In Another Time Read online

  Giggling around a bite, Josie replied, “Ha! I’d be huge if I didn’t squeeze in a couple extra miles on my morning run. I figure that gives me a little leeway to splurge some. Besides, how can I resist all that yumminess? I’m only human!”

  For another hour they giggled and chattered about what was going in their lives. Sadie shared her predicament about earning, or not earning, an “A” in Dr. Evans’ class so she could apply to pharmacy schools during winter break.

  Josie replied buoyantly, “If anyone in this family can do it, it’s you, Sadie. You’re so smart. I’m not worried a bit,” she added waving it off.

  Then she explained that she was helping her mom at Comfort & Joy for the rest of the week, and after the birthday party on Sunday, she was going to back to New York City to begin rehearsals for the Philharmonic’s special New Year’s Eve Concert.

  Dreamily Josie said, “I can hardly believe I get to play side by side with Marc and Judith Ginsberg, and I have the good fortune to be conducted by the Maestro himself, Zubin Mehta. It’s just surreal! I feel so honored and humbled to get to play with some of the best musicians in the world. And, I’m learning so much! I absolutely love it!”

  “You’ve earned it. I don’t know anyone who has as much talent as you, but also works at it as hard. I’m so happy for you, but mostly I’m just as proud of you as I can be. Heck, you make the whole town proud! You’re our claim to fame, you know.” She winked and leaned in to hug her cousin.

  Since both girls had put in a long day and both had begun yawning, they decided to call it a night. Standing and stretching their legs, they hugged, kissed each other on the cheek and said their goodnights. Watching as Josie got into her car, backed out of the drive, waved and blew her a kiss, Sadie thought how fortunate she was to have a cousin who was also such a good friend.

  *****

  Josie’s childhood home was only a couple of blocks away, so it’d only take her a few minutes. She knew her mom and the twins would be in bed already, so she could just slip quietly in through the back door and up the stairs. With her shift beginning promptly at eight the next morning, all she wanted to do tonight was jump into the shower and rinse off the day’s grime before falling into bed.

  Pulling into the driveway, as her headlights swung across the front of her childhood home, she felt a stirring in her heart. Her mom and dad had bought the house when she was two years old. So much love and happiness had lived there, and it made her feel a little sad when she thought about returning to her tiny, cramped, lonely New York City apartment.

  Turning off the engine, she sat in the driveway for a few seconds surveying the lovely old Victorian house as the cherished memories of growing up there threatened tears. There were so many good memories. Her parents had lived a fairy tale romance every day of their marriage and had inspired all their children with their passion, optimism and creativity. She longed for the day she’d meet the man who’d sweep her off her feet and make her own fairy tale come true.

  *****

  After Josie drove away, Sadie locked the door and stood looking affectionately around her cozy apartment above La-La Land. Lala had had it built especially for her and she simply adored the place. As her eyes landed on each detail, she recalled how much fun it’d been furnishing and decorating the place with Lala. Spending numerous weekends together at flea markets, antique stores, and boutiques were some of the most treasured times of her young adulthood. Both women had an appreciative eye for old items that could be repurposed, and the warmth and comfort of their homes and La-La Land were proof of it.

  For what seemed like the hundredth time that day she whispered, “Oh, Lala, how I wish you were here.” Then she padded off to bed.

  That night she dreamed that she was watching an old movie starring Jerry Lewis and Ingrid Bergman. Jerry was his usual wacky character—clumsy, sweet and naïve—and Ingrid was mysterious, passionate and radiantly gorgeous. Just minutes before her alarm was to awaken her, Sadie opened her eyes and smiled.

  “Yeah, I can see it,” she thought. “A sweet, awkward guy and a beautiful, refined girl. What could possibly go wrong?”

  Chapter 10

  Tuesday Evening

  Sadie locked La-La Land and nearly skipped to Comfort & Joy. It was a glorious Tuesday evening and she was excited to hear more about Sam and Lala’s…romance? She hoped that was where his story was leading. He had said they’d been a couple.

  Sadie mused to herself, “I wonder why Lala never mentioned Sam to me?” Then, she thought, “Oh my gosh!” and she shuddered. “What if she’s not the right Lillian Connelly? Surely, she is! He did say I bore a stunning resemblance.” She admonished herself for being so dramatic, then arriving at her destination and looking through one of the big windows of Comfort & Joy, she spied Sam sitting at a table in the corner. She waved, nudged open the coffee shop’s door and headed in his direction.

  “Hi, Sam!” she gushed as she reached the table. “Dang, it’s busy again this evening,” she said as she looked around while hanging her coat on the back of the chair that Sam had come around and pulled out for her. “I wonder if Aunt Joy needs an extra hand? I’ll be back in a sec. I’m just going to see if she needs some help.”

  She soon came swishing through the crowd back to Sam’s table.

  “Aunt Joy said she thought they were doing okay right now, but she asked me to be on the lookout in case it gets busier. She might need me to run a few orders out to tables. Oh, isn’t it a lovely evening?” she chirped as she took the seat that Sam had once again stood and pulled out for her.

  “Yes, it is, and it’s even lovelier now that you’re here,” he replied making Sadie blush. “I took the liberty of ordering for us while you were away. I hope that’s okay,” he asked.

  She laughed and said, “Sure! You know my poison now!” Just then, their order arrived. Seeing what Sam had chosen, Sadie clapped her hands and squealed, “Oh, beignets! They’re my favorite pastry. Thanks, Sam!”

  Sam laughed heartily while she mumbled through bites and licked the sweet sugar off her finger.

  “So, you all went to the drugstore together for a cola, and then what happened?” she prompted. Sam smiled and nodded in compliance.

  Yes, and actually I was able to compose myself and speak in complete, coherent sentences, after just a few failed attempts that is. I was crazy about her. I’d never felt that way about anyone. Oh, you know, I’d dated a couple of girls, even “went steady” with one for a couple of months, but I never felt so deeply overcome by passion about them. You know how they say sometimes you just know when she’s the one? Well, I knew.

  At the drugstore we chose a green laminated round top so the five of us could easily sit around it and get to know each other. I sat on Lillian’s right. On her left was Ellen Haworth, then Willie, and on his right, Judy Stevens. We sipped on our colas and talked until well after seven-thirty when the girls insisted they had to leave if they were going to make it home by nine, which was their curfew.

  We walked the girls to their car. I held the door open for Lillian. She got in and I closed her door, then she rolled down the window and said, “Goodbye, Sam.” As she did, she held out her hand. I took it, and she slipped a tiny piece of paper into my hand. It was her phone number. I smiled, winked at her and said in my best Bogie voice, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” She giggled and rolled up the window and they drove away.

  It became our thing. Every time we parted ways from that day on the words Rick had spoken to Ilsa the last time they saw each other at the airport were also my last words to Lillian. A line from the movie that had brought us together.

  That day at the drugstore I finally learned that her name was Lillian Marie Lawson, she would be eighteen on May fifth, and she was the only child of Henry and Ruth Lawson, who were both from New York City. Ruth and Henry had been high school sweethearts and had married when they were both just eighteen right after their high school graduation. Lillian was born two years later. They lived in the ci
ty until Henry lost his job during the Recession of 1937 then he’d gone to work for the Work Projects Administration, or WPA, in 1938.

  They’d moved several times to various New York towns because Henry had to go where the work projects were. As a matter of fact, that day I first saw her at the scrap heap was her last day of school in King’s Landing, because that very day they moved to Harmony Glen. Her dad had been commuting for several weeks and her mother had landed a seamstress job at an alteration shop in downtown Harmony Glen. Lillian did tell me that they’d lived in King’s Landing since the beginning of the school year, but I couldn’t believe our paths had never crossed before then. How had I not noticed such a bewitching creature?

  Her dad was one of the men who built many of the historic buildings right here in town. In fact, I’ll bet he built this one as well as the one your grandmother’s bookshop is in. But I’m sure your grandmother already told you all that.

  Sadie had been entranced once again by his story. Listening to Sam talk about her grandmother and her great-grandfather with such admiration enchanted her. When she realized he’d stopped talking, she snapped out of her reverie.

  “Oh, yes, Lala did tell me they moved around quite a lot when she was young. It’s funny that she never left Harmony Glen though, don’t you think? I mean, I know she married Papa Jim and had children. I guess that’s as good a reason as any to stay in a place.” She was rambling again.

  Sadie noticed Sam had flinched as she talked and knew he’d been taken aback at hearing it said out loud that Lala had been married, and she instantly felt horrible for bringing it up. She heard his voice hitch before he agreed, “Yes, I’d say that’s a very good reason.”

  Trying to put the focus back on his and Lala’s love story, she asked anxiously, “So, how long did you date? How did you lose touch? What happened between you and Lala?”

  Sam chuckled at her eagerness before he continued.

  Well, I still lived in King’s Landing, which is about a forty-minute drive from Harmony Glen. In those days, that was quite a bit of a drive. It still is, I guess.

  We didn’t get to see each other often that winter because we were both still in high school and we were both involved in sports. I played center for my school basketball team, and Lillian played on Harmony Glen’s girls’ basketball team and was a cheerleader for the boys’ basketball team. So, we were both quite busy.

  The most common and most affordable way of long-distance communication in the 1940’s was letter writing.

  At Sadie’s incredulous look Sam replied, “I know, I know, people hardly write letters any more. Maybe a Christmas card to close friends and family every year, if there’s time. You must admit though, it is the most personal and intimate way of connecting with a person.”

  At her nod, he continued.

  We wrote to each other every day. Of course, it took several days to receive a letter once it was posted even though our towns weren’t that far apart. We saw each other on Saturdays when neither of us had school activities, and later, as our relationship grew more…intimate…

  Sadie bit her lips to keep from chuckling when she saw Sam blush.

  …we sometimes spent the weekend together at the lake cottage.

  At that, she raised her eyebrows, put her hands on her hips and admonished, “What? Really? Lala spent weekends with you while she was still in high school? Well, she definitely never mentioned anything like that! This is getting juicy! Lala, staying over on the weekends with her beau!”

  She saw that Sam’s blush had deepened, and she let out a chuckled huff when he rushed to resume his story.

  Willie had started dating Ellen Haworth, one of the girls who was with Lillian at the theater that day in New York City. Ellen’s dad was the president of Harmony Glen Bank, just as his father had been before him. As you can imagine, they were quite well-to-do. Her family owned a cottage on Acorn Lake north of town. Well, they called it a cottage. It was more like a small mansion. So, there was a group of couples who ran around together with several of us always making arrangements to stay the weekend at the cottage, and Lillian would tell her parents that she was staying with Ellen, which technically was true.

  Sadie raised her eyebrows again and said, “Hmm, I guess Lala also had a knack for blurring the lines.”

  “Oh, it was all quite innocent,” Sam insisted, defending Lillian’s honor. “Your grandmother, even though she was high-spirited, was a proper lady. She wouldn’t have even considered staying at the cottage if it was just us, but since there were always other couples or several of Ellen’s family members around, and we had our own bedrooms, of course, it worked out. It was the perfect place for us to hang out and spend quality time getting to know each other. Oh, we had some really good times there,” he said dreamily.

  “Well, I’m happy to hear that Lala was a respectable young lady. People in this town can be pretty critical. You know, it’s not a very large place, and most of the families go back decades. Everybody knows everybody and they usually know their business too. There are some little old ladies who feel it’s their duty to keep up with the latest happenings and to make sure everyone’s aware of what’s going on in town,” Sadie said rolling her eyes. She looked at her watch and sighed. “Oh, Sam. I’m so sorry. I really do need to run. My toughest midterm is on Friday, and I have a bunch of notes to study. My professor’s made sure of that.”

  “Of course, Sadie. I’m sorry to occupy so much of your time. I know you have a lot going on. I’m really enjoying your company, though.” He nodded and stood to pull out her chair and help her put on her coat. “I hope you can carve out some more time for our visits. I’d like to ask you about Lillian’s life here in Harmony Glen. I’m curious to know if she was happy,” he said coyly as he helped her don her coat.

  Sadie flipped her hair from under her collar, smiled and graciously offered, “Sure. Tomorrow, same time, same place? I’m finding that I’m genuinely enjoying our visits too, Sam, and it’s nice to take a break from studying. Besides, I’d be here anyway getting my caffeine and sugar fixes. I might as well enjoy some good company!”

  “Until tomorrow then,” Sam agreed heartily as he held the door for her.

  Before parting outside the coffee shop, they clasped hands in a warm handshake and bade each other a pleasant goodnight.

  *****

  Strolling back to the inn, Sam realized he felt lighter than he had in years. The luxury of talking about Lillian with someone who knew her after all this time warmed his heart. He’d feared that he’d feel guilty about sharing his memories of Lillian with anyone but was relieved to discover that instead, he felt more authentic and alive than he had in ages.

  Smiling, he thought, “Sadie’s delightful. She seems as passionate and vivacious as her grandmother.” It was obvious that Lillian had been an influential figure in her life.

  And he was glad he had the memories back.

  Since his wife’s death the year before, Sam had grown accustomed to carrying around the weight of the revelations she’d made to him after the tree baler had awakened the memories of his past. Sharing with him why she’d done it, he’d felt sorry for the position she’d found herself in, and he couldn’t find it in his heart to be upset with her about it. Eventually, he’d even grown to understand why she’d done it. She’d been so sincerely sorry about the choice she’d made for him that day when he’d come out of the coma in the hospital and couldn’t remember anything about his past. But he often wondered if he’d never had the second accident, if he’d ever would have known that he’d lived a totally different life before the war. She wouldn’t have had a reason to tell him before she passed, except to release herself from the secret she’d kept for so long.

  *****

  Wednesday Evening

  Sam was waiting for Sadie outside La-La Land at six o’clock as promised. She locked the door and took his outstretched arm. As they strolled leisurely to Comfort & Joy, they talked about their day and the pleasant fall weather.r />
  “I hope you’re enjoying your stay in town. I feel so bad that you were too late to get to spend time with Lala. I’m thrilled to hear stories about her youth, though. They make me feel closer to her somehow,” Sadie babbled.

  “Your grandmother’s all I’ve been able to think about for months. These memories I’ve been sharing with you have filled my mind, my body and my soul. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to try to get in touch with her. I felt it would have been strange to just phone her, so I thought it’d be best to come see her, and this is the first time I could manage to get away from work,” Sam lamented.

  “What is it that you do, Sam?”

  “My son and I own a Christmas tree farm in northern California, just outside Bonita.”

  “That sounds so charming. I love the Christmas season! I bet it’s a beautiful place. I can just see it, acres and acres of gorgeous evergreens,” Sadie said dreamily.

  Sam spoke thoughtfully, “I think it’s a pretty special place. I’m…content on the farm. It keeps me busy.”

  Sadie heard what he said, but it was how he said it that let her know that there was also an emptiness in his life. It reminded her of how her dad used to talk about his jobs before he started his trucking business.

  Inside the coffee shop, Sam helped her doff her coat and pulled out a chair for her. They ordered coffees and pastries then Sadie said, “Okay, Sam. I’m dying to hear more.”

  He chuckled, and his eyes twinkled as he recalled a favorite memory.

  I’ll never forget the first time I picked her up for a date. Of course, I was going to meet her parents, and let me tell you, I was scared to death. Even though I’d gone through the stressful formality of meeting the parents of other girls I’d dated, this was different, and I didn’t want to screw it up. You’ve already heard what a smooth operator I was around Lillian.

  Well, her dad opened the door only to see me standing there with my Adam’s apple bobbing up and down spastically as I swallowed several times trying to muster up the nerve to properly introduce myself. I plastered a smile on my face, stretched out my hand to shake his and croaked out, “Good evening, Mr. Sam. I’m Evanston Lawson. I’m here to pick up Lillian for our date, sir.”