“
That just means we can linger longer over what we will experience! I’m sure!” Her excitement showed, and was contagious. First a jaunt through Europe was a dream, but sharing it with Andy was something she knew she would cherish, forever.
Later that evening, Andy was thinking about the summer. The idea of a trip through Europe excited him too. But his thoughts kept coming back to Butterfly Camp. He couldn’t believe that she’d be going for her 10th year, her second year as an advisor.
It seems like yesterday, where did all those years go?
His phone rang and he looked at the display,
“Hey, what’s up?”
“
I just wanted to check in, I saw how emotional you were this afternoon,” Adaleigh said.
“
My girl is growing up,” he said. “I was afraid I was going to go through withdrawals sooner than later, but we will be taking a tour of Europe, I guess.”
“
She asked you to go?”
“
She did, and I gotta tell you, Addy, I am excited to see the world through her eyes for just a little longer.”
“
I guess this means you aren’t available to start some new music with me,” Adaleigh said.
“
I like your choice of words,” he laughed. “Marco can get things started. I’ll be available sometime in August.”
She heard the smile in his voice and said,
“Good night Andy, I’ll see you tomorrow at the party.”
“
I’ll look forward to it.”
At the party the next day, Carlee excitedly told everyone about their trip. Andy watched from across the room as she chattered on and on with excitement. She glowed as she told them about their journey. Andy going with her wasn’t a surprise to any of them. They knew how much she loved him, and how he adored her.
Kimmy handed
Carlee a package wrapped in brown paper, like a paper bag, and tied with a piece of twine. In Kimmy’s hand writing, there was a note on the paper;
“To the graduate! Love, Kimmy and Lane”
Carlee loved the simplicity. Pulling the string, she allowed it to fall to the floor. She carefully ripped the paper, making sure to save the note. There was a layer of tissue paper and she smelled new leather. She ripped into it and there was a leather case. She opened the case to find an iPad. Inside the case was a note.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine.
For your trip!
We love you, Kimmy & Lane
Jenna handed her another small package. She ripped into it, and opened the box. Inside were two plug adapters to convert to European electricity. She opened envelopes with cash gifts from her family, Marco, Dina and Nathan. Roddy and Vince gave her a gift bag, and stuck inside was a new phone with a camera, better and more compact than the one she had.
They knew, of course Papa would have told them.
They may not have suspected that she would take him, but she knew they knew.
Adaleigh took her aside
and they sat on a sofa. She handed her a large package and Carlee ripped into it. “I know how I like to travel – grab and go! I have one of these and I thought you would like it.”
It was a travel bag that looked more like a
large purse than the backpack she planned on taking. “More girlie,” Adaleigh said. It had pockets inside and when Carlee looked there was a smaller purse-like bag inside. “So you can just take this if it’s a quick trip somewhere and not look like a hiker,” and the two laughed.
“
Thank you,” Carlee said and hugged her, then whispered in her ear, “You and Papa OK?”
Adaleigh leaned back to look at her,
she grinned and replied, “So wise, you are… just friends, no more benefits. My idea, ‘cuz I know you will ask,” she laughed. “I met someone, and I think I’m ready to settle down, he is too. But, I’ll be back in August sometime to start a new project with Andy and Marco, and you’ll meet Chester, then.”
“
Chester?”
“
Hank Chester, he just doesn’t feel like a ‘Hank’ to me,” Adaleigh laughed.
Carlee just looked at her a moment and finally said,
“Don’t leave our lives…”
“
Never,” she replied.
Andy saw the exchange as the two hugged, and he knew Carlee knew.
Nanny and Kimmy prepared
a feast of all her favorite things. Vince made her favorite pineapple upside down cake. And there was a bakery cake, as well. She looked around the room filled with the people she loved. She loved them all being there, sharing this special time with her. It happened often, but not near enough for her liking, and she had learned young to cherish every moment.
She watched
Andy across the room; she felt sad about Adaleigh, but he didn’t look like he was heart-broken. She loved him so much. He had given her so many gifts. Not the kind wrapped in paper, or tied with bows. He was the real gift. He’d given her the stability that she was sure her mama longed for from him, but sadly, didn’t know until the end of her life.
She could remember a little about the last days of her
mama’s life, but she knew them, because of the book. She remembered all those people she loved being there, loving her mama, loving her. She remembered feeling how sad they all were, especially Andy.
Carlee was up early the next morning, and out the door to Starbuck’s before Andy was up. She knew his routine and how much time she had, so she hurried. She left him a note on the counter.
Coffee’s on the way! Wait for me! XOXO, C
She ordered two to go, a Venti black and bold for Andy, a Venti latte, with extra soymilk for her. She added a couple of blueberry muffins and headed home. He was at the table with his iPad checking the news, waiting on her when she went in. He was fresh out of the shower and she smelled that familiar musk he wore.
“
Good morning!” she said as she threw the door open and dropped her things on the counter. She handed him the coffee, and the bag of muffins, “Venti in honor of Italy!”
“
Good morning, love. You’re up early this morning,” he said as she kissed his cheek.
“
I’m so excited about this!” she told him as she got plates for the muffins. She looked around before she took her seat. That table was one of her favorite places. They’d shared so much there. She looked at him and felt so much love.
“
Let’s look at the map and start planning!” she said, excitedly pulling the device away from him so she could see the screen, and he laughed. Andy loved the idea of the trip, but mostly, he loved the time he’d share with her. She was growing up, getting ready for college and he didn’t know if he was ready for all that change.
“
My passport is good. Is yours?” she asked, and he laughed.
“
Yes, I’m up to date, my dear.” This was gonna be fun and he knew it. She was a great companion. Their trips together were always pleasant. She was so low-maintenance that he knew it’d be a great time.
“
How quick can you leave? I’m free!” she said with a giggle. “Three weeks from now is June 20th. Does that work for you? Is that enough time for you to get ready?”
“
Yep, I could leave tomorrow,” he grinned. “We start in England,” he reminded her. “I chose Air Atlantic and Gatwick to start. It’s beautiful in southern England.”
“
I was so excited last night, I couldn’t sleep! I stayed up Internet surfing! Gatwick is in Sussex, all kinds of gardens, castles and farms there to visit. Pack your walking shoes Papa,” she laughed.
She chattered on about all of it, but especially Italy. Andy sat back, sipped his coffee
, watched her, and listened as she planned.
“
Not that it’s a big deal but I can drink in Europe, legally,” she laughed. “So I thought we’d tour some of the wineries, and pubs too…” she trailed off and looked up at him. “What?” she asked.
He was smiling at her.
“Nothing,” he said.
“
Are you laughing at me?” she asked. He said nothing. “I’m excited!”
“
I am too sweet girl…” He was. The prospect of getting to know this beautiful young woman even better was a huge blessing. He had seen her blossom, and he was so proud. He watched her as she ‘surfed’ and chatted happily about their journey and he thought again how proud Beth would be; and what John had missed. He looked closely, took a sip of his coffee, but what he was really ‘drinking in’ was that beautiful girl
.
She’s petite, but not as tiny as Beth, a little taller. Her skin is darker, more like John. Beth’s eyes were green and bright, Carlee’s dark brown eyes are mysterious, but they dance with merriment. But that head full of curly hair has the hint of red that I noticed first about Beth. And that laugh that grabbed my heart is the same. She looks more like John. But, I feel Beth’s passion. I hear it… I hope I can keep up with her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
~ A European Jaunt
T
heir plans in place, they set out on the journey of a lifetime. Andy knew he would treasure every moment. Carlee packed light, “easy stuff that travels well” she told him as she stuffed her bags. She had a duffle bag and the bag Adaleigh had given her. “Simple and compact,” she said as they loaded their things into the limo to leave. The whole family was there to see them off.
They boarded
a flight at eight on Saturday evening to ‘cross the pond.’ Carlee didn’t close her eyes the whole nine and a half hour flight, she was too excited. She had travel brochures and her iPad, and poured through them in earnest. Andy rested, but looked over whatever she wanted to share with him. None of it mattered though, if she had told him she wanted to sleep in a tent and tour the red-light district in Amsterdam, he would have done whatever she wanted.
As Andy rested, he thought back about all those years ago when he’d come back into her mama’s life. Carlee was three and a half, and he couldn’t imagine loving her more. He closed his eyes and saw those chubby little girl fingers bring his face to hers for a kiss after a bedtime story. He remembered pink Kool-Aid tea-parties, and making french toast for Beth on Mother’s Day. He fell in love with that adorable little red-haired girl…
There were times he ached so much because she wasn
’t his, but she may, as well have been. John had been gracious enough to share her with him. He couldn’t be more proud of the result of her unconventional upbringing. When John died, and she moved in with him, he’d hardly missed a moment of her growing up.
On Sunday afternoon, they arrived, cleared customs, and made their way to the rail station to take them to Chichester. A driver waited to take them to Arundel to the Inn, where they would spend the first three nights. They arrived at the hotel in time for late lunch, checked in, and quickly went to their room. They dropped their bags, freshened up, and returned to eat. The hotel was serving a beef roast with potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, and “the best brown gravy” she’d ever tasted. Full and excited, they went out to tour the Inn’s beautiful gardens, and the surrounding area. They made it an early evening, both tired from their journey east.
The next morning
, they were up and out early to begin another day of exploring. They toured a local museum and castle, and were there to see the
Carpet of Flowers
and the procession of the
Blessed Sacrament
at
Arundel Cathedral
. Carlee took lots of pictures, excited to share them with her family.
“
This is so beautiful. Papa,” Carlee said as they sat on a bench outside the Cathedral. Soft music made it a peaceful place. “I read in the book that you got your start singing in the school and church choir.”
“
I did,” he smiled. “Church was important to my mom. I think she thought it would keep me out of trouble.”
“
What kind of church?”
“
Methodist, that’s where my mom went,” he replied.
“
I think Mama took me to a Methodist church when I was little, but dad went to a non-denominational church, and Kimmy, Lane and Jenna are Catholic.”
“
Are you asking because you want to go?” he inquired.
“
I don’t know, I do plenty of praying,” she smiled up at him.
“
Me too,” he replied and squeezed her.
“
I read a lot too, and I found a verse in the Bible that Kimmy gave me that I love, I carry it in my wallet.”
“
Which verse,” he asked.
“
Well, it’s something that has given me so much peace. Sometimes I needed a place to hide, a refuge, I guess, when my dad wasn’t around. I always felt like I did something to let him down, and I was reading through passages once when I was with him. Actually, we were only in the same house, even when he was there he really wasn’t. I wanted to cry because it hurt so badly, and I stumbled on Philippians. 4:13…”
“
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me,
” Andy said. “It’s my favorite too. Carlee, if you ever want to go, I’ll go with you.”
“
No, I just wonder about it, read about it, pray about it and ask the Lord to help me when I feel weak,” she said.
Andy put his arm around her shoulder
. “That’s a good path to follow.”
“
Come on, let’s go,” she said.
After a bit of touring, Carlee announced that she was ‘starving’ and they made their way to High Street, to the Red Cat Pub. It was a little ‘hole in the wall’ place, the kind Andy liked best. It was dark when they entered. A contrast from the bright sunshine of outside, and it smelled sweet; like old wood and pipe tobacco sweet, not confections. They walked to the bar and took a seat. Behind the bar there was a huge mirror and the shelves along the sides and across the bottom were lined with liquor bottles. In front of them were several tap pulls for various beers. A tall slender bald man appeared, wiping his hands on a towel that hung from his waist.
“
Paul Wilson,” he said in a heavy accent extending his hand. “The Red Cat is my home, welcome!”
“
Carlee and Andy Stevens,” she said, and Andy smiled.
“
Can I pull you a pint?”
“
Carlee, you pick,” Andy told her.
“
Well, I don’t think I can pass on something called Scrumpy Jack!” she laughed.
“
It’s cider beer, different from what you have in the U.S.” Paul told her.
“
What on earth makes you think we are from the U.S.?” she asked.
“
Well, miss, I assumed, silly me! The accent gave you away, southern U.S. if I had to guess,” he said, and Carlee laughed.
They ordered
a lunch platter of cheeses, bacon wrapped sausages, chutney, warm crusty bread, and beer.
“
The wife makes the sausages and the chutney homemade. How ya likin’ that Scrumpy?” he asked.
“
It’s different, but I like it!” Carlee said.
The bar was quiet, as they sat and talked with Paul. Carlee loved hearing the local lore, and Andy marveled at her ability to strike up a conversation with anyone she met.
“
I recognize you,” Paul told Andy after a while of conversation. “I was in the crowd at Wembley
when you were there with Mean Street back in the day,” he laughed. “I’ve followed your career for many years.”
“
That was a lifetime ago,” Andy smiled. “Carlee is my daughter,” he said, and she loved it more every time she heard it.
As they chatted, Andy told him they had a car service picking them up in the morning for a day of touring.
“
That’s no way to visit this place!” Paul laughed. “Take my car, take your time and enjoy! I’m happy for you to use it.”
“
Oh, no, we really couldn’t do that, but I appreciate your kind offer,” Andy replied.
Paul dangled the keys and Carlee leaned across the bar to kiss his cheek.
“Charmer…” he said in his heavy accent, and laughed.
“
But, where should we go?” she asked him.
He took a placemat and wrote out directions to Littlehampton on the English Channel.
“Tour the Harbor,” he told them, “Lots there to see, the pier, shops, plenty of restaurants and cafés, but make your way to The Vicarage in Worthing for lunch, finest seafood on this coast.”
The next morning, they rose early and walked to the pub. Paul had coffee waiting in travel cups. “Tank is full, coffee’s fresh. Be back by dinner and I’ll have the finest fish and chips you’ve ever tasted!”
They climbed into the little Fiat and made the short trip to Littlehampton. When they reached the
harbor they parked and walked. It was an enjoyable time, no rush for anything and it was everything Paul told them it would be. There were all kinds of little shops and Carlee dragged Andy into them all. They had a great time seeing sights neither had ever experienced; beautiful old buildings. They took a stroll through Mewsbrook Park, and enjoyed a swan pedal-boat trip around the lake. They stayed a few hours, and then headed to Worthing.
Lunch was local fare
- mussels for Andy, and prawns for Carlee. It was as wonderful as Paul said it would be. They shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio and conversation. After lunch they found a winery, and went in to sample. Carlee had grown up knowing of Andy’s appreciation of wine. It wasn’t about drinking; it was about savoring. She found that she liked his favorite whites much better than any of the reds.
“
What’s your favorite?” Andy asked the girl who was assisting them.
She poured one called Machus and told them it was one of their best sellers.
“It’s like springtime on your tongue!” she laughed. “A tad sweet, but not like dessert wine,” she said.
They tasted and both liked it.
“Six cases please.” He made arrangements to have three of the cases shipped home and loaded the remaining three in the car. Carlee looked at him curiously. “You’ll see,” he told her.
It was getting late and they decided to head back to Arundel, taking their time to enjoy the scenery along the route. They would leave for London the next morning. After topping off the tank, Andy pulled the little car in front of the pub. They entered, and a small crowd of locals had gathered. As promised, Paul had fish and chips, ready to drop in the fryer.
“
Paul, I need your help please,” Andy said, walking toward the door.
“
They are all regulars,” Paul explained as they left the building. “I didn’t put the word out.”
“
It’s good. It was a great day; it’ll be a great evening!” Andy replied and they each returned with a case of the wine. Andy went back and got the third. He pulled six bottles from one of the cases and pushed it aside for their travels. Paul put the rest on the counter. “These are for you,” he said, referring to the remaining wine, “with our thanks.”
“
Machus for everyone!” Paul shouted. He started playing Traveler music, and when “Simple Life” started everyone in the pub sang along. It was the end to the perfect day.
It’s good sweet lovin, beyond any doubt
It
’s making sweet I’m talkin’ about
It
’s makin’ sweet good lovin’
It makes us complete…
Tu
esday morning, they packed to head to London. Paul took them to the train. Carlee hugged him, and thanked him for showing them a great time. “Come back anytime,” he told them as he waved them away.
~ ~ ~
The train ride, including a transfer, took about two and a half hours. Andy had a car waiting for them at the station. He booked a suite at White’s Hotel. He’d stayed there before, and knew that Carlee would love it. They’d be there for four nights.
“
Rest up a bit,” he told her after they settled in. “I made a reservation downstairs for dinner at the restaurant, Six.”
“
Wow, I peeked as we were checking in! Nice…”
While Andy rested
, Carlee wandered around the suite. It was classy and beautiful. She walked to the window in the common area, they were on the seventh floor and from the window she could see a lush green park and the London landscape in the distance. She sent notes and pictures to Kimmy, Jenna, Nanny and Pops.
Time got away from her. Quickly
, she jumped in the shower and threw on a little make up, pulled her hair into a knot on top of her head with a clip, and slipped on a bright yellow sundress and sandals. She peered in the mirror. Turning left and right to check, she liked what she saw, grabbed a light sweater and walked into the common area where Andy was waiting.
He was wearing a sport jacket
, and Carlee exclaimed, “Wow! Papa, look at you!”
“
No, look at you! My sweet girl, you are beautiful, sure you want to spend your evening with this old fart?”
“
I do,” she hooked her arm through his and said, “Let’s go, handsome!”
The restaurant was fancy, and full. He’d reserved a corner booth for them. As they entered, heads turned their way. Carlee was sure some recognized Andy, and she knew some saw an older man and young woman together and that piqued their curiosity.
A
s they walked through the room to their table Carlee took note. She had been in fancy restaurants with Andy before, but this one was really fancy. The walls were a creamy beige color, like old paper. The art was modern and low-light set a soft-glow through the room. They slid into the booth as a young man came to the table to fill water glasses. Andy saw him looking at Carlee, and smiled. He looked too. She was looking down, smoothing her napkin on her lap.