Random House accepted Liza's counter without batting an eyelash and Liza enjoyed a few days getting ready for their trip. Charles told her that there was no need to dress up, athleisure was de rigeur in the Bay Area, so Liza spent a fortune on a few pairs of black leggings from Lululemon. She couldn't stop herself from packing a few dresses as well, just in case. But, they had agreed they both like walking and exploring the cities they visited, so it was likely her Converse would get a workout.
Charles and Liza left from Newark on a gray, cold Saturday morning, and landed in Oakland in the early afternoon to 75 degrees and a cloudless sky. She couldn't believe Pauline had ever complained about the weather. "This is February?" she thought to herself, disbelieving.
They rolled their bags over to their numbered slot at the preferred express car rental and Liza realized their assigned car was a luxury full sized car. Whenever she traveled with David, however infrequently, they always chose a compact. But, Charles seemed dissatisfied. He asked Liza to stay on the curb with their bags and marched over to the rental office. After a few minutes he emerged with a new set of keys. They walked over to their new slot and Liza saw that the new car was a BMW convertible. "I have to have a convertible when I'm in California," Charles explained. "It's just too nice, even in the winter, and there's no rain in the forecast."
Liza couldn't wait to get on the road.
Charles had planned a counterclockwise trip around the Bay. Their first stop was Berkeley at the Claremont Hotel. They spent two nights there, walking the Berkeley campus, getting massages at the hotel spa, and enjoying sunsets over the Bay. Liza texted Caitlin to ask her friend, Juliette, what was considered an upscale college hangout, and Juliette mentioned the deep dish pizza at Zachary's. Liza could have done without the wait, but the pizza was heavenly; absolutely nothing like the greasy slabs of cheese on the streets of New York. The next night they dined at Chez Panisse, the grandmother of organic, locavore cuisine in the US. Not every course on the prix fixe menu enchanted, but Liza agreed this restaurant was a can't miss.
Their next stop was to the wine country. Charles booked them a room at the Auberge du Soleil, a bike tour, and an early morning hot air balloon ride. It was truly magical! With a great deal of persistence by Charles' secretary, she was somehow able to get them a table at the French Laundry. Charles tried his best not to compare the meal to that of Keller's restaurant in New York, but it was clear the menu was cut from the same cloth. Although the food was delicious, Liza found she enjoyed her meal at the Culinary Institute the night after even better. She loved knowing that cooking students had prepared the meal and were running the restaurant. Liza was especially impressed with the creme brulee, prepared by those in their pastry rotation. Of course there were wine and cheese tasting in Napa and Sonoma, but Liza was mostly excited about the beautiful weather and the outdoor lifestyle.
Liza was so happy she bought the leggings and wasn't wearing tight jeans. It had only been 5 days and Liza felt she'd already gained a few pounds! They walked a lot, but no amount of walking could counteract the effects of cheese, wine, and multi-course meals.
It was next time for Liza and Charles to take the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. They stayed at the Mark Hopkins and enjoyed the 360 degree view from the hotel bar at the top of the building; they grabbed the cable car and acted like tourists through Fisherman's Wharf; and they had dim sum in Chinatown and fancy vegetarian cuisine at Greens in the Marina.
Liza was growing more and more impressed with Charles as they continued on their trip. He always asked if there was something she wanted to see or do, but if she didn't have anything in mind he was like a walking, talking, incredibly sexy tour guide. He may not have been to the City for 15 years, but he definitely knew the highlights. As he walked around in his Allbirds, nobody would have known Charles wasn't a local.
Their last hotel was on the coast, a small tourist and farming community called Half Moon Bay. Driving to the town in a convertible was unforgettable down Highway 1, as they took the turns and breathed in the sea air. Half the way through the drive, they stopped at a cove with a small parking lot to enjoy picnic lunch on the sand. Liza couldn't stop smiling. This trip was just too perfect! They ran their fingers in the sand and put their feet in the cold water. Liza was amazed there was nobody else in the cove. "Why wouldn't more people be out on a day like today? Those Californians don't understand how good they have it," she thought.
They spent two nights at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay in absolute luxury, but Liza could tell that something was wrong with Charles. He tried to shrug it off and be in the moment, but he finally admitted that none of the Silicon Valley investors were answering his calls, and he suspected that he wasn't going to get a silent investor under his terms. Empirical had enough of an inventory and stable of writers that it would be bought by a larger publisher, but Charles' work and his imprint would be gone. Liza felt crushed for Charles.
They sat on adirondack chairs under warm blankets, watching the sunset in utter silence for nearly an hour until Charles spoke, contemplating. "I don't think I've ever told anyone this, but Empirical has been something of a pain for many years. I love nurturing new books, and I have a loyal staff, but I've always felt I was meant to do something else. Deep down, I'm not a publisher; I'm just a publisher's son and grandson. I think this is a great opportunity for me to move on under my terms. I am very lucky to have the ability to take the time to find my next path. I can't be idle forever, but once the company is gone, I'd like to spend a few months charting my future."
"Well, if you plan your next move with half of the attention you've given to this trip, I know you'll figure it out. And, you'll find a career that really suits your interests and strengths. If there's anything I've learned in the past year: we all deserve a chance to follow our passions. I'm not saying every 4th grade boy deserves to be President, but nobody should be stuck doing what they don't want to do, just so that they don't disappoint someone else. You've done your duty to your family's company, you get to move on. And, if you ever need a place to crash, there's always a space on Maggie's couch," Liza joked.
Charles looked an Liza intensely and squeezed her hand. "Thank you so much for your support, I think I'll be needing it the next few months." He paused and gulped, then continued: "I love you, Liza. You make me so happy. I know anything is possible with you at my side."
Charles' words, the first time he'd said those words, warmed Liza's heart. Liza said, "I love, you too, Charles. I can't wait to see what the future holds: for you, for me, for us both together."
The sun dropped into the ocean and the temperature dropped 20 degrees in an instant. But they weren't cold. Together, they huddled under their blanket and headed back into the resort, excited for their future.
THE END
