“Hello. This is Celeste.”
“Hi there! I’m glad you called. How are you?”
“I’m doing well. Were you busy?” Rambling on, she continues before Stephen has a chance to answer, “If you were I can always call you back at another time when it would be more convenient, or you can call me back.”
“No, I’m not busy at all,” Stephen says as he waives people hurriedly from his dressing room. With the soft click of the door closing as the last person exits his dressing room, he again turns his full attention to the telephone. And Celeste.
“So, where are you? I know you’re on tour, but I don’t know what city you’re in.”
“We’re in Vegas.”
“I thought that you guys were performing in Vegas tomorrow night.”
“We always do two shows in Vegas because of the impressive turnout we get. We have one tonight and the other is tomorrow night.”
“I see. I talked to Jenny earlier, that’s how I knew about tomorrow night’s performance.” Trying to make herself more comfortable at her desk, Celeste hopes that will ease the shakiness that she feels. Celeste tries hard to control her breathing as she wonders what is coming over her. She sounds like she’s been running a 20-mile marathon.
“Yeah, she’s coming up to spend some time with Mario,” Stephen comments while all the more wishing that Celeste were coming to visit him. Yet he wouldn’t dare ask. The risk of losing what little hope he has found in this one effort on Celeste’s part to make contact with him is too great.
“So I heard,” Celeste says while trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
Stephen notices the none-too-happy tone of Celeste’s voice but doesn’t comment on it, preferring to keep the conversation focused on themselves instead of other people.
“What are you doing this weekend? Any special plans?” he asks with dread, praying silently that they don’t involve any man.
“I’m going to spend a quiet weekend working on a new project for work.”
Letting out a breath that Stephen was not aware that he had been holding, Stephen smiles a smile of pure relief, “Is that what you do with your spare time, work?”
“Well, yeah, actually.”
Wanting desperately to know that she doesn’t have any serious involvement with someone of the opposite sex, Stephen gingerly and cleverly guides the discussion in that direction. “Well now, I wonder why that is. I know it can’t be for a lack of invitations from male pursuers.”
“I like working. I love my job,” Celeste finds herself suddenly defensive.
“Whoa. I didn’t say that you didn’t like your job,” Stephen defends.
“Well then what exactly are you trying to say then? That I can’t get a date?”
“Celeste, I’m not trying to say anything of the sort.”
“’Cause I’ll have you to know that I get plenty of invitations. I just choose not to accept, is all.”
“Celeste, honey. Why are you upset with me? What have I done?”
Realizing that she is acting like a woman who has just gone off the deep end, Celeste humbles herself and apologizes. “I’m sorry, Stephen. You didn’t deserve that.”
“It’s okay,” says Stephen, relieved that the uncomfortable moment has passed. “I forgive you.”
“Were you trying to imply anything with that question?”
“No, I wasn’t. I promise. To tell the whole truth, I was just trying to determine if you were seeing anyone, or if you had someone special in your life. I just should have asked you straight up.”
“Oh!” Is that all?” Smiling shyly she says, “No, Stephen. I’m not seeing anyone, neither special nor ordinary.” Biting her knuckle she wishes that she hadn’t been so quick to answer. She must sound a little desperate, thinks Celeste to herself.
Shocked by what he has just heard, Stephen frowns down at the phone before continuing, “Now please don’t take this the wrong way, but you’ve got to be joking! Either all the men in your town are complete idiots or are blind. Which is it?”
“Well, I would like to say that they’re all idiots, but the truth is I’m not really interested in men.” Realizing the mistake she has just made in her choice of words, she hurries to correct herself, “or women.”
Sighing with relief at hearing her last two words spoken, Stephen confesses, “I don’t know what to say. I’ve never heard a woman say anything like that before.”
“One of these days, when I get to know you better, I’ll tell you my life story.”
Happy to be hearing Celeste talk in terms of the future brings a smile to his face. Stephen says, “I’d like that very much.”
Celeste feels a warmth start near her heart and spread all the way up to her hair line and down to her toes at the thought of getting to know Stephen, or even still, letting him get to know her.
Catching her up short, she clamors to say quickly, “Well, I don’t want to keep you. I’m sure you must be getting ready for your performance tonight. I’m sure you’ll do go great. Talk to you later.”
“Good bye, Celeste,” says Stephen, feeling a little sad about their conversation coming to an end.
Pressing the ‘end call’ button on his cellular phone, Stephen clips it onto the loop of his cargo jeans where it had rested prior to Celeste’s call. He folds his arms across his chest as he leans against the wardrobe of his dressing room.
There is a brief knock on his dressing room door, which is followed by the entrance of Mario. “Hey man, what’s up?” asks Mario as he enters the room and gives Stephen a pound in greeting.
“Man, you wouldn’t believe who I just got off the phone with.”
“By the look on your face, I can tell it was pleasant.”
“More than pleasant, dog. It was Celeste,” Stephen says as Mario takes a seat in the director’s chair facing Stephen.
“You were finally able to reach her, huh?”
“No. She called me.”
“Cool, I guess persistence certainly does pay off. I’ve never seen you chase a honey before.”
With conviction, Stephen proclaims, “Man, you just don’t know. I’d chase Celeste to the ends of the earth if it meant claiming the prize.”
Knowing that Steph is quite serious, Mario asks, “Did you ask her to come out? Jenny’s coming in tomorrow.”
“I thought about it, but I don’t want to scare her off. I have to play it real straight with Celeste. Dude, I’ve never felt like I was walking on eggshells with a female before,” Stephen confesses.
“Well, you know what they say, ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained,’ I mean, it’s a good sign that she called you back. Does she know that Jenny’s coming out here?”
“Yeah. Although she didn’t sound too happy about it.”
Frowning at Stephen’s comment, Mario asks, “Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know, but my gut feeling tells me that I need to approach this very cautiously or she’ll run.”
“Run! Which woman has ever run from you? Man, love distorts everything.”
“No, it doesn’t. Well, maybe it does temporarily. But I have a feeling when all the smoke clears I’ll get the girl. Something she said struck a chord with me, though.”
“What was that?” asks Mario while picking up Stephen’s snow globe from the makeup counter and tipping it upside down watching the snow swirl around the family in the globe.
“It’s not really what she said but rather why she said it.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll find out soon enough,” says Stephen determinedly.
“Back to asking her to come out,” says Mario, bringing Stephen back to the conversation. “Maybe she didn’t mind so much that Jenny was coming out but that she wasn’t. You know how females can be. They expect you to be mind readers, and you’re in the dog house if you get the message screwed up.”
Stephen ponders briefly on what Mario is saying. Changing the subject, Stephen asks Mario, “When is Jeffrey getting here?”
“He should be right behind me. We came from the hotel together, but he stopped at the curtain to chat up some female security guard.”
“That’s Jeffrey.” Stephen then agrees, “You might be right, Mario.”
“Of course I am. About what?” Mario asks in bewilderment.
“About me inviting Celeste. Gimme a minute and I’ll be ready to go through the sound check.”
“Cool,” says Mario as he rises from the chair. “I’ll meet you on stage.”
Removing his phone from the cargo clip, Stephen hits the return call button on his cell phone. He listens impatiently as the recording for Vines and Robert’s comes on to announce that the office is closed for the day. Stephen pushes the end call button.
“Well, I know she couldn’t be home yet,” he thinks out loud. “So, shall I leave a message on her answering machine at home or call back when I think she’s made it home?” Not knowing how far she works from her home, Stephen figures it best to leave a message since he doesn’t want to take the chance of missing her later. He must get the sound check down now.
Dialing the number for Celeste’s home, he again waits while the phone is ringing, “Celeste speaking,” he hears in his ear.
“Celeste?” Stephen asks.
“Yeah. Who is this?”
“It’s Stephen. I didn’t think you’d be home yet.”
“I’m not. I forwarded my house calls to my cell phone before I left my office. What’s up?”
“Well, I was thinking...” he pauses, not sure how to continue.
“About?” Celeste questions.
“Well, I’d really like for you to come out here, to Vegas. I give you my word, Celeste. I won’t try anything. You’ll have your own room and you’ll be free to come and go as you please. I just really want to see you again. We only have a few more cities to hit before we head to Europe. And then I’ll be there for a whole month before I can come back.”
“You wouldn’t have to give me my own room.”
Shocked and taken aback, Stephen is sure that he must have misunderstood what Celeste is saying. “What?” he asks in order to gain clarification.
“I could just room with Jenny.”
Relieved at the miscommunication and smiling at the possibility that Celeste is considering his proposal, Stephen sits silent, waiting for Celeste to speak.
When she doesn’t, Stephen asks, “So, you’ll come to Vegas then?”
Celeste feels an extremely strong desire to throw caution to the wind and say ‘Sure! Why not.’ But since acting on impulse is not in Celeste’s nature, she opts for, “I’d like to, but I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
Stephen’s heart plummets like a lead weight suddenly being dropped from the top of the Empire State building.
“Let me think about it, Stephen. I don’t like making spur of the moment decisions. I need to plan. Besides, I’m not so sure how much I trust you. I think you’re too slick for your own good.”
“OK, but if you decide to come I would like to be able to book you on the same flight as Jenny, which leaves LAX at 11 AM tomorrow morning. With this town being a weekend getaway spot, I would hate it if we waited for the last minute to try to get you on the flight and there were no available seats.”
“Yeah, you’re right. How about this, let me think about it while I finish driving home, and I’ll call you with my answer when I get there. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine! I’ll talk to you in a little while. Oh, wait. Celeste, I’ll be in a sound check, and we never have our cells on during a sound check.”
“No worries, I’ll leave you a message one way or the other.”
Daring not push the issue any further and being content enough that Celeste didn’t flat out say ‘No,’ knowing that Celeste is thinking about it is enough for Stephen at this time.
Chapter Nine
Arriving home only takes about a half hour. When Celeste pushes the button on the remote of her visor, her garage door opens. She pulls her car into its regular resting spot and puts it in park.
Thomas greets her upon her entrance into the house. “Hey, Boy! Anyone call while I was at work?” Celeste asks as she places her keys in their spot and goes through the same routine that she goes through every time she enters her home. “I am far too predictable, Thomas!” she exclaims as she rubs his head.
As Celeste pauses with her hand poised above the play button of her answering machine, she does it. She makes the decision to do things differently. She casts aside all plans she had for working this weekend and decides to have fun. “I’m going to Vegas tomorrow to see Stephen,” she pronounces.
Contrary to what she told Stephen, she decides to call Jenny first for encouragement and confidence bolstering. When Jenny answers the phone at the salon, Celeste tells Jenny about Stephen inviting her to Vegas. Celeste questions, “Do you mind if I room with you in Vegas? I don’t want to be all by myself.”
“You won’t be by yourself, you’ll be with Stephen.” “Not while I’m sleeping, I won’t.”
Jenny giggles at the shock she hears in Celeste voice before continuing to say, “Of course you can room with me. Did you call and see if there was room for you on my flight?”
“Not yet. I’ll do that right now. Maybe they can sit me next to you. What flight number and airline are you taking?”
Celeste writes the information on her memo pad just as Jenny, excited for Celeste’s newfound freedom says, “Call me back and let me know.”
“Will do,” says Celeste before hanging up the phone. Retrieving the yellow pages from the bookshelf, she begins to look for the phone number to the airline on to which Jenny is already booked.
Before she can pick up the phone to dial the number to the airline, her line rings, “Hello,” Celeste says as she answers the phone call.
“Hey, it’s Stephen.”
Surprised to be hearing Stephen’s voice, Celeste replies back, “Hi.”
“I called the airline that Jenny is booked on, and they have one more seat available. I don’t know if it is next to Jenny, but you’ll both be in first class.”
“Wow, you sure work fast. I was just about to call them,” Celeste admits.
“You were?”
“Yeah. I’ve decided to accept your invitation and come to Las Vegas.”
“Great!” Stephen exclaims. “I hope you don’t think me too presumptuous, but I took the liberty of reserving you a seat on the flight. I was hoping that you would say ‘Yes.’ Listen. I’ll arrange everything for the rest of your trip; all you need to do is show up at the airport. Okay?”
“OK,” Celeste agrees. “Jenny said that I could share her room, so there’s no need to make hotel reservations for me.”
“All right. Well, you sleep well, and I’ll be at the airport to pick you up when you arrive.”
Not knowing what else to say, Celeste responds, “That’ll be fine.”
“See you then,” is the last thing Stephen says to Celeste before ending the call.
“See you then,” Celeste says before hanging up the receiver.
As Stephen places the phone back on the loop of his pants, he realizes that he is immensely relieved that Celeste has decided to come and spend time with him. He is getting the chance that he prayed for.
After telling Jenny that she got a seat on the flight, Celeste asks Jenny if she would mind picking her up on her way to the airport.
“Of course not. I’ll just ask Mario to send the limo here a half an hour earlier so that we won’t be rushed to make our flight.”
“Limo?”
“That’s what Mario said. I told him that wouldn’t be necessary, but he insisted. I figured there was no harm in letting him flex his muscles a bit. You know how men are, always out to prove a point of some sort.”
“I guess,” comments Celeste, realizing that in fact, she has no idea how men are, not having had any experience with them. She has, however, had plenty of experience with boys. There’s quite a diffe
rence between men and boys. “I better start packing. Hey, it’s been a long time since we’ve been to Vegas. Want to do some shopping while we’re there? You know I love to visit any out of town mall.” “Cool. See you in the morning.”
Having ended their conversation, Celeste goes about making preparations for leaving on an overnight trip. She calls her regular dog sitter and asks her to come by Saturday evening to walk Thomas, Sunday morning for feeding and walking, and again on Sunday evening since Celeste is not sure what time she will be home.
With eyes wide open, she realizes that she should call Pastor Rawlins and let him know that she won’t be attending services on Sunday. It suddenly occurs to Celeste that she is not quite sure how to explain that she is going out of town to see someone who is practically a stranger.
Celeste decides to just bite the bullet and get it over with. Picking up the church directory, she finds Pastor Rawlins’ home phone number. Celeste dials the number and listens intently to the sound of the phone ringing.
Celeste breathes a sigh of relief when she hears the answering machine pick up. She has a couple of seconds to figure out what she is going to say. Then the sound of the beep chimes in her ear.
“Hi, Pastor Rawlins. I won’t be at church this Sunday. I’ll be out of town. I’ll see you next Sunday.” Short and to the point serves quite nicely. Celeste then places the phone back on the hook and proceeds to her bedroom to pack.
Deciding that she would like to purchase a new outfit on Saturday for the concert that evening, she elects to put only casual clothes in her overnight bag along with her spare toothbrush and travel size toiletries that she keeps on hand for business trips.
Having packed quickly and placed her bag near the front door, Celeste finds herself with too much time to think and begins having second thought about her trip. Questions travel in circles through her mind as she second-guesses her plans and then third guesses her second guesses.
“Enough!” she takes every thought captive rising from the edge of her bed where she had been sitting. “One of the fruits of the spirit is ‘self-control’ and I have the right not to put myself in any situation which makes me feel uncomfortable or that I am not in control. I am going on this trip, I am going to have a good time, and I am sure I can make Mr. Stephen keep his hands to himself.”
A Wife for Stephen Page 8
