Chapter 6
Clay got Francine home in plenty of time to go home and freshen up before they met Lee and Amanda for dinner at Spencer's, but she merely changed one set of casual clothes for another and pulled her hair back in a clip. Clay showed up in an open-necked sport shirt and casual slacks, which is what 'casual' meant to him, but he complimented her on her designer jeans. "I'm just from a more formal generation, as I said earlier, but I can certainly appreciate the more casual looks that are fashionable today."
"Oh, I know what you mean, Clay –when I was a child, my mother never left the house without a hat and gloves."
"It was a different time. Does it bother you that I'm roughly the same age as your parents?"
"No. There's a line in the classic novel, Jane Eyre, where the very proper housekeeper, Mrs. Fairfax, is questioning Jane about the wisdom of accepting a marriage proposal from Edward Rochester, Jane's employer – he'd hired her as a governess for his French ward, Adele – and remarks that Rochester is twenty years older than Jane. Jane's reply is that Rochester looks as young, and is as young, as some men at five and twenty. He was in his late thirties at the time, and she was eighteen."
"Well, I'll never see forty or even fifty again, but I understand what you're saying, and thank you for the thought."
They got to the restaurant early, so they claimed their table and sat down to wait for Lee and Amanda. Clay ordered a pitcher of beer and some appetizers, and once Lee and Amanda came in, they enjoyed an excellent meal together while discussing the trip to West Point and the house Lee and Amanda had just bought.
Francine and Amanda had a chance to for some 'girl talk' in the ladies' room between dinner and dessert, and when it was time for everyone to leave, Francine said, " We found this wonderful little shop on the way from the airfield to West Point, Amanda, and I got you something. Clay?"
With the air of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, Clay produced a beribboned gold box with the Chocolate Goose logo on the top and handed it to Francine, who passed it to Amanda.
"In grateful acknowledgement of the DeVarona chocolates, Amanda, I am pleased to present you with the Exquisite Truffle Assortment, handmade in New Windsor, New York," she said.
Amanda looked stunned for all of about three seconds before she started laughing, gave Francine a hug, and said, "When you get your revenge, Francine, you do it up right."
"I thought so. Have a wonderful evening, you two. When are you flying back to Texas, Amanda?"
"Monday; we still have a lot of packing and sorting to do there, even with all the help we've been getting."
"Then we'll see you when you get back."
"It' s not even 7:30," Clay said when Lee and Amanda had driven away, and they were seated in his rental "and I'm nowhere near ready to call it a night. How about you?"
"I'm not tired either, and we still have well over an hour of daylight. How would you feel about watching the sun rise over t the Chesapeake down near Hampton Roads? I thought we might take my car, since we've been driving yours most of the time. It's the red Mustang GT convertible you saw in the parking lot in front of my building. I don't have to be back in the office until eight on Monday morning, so we have the rest of the weekend."
When he didn't reply immediately, she got nervous. "But of course, that's just a suggestion."
"Francine, what do you think I expect to happen this weekend?"
"I.. well, I…."
"Because it won't, not because I don't find you very attractive, but because rushing things would be bad for what I hope might grow into a deep and precious friendship and perhaps something more. I like your idea, as long as we establish some ground rules up front."
"No hanky-panky?"
"Not at this stage. Are we agreed on that?"
"Yes. But kissing is all right?"
"Kissing is definitely 'all right'."
"Oh, good. Let's hit my place so we pick up my car and I can pack a bag, and then we'll go to the VOQ."
While they were on base, Clay got the number of the VOQ at Langley Air Force Base, and and reserved two rooms for them, using a credit card to hold the rooms for a late arrival. "This way, we have a place to shower and get some sleep before we go out to watch the sunrise," he said.
With Clay at the wheel and the top down, they started down U S Highway 1 to Richmond. It was slower than the interstate, but they were in no hurry, and the slower pace through the Virginia countryside gave them a chance to talk. About halfway to Richmond, darkness overtook them and Clay pulled over to raise the convertible top before continuing. In the security of darkness, Francine found it easy to say things she'd never told another living soul, even Lee, whom she considered her closest professional associate and a true friend.
As they neared the outskirts of Richmond, Clay said, "I'm going to take the interstate down to Langley. There's no really good secondary road, and it shouldn't be as congested as 95, but I'll make a pit stop before we head down there. All right?"
"Fine."
Fortified with hot coffee and some decent apple pie from a family restaurant he'd found and with the fuel tank refilled, they continued on their way. They drove through the front gate at Langley Air Force Base at one o'clock on Sunday morning, but not before Clay stopped at a convenience store and picked up a cup of hot black coffee. When he reached the gate, he handed the airman on the gate the cup. "Tough duty on a Sunday morning, Airman, so we brought you something to make it a little easier."
"Thank you, sir! Welcome to Langley, Colonel, and you and the lady have a lovely Sunday."
"Oh, we intend to, Airman. Point us in the direction of the VOQ, please."
With a map in hand, they found the VOQ, checked in, and went to their rooms.
"If I knock on your door at five, will that give you enough time? Sunrise will be at about seven."
"Five is fine, Clay."
He kissed her good night and closed the door that connected their rooms; Francine quickly stripped down to her underwear, pulled on a light cotton robe, and was almost instantly asleep.
