Flash Forward - Chapter 3
Roy and Dixie were awakened by Roy's cell phone alarm clock going off at 6:30AM. Dixie was snuggled up against Roy's chest and he had an arm around her. He reached over with his other hand to grab his phone from the nightstand and disabled it. He gave her a squeeze, and kissed the top of her head.
"I wish I could stay here all day, but I gotta get up and go to work."
"I'll miss you." Dixie said with a sleepy voice.
"I'll miss you too." They kissed a few times. "This is going to be a very tough three days."
"Yeah, I'm getting used to having you here."
"I like it here." They kissed a few more times. "I really gotta go. Wouldn't look good for the chief to be late." Kiss. "I've got to set the example for the younger guys, you know." Kiss.
"I think they could learn a few things from you." Kiss.
"I'll call you." Kiss.
"Okay. " Kiss.
Roy reluctantly dragged himself away from her, and got up to get dressed and drive back to his place to shower before heading over to the fire station.
Dixie sat up and watched him go, then pouted for a few moments. Alone again. She laid back down for a second, then sat up again, grabbed her pillow and tossed it aside. She grabbed his pillow, and snuggled down into it with a smile on her face.
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Later that day, Dixie was at Rampart doing volunteer work in the business office. She was assisting her friend, Joyce, sorting through piles of paperwork.
"You're awfully quiet today, Dixie," said Joyce.
"Oh. Sorry, I guess I just have a lot on my mind." Dixie replied.
"Would this have something to do with that handsome fireman you spoke to the other day?"
Dixie smiled. "It has everything to do with him."
"Oh my! Well, your friend who has to live vicariously wants to know more details!" her friend said excitedly. It was a rare moment when Dixie has something juicy to say about a man. This was going to be good! "I assume he did call you, then?"
"As soon as I got home, there was a message on my machine."
"Really? Well, that IS something special. He didn't hesitate at all."
Dixie was a little hesitant herself to reveal too many details to her friend, but she really wanted to tell someone about it, and Joyce was a good friend.
"We met for dinner the next night and have pretty much been together until he left for work this morning."
Joyce was more than amazed now. She stopped what she was working on, and looked at Dixie.
"This is really serious then. Not just a casual thing."
"Well, it's not like I just met him. I've known him for a very long time. But, it's been many years since I saw him before this."
"Don't let him get away this time. He sounds like a keeper."
"Yes." Dixie said, thinking the same thing.
##########
The three-day shift seemed to just drag on forever. For the first time in a long time, Roy really wanted the shift to be over quickly so that he could spend more time with Dixie. He really hadn't had anything to look forward to like this in ages. Being around her made him feel thirty years younger, even though both of them were now so much older.
He had previously rearranged his work shifts to accommodate the water-ski trip, so he only had one day off between another 3-day shift. He would need to spend that day getting prepared for the trip, but he also really wanted some time to spend with Dixie. He was glad that she was willing to come along on the trip. It will give her and his family time to get reacquainted.
Finally, the shift was over. Roy climbed into his car, and saw the slip of paper that Dixie had written her phone number on. He turned it over, and saw that it was a dry cleaning receipt. Her clothes were ready now, so he decided he would go pick them up for her.
"Good morning!" Dixie greeted him as she opened the door of her condo.
"Good morning," Roy gave her a kiss, and then handed over her dry cleaning. "I believe this is yours."
"Oh! Thank you. I forgot all about this." She gave him another kiss. "That was sweet of you."
"One less errand to take care of." He walked over to the sofa and sat down.
"I guess we need to figure out what to take on this trip. I can't remember the last time I went on a trip like this." Dixie said, as she hung up the clothes in the bedroom. "We should make a list." She walked into the kitchen. "There's coffee ready, if you want some. Have you had breakfast yet? I can make something for you if you want." No answer from the other room. "Roy?" She walked back into the living room, and saw that Roy was just sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed. He had fallen asleep! Well, that's okay I guess. It was a 3-day shift, after all, Dixie thought.
Dixie sat down next to him, and rested her head on his shoulder. She might as well take a nap too.
A few hours later, Roy woke up. He found that he and Dixie were both lying snuggled together on the sofa. "Hey, beautiful." He nudged her. She woke up.
"Hi there."
"Sorry I fell asleep. I really wanted to spend the whole day together with you."
"We DID spend the whole day together! At least the whole morning. What time is it?"
Roy looked at his watch. "Just after twelve. I can't believe I did this."
"Don't worry about it. You obviously needed the rest, especially when you've got another long shift coming up." Dixie said. "You sure you're going to be up for this trip?"
"Oh yeah. These trips are special, because it really takes some doing to get all of our schedules worked out to have the same days off. We rarely get to spend holidays together, so these trips kind of take the place of that. It's major family time."
"I can get the things we need while you're at work, if you'd rather just hang out here today."
"I think I'll take you up on that. Actually I don't think there's much we need to get anyway. Johnny and the others will be bringing most of it. I've got a tent we could use, an air mattress, lanterns…."
"Air mattress?" Dixie asked.
"Yeah. Well, unless you really like sleeping in a down-feather bag on the ground."
"Sounds like camping has changed over the years. That's exactly what I was picturing."
"Some people still like to do that. But I like to be comfortable."
They spent the rest of the day on the sofa, watching TV, relaxing, ordered pizza delivered. Roy made a list of things to bring on the trip. Having a casual day did wonders to rejuvenate Roy enough to get through another 3-day shift.
##########
At long last, the weekend arrived. Roy and Dixie packed up his SUV, and they headed off to the lake. It was a long drive, but they enjoyed talking and listening to jazz music. Roy thought it was nice to know that he and Dixie could enjoy traveling together, as well as going out on the town, and staying-in watching TV.
They arrived at the campsite in the late afternoon, and they spotted Johnny's SUV with the bright-green ski boat sitting on a trailer behind it. The name on the boat was Fire Wake. Dixie figured it would be fire-something.
Roy parked the truck and they both got out. They heard voices down near the water, and saw that the others had all arrived, and were helping each other set up a large tarp on the beach.
As soon as he heard the doors slam on Roy's truck, Johnny looked up. "They're here!" he said, and started walking up the hill toward them. Dixie saw that he was wearing sunglasses, but had just about the biggest grin she'd ever seen. That famous Gage lopsided smile.
"Oh my gosh!" Dixie exclaimed, as Johnny immediately lifted her up in a huge bear hug, and turned around with her a couple of times.
"It's wonderful to see you!" Johnny cried, hugging her again. Dixie had a big grin too.
"Well, let me look at you. Off with the glasses, come on!" Dixie commanded. Johnny took off his sunglasses, to reveal the same beautiful liquid brown eyes with long lashes that she always remembered about him. Still quite handsome, he was not as skinny as he was in his youth, but was still slender. He was very tanned and had quite an outdoorsy look about him. He was wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt with the LA County Fire Department logo on the breast. His hair was still black but peppered with gray, and cut short into a rather military-looking style, which suited him. "My goodness, you really do have ears after all! Look at that!" Dixie teased him.
Johnny blushed as he remembered his long hairstyle from the 70s. "Yeah, I finally got the haircut that everyone was after me about." He looked over at Roy, and then the two of them shared a quick hug.
"Good to see you." Roy said.
Johnny punched Roy's arm. "You devil!" he teased him again. Roy raised his eyebrows up and down at him and grinned. Johnny laughed. "Well, come on down and say hi to everyone." He led them down to their patch of beach.
Four DeSotos were fussing over items on a picnic table under the newly-erected tarp. One of them, a man in his mid-forties, walked up to Dixie and extended his hand, which she shook. "Hello Dixie. I'm Chris."
Dixie was amazed at his resemblance to Roy. Same hairline, same body shape, same twinkle in his blue eyes. "Hello! I think the last time I saw you, you were about eleven!"
"Something like that." He grinned the same toothy smile that Jenny shared with their dad. "This is my wife, Karen."
Karen stepped up to Dixie. She was about the same age as Jenny, late 30s or early 40s. Blonde, brown eyes and petite. Very cute. "Nice to meet you!"
"These are our kids, Jason and Sara." Chris indicated the two young people on the other side of the picnic table, who both waved and said hi. Jason was about sixteen, not quite as tall as Chris and Roy, but he could still be growing. He had Karen's brown eyes and those DeSoto cheekbones. Sara, who was about ten years old, also had the brown eyes and cheekbones like her brother, but with the strawberry blonde hair that Dixie remembered about Roy's younger days.
"It's a real pleasure to meet you all." said Dixie. "Quite a family you have here." It's quite nice to be surrounded by so much "Royness," she thought.
"Would you like something to drink?" Chris offered. "We brought some wine along, or I could fix you something harder if you prefer."
"Whatever you have open is fine," Dixie said.
"Dad?" Chris looked at Roy.
"Same," Roy replied. He set up folding chairs for himself and Dixie, and then motioned for her to take a seat.
Sara came up to them with a plate of cheese and crackers, and some napkins. She shyly stood in front of Dixie. "Would you like some cheese and crackers?"
"I would love some, sweetheart. Thank you very much." Dixie replied graciously, taking a few and putting them on a napkin. Sara moved in front of Roy next.
"Grandpa? Would you like some?" She offered sweetly.
"Sure. Thank you, Sara." Roy helped himself. Sara leaned over to whisper in his ear.
"She's very pretty Grandpa."
"Yes, I think so too." Roy whispered back. Of course, Dixie heard every word and was very flattered, but said nothing.
Jenny came up to them next. "Hello again!" She said to Dixie. Jenny was still hobbling around with her leg bandaged. She was wearing cutoff jean shorts, and an orange bikini top with a white long-sleeved unbuttoned blouse over it. She leaned down and gave Dixie a quick hug.
"Hello, Jenny. How is your leg doing?" Dixie asked.
"Better, thanks." She said. "I won't be skiing this trip, but that makes me the designated boat driver. So I'll still be out there." She walked over to Roy and gave him a hug.
"Hi Baby Girl." Roy said.
Chris came over with their drinks and handed them over. "Here you go. Two white wines. Sorry about the paper cups, but we don't like to use glass around the campsite."
"Makes sense. Thank you." Dixie said. She looked at Roy. "Well, isn't this the life? We just sit here and everyone else does all the work."
"Being the patriarch has its perks." Roy agreed. "It's good to be the king."
Dixie laughed. "Long live the king!" She held up her cup to him. He touched it with his.
"My lady," he said, looking into her eyes as he took a sip.
##########
The next morning, the roar of ski boats on the lake woke the DeSoto clan. Roy and Dixie had a comfy night in their tent on the large air mattress. They heard Johnny's voice outside.
"Jenn? I'm taking the boat down to the launch now. Hope it won't be too long of a line."
They heard him get into his truck, and drive off with the boat trailer in tow.
"He really has become part of your family, hasn't he?" Dixie mused.
"Yep. In every way that really counts." Roy agreed.
"No kids of his own...even with two marriages. That's a shame." said Dixie.
"He's been great with my kids, and with Chris's kids as well. They're all crazy about their Uncle Johnny. I think he sees them more than I do. It's that amazing charisma of his. So much fun to be around. "
"He seems a bit calmer now than I remember. I guess that comes with age."
"For us all…"
"He still eats a lot."
"Now there's an understatement! What I wouldn't give to have that metabolism of his!"
"Speaking of eating…. What's for breakfast?" Dixie poked him.
"I guess we'll have to get up to find out. Come on."
##########
A couple of hours later, after most of them had finished breakfast, Johnny brought the Fire Wake up to the small pier near their campsite. Jenny walked out there to meet him, and to tie off the mooring. Then they both came back to the camp.
"Okay, who wants to go on the first run?" Johnny asked. "We've got four seats available."
"Me! Me!" shouted both Jason and Sara, jumping up and down.
"Yeah, I figured. Who else? Dixie? How about you?"
"Me? Oh no … " she shook her head, and started to hide behind Roy.
Roy smiled. "You don't have to ski. You can just go for the ride. Come on, we'll both go."
"I don't know…."
"Fresh air, wind in your hair, spending quality time with your … partner." Roy realized he didn't know how he should refer to himself. Friend? Boyfriend? Lover? Date? None of those seemed quite right.
For Roy's sake, Dixie gave in. "Okay. Just for the ride."
"Atta girl!" said Johnny. "Let's go."
The six of them walked out to the boat. Roy and Johnny helped Dixie board, and she sat in one of the four seats behind the driver. Roy sat next to her. Johnny helped Sara get in, and then Jason. They sat across from their grandfather and Dixie. Johnny untied the mooring, and brought it back into the boat. Jenny got into the driver 's seat, with some assistance from Johnny, who sat in the front passenger seat.
"How's your leg?" Johnny asked, with some concern.
"It's fine. I changed the dressing this morning," assured Jenny. She opened up a compartment, and pulled out several orange life vests. "Okay everybody. Put these on."
Everyone put on a vest. Jason helped his sister with hers, and Roy helped Dixie with hers. Once everyone was vested up, Jenny turned around to the rest of her passengers. "Everybody ready?"
"Yeah!" cried Sara. Dixie held on to Roy's arm. She'd never been in a fast boat before.
Jenny turned on the ignition, and backed the boat away from the pier. Once they cleared the dock, she switched to forward, turned out toward the middle of the lake, and went at a medium speed for a short while.
"How about here?" she said to Johnny.
"Looks good to me." he said. Jenny slowed the boat to a stop and idled. Johnny turned around and looked at Jason. "You wanna go first?"
"Sure!" he said. Jason lifted up a single water-ski that was lying on the floor of the boat at his feet. He tossed it overboard, and then started to climb out over the ladder at the back end of the boat. Once in the water, he grabbed the ski and started to get his feet into it.
"Just one ski?" said Dixie.
"Yeah, he's a hot-shot already. They all use a single ski, except for Sara here. She's still using two."
The boat slowly drifted away from Jason, and he eventually grabbed the rope bar that Sara tossed out to him.
"Ready?" Jenny called out to him.
"Hit it!" Jason yelled.
"Hold on," Roy said to Dixie. She squeezed his arm tighter.
Jenny hit the accelerator. The boat sped off straight forward, and Jason was able to get up on the single ski in a couple of seconds. He bounced around in the wake for a while, and then was able to jump the wake and ski in the calmer water.
Dixie found the experience quite exhilarating. She also found herself quite proud of this teenager who seemed to be very skilled at this sport. Until he fell! Dixie gasped. Jason went down, and the rope bar bounced on the water a bit. Jenny slowed the boat, and made a wide curving circle to come around and pickup Jason.
"Is he all right?" Dixie fretted.
"Oh yeah. It's okay," Roy soothed. "That's how most of us end our runs. Johnny and Jenny are the only ones who just let go when they're ready to quit. The rest of us wipe out!"
"Are you going to do this too?"
"Oh no. I don't have the arm strength anymore. Johnny here works out every day, but I've basically given up on all that. "
The Fire Wake pulled up next to Jason, and he climbed back into the boat.
"That was fun! The water feels great." Jason said with a big grin. He helped his sister climb down into the water. They pulled the single ski up into the boat, and Jason passed down the two double skis for Sara. Soon she was ready for her run.
"Hit it!" Sara yelled. Jenny accelerated the boat, and Sara got up on her skis. She stayed in the wake of the boat for her entire run of about two minutes, and then she fell.
After Sara was back in the boat, it was Johnny's turn. He took his shirt off, put his life vest back on, and then climbed into the water. Jason passed him the single ski. Soon he was in position.
"Hit it!" Johnny yelled. Jenny sent the boat roaring forward, faster than for the others, but Johnny was up in a second. He easily jumped the wake and was skiing smoothly in the calmer water. Dixie and Roy smiled and waved at him. Johnny waved back. Then he crossed the wake and skied on the other side. He continued to cross back and forth across the wake for several minutes.
"Sakes, he really is pretty good at this, isn't he?" Dixie exclaimed.
"He sure is. Puts us all to shame." Roy remarked. "Fun to just watch him though."
"Yeah."
Finally, Johnny made a throat-slash gesture, and let go of the rope bar. He slowly sank down into the water, and Jenny brought the boat around to pick him up.
##########
That evening, the entire gang was gathered around the campfire. They had feasted on burgers and hot dogs and all the goes along with them. Now the kids (and Johnny) were eating s'mores, and everyone else was relaxing with their drinks. Jason sat next Johnny.
"This may sound kinda weird," Jason began, "but Dixie's kinda hot… for an older chick."
Johnny chuckled. "I always thought so."
"She and Grandad make a nice couple, don't you think?"
"Yeah. They really do." Johnny agreed, truly realizing it for himself as well. "You think so, huh?"
"I haven't seen him happy like this in a long time. It's nice." said Jason.
Roy and Dixie sat together, starring into the campfire flames, and soaking up all the scenery of the night sky, sparkling lake, and sweet-smelling pine trees.
"Roy?" Dixie said quietly.
"Hmm?" Roy looked at her.
"Thank you so much for bringing me here. I'm having a wonderful time. It's so beautiful here, and you have a lovely family." She kissed him on the cheek. He took her hand in his.
"You're welcome," he said. "You're always welcome here."
##########
The next morning, Dixie was helping Jenny and Karen pack up the food and kitchen things from the picnic table, while Roy helped Johnny and Chris take down the tarp and camping tents.
"Dixie?" Jenny said. "I'm very glad that you and my Dad have found each other again. He's been lonely, and now he's got that sparkle in his eye again, thanks to you."
"Yes, it's wonderful to see you two together." Karen agreed. "He's been through some rough years, and it's nice to see him enjoying himself again."
"Well…" Dixie was a little embarrassed. "Thank you both. That's very sweet of you. Roy's a wonderful man. I like being with him very much."
Chris and Roy were helping Johnny load the camping tents into his SUV.
"Hey Dad," Chris said. "You and Dixie look pretty good together. Are you guys serious?"
"Thanks. Um… I guess so. I'm not really sure yet. We've only been together for a couple of weeks."
"But you've known her for a long time, right?"
"Yeah, but we haven't been together for most of that time. I really like her though."
"I like her too." Chris agreed. "She makes you happy, and she seems happy to be with you. She fits in with the family pretty well. Seems like a nice match to me."
"Okay, Yenta, I get the picture." Roy teased his son. Chris smiled and went to go grab more equipment. Johnny hopped down from his truck and stood next to Roy. They both watched Dixie helping the other girls pack up. "So, what's your take on all this, Junior?"
"Honestly?" Johnny said sincerely. "I think you should marry her."
Roy was surprised. "Really?" Roy looked at Johnny, figuring he was just teasing him. But, Johnny was serious. "Don't you think it's a little soon to be thinking about that?"
"No. Not at all. Maybe if it was someone other than Dixie, but she's not just any woman, you know. I mean, this is Dixie. Our Dixie, from Rampart, who has known us for a long time. She's the ultimate, Roy. You don't really think you're ever going to meet another woman better than her, do you?"
"I guess not. I haven't really thought of it that way, but I guess you're right." Roy nodded. "But, I haven't really known her for a long time. I knew her a long time ago, but I've only just recently gotten to know her again now. Thirty-odd years is a pretty big gap."
"Well, Roy, the years in the gap aren't what you should be thinking about." Johnny said earnestly. "You should be thinking about the years going forward… from today on. Look, I know you don't like to think about the fact that we've got less years ahead of us than behind us. But the reality is, you really shouldn't waste any time. It's not like when we were younger. You know what you want, what you need. She does too. It seems pretty clear to me that you two want and need the same things." Johnny clapped him on the shoulder. "I think you should go for it. Soon."
Johnny walked away to go help Chris pack his car, and to let Roy think about what he said. Roy looked at Dixie and thought maybe Johnny was right.
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