Francesca had left him that morning on a waft of warm vanilla sugar — a scent he was beginning to associate with her and things like home. Somehow he didn’t think she’d object. Though they had met at a club, she wasn’t a party girl at all. His baby was all about connection, family and roots. After years of a rather rootless existence the idea held great appeal to him. A settled existence with Francesca — Yeah, that sounded great.
He wished she could have come, JC thought once more of Francesca as he settled at the picnic table as his father fired up the grill. This was the sort of thing she’d enjoy — family time. And his folks adored her for her spunky attitude and her loyalty to JC.
“So you managed to change Francesca’s mind?” Roy asked his oldest son.
“It didn’t take much. We both admitted we missed each other. She’s got reservations — that’s only natural. I just have to prove I can be counted on.”
“Can you?”
“Prove it or be counted on?”
“Both I guess.”
“I’ll be here for her, Francesca isn’t the clingy type. She isn’t someone who needs constant assurances. She has her own career, her own life. It’ll work because we’ll do the work.”
“Does she really understand what all this means? The life you lead?”
“I’ll help her understand. Francesca is a great communicator.”
“She’s a lovely girl.”
“She’s great.”
“Who is?” Karen asked as she brought out a platter of steaks to be grilled.
“Francesca,” JC answered.
“She certainly is a fine young woman.”
“Yeah,” JC sighed. “I wanted her to come today, but she had other plans.” Soft hands covered his eyes from behind... The scent of sugar cookies... “Francesca?”
“As I recall I said I couldn’t come with you because I had previous commitments,” a teasing familiar voice announced.
“Gypsy!” Tugging the hands from his eyes, JC pulled her arms around his neck.
“I had to come early to bake the cake.”
”You beautiful sneak!” he laughed.
“Surprise.”
He grinned at his parents. “Thanks. She’s the best present ever.”
“I don’t believe we’ve ‘given’ her to you,” Karen reminded JC.
“No, but you knew I’d want her here.”
”It didn’t take a lot of coercion,” Francesca told him. “Your mother called and asked. I said yes.”
“And offered to make the cake.”
”Yeah, my baby girl is good in the kitchen.”
“I’m a woman of many talents,” Francesca said blithely.
“Don’t I know it.”
That day JC got to introduce Francesca to his younger brother Tyler who was also charmed by her open, teasing manner. Everyone who met her declared Francesca ‘a keeper’. JC could only agree.
“Does this mean we can count on seeing more of you?” Karen asked as she and Francesca cleaned up the kitchen. JC hovered, not wanting Francesca out of his sight.
“You can count on it.” JC winked at Francesca. “I can’t seem to stay away from my baby girl for long.”
“You managed for nearly three weeks.” Francesca reminded him.
“Under duress. I didn’t wanna be away from you.”
“Then you should thank Justine.”
JC was surprised and tried not to look guilty. “Why is that?”
“She is a lousy fibber. I made her fess up about calling you.”
“You aren’t mad?”
Francesca grinned. “No, I got my ‘hottie’ back.”
JC went pink to the tips of his ears and both women laughed.
Pretending to dust off her hands, Francesca announced, “My work here is done.”
“Where’re you going?” JC had planned to spend the evening with his family and had expected Francesca would stay as well.
“That little place I call home.”
“But—”
Grabbing his hand, she murmured, “Walk me to my car.”
“Thank you for coming today,” Karen called as Francesca towed JC away.
“Thank you for inviting me. Bye!” Francesca also called her farewells to Roy and Tyler as she went out the front door.
“Gypsy,” JC protested as Francesca stopped next to a red Jeep Wrangler.
“I’ll expect you when I see you,” she said as she unlocked the driver’s door.
“Stay, honey.”
“Nope. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.”
“They think you’re cool.”
“I think they are very nice, too. But this is your birthday and your family. I don’t want to be in the way.”
“But—”
Her soft kiss stopped him. “Later, lover.”
“Francesca...”
She climbed in and started the motor. “All I ask is that you call if you are staying overnight so I don’t worry.”
“I’ll be home later.”
Home. Francesca was his home.
JC was quiet as possible when he arrived at Francesca’s loft. He hadn’t planned to be so late, but Tyler had wanted to go out for a celebratory drink and time had slipped away. He’d meant to come back here and make love to Francesca before they fell asleep in each other’s arms. He hoped she wasn’t too upset with him.
After a quick shower, he slid into bed next to Francesca.
“JC?” she mumbled.
“Yeah, baby, go back to sleep.”
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“That’s good. Night.”
She snuggled against him and immediately returned to sleep — if she’d truly awakened at all.
“Night, honey. Sweet dreams.”
JC lay there for a while gazing out over the night and listening to Francesca’s soft breathing. A contentment filled him. It was a feeling he’d rarely experienced and never at this depth. Exciting as Francesca was as a lover, he knew she was much more. He could see himself growing old with her, having children and grandchildren with her. And the idea wasn’t as scary as it once was.
His friends had been quick to point out Francesca didn’t run to type. JC despite saying he preferred women not in the entertainment business, he had always dated models, actresses and such. Those were the women he was most likely to meet given his career and social circle. Francesca was a breath of fresh air. She’d had no expectation because of who he was — in fact his celebrity was more of an obstacle than anything. Okay, so a relationship with a non-showbiz woman who lived in the Midwest wasn’t going to be simple. Things worth having were rarely easy. Francesca was definitely worth having.
His father had questioned whether she understood what JC’s life entailed. There would have to be major adjustments on both parts. JC would have to cut back to his party appearances, avoiding being seen with other woman by paparazzi. Even though Francesca wasn’t likely to see pictures or gossip columns, there was no telling if her friends or acquaintances would and make her aware of them. For her, Francesca would have to learn such things meant nothing, that being seen was part and parcel of his career. He needed to be seen, to stay in the public eye, especially with his new album being released. The public and press had short memories and could be fickle. He had to self-promote. Francesca would have to understand that. They’d be fine.
“JC, what’s wrong?” Francesca woke to find him staring out the window as he held her. His spinning thoughts had reached into her slumbering mind.
“Nothing, babe.” He pressed his lips to her forehead reassuringly.
“Why are you awake then?”
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
“Us. The future.”
“Worried?”
“Honestly? No. I’m sure we’ll be okay.”
She wished she had his confidence. “Beaucoup adjustments.”
“We can handle it.”
“Can we?”
“If we want it to work, we can make it work.”
She gave him a drowsy smile. He sounded so certain.
“So... Tomorrow what time do we get up?”
“I get up at six-thirty. Mass is at nine. Then we gather at Daddy’s and Mama’s house for brunch.”
“Do you want me to come along?” It would mean only three and a half hours of sleep...
“Uh, no. My parents know about you but they don’t know about you if you catch my meaning.”
JC grinned. “Meaning they don’t know I’m here doing the big nasty with their little girl.”
“Uh-huh... They know I’ve met someone special. Meeting the family is tantamount to practically engaged. Taking you to mass means we are engaged.”
“Wanna get engaged?” he asked, only half joking.
“Two weekends is a little fast for lasting declarations of love.”
He shook his head. “Love isn’t measured in days, Gypsy,” he said quietly.
“JC...” The very sincere, calm way he had said it made her uneasy.
“I know... I know... Don’t push.” He tightened his hold on her and brushed a soft, sweet kiss on her brow. “Go back to sleep, honey.”
On finding the note by the coffee pot, JC read it. She’d left coffee and leftover sweet rolls for his breakfast. He wondered how long brunch with the family took. His flight left at six-fifteen that evening. He wanted a chance to kiss her good-bye if making love was out of the question...
Well, at least he knew she’d be calling him and he’d be back sooner rather than later. This time they had a future planned.
“Oh, good! You’re still here!” Francesca said as she hustled into the loft a little after three-thirty. She was pleased to find JC stretched out on the sofa watching ESPN.
Immediately he punched the power button ‘off’ and rose to greet her with a soft kiss. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Mama gave me a strange look when I said I was leaving. I usually end up eating dinner there on Sunday.” She put her arms around his neck for a more thorough kiss. “When do I have to take you to the airport?”
“You’ll take me?” That extended their time together by at least a half an hour.
“Unless you don’t want me to.”
“I just don’t want to put you out.”
“It’s no trouble, JC.”
“My flight is at six-fifteen.”
“So we should leave by five or so.”
“That gives us more than an hour to say our good-byes.”
Taking his hand she backed towards the bedroom. “Not ‘good-bye’,” she corrected him huskily. “See you soon, lover.”
“Yeah, that sounds much better, sweetheart.”
At the airport JC had no luggage to check, so he headed Francesca to the first class lounge to extend the time they had for as long as possible. He sat with her, his arm around her, resting his chin in her hair. They didn’t speak until his flight was called.
“I guess I have to let you go, huh?” he asked with a pained smile.
“I certainly won’t fit into your bag,” she replied. She got to her feet and urged him to stand.
“If you could come—“
“I can’t, JC. I have my work.” She reached up to kiss him. “There will be times I can get away. Right now isn’t one of them.”
That statement was a precious jewel. She would be willing to come to him in the future. She was telling him he wasn’t the only one willing to travel to make their relationship work. JC gave her an appreciative smile. “Thanks, baby.”
“You’d better get going, darling.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close for one last lingering, tender kiss. ‘I love you,’ he wanted to say. It was true enough, but he was afraid the actual words would send her into a panic. “I’ll see you soon,” he whispered instead.
“I’m going to stand right over there.” Francesca indicated a large window area over-looking the tarmac where his flight sat. “I’ll be there till you take off.”
“Soon, Francesca.” He pecked at her lips one more time before he strolled away.
Sitting on the jet, awaiting take off, JC looked at the wall of glass where Francesca would be standing. She was little more than a bright red shape among the other people waiting there. True to her word, she stayed at the window until the jet began to taxi to the runaway.
“I do love you, my gypsy girl,” JC murmured quietly.
Even though she realized JC could not truly see her, Francesca blew him a kiss as his flight rolled away. At that moment, she felt a strange flutter in her chest. Suddenly she felt giddy and content. She wondered what JC’s heart was telling hers.