Chapter Ten – A Time to Run For Cover

It was almost 1PM when Andy awoke on Sunday. She brushed her teeth, ran a comb through her hair and slipped on her house coat before she went down stairs. Jenny was in the kitchen.

"It'll be ready soon, promise." Jenny anticipated Andy's question. What she did not expect was the hug. Andy said nothing, she just hugged. Jenny laughed, probably a little shocked. "What's this for?"

Andy pulled back but did not let go, "You are so thoughtful." Andy's eyes were shining. Jenny couldn't miss the tears gathering there. "I forgot to thank you yesterday for the dark room I woke up to and then last night. You go out of your way for me. You really don't have to."

"But I enjoy it. You don't know what a pleasure it is to have a young person in the house again." She laughed. "Joe may call your sergeant and request you be transferred here. He got a go at the cookies when they were warm."

"I just wanted you to know I appreciate it. Jimmy watches out for me. My dad does what he can but mostly I look out for myself. You're a wonderful surprise." Andy said and sniffled.

"You have to quit or you'll get both of us crying." She backed out of Andy's embrace, turned around and walked to the paper towel roll.

"That's another beautiful dress. Wait a minute, what day is it?" Her brow furrowed as she tried to straighten out her days.

"Today's Sunday." Jenny offered.

"And you've been to church?" Andy asked.

"We went this morning."

"But you went yesterday." Andy's confusion was plain.

"That was a wedding, two of Joe's patrolmen. I mean two of his patrol officers." Jenny corrected herself. "I was raised in a time when all cops were men."

"We get called patrolmen all the time. It doesn't make a difference until you start talking about weddings or babies."

"Exactly! " Jenny agreed.

"It was a church wedding?" Andy asked. She wasn't planning one but the thought ran through her head from time to time.

"It was a small church wedding, but beautiful. They're a lovely couple. We didn't think he'd ever get married. He's well into his thirties and played the field for years but when she joined the force… Let's just say, she led him on a merry chase. It wasn't until he stopped chasing and walked… that she came to her senses. After that, she chased him…. until he let her catch him." Jenny chuckled at the thought as she directed her attention back to dinner. "So how is Jimmy today?"

"I haven't called him yet. I really wanted to thank you first thing this morning…afternoon." Andy said.

"Well thanks, now go. I'm sure he's waiting to hear for you. And Carol, send him my regards. He really seems like a fine man."

"Thanks Jenny, he is." Andy began to exit the room before she turned and added, "Don't hold up dinner for me. I'll fix a plate when I come down."

"We don't eat at the table on Sunday. Joe gets a tray in front of the TV. This is his day for sports. You and I can eat together when you're ready. Go, make your phone call."

Andy had been told twice. She did not need to be told again. She bounded up the stairs to get her Sam fix.

"You slept a little later today, that's good."

"I did, but I've been up a little while."

"Oh?" Andy could read the disappointment in that simple word.

"Let me tell you what Jenny does." Andy spent the next few minutes sharing Jenny's kindnesses with Sam.

"Does this mean in order to regain my position as the first person you think about when you wake up; I have to bake you chocolate chip cookies?" Sam asked.

"You're always the first person I think about when I wake up, but the chocolate chip cookies would be nice. Are you headed to the kitchen now?" Andy teased.

"I think I'm going to put that off for a few days. A batch of cookies now… wouldn't survive until you get home."

"About that, are you coming to see me next weekend? You can't get even one day off? I really miss you." Her pleading tone wasn't lost on him.

"I'll try, but with these two task forces, both working on activity in the Spoke, they're keeping me hopping. Hang in there Andy; it's only a week and a half now." Sam said.

"I know. So, I guess you got a good night's sleep last night. You fell asleep on the sofa, didn't you?"

"My baby wasn't here to make me a better offer in the bedroom. All night on that sofa is not good for my aching back." Sam admitted.

"Poor baby." She consoled.

"Yeah, so I cruised down to the beach this morning to work out the kinks and check on the babes before I went into the station."

"And how were they?" Andy asked.

"Hot!... but not as hot as you. Nowhere near."

"It's amazing to me how smart men get as they…mature."

"You're getting better with words too." Sam said.

"Yes I am. So, did you catch anything? When you were at the beach, that is."

"The car and I got a few appreciative glances but I didn't encourage anyone, promise."

"I wasn't going to bring this up, but I'm wondering if our new car is as hot as the Mustang convertible I rode around in last night." She taunted.

"One of the new ones, Andy?"

"It looked pretty new to me." She replied.

"They don't usually have new ones abandoned in the impound lot, but…I did leave my number in case one comes in."

"I just wondered." She fell silent. Sam waited for her to continue. She out waited him.

"That's all you're going to say?" He knew she had him again, but even if he wouldn't admit it to her, he enjoyed the game as much as she.

"About what?"

"About last night, Andy, and the Mustang convertible."

"Oh that! It seems the only person Dispatch could find to come pick me up was Lester. He has a Charger himself but he was checking out the clubs. Looking for drug sales, I guess, so he had the convertible."

"And?"

"And he assured me he was on duty, but Sam he looked like he was about twelve. They seem to recruit young down here."

"You're grinning right now, aren't you?" he asked.

"A little bit." She replied.

"You spend much time thinking up ways to torment me?"

"Some, but I have to find a way to convince you to come see me. I need some Sam time."

"Some Sam time, is that what I'm thinking?"

"I sure hope so. Am I getting you convinced?"A sultry tone was sneaking into her voice and it wasn't lost on him.

"Well, you certainly are causing a reaction."

"See what you're missing?" She almost whispered.

"I do and you need to quit, now."

"So you're coming to see me?"

"Right now I couldn't deny you anything."

"I'm so excited. I can't wait until the weekend. When exactly are you coming?"The whispers were gone. This was a different kind of excitement.

"As soon as I know I'll let you know." He said.

"Thank you, Sam. I do love you so. I'm lonesome without you."

"I know Baby, I love you too. Are you going to call me later?"

"I have a different schedule today, but I'll definitely call before you go to bed. Bye Sam."

"I'll talk to you later."

Andy dressed and hurried downstairs. She had a powerful appetite and part of it was for food.

Steven has said they would work on drinks served in stemmed glasses today and that's exactly what they did: Manhattans and Martinis and Cosmopolitans and Margaritas and on and on. Andy's head was swimming by the time he called the session to a close. "How can I possibly remember all of this? My head is in a whirl."

"You don't have to remember it. There's a book behind every decent bar with all these recipes. They tell shaken or stirred, what kind of glass to use, the garnishes, it's like having the answers to a test going in. Most customers will order the same drink two or more times during an evening. Look it up the first time, follow the directions carefully. The second time the drink's ordered you may need to refresh your memory but you already know most of the directions. By the third time you probably have it memorized. Experienced bartenders know how to make most of the drinks ordered from their bar but they still get requests they have to look up. That's why the book's back there."

Duke took Andy to work on Sunday. She had to be in by six. Steven had said she would probably be done by midnight. She was looking forward to a little shorter evening.

"Sorry I missed you last night. I got a homicide call about six and worked it until after midnight."

"Don't worry about it. You aren't my personal driver. Officer Martin, I believe that was her name, gave me a lift." Andy said.

"How'd you get home?" He asked.

"Lester picked me up in a new Mustang convertible. That was a step up from the four door behemoths you detectives drive."

"Baby faced Lester?"

"Probably, he really looked young but he assured me he was on duty."

"He's not quite as young as he looks. He's only been on the force a short while but he looks so young he gets to do a lot of work busting bars that serve alcohol to underage drinkers." Andy did not respond. She was finding the less she talked the less often she had to lie. "What time are you getting off tonight? I can't imagine the lounge at the Hilton stays open all that late."

"I'm supposed to be done by midnight at the latest." She said.

"I'll pick you up."

"Duke, that's not necessary. I'll call dispatch when I'm ready to leave." He was nice but there was the looks thing and she really didn't want to have to ward off an eager suitor.

"If I'm not in the bar at closing, call dispatch. But to tell you the truth Carol, your perfume leaves a nice small in my car and it's relaxing to spend time with someone who's neither a cop nor a criminal." Andy had no response.

The lounge was not nearly as busy as the Crescent Moon had been but her expanded duties had her working as hard. The evening flew by. Duke was there to take her home. He tried to stop to feed her on the way, but she assured him Jenny always prepared a special snack for her to eat when she got in from work. She convinced him she would not want to disappoint her hostess.

She called Sam on Monday morning, but he was in a meeting and really couldn't talk. So she didn't have to face ways to avoid telling him about Duke.

Steven picked her up about eleven, Jenny sent a lunch so they wouldn't have to leave the classroom to eat and Andy learned how to make drinks served in tall glasses: Bloody Mary's, Sex on the beach, Long Island Iced Tea and the list went on. Today, her knowledge of 'the book' kept her from being overwhelmed.

Her call to Sam was brief but he assured her when he visited on the weekend she would get, "As much Sam time as I can physically manage."

She suggested, "Maybe you should start on vitamins."

He answered, "What do you mean, start! I'm been taking my vitamins for months now. How do you suppose I've kept up with you so far?" She laughed at the question.

When she went out to catch her ride to work she cringed. Duke was a nice guy but she wished he's go away. Andy was glad her perfume bottle was in her purse. She had been afraid he would be back and she really was trying to be nice but not encourage him. "No perfume tonight. You must have been in a hurry." She loved it when someone else made up her excuses for her.

"I was. I must have forgotten. I'll have to remember it tomorrow."

"I won't see you tomorrow."

"Oh?" Hopefully her glee didn't show.

"I'll be in Rochester for a couple of days. I'm testifying at a trial." Duke said.

"A murder case?" She inquired.

The rest of the trip was filled with all the details. She nodded, and from time to time, tried to ask questions that a civilian might.

Her evening was especially busy. A convention was being held at the hotel. Sunday night some of the conventioneers had arrived but by Monday the place was packed. The tips were great but she earned every penny. The only real highlight of the evening came at the end when Duke was not there to pick her up. Her back hurt and so did her feet; at least she would have a peaceful ride home.

When she woke up on Tuesday her bladder was calling. She took care of it first but then crawled back into bed. The high heels she had worn last night were still giving. Her feet hurt and she was sure she had a blister. Dress code or no dress code, tonight ballet slippers were going to have to do. She snuggled into the pillow and called Sam.

"Hey."

"My feet hurt and I need a massage."

"I love you too, does that help?"

"They feel better already. You do have magic fingers." She said.

"I'd like to get my magic fingers on you…in person."

"Just a few more days, I'm anxious." She purred.

"I'll be there in a minute, Boyd. Let me finish this call." She heard him say.

"Can't talk, huh?" She asked

"I'm sorry. You'll call me before you go to work?"

"You bet I will. I do feel better just talking to you." She said.

"Me too, Baby. Talk to you later."

"Bye" she shut the phone, laid it on her chest and closed her eyes. Thoughts of Sam swirled around her head. She almost fell back to sleep. "No time to loaf, Andy. You have drinks in short glasses in your future. Hustle!" talking out loud to yourself was probably OK as long as you didn't forget and do it in public. She hadn't forgotten yet.

Her training with Steven wasn't completely new. The lounge had been busy enough the evening before she had made some of today's drinks already. The experience didn't shorten the day a bit and she had to hurry to get dressed, grab some food and call for a ride when she finally got home.

Tonight's D was a fellow almost her dad's age. When she asked if he minded if she made a phone call during the trip, he answered, "Not at all, it's been a long day. I don't have the energy left for conversation. Knock yourself out."

"Are you going to work later tonight? I'd about given up on hearing from you." Sam asked.

"I'm on my way right now."

"So, no sexy talk tonight?"

"No." She was definite.

"But I was looking forward to some sexy talk. How about just a little?" He knew he had the upper hand for a change. It was kind of hard to give it up.

"No!"

"You want me to stop?" he asked innocently.

"Yes."

"Which is it Andy, no or yes?"

"Oh, I don't know, you have me so confused."

"I love you." He wasn't though ragging her yet.

"Me too."

"You too, what?"

"You know what." She said.

"You can't even tell me you love me, I think I'll just go drink." He had his indignant voice down pat but she wasn't playing his game.

"So you're working tonight."

"I thought I'd go out to the Spoke and hang around a while. You're tired of playing my game, huh?"

"You could say that but remember tomorrow will be a whole different story."

"I'm sure it will and I know you love me. Have a good night. Talk to you in the morning."

"Bye"

The lounge had an extra bartender on tonight because of the crowd and Andy expected an easier evening but she got pressed into duty delivering drinks. She was thankful for having worn her comfortable shoes, however she regretted not having pads on her fanny. Tips were extraordinary but she was convinced she had bruises. Getting home and into her bed couldn't come soon enough.

When she finally got home she considered crawling up the stairs, she was past tired. She didn't crawl but the night light in her room was all the light her weary body could tolerate. Once in her room, she noticed the cookies and milk on her night stand and smiled. She was sure she could see Sam on the other side of the bed. "Talking to myself first and then seeing things. I must be in really bad shape."

He looked so real in her bed. She had been picturing him there from their first night apart. This was the first time she could see him so clearly. She was tempted to go try to touch him but she knew he was an illusion. If she didn't look and didn't try to touch she could keep the illusion alive a little longer. She emptied the money from her pockets onto the dresser and went to get her shower. She was smiling. The picture of him in her bed was still clear in her mind. It lasted all through the shower and the drying off. She slipped on her night shirt and went back into the bedroom. She refused to look at the bed. Her picture of him there lingered. She wasn't ready to turn it loose. She knew it was silly but she backed up to the bed, sat, put her feet up on the rail and reached for a cookie. She was sure she could hear him breathing. She might be crazy but this was nice. She was on the second cookie when she felt the hand slide up her back.

"I took my vitamins."

-0-

Wow!

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