Sara's Song (19 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Sara's Song
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“We wanted to give you a good send-off . . . Jack. We figured if we wuz goin' be your stand-in mam and pap, we needed to look like a bon-a-fide set of parents. We figure this makes it official.”
“Living out here in the desert makes it easy to let yourself go,” Maggie said. “It's hot and dry and there aren't that many customers anymore. At our age comfort seems to matter more than looks. Moses is right, though. We wanted you to be proud of us. We've never been parents before, and we aren't about to take this lightly. You can count on us no matter what. Okay, now it's time to eat. Put that cigarette out, Moses. You know the rules.”
Dallas sat down, his eyes shining with delight.
“Now, son, what would you like for breakfast,” Maggie asked.
“Mam, I'd like whatever you're fixing for Pap.”
“Don't that beat all, Maggie. He sounds just like me, don't he?”
“He sure does.”
“I've only known you for three days, and I love you already,” Dallas said.
Maggie yanked at the end of her apron to wipe at her eyes. Moses rubbed his eyes as he grinned from ear to ear.
Life is looking good
, Dallas thought.
Real good.
They gave him one last round of hugs and kisses, Dallas's eyes smarting with unshed tears.
“You're going to be fine, Dallas. You don't look anything like the real Dallas Lord,” Maggie said. “Do you have the map Moses made for you?” Dallas nodded. “Promise you'll call us as soon as you find a place to live. We have some money, Dallas, in case yours runs out. Moses and I agreed to this, so all you have to do is ask. We can wire the money to you by Western Union.”
“I'll be fine. I'm going to pick up my dog. He was a mess, and he smelled to high heaven from the pound. The groomer said I wouldn't recognize him when I picked him up. Big dog. Man's dog. He licked my hand. I think it's going to be okay. How do I say thank you?”
“Ain't no need for thanks, son. You jest do everything Maggie set out fer you. You got all them papers and phone numbers in your pocket, don't you?”
“I have everything. Well, I guess it's time to go.”
“Guess so,” Maggie said. “Will you call us on Christmas Day, Dallas?”
“You bet.”
He was in the Blazer then, tears on his cheeks. He risked a glance in the rearview mirror. Moses had his arms around Maggie's shoulders as he patted her on the back.
He felt like they were his parents in every sense of the word.
When he reached Dumont, Dallas drove up and down the business street until he found an appliance store where he ordered a Sub-Zero freezer, a refrigerator, a six-burner Magic Chef with twin ovens and a double microwave oven, and a sixty-inch Mitsubishi color television set. He peeled off cash from his roll, seriously depleting his cash reserve. As an after-. thought he asked where he could order a side of beef to go with the deep freeze.
“I can do that for you, sir. Would you like it delivered at the same time as these appliances?”
“Yes.” More money changed hands.
“That will be thirty dollars for delivery.” Dallas peeled a ten and a twenty from the wad of money in his hand.
“Where do you want this delivered, sir?”
Sir. His first true test. The young man in his thirties didn't recognize him. In fact, he hadn't given him a second look. So much for fame in the spotlight. Suddenly he felt wonderful. “Deliver it all to the Desert Inn Motel.”
“Will you be keeping the sales slips, or should they go with the appliances?”
Dallas panicked. Adam would know exactly what to respond to the question. When in doubt ask questions. His shoulders squared. “I don't think I want them to know how much the appliances cost.”
“Then how about if we just give them the warranty cards and they can fill them out and return them.”
Dallas sighed. “That's fine.” He pocketed the receipts.
“Do you want a card to go with these? Are they early Christmas presents?”
Did he? Were they? “Sure.”
“You can fill out the card,” Dallas said not wanting the salesclerk to see what a struggle it was for him to write. “Just write . . . your son, Jack.”
“Well, Jack, this is one zappo Christmas present. They must be pretty special people.”
“They are. They really are.”
“Nice doing business with you.” Dallas nodded.
“We'll have everything out there and installed by four o'clock.” Dallas nodded again.
Back in the Blazer, Dallas's heart took on an extra beat as he drove up and down streets till he reached a small private house set back from the road. The pristine white sign said it was the Classy Dog Groomers.
“Your dog is ready, Mr. Piper. He's very well behaved. Whoever owned him must have taken him to a groomer. He knew exactly what to do. He likes Lorna Doone cookies. You might want to pick up a box.”
Dallas's face went blank. “Do you sell them?”
“You get them at the grocery store. I have two boxes you can have. You're going to need a leash and a collar. We sell those. I think red is good for a dog.”
“Okay.”
“He's a healthy dog, Mr. Piper. I took the liberty of calling the vet you had check him out. They say he's about four years old. If you wait here, I'll fetch him.”
Dallas dropped to his haunches when the black dog was led out to the small office. The dog picked up his scent and-bounded away from the groomer to throw himself at Dallas, knocking him over. He licked his face, his hair, and tried to hop on his lap. Dallas laughed, the sound ringing throughout the clinic.
“Did you give him a name yet?”
“His name is . . . Adam One.”
“It's different. He looks to me to be mostly Lab. The vet agreed. In my opinion a Lab is the best dog there is. They're smart and they're loyal. As you can see, this dog is very loving. Both of you are very lucky to have found one another.”
Still laughing as the dog tugged at the leg of his jeans, Dallas paid for the grooming, the leash, a water bowl, and the cookies.
“Okay, let's get you some lunch, Adam One. I threw out that bag of dog food the vet gave me. It looked like rabbit poop. We're gonna get some good stuff.” The Lab pawed his arm to show his approval. He turned the Blazer and headed back to the main road, where he stopped at the first Burger King he came to. At the drive-in window he gave their order. “Six Whoppers, easy on the dressing and light on the lettuce. Throw on some bacon and double the cheese. I'd like two strawberry milk shakes and a large container of ice water.”
They ate in the parking lot, devouring every crumb. When the dog sat up and stared at him, an expectant look on his face, Dallas bundled up the trash. “Okay, let's do it. Ten minutes. You go on the grass so I can scoop it up. Go!”
Thirty minutes later they were back on the road, the big dog's head resting on his right arm. Once or twice he woofed softly. Dallas rather thought it was to show his appreciation. He fondled Adam One's ears and talked to him all the way into LA. This was truly the first day of his brand-new life as Jack Piper, and he was loving every second of it.
“I earned this day, Adam One. I don't know if I deserve it, but I do know that I earned it,” he whispered.
The Lab nuzzled his neck as he inched closer to his new master.
Chapter Ten
Each time the phone rang during the early-morning hours, Izzie snapped to attention. Twice she leaped from the bed to check on the pups. She also walked through the rooms, the phones ringing everywhere.
Promptly at seven o'clock, Adam's eyes snapped open. The phone rang twice while he was in the shower. He didn't hear it. In the kitchen he made coffee and poured juice; before he scanned his list of instructions Tom Silk had left him. Whistle in hand, he gave off three sharp blasts as he opened the kitchen door. “Everyone out, everyone does what they're supposed to do and then you eat. GO!” If they were bigger, he would have been trampled. Izzie nudged Dallas Six, who appeared to be lingering. The fat little pup waddled to the top step and peed a stream. Repetition and patience. Patience and repetition. Adam cleaned up the mess, washed his hands, and poured coffee. “Let's see what went on in the world while we slept, Izzie.”
His back to the television screen, Adam listened as the
Today Show
's hostess, Katie Couric, announced the latest-breaking news. Adam winced when he heard the words private airplane crash. He turned to see a picture of his brother Dallas flash on the screen. The phone rang almost immediately. His heart pounding in his chest, Adam barked into the phone. Sweat beaded on his brow as he listened to Al Cherensky's choked voice. What seemed like an eternity later, Adam said, “Thanks, Al. I'm on my way. Listen carefully. This is what you have to do. I'll have to charter a plane right away. I'll see all of you in LA. Take care of things, Al, until I get there. Don't fall apart on me now.”
Don't think. Move. Don't think. Dallas can't be dead. Don't think. Move. Wind shear. Not Dallas. Never-Dallas. Thank you, God, for giving me the good sense to call my brother last night. Don't think. You know what you have to do, so do it. Later you can grieve. You have the rest of your life to grieve. Don't think.
All Adam's years of training and discipline kicked in. Phone in hand, he made calls at rapid-fire rate, dressing and packing as he did so. Two briefcases jammed to overflowing were added to his pile of luggage.
In the kitchen he looked around, panic settling on his features. God, what should he do with the dogs? Tom Silk's number on the top of his instruction list stared up at him. He punched out the numbers. “Tom?”
“Mr. Lord. Jesus, I'm sorry. I just heard. What can I do for you?”
“You can come over here right now and go to California with me. I'll make it worth your while. I can't leave the dogs. I
won't
abandon them. I chartered a plane. We have thirty minutes to get them ready and get to the airport. Will you do it?”
“I'm on my way.”
Adam's clenched fist shot through the television screen. Sparks showered upward. Blood spattered in all directions. Pain shot up his arm. The pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. Izzie growled, the pups scurrying about his feet. He knew he should blow the whistle, but he didn't have the strength. “It's what it is, gang. We're going to deal with it the best way we know how.” He bent down to pick up Dallas Six to cuddle next to his cheek. “He didn't even get to meet you. Son of a fucking bitch!” He set the pup down next to Izzie as he raced through the house, pulling plugs and closing the blinds. He checked the locks one last time. He took a long moment to stare at the Christmas tree and then the stockings hanging from the mantel. His eyes smarting with unshed tears, he removed the homemade stocking and carried it out to his luggage. He jammed it into his carry-on bag and didn't know why.
Tom Silk knocked on the kitchen door. “I got here as fast as I could. There's a whole gaggle of media out front. I pulled around the back. If we move fast, we should be able to outrun them. You take the bags, and I'll take the pups. Izzie will follow us. Jesus, a man could go to war with less than these dogs have. Move, move, I got it covered. I do this for a living, remember?”
The pups squealed and yelped as Tom spread everything out in the back of his rickety van. The whistle sounded every two seconds until the pups were so confused they lay down in their beds. Izzie hovered but calmed when Adam crooned to her from his seat in the front of the van.
“Show time!” Tom bellowed, as he peeled away from the curb, his worn tires squealing. “Oh, shit, they spotted us.”
“I'll pay for the tickets,” Adam said.
“What does worth my while mean, Mr. Lord?”
“It means name your price. In other words, money is no object.”
“Ah. Listen, I'm . . .”
“I know. I'd rather we didn't talk about it. I'm strung real tight. I can't talk about my brother right now.”
Tom settled his worn baseball cap more securely on his head. “So, how'd it go last night?”
Last night, if you discounted his stocking stuffing, was safe ground. “I guess you mean the dogs. The pups slept like you said they would. Six had an accident. He was the last to go through the doggie door and I guess he couldn't wait. Actually it wasn't the doggie door at all. I had the big door open and he couldn't do the step or get over the hump. It worked out. Izzie got a little upset. It's what it is. She slept with me, even used one of the pillows. Guess that means she trusts me just the way you said.”
“Nah. That's little stuff: You'll know it when it happens. Do you mind if I call you Adam? That mister stuff isn't what I'm all about. I hate all that formal crap. Man, you couldn't have gotten me at a better time. Business is really slow. No one wants to lay out money for dogs when the holidays are around the corner. Mitzi, she's my girlfriend, fiancée actually, anyway she wasn't real happy but she understood. Do you have a place in LA?”
“No. We'll be staying at my brother's house in Mandeville Canyon. It's all fenced in. Top-of-the-line security. I don't know how long this is going . . . what I mean is ...”
“I know what you mean, Adam. My time is yours. Don't worry about the dogs. As long as they see you, and you spend some time with them, things will work out. This is the right thing you're doing. We're coming up to the airport turnoff. You'll have to direct me from here. I don't travel in the circles you do, and my knowledge of chartered private planes is nil. Do I do long-term or what?”
“You go out on the tarmac. Someone will drive the van back and park it. You can call your girlfriend from the plane and tell her where to pick it up. After they call us.”
“What's it like to be rich?” There was no envy, only curiosity in Tom's voice.
“It has its own set of problems. I probably have more sleepless nights than you do. Did. Lately I've been sleeping rather well. That's just another way of saying it isn't what it's cracked up to be. I think I was happier when I was struggling. When you get to the top you think you're on Easy Street. You aren't. That's when the real devil kicks in and you have to kick, claw, and scratch to stay there. Once you slip it's all downhill, and you don't have the stamina to climb back up. It's a goddamn rat race is what it is. The faster you run, the bigger the rats.”
“I'm sorry I asked. There's your plane. What now, coach?”
“I'm not an expert at this even though you might think I am. Stay with the dogs until I speak with someone. I'll take the bags out. You travel light I see.”
“What you see is what you get. I told you, I'm not fancy. When you work with animals it's got to be wash-and-wear. Am I going to be an embarrassment?”
“Hell no. It's okay, Izzie, I'll be right back. You and the pups are coming, too, girl.”
“I need some help here.”
The flight crew stood on the stairs, their eyes on Tom Silk and the yipping, yowling puppies.
The pilot stepped forward. “John La Crosse, Mr. Lord. I'll be your pilot this morning. This is Michael Trainer my copilot. To my left are Tracy Blevins and Marie Landry. Nobody said anything about a bunch of dogs.”
“With the money I'm paying for this flight nobody had better say a word about these dogs. Where I go, they go.” He stretched the truth a bit when he said, “They're trained.”
“They'll have to go in cargo.”
Adam's eyes narrowed. “We're all going first-class. It's a long trip and I'm in a bit of a hurry, so let's cut the bullshit and get airborne. While you're doing whatever it is you have to do perhaps one of these nice ladies will get us some coffee, and not that coffee you run through those rusty pipes inside the galley. Now! Please have someone bring our baggage aboard.”
“Who does that fucking guy think he is?” the copilot hissed to the stewardess.
“I'm the fuck who's paying you to fly me to California, so let's do it. Now, get the hell out of my way so my dogs can get on this plane.”
“He's Dallas Lord's brother. Show a little compassion. All you have to do is look at Mr. Lord to know he's a basket case. Once a jerk, always a jerk,” the young stewardess sniffed.
“Jesus, now you tell me.”
“A little kissing up goes a long way.” The stewardess sniffed again.
The moment the plane was airborne, Adam moved to the back of the plane. “I have a lot of thinking to do, Tom. I'd appreciate it if you'd stay up front with the pups.”
“Sure. Is there anything I can do?”
“If there was, I wouldn't hesitate to ask. I'm thankful you're here. I have a feeling those two hostesses are going to play with the pups all the way to LA. It's a long flight, so kick back. Don't forget to call your girlfriend. The stewardesses should know where your van is parked.”
Adam leaned back in his seat.
Think business now. Forget for the moment that Dallas is your brother. Make a plan. Think in terms of damage control. Think, think, think. Dallas's death is the biggest thing since Elvis's demise. Don't make the same mistakes Colonel Parker and Elvis's entourage made. Don't let this turn into a media circus. Think, plan. Plan and think. What's the best way to handle this? What would Dallas want?
Dallas would want the whole three-ring circus. The circus wasn't going to happen. He'd see to that. He needed to think about the band and what would be best for all of them. More important, he had to think about where to bury Dallas. They'd never discussed death, so it had to be his decision. Once, years ago, the guys had been talking about cremation, and Dallas had said, “What a way to go. You just go up in smoke and your ashes get carried all over the world.”
Maybe he needed to think along those lines. How in the name of God was he going to burn his brother's already burned body till nothing was left but his ashes? How could he fit him into a box and then bury it six feet under the ground? How? How did other people do it? People did it because there were no other options. A mausoleum above ground might be a possibility. Dallas would still be locked in a box inside a concrete structure. Dallas, free spirit that he was, would hate it.
Adam switched his thought to financial matters. Dallas had a fifty-million-dollar life insurance policy with Lloyds of London with a million dollars going to each band member who had been part of the Canyon River Band for ten years. Nancy would get Billy Sweet's share. As executor and beneficiary of his brother's will and estate, Adam stood to inherit everything, right down to the insurance on the January Far East tour. The Asians had kicked up a fuss about the policy, but in the end they'd come around when he'd shown them it was standard fare where the Canyon River Band was concerned. So much money.
Adam squeezed his eyes shut. No amount of money could make up for the loss of his brother. He just had to do the right thing for everyone involved. He shuddered when he thought of what lay ahead of him.
 
 
Sara rolled over, snuggling into the softness of her nest. Normally she was a sound sleeper, waking a minute or so before her alarm went off. She hadn't set the alarm last night when she returned from Dallas's house. She cracked one eye to stare across the room at the closed window blind. It was still dark out. Rolling over a second time afforded her a look at the bright red digital numbers on the bedside clock: 5:30. The flashing light beneath the time said it was December 10.
Sara rolled over on her back and laced her hands behind her head. Even. though she was awake, she didn't have to get up. She could stay in bed until noon if she wanted to. There was nothing on her agenda today except a trip to town to pick up her wedding suit. Carly's mint green outfit wouldn't be ready until tomorrow. Maybe she should wait until then and pick both up at the same time. But then what would she do with herself all day? She closed her eyes remembering Dallas's poignant good-bye at the gates. She looked at the clock again. His plane would be landing in Vegas any minute now. He'd called just after takeoff.
Damn, she might as well get up. If she didn't, she'd lie here and think about the possibility that she was making the biggest mistake of her life. Or she was making the one decision that would guarantee her a lifetime of happiness. On the other hand, if she got up and went downstairs, she'd have to face the worry in Carly's eyes. Hunger and the need for her caffeine fix won out. She could be out of the house by nine to finish up her Christmas shopping. Dallas had given her a roll of hundred-dollar bills that was so huge, so thick, that her purse wouldn't close. He'd asked her shyly to buy some presents for the guys in the band as well as his backup singers. He'd gone on to say when he got back they'd have a whiz-bang Christmas party on the twenty-first of December for the whole band. It was her job to get the tree and hire a florist to decorate the house. Then, he'd said, on the evening of the twenty-third, they were going to Charleston to spend Christmas with Adam. She didn't think it was a good idea, but Dallas had won her over, and she'd finally agreed. To say she was dreading the visit would be the understatement of the year.

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