DASHED DREAMS (8 page)

Jillian wakened and looked at the clock on the nightstand; it read 7:30. She couldn’t believe she’d slept that late as usually she’s up at six to make her rounds at the hospital by seven.

She quickly got up, showered, and dressed in the new clothing. She put her previous night’s clothes and shoes into the tote bag. Quietly, she opened the bedroom door, noticing that at the opposite side of the room, the bedroom door was closed. She paused to look out the massive windows. Somehow the lake looked different in the daylight, beautiful but not quite as romantic. On the coffee table was a pencil and a single sheet of lined music paper with notes and words, a glass and an empty liquor bottle. She sighed, turned, picked up her tote, and quietly closed the front door.

While waiting for the elevator, she whispered, “
Goodbye, Robert John Montgomery.”

The casino and hotel lobby was quiet; Jillian had noticed a Coffee Hut when she arrived last night. She ordered a latte, before the car arrived. She’d called the transportation department extension and was achieved they’d be ready in 10 minutes. Just as the latte was handed to Jillian, the limo arrived. She was met at the doors by Lionel, “Good morning, Miss James.”

The morning mountain air was crisp and refreshing, full of a pine scent present, Jillian smiled. Lionel opened the back door, and Jillian got comfortable for the ride home. Lionel was quiet and kept the inter-window closed. Jillian was glad of the privacy, as she wanted some time to herself to sightsee and reflect. Sipping her latte, she gazed out onto the lake, reflecting on the past evening. What a wonderful evening it was! She pulled out her cell and called Emma. She didn’t even hear Emma say hello, only, “WELL, TELL ME EVERYTHING!”

“I’ll be home in a couple of hours. She’ll we meet for breakfast?”

“Sure, but I’m not sure I can wait. ’Bye.”

“You’ll have to. ’Bye.”

On Wednesday morning Dr. Jillian James sat at her desk, doing her day’s paperwork. Joy’s voice came over the intercom, “Dr. James, you have a call on line four. Her name’s Mrs. Bertie Walker. Do you want to take it?”

“Mr. Montgomery asked me to call and ask if you’d be his guest for this weekend’s
Celebrity Gala.
” She paused, awaiting Jillian’s reaction. Nothing.

“It’s a charity event sponsored by Edgewood Country Club, Common Down Golf Clubs, Negative Approach, King Vineyards, and Tucker’s. Porsche is donating a car for a hole-in-one on the 17th. This event’s for the benefit of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and Tucker’s Koncerts for Kids program. At last count I think we have 43 celebrities signed up. The gala events will include an opening dinner on Thursday evening. And on Saturday evening is Mr. Montgomery’s concert. The golf tournament’s Thursday to Saturday evening. On Friday, there’ll be a one-day women’s tournament, if you’d like to participate. And the closing ceremonies will be Saturday evening with another dinner and prize awards, then the concert.”

Luckily, all three girls were eager and able to rearrange their schedules to be gone on such short notice. Emma was over the roof with excitement, as she’d been reading in the newspaper about the upcoming celebrity tourney and was extremely excited about meeting some of the stars.

The car arrived at Jillian’s house at one o’clock Thursday afternoon. Jillian introduced her friends to Lionel. He opened the back door and the three girls climbed into the limousine. Emma, Lynda, and Jillian discussed the upcoming weekend. When their bags and golf clubs were loaded, Lionel started the car, looked in the rear-view mirror, and said, “Miss James, if there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

“Thank you, Lionel.” He closed the window. The ride up to Lake Tahoe was almost exactly as a week before, but this time Jillian felt better, as she wasn’t alone.

Once at Tucker’s and leaving the limo, Lynda took a deep breath. A thick pine scent hung in the air. She said, “You know, as many times that we’ve been coming to Tahoe, this fragrance is always delightful.” Jillian smiled, thinking the same thing.

Jillian saw Bertie, nodded and Bertie smiled back.

“I’d like to introduce my friends…Lynda Brockhurst and Emma Elliott, this is Mrs. Bertie Walker.”

“How nice to meet you. Welcome to Tucker’s.”

The girls smiled and each shook hands with Bertie.

“I’d like to show you around Tucker’s, if you’d like?”

“Oh, yes please do.”

Bertie showed the girls,
Calming Effects,
the hotel’s spa and beauty salon. Emma took a long look around to get some ideas for her shop. Working on clients were masseuses and several beauticians. Bertie showed them saunas and the pool area. She then took the girls down to the second floor, where the shopping pavilion was located. “In the shops here you can find almost anything you’d want,” Bertie said.

“Boy, I can’t wait till I can browse through here!” Emma exclaimed.

Bertie looked at her watch, which hung from a gold bow on her dress, then realized that the time was quickly passing. “Shall I show you to your suites?”

“Suites? Hot dog! You mean we have more than one?” Emma asked. For an instant, Jillian was embarrassed.

“Yes, we’ve reserved three suites for your party, compliments of Tucker’s. You’re also scheduled for a ten-o’clock tee time. I hope you don’t mind, but the tourney staff will assign someone to your group to complete the foursome.”

“We aren’t good. We just play for fun,” Lynda said.

“Almost all of the ladies in the tournament are wives and girlfriends of the celebrity gentlemen playing, so there’s not much competition. In the past, this tournament’s been fun for everyone,” Bertie said.

They entered the hotel lobby that was bustling with activity. A welcome fire in the fireplace cracked and popped. While talking, they walked towards the same bank of elevators that she and Jillian had used previously. Bertie used her card, the doors opened, she pressed floor 25, and glanced toward Jillian. “Your suites are on the same private floor as our Star Suite.” Everyone looked at Jillian, and for a brief second she blushed.

Jillian felt so anxious, like a teenager getting ready to see her boyfriend at a high school dance. Bertie showed each of the girls all the complements of their suites and asked if they’d like the connecting doors to be opened.

“Miss James, Mr. Montgomery will call for you and your friends at about six this evening. Tonight’s theme is tropical, and there’s a cocktail party before dinner. Please call if you need anything. Ladies, there’s a personalized itinerary on each of your desks, listing this weekend’s events. Listed beside each event is the suggested dress.”

In Lynda’s suite, the three girls looked around: a king bed, an alcove that contained a sofa, coffee table, and an overstuffed easy chair. There was a desk and chair, and a large heavy wood cabinet which contained a large television and DVD player. There were two bathrooms in each suite, one with a garden tub and the other with a large marble step-in shower. Each bathroom contained a small television and a telephone. Lynda opened the set of sheer drapes. All three of the girls sighed. The view of Lake Tahoe was spectacular.

“Hey, this what I call a suite. Ladies, don’t you think this is the most luxurious room we’ve ever had?” Lynda asked. They agreed.

Reading the itinerary, Emma said, “Look who’s scheduled to attend.” The three girls huddled over the list, oh-ing and ah-ing over the names.

“Look, at all the celebrities who’re going to be here. And we’re going to hobnob with them all.”

Lynda and Emma remembered that Bertie had said something about a thank-you basket, and centered their attention on the basket of goodies. In the corner of the basket was a thank-you card from the Diabetes Association. Emma discovered gifts were also in the bedroom closet: A windbreaker and polo shirt with the Common Down logo, a Tucker signature tote bag, and another tote from Negative Point, inside a certificate for a custom-made golf bag and a pair of golf shoes.

“Negative Point’s a manufacturer of golf shoes and bags. They’re really high-scaled, money-wise. Remember the ad for classy golf bags in the golf magazine we were looking at? This is those people,” Lynda said.

“Boy, look how neat your clothes are hung! Look at your shoes. Emma your clothes closet hasn’t ever looked so good,” Lynda said.

“I guess when you hobnob in high circles, this is what you get!” Emma commented.

Jillian left Lynda and Emma deciding when they’d go down to redeem their gifts. She reminded them that they had about 45 minutes before RJ was coming to pick them up.

Opening her sheer curtains, Jillian stood at the window looking at an almost-duplicate view. She squeezed her hands together, pulled them up to underneath her chin, thinking: Jillian James, you’re a trained surgeon. You step up to a patient and with your confidence, you ease their pain and fears. But now I’m nervous…of what? The unknown, I guess. Girl, let go of your fears. It’s going to be a fun weekend.

Shaking her head, as if to shake off her nervousness, Jillian consulted the event’s schedule, that noted tropical dress for tonight’s events. She turned on the radio, finding a country station, and with Reba singing to her, started to get ready. In the bathroom she turned up the volume, hopped into the shower.

She stepped back and motioned him to enter. Standing next to her, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She stood frozen, again mesmerized by his cologne. He let go of her arm. “Ladies, good evening. I’m RJ Montgomery. Let me guess, you’re Emma and you’re Lynda.” He’d guessed right, Jillian had talked so much about them, he knew instantly who they were. He gave each one a quick hug.

“I can’t believe I’m meeting you. Jillie said you were something. Boy, you smell dreamy. What is that you’re wearing?” Emma asked like a gushy fan.

“Nope, don’t think we have time. We should be going.” He looked at the three ladies standing next to one another and said, “I’m the luckiest man of all tonight. I have three beautiful women on my arm. Eat your heart out, Clint, here we come.”

Lynda was wearing a long-sleeve rose-colored tunic top with a pair of white capris and high-heeled sandals. Emma was dressed a floral shift with a white cardigan tied loosely at her shoulders and also wore high heels.

“Jillie, it’s RJ.” That remark bothered Jillian. He was calling her a nickname only her friends used. Did he feel that comfortable with her, to be able to call her Jillie?

She felt red in the face, as if he’d think she was following his career. Suddenly she felt very uncomfortable in the clothes she had selected and the way she’d fixed her hair.