A weekend to remember
I didn't expect it to be David on the phone when I ran to answer it.
"Kris, is that you girl?"
"David? What are you calling for?"
" Hey. I'm having one of your favorite kind of parties this weekend and was wondering if you'd like to come out for it."
"This weekend? As in two days from now?"
"Yeah. Parker says he can pick you up at the Ironwood airport on Friday night. We all miss you a lot. Please say you'll come."
"Well, all right. Just no surprises, Okay?"
"Us? do that to you?"
"David..."
"All right, all right. Just be there okay? We'll have a car pick you up."
He hung up before I had a chance to say anything more.
A limo meets us when we land and takes us to a Ramada Inn rather than to David or Parker's house. Kirstie gives me some story about having their place being sprayed for pests tonight and David having a cast get together.
Parker and Kirstie were both acting like cats that had eaten prize canaries so I didn't sleep a wink.
Kirstie shows up the next morning in my room with a light breakfast and kept chatting non-stop as I sipped at coffee and took a shower. I was in my
underwear and a robe munching on a muffin when Parker showed up with Kiefer in tow..
Kirstie made excuses about her and Parker having a ton of things to do so Kiefer was to keep me occupied for the day.... I heard her tell Kiefer that I had to be at an 11:00
"appointment" or everything else was going to fall through.
Once Kirstie and Parker were gone, Kiefer walked non-chalantly over to the
chair,
yanked me up, and kissed me. I almost spewed coffee.
I collected myself quickly and grabbed my overnight bag, running into the
bathroom and locking the door. Kiefer started mumbling apologies through
the door. I
stopped him by saying that it just caught me off guard. After all, it had
been over three
years since I had last seen him.
By the time I emerged we were chatting like old friends and he apologized
again, saying
the only reason he had done it was because I was the only "fan" he could get
away with it
with.
I slapped him playfully as we left the room.
When we got to the parking lot and loaded into Kiefer's Trans-Am instead of a
limo some of my tension released.
As we drove downtown Kiefer explained that the "appointment" was that a friend
of his just opened a photography studio and they wanted me to do publicity
shots for him.. If felt so bad about how Keifer felt for shocking me that I couldn't
say no.
We got to the studio before 11:00. I didn't recognize the dark haired
photographer and
only sat for five shots.. then he looked at his watch and said that he had a
home shoot that
he had to attend to but that his assistant, "Adam", would finish up.
The photographer disappeared through a back door and a few minutes later his
"assistant" came out fiddling with a camera.
I held my breath without realizing it and slapped Kiefer's arms at least
ten times...
The assistant fiddling with the camera was none other than "Adam
Peirson"... Peter Wingfield...
After I got over the shock of all their conivingness we went out the back
door and
climbed into a silver Mazaratti and Peter drove us to quiet little cafe' for
lunch.
Peter was quiet through lunch but Kiefer had gotten me started telling him
about
"Mansions".. He was amazed at my imagination and just had to know how much
I had
gotten "Methos" and immortals involved.
He was positively enchanting and when he dropped us of at Kiefer's Trans-am
again he asked for my address. We touched for the first time as I handed it
to him and
felt myself blush.
He kissed my forehead, told me not to hold my breath for a letter but he
would be
sure to get a picture off to me... then he was gone.
Kiefer drove us back to the airport. At my inquisitive looks he said that
David was doing another project in Texas and we were flying down there for
the party
It was a long flight with a lot of stops in-between, but Kiefer kept my
mind off it
by buying me three Bloody Mary's (laughing about having to feed the vampires
in both
of us) . He also got me started talking about the Night Clan of Evil and
Buffy.
When we finally landed I was chatting about the Clan MacFru but what I had
heard made me stop dead in my tracks....
The pilot had just welcomed us ... to Paris, France!!!
I must have slapped Kiefer's arms again about 100 times as we de-planed.
The woman that we found holding a sign that said "Sutherland Party" came at me
rather than Kiefer.
"
Mr. Hasselhoff described you perfectly. He regretted not being able to be
here
himself." She had the sweetest French accent I have ever heard.
I was walking on air and in a fog during the limo ride to the hotel.
Kiefer had
handed me my passport and I realized that the photo in it was one of the
ones that had
been taken earlier that day in the studio.
I had almost convinced myself that the whole thing wasn't happening while we
were riding the elevator to the penthouse.
I colapsed in David's arms when we entered the suite...
When I came to on the couch David was holding my hand and Parker was yelling
at Kiefer for buying me alcohol. That sweet French voice was trying to
calm David,
going on about how hard it was to find physicians in the states on weekends...
It took me half an hour to convince them all that I was all right.
I looked at my watch, cursed my stupidity, and asked how long we had to get
ready for the party, if there really was one at all.
Kirstie was a vision in purple, Pam in green. When I saw the guys though I
had to laugh.
Somehow Parker, Keifer, and especially David didn't look right in ruffles,
velvet and
knickers.....
WE drew more stares than usual as we crossed through the lobby and entered horse
drawn carriages. I felt like I was dreaming and it had only just begun...
I wished that Amanda was in my carriage or that I knew how to read French.
As the
carriage drove through the streets only the cars reminded me of the true
year I was in... I
had to keep repeating to myself that it was 1997. I closed my eyes and
meditated, trying
to calm myself before I had another seizure. Pam was giving me a thorough
lecture about
forgetting my medications at home.
The hall and ballroom didn't help me stay in the present. I neglected
Keifer's arm for
David's when I stepped out but Pam didn't seem to mind. I danced with David
first, then
Parker; taking time in-between for punch and conversation. I was dancing
with Kiefer
finally and he was apologizing for kissing me again. I closed my eyes and
kept repeating
to myself "its 1997, its 1997...."
I was so engrossed in thought that I didn't notice my partner had changed
until I opened
my eyes. Those dark soldering eyes defenitely were not Keifer's.
All of a sudden I couldn't breathe., I didn't want to. I willed myself to
wake up, I had to
be dreaming.... He swung me round and round as a thousand images flashed
through my
head.. Fru's from the forum....
He accented the end of the dance with a slight dip, his left hand high
overhead and his
head bent to a rather open part at the top of my dress. I could feel the
flush through me
and my head started spinning.
He stepped back from me and kissed my hand.
I did the first thing that popped into my head. I threw my arms around his
neck and
kissed him. I then gathered my skirts and ran like hell.
I went through the first door I could find. Thankfully I stepped into a
courtyard, I needed
air. I felt hot tears begin streaming down my cheeks.... I had made a fool
of myself.
I had heard the door behind me and felt the hand touch my shoulder.
Thinking it was
Keifer or David I turned and colapsed against his chest, sobbing
uncontrollably...
When I calmed a little I opened my eyes and caught my breath again. David
was wearing
green, so was Keifer. Parker was in purple. The jacket I was clinging to
was blue...
I tried to struggle away but the arms around my back and waist held firm.
"I'm not letting you run away again." That Accent!!!!
I melted into him and tried to relax and concentrate on breathing. The only
sound I could
hear was very calming... the rythym of a heartbeat.....
I finally got my nerve up again to look into those dark eyes. I caught a
slight glimpse of
them before everything went black...
When I forced myself to open my eyes and stir the woman sitting at my bed
side set
down her book and began chattering.
I spit out "no habla espanol" before I realized she was speaking French, not
Spanish.
I was so glad to see Amanda come in, carrying a bouquet of white lillies...
She said
something to the woman and she bowed then scurired out...
"Maybe you would like to clean up a little before eating?" asked Amanda.
When I came back out of the restroom Amanda was sitting on the bed reading
the card
that had come with the lillies...
"I couldn't resist... There from Masseur Paul..."
I was shaking when I took the card from her....
"I hope I can see you at the airport. I'll try but no promises... Adrian."
I was alone with David and Amanda going back to the airport.
"DO you know you scared the hell out of Adrian? He thought you had a stroke
right there in his arms...." said David. HE then went into a conversation
on how long he'd
known Adrian.. Seems they had worked on some "saving the seas" project a
couple of
years ago....
We drove passed the main terminal of the airport to the private plane
hangers. David
didn't seem to notice so feigned calmness, thinking of Adrian looking for me
at the main
gates.
When I got out of the limo a man wearing dark glasses and Highlander crew gear
approached, badly faking a southern accent....
"Mr. Paul would like me to bring you to him, Ma'am"
It was such a bad fake I had to laugh. I pulled out the fan I had kept from
my costume to
sue as a prop as I tried my Southern Belle accent....
"Well now, I declare we mustn't keep the man waiting...."
David completely burst.....
I followed the man around the corner of hanger to small table, set elegantly
despite it
being a plastic table cloth, silverware and a tin can holding a bunch of
lillies....
I turned to ask the man about Adrian's whereabouts as he was removing the
hat and
sunglasses. He dodged when I swung my fan at his arm...
"For an Actor that was the worst southern accent I have ever heard..."
"I guess doing a western is out then.." he laughed.
I didn't notice the small box until I was sitting in the chair he held....
"Go ahead, open it."
I unfolded the small card on top... "I wish I could have given this to you
myself last night.
Maybe we'll meet next time... JIM"
I shook my head at Adrian.
"You might know him better as Dawson."
I smiled when I opened the box and stiffled a giggle.... a watcher key fob....
From the ice chest Adrian pulled out two elegant wine glasses and a bottle
of grape
juice....
"David said he'd have my head if I gave you wine..."
I couldn't stiffle the attack of giggles....
"I don't think he's that good with a sword..." I burst...
IT took a minute for Adrian to catch on and when he did he threw a piece of
cheese at me.
I didn't notice the tape player until the music from the night before filled
the air...
"You didn't seem there when we danced last night..."
When he dipped me again like he had before, which seemed like years ago
now., I let my
head fall back... I seen David upside down, clapping....
"we have to get moving."
My whole body tingled as I walked through the airport on Adrian's arm, the
only reason
people were staring was because of his attire. No one recognized us...
Adrian began saying good bye to David first and handed him a manilla
envelope... before
he could turn to me I stepped between them and swung my arms around his waist,
burying my head in his chest..
.
HE squeezed my back as one hand slid under my chin.. He raised my head ad
went to kiss
my cheek but I turned my head and our lips brushed.... I pulled away.
He looked at me over the brim of his glasses and I winked through the tears
I knew were
flowing.... He laughed slightly..
I was on air before the plane ever took off.
David and I said our good bye's in NY airport..
"he didn't want you to have this until we were back in the states...."
I was crying. David and I hadn't had any time together this trip....
On the plane headed for Michigan I read the note Adrian had scrawled on the
envelope....
"I'm sorry everything over whelmed you so... Thanks for letting me indulge a
fantasy..
Adrian...."
Inside was an 11x13 of Adrian standing in the dark alley with sword overhead
like at the
beginning of every Highlander... "I think I like Duncan being a prince of
the Mansions
universe (peter told me)... Peace always, Adrian"
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