Swiss Mocha and Mama loves Irish Creme," Linda confirmed.
"Well then, we are in business," I stated. I was happy I had something they liked. Preparing for their visit, I had to kind of guess what the girls would like. I didn't want to ask Jan because she would have told me not to bother.
"Come on girls, sit over here on the sofas where we can view the city and enjoy our cappuccino," I said, carrying our drinks out on a serving tray.
"Golly girls, don't you dare spill anything on these white sofas. It would never come out!" Jan stammered. "Diane, these sofas are beautiful! What color do you call this?" Jan asked as she smoothed her hand up and down the cushions.
"It is antique ivory. I love them and have had them forever," I answered. "I remember years ago when the furniture company sent the movers up here with them. That was a story in itself! They were so heavy and I was worried they would hit the door getting them in here. They finally got them in and set up and I was so proud of them. Do you know that I have never moved them!"
"Well, this is perfect the way they are. In this big U-shape you can sit to watch TV or see into the kitchen, but mainly you can view the city wherever you sit," Jan said.
I told her I had already bought pictures, pillows, and plants to set them off before they arrived. "I was so pleased when I finally got them and it all came together just like I planned," I smiled.
"I couldn't wait for Carl to come over to see them. He came in the door, looked at them, and told me he sure would not have picked that color. I couldn't believe it! After a couple of months he told me they looked pretty sharp after all. He said at first he couldn't get over anyone wanting huge white sofas taking up the whole center of a room," I laughed.
"You're still seeing Carl, aren't you?" Jan asked.
"Of course! We have grown old together. We can't throw each other out now!" I laughed.
"Well, I couldn't imagine you and Carl not together anyway," Jan stated.
"Are you ever going to marry him?" asked Amanda.
"Amanda!" Jan scolded.
Linda chimed in, "Why don't you marry him! Y'all been seeing each other forever!"
"Good grief girls, you need to mind your own business!" Jan exclaimed. I was amused as well as taken back by the honesty of the girls. I couldn't blame them, after all how many people date for twenty years!
Jan was bracing her forehead with her hand and sheepishly looked over at me and whispered, "I'm so embarrassed."
"Oh, Jan! They just spoke what they thought," I said, trying to calm her.
"Well," stated Linda, "Are you ever going to marry him?" Amanda got tickled over her boldness.
"Girls, I ain't believing y'all!" screamed Jan, still holding her forehead.
"Girls, I'll tell you what. He'll be here any minute. Why don't you two ask him!" I insisted, laughing inside at the look on their faces.
Jan laughed and gasped, "Don't you dare!"
The girls looked at Jan and I, back at each other with a mischievous grin, and shook their heads up and down. "Oh yeah, we are going to ask him," they reassured us.
"Now girls, just calm down," I instructed. "Don't ask him unless I can see the look on his face," I said. They smiled at each other and Jan had her head buried in her hands, shaking it back and forth. There was a knock at the door. The girls jumped and covered their mouths with their hands so Carl would not hear their laughter. "Ssshhhhh!" Jan and I both demanded, although we were tickled ourselves.
I tried to compose myself before I got to the door, but none of us could stop laughing. I looked out the peephole and saw Carl and began to unlock the door. In a feeble effort to regain some seriousness, I told them never to unlock the door unless they knew the person on the other side.
It wasn't helping, and I burst out laughing while I was talking to them. I had to wait a minute to calm down, then I turned and looked at them real serious as if to say, "OK! This is it! Get a grip!"
I opened the door and saw Carl's warm smile. He lightly kissed me on the lips as I stroked his face with my hand. "Come on in, sweetie. I have some ladies anxious to see you," I informed him. I heard the girls giggle lightly.
Jan was the first one he saw and he went over and hugged her, chuckled, and said, "How many years has it been, girl?"
Jan laughed and said, "Well, it's been about twelve years. Diane and I were talking about that a little while ago. You both flew in for Diane's class reunion and rented a car and came over."
"Carl, remember these two little girls?" Jan laughed as she pointed to Amanda and Linda. They stood closely together, still giggling.
Carl said, "Goodness sake, don't tell me they are the two little girls!" He put his arms around them, asked them how old they were, and told them how pretty they were.
"What do you two think of this big city anyway?" Carl asked.
"We love it!" the girls answered.
Jan said, "I love it so far and can't wait to see it, but whoo whee, I don't think this big city life would be for me!"
"Well, I can understand that! When I go to Amber Lake on the weekend I can hardly stand coming back to the city ... I'm anxious to see Diane, but that is all," he corrected himself.
"Where is Amber Lake?" asked the girls.
"That is where my country house is. Well, I might as well just say my home. It is a good two-hour drive from here, but I'll be leaving the city in a matter of months anyway," Carl told them.
"What?" exclaimed Jan. "What do you mean you are leaving the city?"
"I'm retiring. I've been around this city a bunch of years. I'm ready to go to Amber Lake and let my dog run around the lake and woods, fish, and watch the sun set over the lake. By the way, that is how it got its name. The whole lake is amber at sunset and it is a sight to behold! I will never tire from looking at it."
"Sounds beautiful!" stated Jan as she was imagining it.
"Wow! How much land do you have there?" asked Amanda.
"About ten acres," Carl replied. "I have a four bedroom home that sits near the lake."
"Oh, it must be wonderful out there!" Linda stated like she was dreaming about it.
"You all are more than welcome to come out this weekend. That is, if you have had your fill of the city," smirked Carl. "Diane is out there almost every weekend anyway, unless of course, she feels the urge to climb another step in that corporate ladder. That is when she works in that big old office building all weekend for weeks on end," he said with a slight sigh in his voice.
"What do you think of seeing the city tomorrow and Friday and then we could leave Saturday morning and mosey through the countryside to Amber Lake? We would be at Carl's by late afternoon Saturday and we could have dinner at sunset. He can grill us some steaks out by the lake and cook a big country breakfast Sunday morning for us," I suggested.
"Yes!" the girls quickly agreed to.
"You sure that isn't too much on you, Carl?" asked Jan.
"Are you kidding! If I can put up with Diane on the weekends, anything else is a cinch!" he kidded.
"Gee thanks!" I said as we all laughed. "Is late afternoon Saturday OK with you, Carl?"
"As far as I know now, but we will all talk about it Friday night over dinner," Carl said.
I grinned and asked, "Where are we going Friday night?"
Jan said, "Now Carl, you are doing too much! Saturday and Sunday is enough."
Carl said, "Let's go to Tavern on the Green. I have to work late Friday, so I'll meet you over there at eight o'clock. I have already made reservations."
"Well, I guess that is settled!" I confirmed, knowing he had made a great choice.
I put my arm around his shoulder and said, "A man of action, that's my Carl. I just want a big juicy steak Saturday and one of your fantastic omelets Sunday morning."
Carl looked at them and said, "I guess you know she is not bashful."
Jan laughed and said, "I knew that a long time ago!"
"Well, what is on the agenda the rest of this week?" Carl asked.
"I'm going to surprise them tomorrow, but we are definitely going to see the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Twin Towers this week," I answered. "Next time you see the movie King Kong you will recognize more things," I kidded.
"This city is fun and exciting, but watch your every move and be careful. This isn't Country Village USA," Carl declared to our guests.
"I'll teach them the ropes tomorrow," I quickly replied to him.
"You are going to teach them that in one day, huh?" he shot back.
"They'll learn fast," I piped up as all three of them looked back and forth at one another. "After all, remember all those many years ago? I know there was a country girl who hit the Big Apple and she survived ... and rather well I would say," I affirmed. Carl and I looked each other over. Jan and the girls watched our every move.
