Jamie's Encore
Chapter 3 Decisions
SAN DIEGO
At the airport there was quite a group awaiting the arrival of Caitlin and Jamie.
SDPD Chief Wilson & Captain Espinoza; Rafael Payare, SD Symphony music director & concert master Viktor Pavlinski; Spencer Hays (Jamie's BFF) and his girlfriend Dana Hale. There was a long round of greetings and introductions, smiles all around. Nerves showing on the visitors from NYC.
The group awaiting Caitlin and Jamie had agreed amongst themselves on a restaurant to take their guests to for a get acquainted time. It was Cal-Mex of course; offering a mix of Mexican and seafood.
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JAMIE
After eating, the group split up. Spencer and Dana took Jamie; they had directions to the SDPD HQ and would drop him off 1 hour later. They stopped the car at a park overlooking the Pacific for a chat.
"So Spencer, you and Dana a couple now?" Jamie is curious.
"Yes, something like that," Spencer grins.
"Something like that," Dana frowns and swats him on the arm.
"Ow! I mean YES!"
"That's more like it!" Dana exclaims.
"I see. You really got him to settle down?" Jamie smirks.
"Yup, I did!"
"She did, yes sir!"
"So, what exactly is the job you are looking at? And more importantly, who is Caitlin to you!" Dana is very interested.
"Well, first things first. Caitlin is my girlfriend of 3+ months. She'll say less, don't buy it."
"Ha ha!" Dana retorts.
"Careful bro!" Spencer advises.
"We are . . . quite serious, she will agree. I am looking at a LT. position with the SDPD. I am quite interested. She obviously is looking at a new position the symphony is hoping to start and fill."
"So a couple, huh?" Dana smirks.
"Yeah . . . sort of."
"You guys and your 'sort of'," Dana snorts.
"Well . . . we haven't fully defined things." Jamie mutters.
"Ah, so this is a LET'S DEFINE THINGS TRIP?" Spencer muses.
"Maybe," Jamie hesitates.
"Well bud, you better define something! Or you will lose it," voices Dana.
"I know," Jamie agrees.
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CAITLIN
Caitlin gets into a Town Car and is driven to the symphony's HQ building. She is shown a recently completed addition; it includes two spacious offices, the larger has a full-sized grand piano, the slightly smaller one has a baby grand; three practice rooms with a high-quality spinet piano.
She is told that the larger office is for the Pianist in Residence, the smaller office for his/her vice director. There is a common area for an executive assistant and 3 waiting area chairs.
They take seats and talk about the position, their expectations, her thoughts & feelings. Afterwards they request that she play for them on the piano in what would be her office.
After some warm-up chords, she tells them that the piano needs a tuning and some minor repair. They are suitably impressed.
She asks if they have a request; they defer to her. She plays the Pathetique Sonata, one of her favorites. They are very pleased.
After they are done talking, they inform her that the symphony and the SDPD have gotten together and pooled their resources and come up with a package deal on a residential package. It will be especially attractive if she and Jamie are at the stage of living together. It is a 3-bed condo on Coronado Island; 3rd floor, overlooking the city and Jacob's Park and the Rady Shell where symphony concerts are held. If she and Jamie desire, they can see it before they adjourn for supper. She asks for time to call him. They agree, and leave her in the large office to make that call.
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JAMIE
He had been having a very cordial discussion at the SDPD. Captain Espinoza would be overseeing this new division; he had emphasized to Jamie that he didn't want to be seen as 'the boss'. He considered himself as more of an advisor, a resource for Jamie. The talk with the captain felt very good, Jamie really felt that the working relationship with Espinoza would be a good one. He was feeling better all the time.
PHONE CALL
"Jamie here."
"Hi babe, can you talk?"
"Yes, hang on a minute."
Silence.
"I'm back, what's up?"
"Have you heard about a possible condo package?"
"No, what's up?"
"Well, I am told that the symphony and SDPD have, together, pooled resources and can offer us a condo package. Obviously, if we are living together. Now, we haven't gotten that far in our discussions. So, what say you?"
"Wow! I don't know, babe."
"We can look at the condo while we are here, if we want to."
"Well, we were going to do some sightseeing tomorrow, right? Shall we do that tomorrow?"
"I don't see any harm in doing that. You?"
"I'm game. Let's do it."
"Ok."
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THE NEXT DAY
After sleeping in their 2-queen suite (separate beds) and breakfast, Spencer and Dana pick them up for the drive to Coronado Island. They meet SDPD Captain Espinoza and Rafael Payare at the condo building.
On the drive they find that Spencer's investment firm has a hand in securing the condo package. Jamie suspected as much.
The condo complex has a pool, 2 tennis courts, a fully equipped gym w short running track, 2 jacuzzi pools and a sauna. Caitlin and Jamie are suitably impressed. The condo itself is a 3rd floor walk-up; it is a standard 3-bed apartment with a nice balcony. They ask for some discussion time; they step into what would be the master bedroom and close the door.
"Wow!" Jamie exclaims.
"Yes, wow!" She repeats. "Now what do we do?"
"Well, I wasn't anticipating having this talk at this time, or here. Were you?"
"No. But, have your guys told you how much time you have to give them an answer?"
"They are talking about 1 week. You?" Jamie answers her.
"The same. I was thinking of giving Rafael a cautious yes, and starting to practice like mad."
"Will he wait 1 week for a final answer?"
"He is hoping for Monday, 4 days. I think I can do that."
"We may want to spend some serious time together over the weekend. Can you do that?" Jamie raises an eyebrow.
"Yes, I can. Reagan family dinner?" Caitlin is nervous about that.
"Probably not; they will put big time pressure on me NOT TO MOVE!"
"But, won't they be disappointed if they learn your decision after the fact?" Caitlin posits.
"Yes, but I don't really want all that bitching and whining. It's going to be massive."
"Well, I'll take my cues from you, sweetheart."
"Thanks babe. I love you!" Jamie plants a kiss on her lips.
"Love you too! Let's talk with the group."
They tell the three (Spencer, Chief Wilson, Rafael Payare) to expect their decision by 9 PM Monday EST. And that they can give them a soft YES today. Everyone is comfortable and encouraged by that.
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SEA WORLD PLUS
They decide to do two things after the condo look/see.
They do San Diego Sea World. They tour the exhibits and see the killer whale show. The sea otters are a favorite, no surprise.
Then they walk around Old Town, stopping for an authentic Mexican luncheon.
No surprise, they are falling in love with San Diego. Moving and leaving family will not be easy; but if they do decide to commit to each other it will be easier.
There is a huge decision weekend ahead!
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TBC