Chapter 4

Mr. Jameson and Livy waited in his office until after quitting time on the day that each department was supposed to give its verdict, yea or nay, on the Hold-Me-Hannah project. By about 5:40, the results started coming in. By 6:30, it was a done deal. Most of the emails were overwhelmingly positive and there were just a couple who weren't enthusiastic but wouldn't stand in the way. Joy didn't weigh in. She and her husband had their debate at home and he had won, at least this round.

After they had read all the emails from the different departments Mel exclaimed, "Congratulations, Livy! You did it!"

"Yes!" Livy threw both fists into the air in a gesture of victory. "Yes! Yes! Oh Yes! Houston, we have ignition!"

"This is going to be great! But don't use that space analogy; it makes me nervous. This better not crash and burn on lift off. It's a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, you know. But whatever you need to make it happen, you just let me know."

"This will make it and make it big! Thank you, Mr. Jameson. Thank you for everything!" She almost lost it. She wanted so badly to just hug him! But he was the boss, so she restrained herself.

"Please call me Mel! And thank you! You did it and deserve the credit. Go home and celebrate with your boyfriend. Open some champagne! Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, you know. Make it special."

She wondered if he was floating a trial balloon to get her to confirm or deny that she had a boyfriend. She wasn't biting.

"Thanks Mel, that's good advice. I hope your Valentine is okay with all this."

"Don't worry about Joy. She'll be on board as soon as the money starts rolling in. I've assured her that it will."

"All right, the Hannah train has left the station and I am outta here!"

Livy gathered her purse, her coat and her briefcase and fairly floated to the elevator. She didn't know she could feel so good.

She got on the subway at her usual station but after only two stops she decided to get off. I feel like walking. I feel like queen of the city and I want to be out about among my subjects!

She laughed at her ridiculous thought. I am really getting full of myself, aren't I?

She got off at a stop that left her about 20 blocks of walking. She wondered how many miles that was. And it was still winter. However, she was feeling warm from the inside out. She walked through the park; it was well lit and there were lots of people around. Nothing could touch her tonight. It was her night. She was certainly caught up in her own euphoric feelings but for some reason, she was more aware of the people around her than she usually was.

She noticed the lovers snuggling in the cold. She observed the families with children returning from some outing or another. One father carried a sleeping little toddler in his arms and he kept looking at his daughter like she was the most beautiful and wonderful thing the world had ever known.

She heard that voice again, echoing from distant memory, spitting out the words, "I'm not your Dad; not anymore. You have no home here!"

She shook it off and reminded herself that tonight she would celebrate; tonight she was the queen.

It was after nine when she finally reached the 83rd block and was near her apartment. Bryan would be on duty again. He was always the one there after 8:00 p.m. Did she feel like dealing with him right now? He'd want to know all the details and would keep her talking. She just wanted to go take a victory bubble bath. Maybe he'd trap someone else into a conversation tonight and she could sneak upstairs unnoticed, but not likely. She still thought maybe he had a crush on her. Maybe he was lonely and sensed she was kind of a loner too, and thought she wanted the company.

He's just too much of a goody-two-shoes country boy for me.

His radar was on tonight. He spotted her way down the block and he lit up like a Christmas tree. When she got a little closer, he bounded to the bottom of the stairs and took off his hat. He waved it across his middle as he bowed and said, "Good evening, Ms. Thomas!"

"Hello, Bryan. You haven't called me Ms. Thomas since Christmas, remember?"

"Oh yeah, third grade teacher and all that. I was just trying to be very official. You don't look like my scary old schoolteacher at all so don't you worry about that. Old maids are more than just single. They are no fun and not too attractive because they don't care to be. That's not you at all."

"Thank you, I think; although I'm often mistaken for a homeless person."

"You are beautiful and you don't even have to try. And I think that you work too much. Here it is after 9:00 p.m. and you are just coming home from the office? Again?"

"Yeah, but tonight I don't mind so much."

"Why is that? You do seem like the cougar that ate the cat that ate the canary."

"Well, my Christmas roll-out idea was accepted and is on the fast track for the coming season. It's kind of exciting." She was trying to keep her exhilaration inside but despite her efforts, it was leaking out.

"Kind of? It's really exciting! What are you going to do to celebrate? Party time? Go out on the town?" Bryan said, dancing around caught up in her exciting news while she only shook her head. "Hey! So this has to do with when I was brilliant? The baby-doll idea?" He asked.

"That's the one. It was approved!"

"So I'll celebrate with you! I get off in 20 minutes. What do you say?"

Oh boy! Here he goes. "Hey! You're not supposed to hit on the residents. And besides, you are way too young for me," Livy said chidingly.

Actually, she could have entertained the idea of a good-looking younger guy but she hoped he'd be a little more sophisticated than Bryan.

"I'm not hitting on you... just thought that you might like some of my brilliant company."

"Don't think there's anywhere to go cow tipping around here, do ya' think?"

"I'll ignore that. You have to celebrate something this good and I happen to be the only one standing here, so let's go do something."

"You're right. I should do something. But I don't know... now don't go getting ideas about you and me. But oh hell, why not? You did help inspire the idea. Want to go get a burger or something?"

"Burgers? You call that celebrating?"

"You're right again. How about steak? And yes, I'm buying. What do you say?" She knew he would agree so she opened the door and entered the building. She turned and said, "I'll change and be back here in twenty minutes."

He was beaming and called after her, "You're buying? Then I know just the place... now you just remember that you're too old for me."

Livy laughed in spite of herself and called back, "We've established that, now don't push it!"

In twenty-five minutes she was back. She was wearing jeans and a big oversized sweater and the hat he had given her. He had changed as well. He was in jeans and a sweater and a large-plaid wool coat and Livy almost snickered when she saw it. They began walking up 83rd Street.

"So... where are we going?" Livy asked.

"It's called Phantasm and it's considered very cool."

"And so why would you know about it?" she teased.

"I've heard some of the residents talk about it and they all really liked the food and it's got a fun atmosphere. You don't think I can be cool, do you?"

"Not really, no. And, if anyone asks, I'm your old maiden aunt, okay?"

"You've got no coat, Livy."

"Strike that. If anyone asks, you are my mother." Livy jabbed at him.

"Please. Let's just say I'm your little brother who doesn't want you to catch pneumonia. Do you want to wear my coat?"

"Not unless you have a gun to my head. Fine, I'm your big sister, huh? So tell me about our family, bro."

"Well, there's you and me and Mom and Dad, and our 15 brothers and sisters."

Livy nearly choked. "What? You're BS'n me, right?"

"No, I'm not." Bryan laughed and raised an eyebrow in a mock-sexy way and said, "Well, you know, there's not much to do in Idaho and it's cold and one can always use more help on the farm. I told you that I recently got a new little sister."

"You are how old?" Livy asked, still in shock.

"Let's see... I'm 22 in April."

"And your Mom, excuse me, our Mom is still poppin' out kids?"

"More like pickin' up kids. Eight are their natural children and the rest are adopted or fostered. My new little sister is seven and she is from Ethiopia."

"Wow! How big is your house?" Livy was astonished.

She knew he was a farm boy but didn't know they raised kids like cattle. Maybe they'll get 30 head 'afore they're done.

"Not that big, really," he explained. "The four older boys, we had a heated room over the barn and Mom and Dad made a bedroom for themselves out of the garage. You could say it's a bit too cozy, I guess, but it works. Oh... and one brother and one sister are married now, so there's plenty of room for you."

"Oh good. I don't want to put anyone out or anything. How was it growing up like that? Were you starving for attention?"

"No, I was just starving. You really had to jump for the food because if you hesitated, it was all gone. But really, it was a great way to grow up. We had our huge farm to romp around on and animals and there was always someone to play with. And, oh yeah, lots of work to keep us busy." He made a nerdy face and said, "You see? I'm very well adjusted!"

"I'm glad to hear it because I just now realize that outside of your yuletide traditions I really don't know anything about you. For all I know, you could be a serial killer."

Bryan took on an ominous expression and tone. "I am. It's true. I kill cereal. I finished off Tony the Tiger and the frosted flakes this morning, and tomorrow? Little Miss Fruity Pebbles is history. So now that you know, do you still want to be part of the family?"

"I'll have to give it some serious thought."

"So, tell me about your side of the family, sis."

"My family? Well, like I told you, that isn't a subject that I like to discuss much."

"Can I ask why?" Bryan queried.

"There's nothing to tell. It's not much of a family story. It certainly isn't interesting like yours must be."

"Your family must be proud of all your accomplishments... you know, your degrees and your executive job and all that. And when they hear about this-wow! They must think that you're pretty great. I'm sure they are very pleased that you are doing so well."

"Let's just say that I don't know what they think and I don't care. We're not in touch." The tone of her voice pretty much said, drop it! Bryan got the message.

"I'm sorry. Well, you are part of our family now and WE think you are AWESOME!"

"Thank you. You are pretty... well, you are really something... yourself."

It didn't take long to reach the Phantasm Café. It was now after 10:00 pm and there were still lots of people waiting for tables. It was lively and raucous; all around were the sounds of people having a good time. Bryan put the name Kimball on the waiting list and told Livy that the wait was likely more than half an hour.