Captain Wonder

by Anne

  The bittersweet moments of casual caresses and stolen kisses would be over, she thought sadly. Never again would she He awake at night listening to the sound of his breathing. And there'd be no one to tell her with a glance that she looked lovely. or to make her feel like a beauty queen in a ten-year-old bathing suit. She felt like bursting Into tears.

  It was ridiculous to be so upset, she scolded herself. After the divorce, she had vowed never to let herself become attached to another man. And, of course, she hadn't done anything so idiotic as to fall in love with Mike. No, she hadn't been that dumb. She hadjust become fond of him. Theywere friends and she would miss him, just as she would miss any friend she no longer saw. In fact, her mental rambllngs continued, by the time they got back home, she probably wouldn't even remember much about him.

  Sara wanted to laugh. That was such a blatant lie that she didn't even bother to tell herself It was true. How in the world could she have been so foolish? She wouldn't be able to avoid thinking about him. She'd be confronted by his picture as she dfd her chores—making Megan's lunch, doing the laundry. Every Sunday night he'd be there on the television screen reminding her how silly she had been.

  She ate as calmly as she could, not even protesting when Mike let the girls order dessert after they hadn't finished their meals. She just wanted to get the evening over with. She wanted to be settled in their campground so she could start getting used to just the three of them being on their own again. She was relieved when at last they picked up their doggie bags and went out to the camper.

  'How do you want to work this?" she asked Mike. "Do you want us to drive you to your place?"

  "No, I can get a cab from the campground," he said.

  It sounded like something they had tried before, but she didn't have the heart to point that out. She put all the leftovers into the refrigerator and took out the map.

  "Now, where are we?" she asked as she spread it out on the table. The campground just south of Disneyland was circled.

  "Banning," he said.

  She frowned and looked all over the map. "Where's that?"

  He came and looked over her shoulder for a moment, his breath tickling the back of her neck and sending little shivers of desire through her body. Then he reached over and unfolded another section of the map. "Here it is." He pointed to a circle far east of where she had been looking. Far east of where they were supposed to be.

  She looked at it, then up at him. "We can't be there." she said slowly.

  "Why not?"

  "Because I wasn't heading in that direction."

  He grinned. "I was driving last, remember?"

  She just stared at him, her anger building with each silent second that passed. They were never going to make it to the campground by eight. They were going to lose their site because he had been playing stupid little games again. "You mean you deliberately turned off the route and went in the wrong direction?"

  "1 told you I wanted to take you to one of my favorite restaurants," he said.

  "How was I supposed to know it was halfway back across California? I don't recall your mentioning that fact."

  He appeared to be getting slightly irritated himself. "I don't recall your asking where it was, either," he pointed out. "And I don't see what all the fuss is about. If you're worried about the damn gas, I'll pay for It."

  He stopped suddenly and glanced toward the girls. Sara didn't have to. She knew they were watching in openmouthed astonishment. They had rarely seen her in an argument, Well, they were about to see her in a spectacular one, she thought. Worry about reaching their campground before their reservation was cancelled, anger over Mike's paying for the gas and buying those outfits for the girls, and plain old unhappiness over the fact that he was leaving them that night—all combined into a wonderful rage.

  "I'm not worried about the gas," she snapped. Tm upset because it's just past seven o'clock."

  "So?"

  "So we have less than an hour to get to a campground that's at least fifty miles away."

  i still don't see what all the fuss is about. So what if you're a little late?"

  Sara took a deep breath and tried to control her voice. Yelling would not accomplish anything, even if it seemed reasonable. "They won't hold our site for us past eight o'clock."

  He had the audacity to laugh off her worries. "Is that all? You don't have to worry about that kind of stuff. All hotels have rules like that, but I've checked in lots later and never had a problem."

  She stared at him for a moment, "I doubt that anyone is going to toss Captain Wonder out in the street. Unfortunately, we don't have the same kind of pull you do."

  "Mommy, where are we gonna sleep?" Megan asked. Her voice sounded close to tears.

  Damn! Shed never meant to upset the kids. She flashed a frown at Mike and went over and gave Megan a hug. "Don't worry, honey. We'll find a spot. Don't forget, all we have to do is park. You've got your bed right here already,"

  "If you're done scaring the kids, maybe we ought to discuss some alternatives," Mike said.

  "We haven't got time to discuss anything. Do you know the way to the campground or not?"

  Mike flung himself into the driver's seat and pulled the camper back onto the street. They rode in silence for an interminable two hours. She said nothing when Mike took a wrong turn and they had to backtrack. She doubted the extra fifteen minutes would make much difference. And she was right. There was a "FULL" sign up at the entrance to the trailer village. Mike pulled in anyway.

  "We're full up. buddy," a man called to him from where he was watching his television.

  "We had a reservation," Mike told him. "Name of Delaney."

  The man didn't take his eyes off the set. "It's past eight o'clock. We don't hold reservations past eight."

  "Yes, but—"

  "We're full up."

  Mike returned to the. road. "Looked like a dump anyway," he muttered. "I know a much better place for you to stay."

  "Oh?" Sara said skeptically, wondering if she ought to be worried.

  "The perfect place, actually," he said. His smile could be heard in his voice even if It couldn't be seen on his lips. "You can all stay at my house."

  Seven

  Sara just stared at him. "Your house?" she repeated. "We can't stay at your house."

  "Why not?" he asked simply. "I have plenty of room, more than I ever use, so we won't get in each other's way. I've got a pool, tennis courts, and my own projection room. The kids will love it."

  They all would, she thought. Suddenly they'd be living a dream existence with a man they all idolized. But if she was having a terrible time walking away from Mike, how could she expect eight-year-olds to be able to handle it any better, especially after another few days in his company?

  "It just wouldn't be best for us," she tried to explain. "I really appreciate the offer, but I have to say no. We'll find someplace else to stay."

  "Where? It's past nine o'clock already. That seems a little late to start driving around looking fora spot.".

  He was right, but she was determined not to give in. She couldn't, for her sake and for the sake of the girls. It would be so easy to get entangled in his web, to forget about everything but him. Since the time would come when they'd have to leave and go back to their own world, wasn't it better that the time be now? Sara thought. She spotted a campground up ahead of them. "Let's try there."

  He pulled in obediently, but didn't need to go any further than the driveway. A "FULL" sign blocked their way.

  "Sara, be reasonable," he pleaded.

  "There must be others along here," she said, panic rising in her heart. Every instinct told her to grab what time she could with him. Her senses reminded her of the pleasure of Mike's touch and of the further pleasures that might be found with him. There was only one little voice inside reminding her of the dangers, and she heeded it. "Well keep driving until we find a place with a vacancy."

  "Sara, this is stupid," he said, and headed back in the oppos
ite direction. "You aren't going to find anything else tonight. If you want to spend all day tomorrow looking for a campground, you can. But I'm taking you home tonight."

  There was something about his words that frightened her. Or maybe it was her reaction to them. Taking her home" sounded so nice, as if she wasn't so alone anymore. As if she had someone to hold onto during the nights and laugh with during the days. And that was a dangerous dream to linger on. She had to put up a token argument, she decided.

  "Just for tonight, then. Ill find another place in the morning."

  "Fine."

  They rode in silence for a long time. Her worries grew when they exited the freeway and she saw the spacious homes that were bigger and more extravagant with each mile. Mike turned into a street and then pulled into a circular driveway. It was paved with bricks instead of asphalt and looked immaculate. Mike stopped the camper in front of the Ivy covered building—somehow she could not quite call it a home.

  "I can put you up in the main house here, or in the guest house around back," he said.

  There was a main house and a guest house? "Whatever's easier for you," she mumbled.

  He gave her a look and got out of the driver's seat. "Ill put you in the guest house. It's a slightly longer trek from here, but you'll have more privacy."

  She nodded and went back to throw the few things they would need into a bag. She noticed his clothes still hanging in the closet. "What about your things? Do you want to get them now?"

  He laughed. "I thought there'd be time to get them in the morning. Just how early are you planning to run out?"

  She blushed, knowing she must sound ungrateful. "I just thought there might be something there you'd need." She stopped, realizing how ridiculous that sounded. "That was silly. I imagine you have about a hundred of everything here."

  "You'd be surprised," he said quietly. "There are some things that I don't have at all."

  She chose not to reply, afraid of the things she was starting to read Into his words. Instead, she woke the girls. Kari got out of bedh almost awake, but Megan was still half-asleep.

  Til carry her," Mike offered. "You bring Kari along and III come back for the bag."

  Sara nodded and, taking Karl by the hand, went ahead to open the camper door for him. As they went up the sidewalk, she thought it was almost as if they were a family, coming home late and putting the kids to bed together. The thought was so pleasant. It hurt. Suddenly the door ahead of them opened and a young man stood waiting for them.

  "This is Fred," Mike said, introducing him to Sara. "He takes care of the house for me while he's getting his Master's degree from UCLA." He turned to the young man. "We've got ourselves a few guests. Want to get the keys to the guest house?"

  Well, so much for the family image. Her childhood fantasies had included a husband and children, but no servants, degreed or otherwise. The cozy little home of her dreams was a far cry from this one anyway. She and Karl walked across the marble floor of the entryway, their footsteps echoing loudly.

  "Where are we?" Kari whispered.

  Sara understood the feeling, This had to be a cathedral or a museum at least. "This is Mike's house," she whispered back. "We're going to stay here tonight."

  "Wow!" was all Kari said, but it seemed to sum it up well.

  They walked through the huge living room and out through sliding glass doors onto a patio. The tennis courts were off to their right, along with another smaller building. The guest house? Sara wondered.

  "That's the tennis house and my private gym," Mike said, nodding toward it. "There are tennis rackets and balls there if you want to play."

  Karl's face lit up. "Can we, Mommy?"

  "We aren't staying." Sara reminded her. "This is just for tonight."

  They walked through a wrought-iron gate and the swimming pool lay before them. Another building stood on the pool's other side. The swimming house?

  Apparently it was the guest house, for Fred went ahead and opened the door. They entered a huge room, with a bar and elaborate stereo system on one wall. Mike walked down the hall, then turned into the first room on the left. It was a bedroom with twin beds. He gently placed Megan on one.

  'T think there's everything here that you'll want," he said.

  Including a man she was becoming far too fond of. Did he come with the place? Sara mused. "Looks like it," she said vaguely.

  Mike moved across the room and reached to turn on a light. It was an adjoining bathroom. Then he went back through the door to the hallway.

  "The other bedroom is across the hall " He led them over and turned on the lights. There was a king-sized bed in the middle and floor-to-ceiling windows along the far wall.

  "The bathroom is over here." he said, and turned on the light. The room had a sunken tub.

  "It's very nice," Sara said lamely.

  Mike nodded as if those Inadequate words summed it up. 'I'll get your bag for you," he said, and left Kari and her alone.

  Sara looked around slowly, still clinging to her daughter's hand. She had never slept in a room this large. Maybe she ought to bring Megan in and have them all sleep together in that huge bed, she thought.

  "Mikes house is neat." Kari said, and, slipping her hand from her mother's, she walked toward the door. "I never had my own bathroom before."

  Somehow, Sara figured, sharing a bed and a bathroom with the rest of them wouldn't go down too well with Kari. She followed her across the hall and tucked her Into the other twin bed, then got Megan covered up. She wasn't quite ready to face her own bedroom yet, though, and wandered into the living room.

  It also seemed too big and unlived in for her comfort. She walked beyond it into a kitchen. It was only slightly larger than hers at home, but worlds apart in other ways. There were no school papers all over the refrigerator, and the appliances, all color-coordinated, were gleaming. She peered into the oven. The inside was just as spotless as the outside. But then, did the regular guests who stayed here ever cook anything for themselves?

  There was a knock at the outside door and she hurried to answer it. It would be Mike with their bag. Then there'd be no excuse for her not to go to bed. She pulled open the door. It was their bag all right, but Fred was carrying it, not Mike.

  "Mr. Taylor asked me to bring this, ma'am." he said.

  Sara barely smiled, feeling as If Mike had already abandoned them. "Thank you." She took the bag and wondered If she was supposed to tip him. She'd never dealt with servants before.

  "If I might, ma'am," Fred said. "I don't believe Mr. Taylor showed you the house phone."

  She shook her head and stepped aside. Fred came in and pointed out the phone on the bar. "If you should want to reach the main house during the night, you would use this phone," he said. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket. "Here are the extension numbers.'

  "Thank you," she repeated. He smiled and let himself out.

  This was a different world, she told herself. And one she was certain she didn't belong in, no matter how much she longed for its owner. The best thing she could do was get to sleep, then leave first thing in the morning. She picked up her bag and carried it into the bedroom. The thought of that sunken tub was tempting, but she wouldn't give in to the luxury. She'd take a quick shower in the girls' bathroom and then go to bed, she decided.

  And, after a short time, that was what she was doing. Captain Wonder clung in sensual familiarity to her chest as she turned down the covers on the bed. This vacation was certainly far from the quiet little trip she had planned all last winter and spring. The Grand Canyon and Disneyland. It had seemed so simple, so safe. No threats to her peace of mind or to her heart. Where had she gone wrong?

  "Sara?"

  Mike's voice came from the living room, stopping her just as she was climbing into bed. She paused, wondering what to do. Should she dive quickly under the covers and pretend she was asleep?

  But that seemed so cowardly, even if it was what her good sense told her to do. There were some other in
stincts at work, however, telling her to stop being so foolish, to take advantage of the opportunities that came along, to live a little. She walked carefully across the bedroom and into the living room.

  Mike stood just inside the door. He was wearing a robe and his feet were bare. What was he planning? she wondered, feeling her cheeks redden.

  "Hi," he said with a smile designed to break hearts. "I was hoping you were still up."

  "Just barely." she said.

  "Want to go swimming?"

  She stared at him for a moment. "It's the middle of the night."

  "Oh, come on. Sara." He laughed, coming a few steps closer. "Even in Kansas City eleven o'clock cant be the middle of the night. Besides, I've got my own pool, remember? No one will know."

  She would. Her body would. It was already tingling with excitement just at the sight of him standing there. Did she dare go out and swim in the moonlight alone with him?

  "My suit is in the camper." she said. Even though her heart was crying out for him, her mind wanted her to hold back, to play it safe and not risk being hurt. Not having her suit was the perfect excuse. Until he held up her suit in his hand.

  "I got it for you."

  "Oh." She bit her bottom Up for a moment as he walked slowly toward her. Her knees felt weak, her heart was racing, and she was scared. The closer he came, the more her panic grew. She didn't want any man to have such an effect on her. She didn't want to hunger so for his body and his touch. "I don't think I ought to leave the girls alone," she said quickly.'

  He was in front of her, close enough to touch. His smile was gentle. "We aren't going Far," he pointed out softly. "Just outside the door."

  "But suppose one of them should wake up, they're in a strange place—"

  "So Leave the bathroom light on. That's what they 11 want to find anyway."

  She had already done that, but didn't tell him. She wasn't sure she could speak anymore. She just looked at him, hoping that the hunger in her heart couldn't be seen in her eyes. Why couldn't she control these desires coursing through her?