Always Tried and Proven (49 page)

     “Don’t hurt yourself.” He warned, hefting several more formidable bags on his shoulders, and heading toward the door of the building behind them.  He put down the bags in his right hand, input a series of numbers on a keypad, and opened the glass front door for Callie.  It was very nice inside, obviously original Art Deco, done in tones of sand and peach, terra cotta and brown tile. 

      The floor was of subway tile in an off-white, and a wonderful mosaic of blue and green glass graced the center of the lobby floor.

     An elevator with a wrought iron gate awaited, and Sam closed the door behind them.  He pushed fourteen, and they began the climb.  When the elevator stopped, Sam opened the doors and they exited to the lobby, turning left to the west.  A center stairway drew Callie to look down through the square, all fourteen floors down.  The floor mosaic in the lobby sparkled and winked up at her, from far below.

      She looked up again to find Sam unlocking and opening a door with beveled and leaded glass detailing.

     He waited for her, eyes patient.  “My lady,” he invited, a smile twitching around his lips.  Callie ducked her head and went to him, cheeks matching the roses in her dress.  He touched her cheek, and caressed it softly.  He picked her up in his arms, and carried her over the threshold.  Callie’s eyes were like saucers, her heart was thumping.  Somehow, she hadn’t quite expected that.

     Sam kissed her softly, and put her down on the other side.  She gasped as she looked around her.  The entry hall was done in alternating, twelve inch, black and white marble squares.  The whole floor was buffed within an inch of it’s life.

     There were antiques.  A fine, old statuary set, on oak tables of Victorian and Art Deco vintage.  Art deco detailing prevailed throughout the place, and it was obviously original, not re-done. 

     The marble floors gave way to shiny, dark oak planking in the great room, which was done in soothing tones of taupe and almond.  Details in bright, glossy white shone brilliantly.  Dark brown furniture and accents added richness and depth to the room. 

     Callie just stood and gaped, looking up at the dentil molding and ceiling medallion under a simple yet elegant crystal chandelier.  Then, she hesitantly moved across the muted, floral area carpet to the window seat, which looked out on Battery Park and across the water to Ellis Island and the lady on Liberty Island.  Pushing aside the soft, old velvet drapery of brown, she could even see a glimpse of the bridges.

     “Sam!” she gasped.  “Oh, my.  This is spectacular.”

     He chuckled.  Wait until you see the rest, my love.”  He said softly, kissing her neck.  He led her through the room to a door on the left, and she found herself in a room of understated elegance, so comfortable that it couldn’t be intimidating, yet so rich and lovely that it took her breath away.

    There was an old-fashioned canopy bed, of oak with wrought iron arches overhead, and a central, ornate finial in the center of the canopy. There were two ceiling fans in the room, also vintage, whirring silently into slow, lazy movement as Sam flipped the switch. 

    There was a luxurious leopard print rug on the oak floor. The bed was covered in ivory silk, with Battenburg lace pillows and accent pillows of leather and suede, and animal hide.  A very old armoire was open to reveal a state of the art television and stereo system. 

     Across the room, sheer curtains beckoned her to sit on the window seat, comfortably covered in soft mohair, and look out at the view.  The window was grandly framed in wrought iron and coffee brown velvet drapes that covered the fourteen foot spans from floor to the lip of the tray ceilings.

      Callie’s wondering eyes took in the details of the plaster moldings around the tray ceiling, soft roses inset from a foot-wide stripe in taupe, with a bright white geometric pattern running around the room.

     Old, period wall sconces with bubble glass tinted everything softly.  To the other end of the room, her eyes were drawn to a nook that beckoned her, with her breath held.  The walls were papered in a faded, suede zebra stripe.  As exotic as it sounds, it was quiet, peaceful and pleasing.  There was a chaise done in leopard print, and a pure white area rug on the floor.  A floor lamp beside the chaise with a taupe shade and crystal prism fringe, and a small oak table with books, made her want to sink immediately to the chaise and sigh with ecstasy. 

      Beyond that, she found a completely original small bath, with a claw-foot tub,and marble floors in  beige with white veining.  A period pedestal sink, a real, separate shower with beveled glass doors, and a very old commode.  White milk glass accessories, bubble glass lighting and cabinet fronts on an old, stand up oak bureau, made her shake her head in speechless wonder.

     She wandered back out to the main room, to find Sam in an old, period closet.  It was complete with an ironing board in a narrow cubby, and full of a man’s fine clothes.  She touched Sam’s sleeve thoughtfully as he put their bags on the oak bureau and floor of the closet, and turned to look down into her eyes.

     “What do you think?  Like it?” he asked lightly.

     “
Like
it?  Sam, it’s incredible!” she breathed in ecstasy.

     “Want to see the rest?” he asked lightly.

    “Yes.” She answered without hesitation.  “It’s a two bedroom?  How luxurious!” she gasped.  Two bedrooms, especially with so much floor space,  were very hard to come by, in Manhattan.  With a view like this, to the water, it was spectacular.  And, beyond costly!  Callie knew that the value of this home, decorated as it was, was in the millions.

     The other bedroom was furnished as a library, done in dark, old Hunter Green paper, trimmed in gold.  There was an oak desk, three walls filled with books up to the six foot level, and two wing chairs of burgundy leather, with a round table between.

      Beveled glass made the center of the dark oak table less heavy in the room.  The fourth wall had an oak-paneled feature, trimmed in dentil molding and with a wonderful, old oil painting in the center.  A stormy seascape with a ship being tossed in the waves.

     Reading lamps in green, opaque Tiffany stained glass focused the light downward, while sconce lighting above the bookcases sent soft, sweeping arcs of light up the walls to the ceilings.

      Sam looked around him with satisfaction.  “This was my room, when we were home.” He said quietly.  “Which wasn’t often, but it was a welcome respite when we were.  There’s a Murphy bed behind that painting.  Very handy thing.  Whenever we had visitors, I’d just flip it up, and the library was ready for whatever might come.”

     Callie turned, and gave him a blank look.  She blinked, trying to formulate the questions in her mind.  “What do you mean?” she finally stammered.  “You … you used to actually
live
here?”

     He gave her a teasing look.  “Still do, when I get the chance.  Which, as usual, isn’t often.  It’s still peaceful, but it’s been lonely since Roland left me alone.”  He smiled with satisfaction, and stood close behind her, cupping her elbows in his hands.  “I’m trusting that it won’t ever feel that way again.” He suggested.

    He leaned over and softly kissed her.  She just continued to stare in fascination.

      “Come along, and I’ll show you the kitchen.”  He suggested, feeling things he doubted she was ready to deal with, just yet.

     The kitchen was stunning to Callie’s mystified eyes.  It boasted checkerboard black and white Marble floors that shone like mirrors.  The cabinets were a glossy white, spanking clean.  The counter tops were granite, a deep, shining black.  In the center of the room, a white country table had been converted into an island, with a gray Marble top, and a pot rack filled with gleaming copper pots hanging above.  The paned windows were edged in clear, glimmering Emerald green stained glass slivers, about an inch wide.  Other green accents livened up the otherwise monochromatic scheme:  Jade salt and pepper shakers, salad cruets, green plants and small, potted herbs provided the pops of accent color

     There was a butler’s pantry that was filled with spare, gleaming china.  White with silver rims, and gleaming silver tea and coffee service.  Crystal ware graced the glass fronted cabinets with dignified charm.

      She turned to Sam, speechless.  He was awaiting her reaction, obviously, but she didn’t know what to say.

     “You can change anything you like, Cal.”  He assured her quietly.  “It’s been this way since the 30’s really, so I’m certain it’s due for a bit of updating here and there.”

     She laughed incredulously.  “Have you lost your mind?” she gasped.  “This place is … impeccably decorated, with rare antiques!.  I wouldn’t dare touch it.  Sam, is this place really … yours?” she asked quizzically.

     “No.  Not anymore.  It’s
ours
.” He said with a chuckle.  He took a glass down, got ice from the ‘fridge door, and filled it with cold water.  He drank deeply, and offered it to Callie.  She numbly shook her head.

     “Roland’s parents bought it in the 30’s when it was new construction.  Roland inherited it from his mother when she passed on.  And having no children of his own, Roland kindly left it to me.  Now, it will be a home for us whenever we’ve got time to spare.”

     Callie just leaned against the island and let her breath out in a long sigh.  “Wow.” She said quietly.

      “It’s all right, isn’t it?” he asked uncertainly.

     Callie dropped her head.  “Sam, I’m overwhelmed.  It’s marvelous.  I just had absolutely no idea that you had this place. 
Anyplace
, actually.  I never thought of you being anyplace, but in the tent, somehow.”

       He shrugged.  “I guess it never came up.”  He said.

      “When you brought the tent to New York … you stayed in a hotel.”

      “No, I stayed here.”

      “But Sadie thought…”

      “Sadie doesn’t know everything.”

      “You rented a car…”

      “No, it’s parked in the garage below the building.”

      “You mean it’s yours, too?”

      “Ours.”  He corrected again.

      “Why didn’t Sadie know?”

     “I don’t tell anyone where I live.  Perhaps I’m too cautious, but I’d rather not have anyone interrupt my time away.  People are always around.  I come here for respite.  I’ve always liked it here.  Roland’s father was a top adviser to Rockefeller, he had plenty of money, even through the crash.”  He caressed her cheek gently.

     “There’s a ranch as well, before I forget to tell you.  In Western Wyoming.  Roland lives there with a nurse, he’s very infirm.  His wife, Irma, died years ago.  I’ll take you there to meet him tomorrow.  But for now, why don’t you relax for awhile?  Take a hot bath, or something?” he suggested.  “Then, we can think about something to eat.”

     “Sure.  That would be wise, I suppose.” She agreed meekly.

    Sam sat in the great room, looking out at the city for some time.  He wasn’t sure what to do next.  Callie seemed shell-shocked and out of nerve.  He really didn’t understand it at all, but he had to assume that it had a lot to do with her past experiences and her fears about marriage.  She’d been so happy when he asked her, and right up until Terrill had pronounced them husband and wife.

     He prayed for a time, and then wandered into the bedroom.  She hadn’t made it to the bath, she was on the bed -- and out cold.  He sat beside her and watched her gentle breathing with a tender expression in his eyes.  She looked so sweet, and soft, and vulnerable in her pink dress.

     He took off her shoes, and unzipped her dress.  She moaned as he took off the dress and stripped her down to her slip, but she didn’t wake up.  He pulled back the covers, and slipped her between them.  Then he stripped down to his shorts and climbed into the other side.

     It seemed an eternity that he just lay there, looking at her.  Until the sun went down, and darkness fell.  Still, the moon let him see her sweet face, and he gently unpinned her hair and let it flow down over her shoulders.

     To his surprise, she snuggled into his arms and kissed his chest softly.  He gently wrapped his arms around her, and stroked her hair.  Before long, he too was sound asleep.

     Callie awakened, wondering what the sounds were that she was hearing.  It wasn’t the usual.  It was … traffic.  The vague sound of
traffic
.  She opened her eyes, and wondered what she was seeing. 

     Zebra?  She blinked and looked again.  Still zebra.  On a wall. 

    She looked around her and slowly, memory began to return.  The flight to New York, the cab ride to Manhattan;  the wonderful suite.  Sam’s.  She turned and looked behind her shoulder and found him sleeping soundly in the bed beside her.  All she could see was his tousled hair, his strong, bronzed back and shoulders.  His slender waist protruding from a coffee-colored sheet.

     “
Whoo
.”  She whistled softly.  She lifted the sheet, and found that he was wearing jersey knit shorts.  She wrinkled her nose, and looked down to find that she was wearing her slip and nylons.  “Ugh.” She grimaced, and quickly rid herself of all her clothing.

     She turned to watch Sam sleep, and before she knew it, she had joined him there again.