“I don’t know, do you think you’ll sleep together during this trip.” Holly quizzed. “Even though you have only been physically together a total of about three days, you have been seeing each other for over a month. How long had you been dating Billy before you two slept together? It was just about a month.” She reminded her.
“Don’t remind me.” Abby told her. “Not exactly a night of wine and roses. Ugh” she groaned as a shiver ran up her spine trying to shake off the memory of that night.
Abby had gone down to Billy's while his parents went bowling. She and he babysat his younger sister and studied for mid-terms. Billy had put Rebecca to bed and had rejoined Abby on the couch in front of the TV. They had started kissing as they usually did when no one was around. Billy kept trying to unbutton Abby’s jeans and she kept denying him.
“Look Babe,” he finally said in frustration, “You have been teasing me now for weeks. Come on now, give up the goods.”
“Wow.” Proclaimed Abby, “That was so romantic how can I refuse?” she stood up to adjust herself and button her blouse that was now two just buttons away from being off.
“I’m sorry.” He said half apologizing, half accusing. “But one minute you are all over me and the next you slam on the brakes.”
He was getting annoyed now.
“You know I love you and this will just make me love you more. What do you say? I’ve got things “covered” if you know what I mean. We’re totally safe.” He persuaded.
This was the first time he used the “L” word. He took her hesitation as consent and put two pillows on the floor and laid down a blanket. He had helped her to lie down on the floor and began kissing her again. He had said he loved her. She helped him take her jeans off and before she knew it, she was no longer a virgin. It was over so quickly. The only proof she had that it had actually taken place, was the pain she felt when he entered her and the small trace of blood on the blanket. When he was done he told her to get up and get dressed before his parents got home. He put his pants back on and threw the blanket down into the basement where the washer and dryer were. He then sat back down on the couch and began watching whatever game was on the TV. She walked into the bathroom to clean up. She was still bleeding a bit but knew from Health Class and the multiple conversations with her mother, that it was totally natural. Once she had cleaned up as best she could, she came out of the bathroom and Billy had said to her,
“You may want to get going home, it’s pretty late and I’m going to head to bed right after this game. I’ll see you in school tomorrow.” He returned to watching the TV.
Abby put on her coat and slowly walked out the door. For what was supposed to be one of the most special moments in her life, turned out to be a major disappointment. She knew the first time she and Jimmy were to sleep together, it would be a far different experience than that. She decided to pack both her cotton pajamas and the baby doll teddy. She had bought the nightie to surprise Billy on his birthday, but since he had broken up with her before she had a chance to wear it she figured it was his loss and Jimmy’s gain. Abby reminded Holly to be at her house by 8:00am the next morning and hung up the phone. Abby threw a few essentials into her carryon bag from her bathroom vanity table, things she would need to use in the morning that she didn’t want to pack away in her larger suitcase. Make-up, deodorant, hair spray and her favorite perfume, Pleasures by Estee Lauder. Abby loved the subtle fragrance that lasted all day. She also packed a bottle if sunscreen left over from this past summer. It rained most of the time which limited their time in the sun, leaving Abby with a bottle of SPF 30 three quarters full. She set the bag on the counter in the bathroom, took her traveling outfit out of the closet and hung it on a hook on the back of the bathroom door, walked over to her suitcase and closed it. Abby was ready for LA.
* * * * *
Chapter 9
They landed at LAX at 3:30 Monday afternoon. The weather was unusually warm for November. Abby and Holly were still in awe after riding in the private jet. They had watched enough reality shows on VH1, chronicling the lives of the rich and privileged to get a feeling of what it was like, but to actually experience it, was completely different. Jimmy had introduced the girls to Steve the pilot. Steve had given them a tour and told them it was a Falcon 2000. Large beige leather seats with room enough for eight, with tables that folded out from the sides for eating or working. A small kitchenette was located in the back, hidden behind folding oak doors. A wine chiller and small fridge were wood paneled to match the cupboards. The bathroom, larger than any Abby had seen on a commercial airliner, was also located in the back.
The flight had lasted about seven hours. Holly had brought some of her school work that needed to be completed before she returned to school. That was one stipulation her parents had given her before agreeing to let her go.
“If you are going to miss classes, you had better keep up on your school work” her mother had warned.
Holly wanted to get it over and done with so she didn’t have to worry about over the next few days. She wanted plenty of time to see the sights and soak up the sun without any distractions. Abby and Jimmy mostly snuggled together in one of the large leather seats. Taking time out only when Jimmy had to take a call or confirm something through email his assistant, Karma, had sent to him.
“Karma has the limo waiting at the hanger and has made dinner reservations at The London West Hollywood.” Jimmy had told them as the plane was descending into LA.
He remembered how Abby told him once she loved watching the reality show, Hell’s Kitchen and though she would enjoy eating at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant. Abby had almost passed out when he told her.
“This is amazing, thank you.” She whispered to him after they had settled into the limo, which was actually parked in the hanger waiting for them.
“This is only the beginning.” He promised and kissed the back of her hand. “We’ll stop at the house first so you can freshen up before dinner and get settled into your rooms.”
“Rooms?” she thought silently to herself. “Was he not going to ask me to sleep in his room?” she wondered.
They pulled up to Jimmy’s home. It was amazing. It was an updated classic 40’s style located in the Hollywood Hills. They pulled into the circular driveway and parked in front. Jimmy had gotten out first to assist Abby and Holly out of the car. Jimmy didn’t wait for the driver to open the door for him, he never did. He didn’t want to be the type of guy that thought he was too good to open his own car door. Therefore, he always let himself out of the car. He treated his staff as family and they respected him. Charles, the Driver, assured Jimmy he would have the car ready at six to take them to dinner. They walked up the stone steps of the cream colored stucco home, to the front door. It was painted red to match the shutters. The house had two large bay windows located on each end of the house. Margret the housekeeper met them in the large entryway.
“Welcome home Mr. Riley.” She greeted him. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “It so nice to have you home” she continued.” I have prepared everything as you have requested.
“You’re the greatest Maggie, what would I do without you?” he said and hugged her again.
Margret Palmaroy was about 55 years old and very British. She had her gray hair pinned up tightly in a bun. She wore a light gray cotton dress, a white apron and black chunky shoes. Abby couldn’t believe how much she fit into the role of a stereotypical housekeeper. Margret had no children of her own. She had come from England two years ago, where she had worked as housekeeper and Nanny for an upper-class family in London for over 20 years. Once the children were grown and out on their own, she decided it was her time to travel to the U.S. and chose LA as her destination. She placed her name with an employment agency that specialized in hiring for the well-to-do. When Jimmy bought the house two years ago after he had made a large sum of money for scoring a Ron Howard film, he went to
the employment agency. After looking at her picture, seeing how much she resembled his own mother and reading her resume, he asked the agency to send her to the house. He hired her on the spot and she has been with him for the last two years.
“Maggie,” he said stepping to the side with his arm still around her shoulders, he introduced his houseguests. “This is Abby Moore and her very best friend Holly Applebee. Abby, Holly, this is Maggie.” He leaned in and pretended to whisper, “She prefers to be called Margret but I call her Maggie to keep her humble.” He joked.
Margret hit Jimmy with the dish towel she had tucked in the strings of her apron.
“Nice to meet you Margret,” Abby said and reached out to shake her hand.
“It’s very nice to finally meet you Miss Abby.” She grasped Abby’s hand with the both of hers. “When Mr. Riley called to say he would be coming home and bringing company with him, he just went on and on about this wonderful young lady he had met.” Abby blushed. “I don’t recall a time when he gushed so much about a lady friend.” She confessed. It was Jimmy’s turn to blush.
Margret welcomed Holly and then excused herself and hurried away to check on something in the kitchen. By this time, Charles had brought in their luggage from the car and placed them on the dark wood floor next to the grand winding staircase. Jimmy grabbed the two large suitcases and headed up the stairs. Abby noticed the beautiful crystal chandelier that hung in the middle of the ceiling. When they reached to top Jimmy turned right and headed down the hall. He stopped half way down and opened the door to one of the bedrooms. It had light rose colored carpet and white walls. A fireplace was on the far wall and a four poster bed on the opposite side of the large room. There was a private full size bathroom located off to the right of the room.
“Oh please tell me this is where I will be staying.” Holly assumed and plopped herself on the bed covered in a goose down comforter.
“It is actually is where I had planned for you to stay, if you like it that is.” Jimmy kidded
“Good luck getting me to leave.” Holly kidded back.
He set down her suitcase and walked towards the door.
“Are you ready to see your room?” Jimmy asked Abby
“My room?” she repeated sheepishly. “I’ll have my own room?”
“Unless you prefer to share with Holly, which is completely up to you, I want to make sure you are both comfortable.”
Holly was in the bathroom at this point gushing over the Jacuzzi bathtub and large marble countertop.
“No I don’t mind having my own room,” she said quietly, “I just thought, ” she trailed now embarrassed over her assumptions.
They walked out into the hallway and Jimmy stopped in front of a large wooden door.
“I promised your parents that I would treat you with the up most respect. You are only 17 and it would be horribly vulgar of me to invite you to stay in my room with me. I did choose this room for you,” he continued. “It is right across the hall from mine if you need anything, but honestly,” he confessed, “I will not invite you into my bedroom until you are 18.”
Abby started to tear up. She could feel them welling in her eyes and roll down her cheeks. Jimmy put down her suitcase and took her in his arms.
“I’m sorry, we should have talked about this before. I don’t want you to think I don’t want you because I do.” He was now looking her in the eyes. “It would just be wrong to betray your parents trust and take advantage of you when you were 3000 miles away from home.” He said apologetically.
Abby wiped her tears away.
“I’m not upset that you put me in another room, well I am, but that’s not the reason I am crying. It is just so sweet that you are being so honorable.” Abby put her face in her hand and choked back the sobs.
He took her in his arms again and told her,
“Trust me, honorable is the last thing I am feeling right now, but it is the right thing to do. When I do invite you into my bed Abby, it will be at the right time in the right place.” He bent down and gently kissed her lips, moving across her face to her cheeks wiping her tears away. “Ready to see your room?”
He opened the door and she walked into another large bedroom, it had light green carpeting and the same white walls as Holly’s room. There was a fireplace and French doors that led out onto a balcony that overlooked the back yard. She could see the balcony extended all along the backside of the house. She walked to the left to another set of French doors.
“That’s my room.” Jimmy admitted. Abby tilted her head and looked at him coyly. “No hidden agenda, I swear.” he held up his right hand.
Abby laughed and walked back into her room. She went into the private bathroom and looked around. There was a bear claw cast iron bathtub. A separate shower and duel sinks. Abby loved it. “This is so pretty.” She said out loud but mostly to herself. She stepped out of the bathroom and walked towards the bed. It was a queen sized bed with a pillow top mattress. There was a down comforter that matched the one on Holly’s bed. There was a vase on the end table that had at least two dozen apricot roses in it. He knew they were her favorite. He had found that out about her that first night at the University. She looked at him and took out the card,
“Thank you for coming into my life. You are more than I could have ever expected. Yours Truly, Jimmy”
Abby wiped another tear away and turned to Jimmy.
“It’s me that needs to thank you.” she whispered, “You have given me more in these last few weeks than I could have dreamed for in a lifetime.
“Well I guess that settles it then, we were meant to be together and I am not going to do anything to tempt fate and ruin it, no Ma’am.” Jimmy hugged her again.
Holly came into the room.
“Awww this is so pretty too and what a view.” she gasped looking out over the balcony. “Oh I am so going in that pool.” She declared. “Do we have time for a swim?” she asked.
“Not right now.” Jimmy answered as he looked at his watch. “We have reservations at 7:00 and it’s now almost 6:00. We should probably leave in about 30 minutes. We can finish the tour of the house in the morning. I will leave you ladies to get ready and I will see you down stairs at 6:30.”
He kissed Abby again and quickly left the room. Abby and Holly looked at each other, squealed and started to get ready. Abby had chosen an A line deep burgundy satin dress with a chiffon overlay. She had curled her long brown hair and let the curls fall loosely on her shoulders and down her back. She applied her make-up a little more heavily than she did when she was just getting ready for school. She put on a matching satin choker and the 1 carat total weight diamond earring studs she had received from her parents on her 16th birthday. As she was slipping on the patent leather heels Holly walked into the room,
“Oh Abby, you look beautiful.” Holly complimented.
Holly was wearing a form fitting, low cut, emerald green taffeta dress that came down to just above her knees and open toe, black strappy heels. Her curly blonde locks were loosely pinned back from her face with crystal accented clips. There were some stray hairs that fell to her face but it didn’t matter. She was breathtaking. Abby remembered when they bought the dresses. It was for the school’s Winter Formal last year and Holly looked just as gorgeous then. They were a little fancy for a night out in Thomaston, Maine but they seemed to be appropriate for a dinner out in LA. They grabbed their handbags and went to meet Jimmy downstairs. As they descended the staircase, Jimmy looked up from checking his Blackberry and stared in awe.
“Oh my God.” He mouthed silently and dropped his phone as he tried to put in back into his suit jacket pocked, not taking his eyes off of Abby.
“Is this ok?” she asked not sure if she may be a little over dressed.
Jimmy was wearing a black suit. A navy blue tie was very striking against the bright white shirt.
“More than ok.” He answered “You look amazing and Holly, wow, we are making the papers tonight.” He said matter-of-fact
ly. “Everyone is going to be asking who these cover girls are.” He winked, “Shall we?” he offered his arms to Abby and Holly and walked out the front door to the limo.
Charles was waiting by the side of the car with the passenger door open. He had come to work for Jimmy right around the same time Margret had. Charles Dugan appeared to be in his early sixties. Abby thought he looked distinguished with his deep hazel eyes and his white hair trimmed neatly under his chauffeurs cap. He wasn’t married but Jimmy suspected he had a crush on Margret. Charles was always asking Margret if she needed anything when he was heading in to town. He even offered to take her with him a few times. She always declined but assured him she were grateful for the offer. Since Charles and Margret both lived on the grounds they saw quite a bit of each other. Jimmy figured it was only a matter of time. Charles tipped his hat to Abby and then to Holly as they got into the car. Abby caught Jimmy giving Charles a high five before he got into the car and closed the door.
“You’re pretty close with everyone here aren’t you?” Abby asked sincerely.
“They are my family.” Jimmy replied. My Mom and Dad are thousands of miles away in Mississippi and I think Margret and Charles took pity on me and became my pseudo parents.” He said with tenderness and admiration in his voice.
Abby took his hand and held it in both of hers.
“You completely take my breath away.” He said to her with absolute conviction.
Abby smiled at him and turned to look at Holly, who was busy gaping out the window hoping to see a movie star or two. Abby and Jimmy both let out a chuckle and they rode to the restaurant.
Abby had eaten the most incredible meal she had ever eaten at London West Hollywood. She had started with the risotto. That in itself was a treat, but the dry aged beef tenderloin, horseradish pomme purée, roasted cippolini onion, garlic confit, truffle Madeira jus, was Heaven on a plate. Holly had Dungeness crab tortellini, Holland’s leek, shell fish bisque, tarragon oil while Jimmy opted for butter poached Maine lobster, fresh pasta linguini, vegetable julienne, blue foot mushrooms, porcini cream sauce. Abby was surprised he ordered lobster. He had eaten so many of them during his visit to Maine, she was sure he had helped in boosting the flailing lobster industry. Abby and Holly were sitting down at the table after returning from the ladies room when the chef came out of the kitchen to say hello. Jimmy stood up,