Time for Raine

by C. Barry Denham

  This revelation rendered the agents quiet. For the next few minutes, Willis and Storm frantically scribbled on their notepads. As if in a trance, Storm shook Raine’s hand and thanked her for her answers and the great service she had done for her country. And for the time her explanations would save the ethics committee in its investigation.

  Raine was unimpressed. “Daddy, when can we go to the Empire State Building?”

  “I’ll send your driver up right away,” Willis said absently.

  “Wait, wait, wait a minute, gentlemen.” Noelle stood. The agents’ gaze followed the movement of her legs. “What about us? Surely you can see this might…afford us some special attention?” Her quick glance toward Raine told Sean her choice of words was meant to prevent issues. One look at Raine, who had found a tour book, and Sean knew Noelle had been successful in avoiding any panic.

  “Oh, no, ma’am,” said Storm. “You don’t have anything to worry about. And perhaps I should have formally appealed to you to please keep all this confidential. No, no, you’ll be perfectly safe for the duration of your trip. With any luck, news of this possible scandal won’t hit the airwaves for another week or so. About the only problem you might encounter tonight is this little one’s popularity that will surely come as a result of her interview this morning. My wife loved her. Talked about her all day long. Raine this, Raine that. And when she found out I might be on my way here—not sure exactly how she knew that—well, she put two and two together and wanted to come along, just to meet the little girl.”

  There was another knock on the door.

  Sean hoped it was only the escort, and not Storm’s wife. Or the CIA.

  ****

  Noelle was touched by how Sean had gone after the FBI agents when he felt Raine was threatened. She had listened to it all from Raine’s room. It was a side of Sean she hadn’t seen, and she found it quite erotic.

  The agents left with enough scribbled on their notepads to keep them busy for some time, allowing the afternoon’s events to get underway.

  The black SUV moved deftly through the traffic to the Empire State Building. There were hordes of people at the entrance to the building when they arrived. Noelle wondered if they were tourists waiting to take the elevator to the top, or if they were fans of Raine and had somehow word had gotten out about their plans. A couple of large gentlemen were waiting, in the familiar dark suits and shades, and opened the rear doors to the vehicle.

  “Okay, ladies and gentleman, we’re here.” The driver turned toward the back seat. “Follow these guys to the doors and catch the elevator to the top. One of your escorts will notify me when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll be waiting right here when you get down.”

  Noelle glanced at Sean, who wore a worried look. He held tight to Raine’s hand. In single file, they stepped out onto the curb and fell in behind the escorts. Halfway to the doors, the crowd surrounded them.

  “There she is,” one woman shouted.

  “It’s the little girl who was on television this morning,” said another.

  Sean swept Raine up with one arm. With the other, he pulled Noelle closer. Her apprehension melted at the strength of his touch. She could feel his breath on the top of her head. The smell of his new shirt and a hint of cologne were intoxicating.

  “Hey, little girl, what’s three thousand one hundred and twelve times four hundred eighty-six?” asked a man holding a small calculator.

  “One million, five hundred twelve thousand—”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart, you don’t have to answer.” Sean turned Raine away from the man.

  Once inside the building, the escorts walked them directly into the elevator. A few others from a line joined them. When the door closed, the silence was deafening.

  “So cute,” an elderly lady said and held fast to an older gentleman.

  A trio of young girls seemed more interested in Sean. Noelle watched them watching him, although he never noticed. He seemed intently focused on protecting her and Raine. She moved closer, causing the young girls to glare at her. She smiled in return and held fast to Sean.

  “Mr. Sampson, I’m Steve Chandler with the New York Times.” The voice came from a man in the corner of the elevator. He extracted a small recorder from his pocket and pushed it above the others. “I wonder if you could answer a few questions?”

  Sean turned toward the man. “Not now, please.”

  “Only a couple of questions,” the man insisted. “Can you tell me—?”

  The smile slid from Sean’s face, and Noelle felt his grip tighten on her shoulder. The tone in his voice changed instantly. “I said, not now.”

  This seemed adequate discouragement for the man and he backed away.

  There were only a dozen or so people on the observation deck. To her disappointment, Sean let Noelle go but held fast to Raine. During the entire time at the top, in fact, he let go of Raine only once—when she wanted to look through a telescope. Even then his arm was around her waist. People were less inquisitive at the top, so Noelle forced herself to enjoy the scenery. Sean remained guarded.

  Once back in the elevator and on the way down, Noelle prepared for the worst. Before the door opened Sean gathered her and Raine in again in preparation for a renewed crowd of curiosity seekers. The numbers had increased. The SUV waited at the curb as promised. The escorts were able to get them back into the vehicle with little resistance.

  Next stop was Ellen’s Diner.

  “I hope you don’t mind.” The driver pulled the vehicle to the curb in front of the famous eatery. “We were able to arrange a small private dining area for your party. From what I understand, it’s situated away from the main dining area but in full view of the stage, so you can catch all the entertainment.”

  “That would be fine,” Sean said and seemed relieved.

  They arrived soon to their table, where a server waited. He was a young man, tall and muscular with a baby face. His eyes were large and brown, and his face alive with excitement. He greeted them warmly and seated Raine first before making his way around the table to seat Noelle. He stepped back to Raine. She wasted no time in burying her face behind the menu.

  “Miss Raine, may I have the honor of your autograph on my apron?” His smile was wide. “I never miss Global This Morning, and I did so enjoy seeing you on television this morning.”

  Raine’s mouth flew open. She looked excited and embarrassed as she glanced toward Sean. “Autograph? On his apron?”

  Sean nodded.

  “Okay.” She took a pen the young man offered. When she struggled with how and where to sign, the young man lifted a foot onto the edge of her chair and smoothed the apron over his knee.

  “Right here,” he said and Raine carefully wrote her name in big letters across the fabric. “Thank you so much. Now, what may I bring you to drink?”

  Raine once again looked at her father. “Can I have a Coke, Daddy?”

  Sean looked over to Noelle. “I think, Miss Noelle, that anyone big enough to sign autographs should be allowed a second Coke of the day every once in a while, don’t you?”

  A funny feeling washed across Noelle, and she couldn’t find words. For a fleeting moment, she felt more like family than the doctor. She willed the lump in her throat away and nodded. “I would agree wholeheartedly, Daddy.”

  “Goody!”

  Sean ordered the same, and Noelle dittoed, only diet.

  During the meal, the server earned his autograph. Accompanied at times by two other servers, he serenaded Raine with a ’60’s love song. Noelle recognized the tune, although she doubted Raine did, but it didn’t matter. The little girl blushed. A huge smile remained plastered across her face during the entire performance.

  Noelle couldn’t remember having so much fun, or being so happy, albeit with a degree of caution. In spite of the royal treatment, there remained a part of her that feared it would all go away in the blink of an eye. Were her excitement and caution due to the overwhelming atmosphere of the city and th
e events, or the anticipation of perhaps eventually being alone with Sean? The latter, in fact, consumed her thoughts the entire evening.

  ****

  The seats at the theatre were choice. Noelle watched the excitement bubble for Raine as they waited for the play to begin but had her doubts the child could stay awake for the entirety of the show.

  The house lights dimmed, and the crowd became quiet. Raine’s eyes blinked, and her head bobbed. Then the show began with the trademark chants that echoed throughout the theater. The animal characters filed down the aisles. Sean’s arm instinctively pushed in front of Raine as she sprang from her seat to the balcony rail to watch the characters below. From that point on, Raine was wide awake and barely blinked throughout the entire show.

  On the way back to the hotel, Raine fell asleep. Sean stretched her out and placed her head in his lap and her legs across Noelle. Her heart fluttered as he gazed at her during the short ride.

  A peace settled over her. No words were spoken.

  None seemed necessary.

  ****

  “Would you make us a drink?” Sean guided a sleepy Raine toward the bath.

  “It would be my pleasure,” Noelle said. She knelt and kissed Raine on her forehead. “I had a great time with you tonight, sweetie.”

  “Me too.” Raine smiled. Heavy eyelids blinked.

  Tonight had been one of the best nights, if not the best night of Noelle’s life. She wanted to pinch herself, but refused, afraid it might be a dream. It would be easy to believe this man was real and not like the others.

  She finished making drinks as Sean returned. He quietly closed the door to Raine’s room. He stood for a moment looking at her from across the room. Just like that, the nerves were back. Her heart raced. She lifted his drink, met him in the middle of the room and handed it to him. He held his scotch glass out and clicked the rim of her glass of wine.

  “Thank you for a wonderful day and night.” He sipped his drink.

  “You’re going to have to stop doing that.”

  “What?”

  “Reading my mind, and saying my lines.” She sipped her wine. It was chilled to perfection. She took his arm and guided him to the couch. “Tonight was like a dream. Thank you.”

  “Wait.” He made his way to the entertainment center, never letting loose her hand. Soft music soon played. “May I have this dance?”

  “You may.”

  He took her hand, and slipped his arm around the small of her waist. The simple act took her breath away. He moved with her to the slow rhythm of the music. She felt weightless, steadied by strong arms and powerful shoulders. Once again his breath tickled her ear. Time seemed to stand still. The music stopped, but they continued to dance. She looked up into his eyes. His dark eyes seemed to look into her soul as his gaze darted back and forth.

  “I’m not sure I know how to do this,” He sighed, and his cheek brushed hers. “It’s been a very long time.”

  “Well, you did it again. You stole my line. Why don’t we start here?” She tiptoed, raised her lips, and met his. He teased and lightly nipped at her lips. His actions stirred the hidden desires of her body. His body responded, and she moved closer. His lips played with her mouth until his tongue found hers. She cooed as he explored her mouth.

  He stopped suddenly and lifted her into his arms. He kissed her and moved slowly toward his room. Once inside, he managed to close the door behind them without a sound, and quickly lock it with so little effort she wondered if he had rehearsed it. He placed her gently on his bed and switched the lamp to the lowest level of light. The room was cast into shadows. Nothing had ever felt so right. She opened her heart to him and allowed him into the depths of her soul.

  ****

  She had forgotten how it felt to be so content. It wasn’t just the lovemaking—although that was nothing short of fantastic—it was the comfortable silence between them as she lay with her head on his chest, snuggling with his strong arms around her.

  “Thank you,” he said softly and pulled her closer.

  “For what?” She lifted her head and looked through the dim light into his eyes.

  “Thank you for being you. This wasn’t easy for me. If you hadn’t come along, I wonder if I would’ve ever gotten past the memories. I couldn’t imagine ever becoming close, in this way, to anyone before now.”

  “Why?”

  He shifted, but didn’t loosen his hold on her. “Guilt, I guess. I had always thought Patty would be it for me.”

  She lifted her head again and kissed his cheek. “I understand. I can’t imagine how difficult this was for you.”

  “I’m sorry, I know this is not something you want to hear especially after—well, at this moment. There is so much about the circumstances around her passing that I’ve struggled with.”

  “Sean, you have nothing to be sorry about,” she said and snuggled close to him again. “You can always talk to me about Patty, anytime you want. I’m not so naïve as to think you didn’t have a life before I met you. Please don’t ever think it bothers me to hear about her. She will always be a part of you and of Raine.” Noelle hesitated, wondering if saying more might do more damage than good. She followed her heart. “What circumstances do you mean?”

  “Some things I would’ve done differently.”

  She knew the subject was hard for him, and she needed to tread lightly. She opted for silence to see if he would continue.

  “I guess I will always wonder what would have happened if I had insisted she start treatment and put off the trip to get Raine.”

  Noelle again hesitated, carefully thinking through what she wanted to say.

  “Was she sick for long?”

  Sean hesitated enough to give Noelle worry that she had gone too far. His chest rose with a deep breath. “Stage four by the time the cancer was detected.”

  Noelle searched her mind for a way to suggest that getting immediate treatment would have made little to no difference in the progression of her disease.

  “The adoption process was lengthy. We had our medical exams early on, months before the dossier was sent to the authorities in China. She must have started getting sick after that point, or else the cancer would have been detected then. It was eight months from that point until we traveled to get Raine. The disease must have progressed rapidly, and you would think she would have symptoms during some of that time.”

  “Maybe she did.”

  Sean head jerked around toward Noelle, and her heart sank. Had she gone too far? Had she crossed a line with the comment?

  “You know, I never thought about that,” he said. Noelle finally breathed. “Now that you mention it, it would be like her to keep it from me. She really wanted to stay on track in going to get Raine.”

  Noelle remained quiet. She wanted his own admission to sink in. If he really listened to what he had said, he would surely see there was nothing he could have done to change the way the events unfolded. After a few moments of silence, he gathered her closer. He lifted her chin and kissed her lightly on her lips.

  She laid her head against his chest. It was strange how safe and content she felt, soothed by the strong heartbeat of the first man with whom she had ever been in love.

  Chapter Thirteen

  As morning approached, Noelle gently kissed Sean and moved silently through the dim light back to her room. She wasn’t sleepy but instead messed the covers of her bed in case Raine happened in. At first light, she took a long luscious bath in the large tub filled to the brim with hot water and therapeutic bubbles. She washed her hair, dressed and had time to start one of his books she had stowed away in her luggage. His writing was very good. It made her sad there hadn’t been anything new from him in a while.

  She didn’t hear from Raine until eight o’clock, much later than she had expected. After a quick hug and “Good morning, Miss Noelle,” she asked if she could order room service. The two of them sat on her bed while Raine dialed the numbers. She opened the menu to precisely what she
wanted; she didn’t need to read through it. She placed a seemingly endless order, enough food to feed an entire floor of the Hilton. Noelle added a large pot of coffee and a plate of fresh fruit. The food arrived before nine.

  A few minutes later, Sean came yawning and staggering into the kitchen area. He smiled, blew a kiss to his daughter, who was chomping on a stack of French toast, and headed straight to the coffee.

  Oh my God. Messed-up hair, bare feet, T-shirt, and blue-striped pajama bottoms—did this man ever not look luscious?

  He pulled up a chair, sat down, and sipped his hot coffee. He gazed around the table to the mountain of food in front of him and picked up a piece of toast. He searched out and located strawberry jam and frowned at Raine. She was eating as if there were no tomorrow. “Thanks for leaving me a piece of toast.”

  She giggled and pointed to the array of food. “There’s more food, Daddy. You’re teasing me again, aren’t you?”

  He seemed cocky, she thought, and for a moment she felt slighted. He must have read her mind. His sultry look in her direction made her tingle.

  “And good morning to you, Miss Noelle.” He took a bite of the toast. “Sleep well?”

  “Like a kitten.” She spoke in a low and raspy voice, and she thought he might choke. “My bed was big and comfy. How was yours?”

  He looked at his daughter and made a funny face. “Hmm, my bed was big and comfy, too.” Then back to Noelle. “Is your bed like mine, or did you sneak in and sleep in my bed?”

  She covered her mouth as coffee spilled down her chin. She wiped it from her face with a napkin and coughed. This was enough to set Raine off. Milk squirted from her mouth, and she let go a deep belly laugh.

  “Mine was big and comfy, too,” Raine said in a deep daddy voice. “Did you both come in and sleep in my room?” The little girl laughed so hard, a posterior beep rattled her chair. She covered her mouth with her hand and managed to say “Excuse me” between laughs. The contagious laughter spread around the table.