| The Courtyard Chapter 1 |
| Hanna struggled with the large suitcase to make it around the boxes that had been left in the narrow hallway. Her move out to the west coast had been nothing but trouble from the start. It only seemed fitting that she should have to wait two hours for a cab from the airport at one in the morning, then end up paying a fortune because neither she nor the cab driver had any idea where her new apartment was. It was the icing on the cake to end a perfectly horrible year by moving across the country on Christmas Day. Finally finding an empty space in the melange of cardboard boxes, she dropped her heavy bag with a sigh, then a wince when it toppled right into her leg. “Perfect,” she sighed again, then let the suitcase fall onto the floor as she rubbed at her bruised shin. The only thing that she wanted at that moment was some sleep. The only problem was that she didn’t even know if she had a bed yet. The majority of her furniture had been shipped with the rest being sent off to an auction house just before she left Saint Paul. She had hoped that the movers had gone through her new landlord to deliver her things, but she hadn’t heard from them either of them before she flew out so the boxes were a welcome sight even though they were in the way. Flipping on the nearest light switch which she could just make out from the light spilling in from the hallway outside, the mountain of unpacked cartons became a daunting presence surrounding her. Leaning over a long line of boxes blocking a door, she reached into the next room to turn on the light and discovered her small, but quaint kitchen. She did the same for the room across the hall and the tiny living room with a fireplace made her smile. She would have loved a fireplace in Minnesota, but she knew that she would never use it there. Poking her head inside another room, she found her bathroom which was only slightly bigger than the porcelain necessities it housed. She shook her head at the boxes crammed into the tiny space. She knew that a hot bath was out of the question. She wasn’t about to move anything until she had some sleep. Through the door at the end of the short hallway, she sighed gratefully when she saw that her bed had been set up and made. A brightly wrapped package on the bed that she immediately shook, along with a card, revealed who her helpful elves had been. “We knew you would be tired and hungry, so now you have a bed and food in the fridge. See you soon, Jodi and Greg.” She shook the package once more, deciding to leaving it wrapped until morning one moment, then tearing into the package in the next. There were three video tapes with post-it notes stuck to each. On the video It’s A Wonderful Life was a note that read “to make you cry”. On Father Goose was the note “to make you laugh”, then on Brigadoon was written “to make you believe again”. She shook her head as she thought of her old high school friend. Jodi was flighty and dramatic, but she always knew what Hanna needed and she was always there for her even when they were hundreds of miles apart. Glancing around, she saw that her television was sitting on her dresser at the side of the room and she put the tapes next to it. She started to turn away to get ready for bed, but her fingers lingered on the copy of It’s A Wonderful Life. She debated at starting the tape or not. It was the thought of spending her first night in a new apartment completely alone that had her stripping off the plastic from the video cassette. If nothing else, she could stand to hear the sound of familiar voices. She had hoped that returning to San Francisco would make her feel like she belonged somewhere, but the city had changed so much in ten years that she almost didn’t recognized her old neighborhood when the cab had passed through it. Slipping the tape into the VCR unit attached to the base of her television, the screen automatically clicked on and she was comforted by the sound of the music. She was able to block out the world around her and perform the mundane task of unpacking a portion of her suitcase, then she changed for bed without giving a second thought to the mess that she had left behind in Saint Paul. Thankfully, after she had burrowed in under the covers, she barely saw ten minutes of the film before drifting off into a sound sleep. * * * “Okay! Okay! I’m coming,” Hanna called out to the insistent ringing and pounding at her front door as she stepped over empty boxes and crumpled newspaper. She nudged aside a wayward plant with her foot, then inched the door open to see three friendly faces. “I can’t believe you didn’t call us to let us know you were coming home!” Toni admonished immediately, then stepped in to give Hanna a hug. “And you were here for Christmas and didn’t tell anyone!” Marcy followed up with a hug of her own as she made her way into the apartment carefully. “I’m sorry,” she returned. “I really just wanted to slip into town and have a couple of days to myself.” Jodi walked in trying her best to appear apologetic, but she couldn’t quite pull it off through her smile. “They beat it out of me. I swear!” she said, then held up a bottle of champagne as a peace offering. “Yeah, I’ll bet they did,” Hanna returned doubtfully, then gave her traitorous friend a hug as well before closing the door behind her. “Thank you so much for setting up the bed for me. You have no idea how good it felt after such a hectic trip.” “I wish we could have done more, but you know what the holidays are like,” she said as everyone moved into the living room. “You know you could have called us when you got into the airport,” Marcy complained. She was the caretaker among her friends so it wasn’t a surprise when she became a mother for the first time at nineteen or that she married her high school sweetheart. “Mark and I would have been happy to come pick you up.” “I thought about that when it took me two hours to get a cab,” Hanna admitted. “But it was the middle of the night and I didn’t want to pull you away from the kids on Christmas. I knew that I would be all right.” “Jodi was telling us about all the trouble you were having in Saint Paul on the drive over here,” Toni began without preamble as she uncovered a chair so that she could sit down. “Yeah,” Marcy acknowledged. “I’m sorry to hear about you and Tommy.” “I should have known from the start that he was never going to grow up,” Hanna returned as she waved off the sympathy with a toss of her hand. “After all, he was thirty-six years old and still insisted on being called Tommy.” She shook her head as her eyes rolled heavenward and received a laugh. Kicking empty boxes out of the way, she cleared a spot on the floor to sit down so that Marcy and Jodi could have the tiny sofa. “How are your mom and dad doing these days?” Marcy asked. “Well, at last word, Mother was dating some actor down in Los Angeles and Dad was in Burma. Of course, that was three months ago.” “Three months ago?” Marcy said incredulously. “I’ll bet that they didn’t even call you on Christmas, did they?” “You’d win that bet,” Hanna returned. “Of course, that would be a problem since my phone won’t be turned on until tomorrow.” “Did they know that you were moving back here?” Toni asked. It wasn’t unusual for her friend to loose touch with her parents for months at a time. “I wrote to both of them about it, but I never did hear anything back,” she said with a shrug. “Sometimes I wonder who was the parent in your family,” Jodi sympathized with a shake of her head. “But, at least they were cool. Not like my parents who wanted a written agenda off where I would be and who I would be with.” “What are you complaining about?” Toni asked with a note of envy. “You got a car for graduation.” “Which you wrecked the first time I let you borrow it,” Jodi countered. “Okay, okay. Enough with the small talk,” Marcy said quickly before Jodi and Toni could rehash the same old argument. “So tell us what happened,” she prompted Hanna. “The last thing I heard was that things were going great.” “Boy it has been awhile since we talked, hasn’t it?” Hanna returned with a laugh. “This last year has to be the absolute worst in my entire life. To put it in a nutshell,” she began, ticking off the events on her fingers. “Tommy got a job as a photographer with a fashion magazine and he was out the door two weeks later with one of the models. Small loss,” she added and received a chuckle from her friends. “My car caught fire about a month later while sitting in the parking lot at work,” she continued. “A complete total. My apartment was robbed, not once, but twice and the magazine that I was working for filed for bankruptcy and put everyone out on the street.” She let out a heavy sigh. “After all that, I’d had enough of Saint Paul and was ready for a taste of home.” “You poor thing!” Marcy commiserated with a wide-eyed look. “I really don’t want to get into all that,” Hanna said to dismiss the topic. “It’s too depressing.” “Well next year is going to make up for it,” Jodi said firmly. “You’re back home again with your friends and you’ve already got a job at Daddy’s paper. He needs to get some new blood in there.” “Now wait a minute,” she cautioned her. “I didn’t say that I was going to take the job with your dad yet, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t either,” she added when her friend was about to object. “I’d forgotten how expensive everything is here. This apartment is three-hundred dollars more than the one I had in Minnesota and it’s half the size. I’m going to go through my savings pretty quick, but I’m still going to take a little time off so that I can catch up with my best buddies.” She reached out to grab Toni’s leg and shook it playfully. Toni was the strength of their group. Strong willed and even more strongly opinionated. “So when am I going to get to meet Nicki?” she asked expectantly. Toni gave a casual shrug. “As soon as I can throw a rope around her and drag her away from the gallery,” she returned. “Nicki practically lives there.” “She’s really done wonders with that place, though,” Jodi commented. “Thanks to Lance,” Toni returned. “Wait a minute,” Marcy interrupted. “Aren’t you and Nicki going out to Lance’s for his New Year’s Eve party?” she asked of Toni, then turned to Jodi without waiting for a response. “You and Greg are going too, aren’t you?” “Of course!” Jodi said with her usual enthusiasm. “It’s suppose to be the biggest party of the year. We wouldn’t miss it!” “Why don’t we all go?” Marcy suggested as she looked pointedly at Hanna. “That way you will have the chance to meet Nicki and you can jump right back into the party lane. It will be like you never left.” Hanna shook her head in confusion as the other three women warmed to the idea. “Who’s Lance?” she asked instead of answering. “I don’t think I’ve every heard any of you mention him before.” “Yes you have,” Toni corrected her. “I told you about him on the phone. He was the architect that designed Nicki’s gallery and he’s extremely good. His parties are mostly for clients, but he goes all out for them and they have become the talk of the town. He’s not bad looking as men go either.” “Not bad looking?” Marcy questioned her choice of words. “Handsome, rich, single and straight? That’s practically unheard of in this neck of the woods.” “You’re just jealous because lesbians are fashionable now. I’m chic,” Toni quipped, then struck a pose to illicit a laugh from her friends and succeeded. “I think you guys need to count me out on this one,” Hanna began to argue when the thought of attending a party hosted by an architect didn’t appeal to her in the slightest, even with her friends praise. Somehow, it felt too much like she was being set up with Lance and she definitely wanted to avoid any male companionship for awhile. “I want to get the living room painted and I still haven’t finished unpacking yet...” “That’s what we’re here for,” Marcy interjected to stop her friend’s check list of reasons. “We’re going to help you get unpacked, order a big, greasy pizza from Papa Leonies and kill that bottle of champagne that Jodi brought with her. It’s only the first of many, mind you. By the time we’re finished celebrating, we will have already rung in the New Year. Saint Paul and Tommy will be ancient history!” Hanna laughed at the way that Marcy snapped at the air in a Z pattern. She always was slow to catch onto fads. “You guys are nuts! I think that you need to get out of San Francisco a little more often. Believe it or not, the rest of the world doesn’t have a party for every little thing that happens. Including divorces.” “Then the rest of the world doesn’t know how to live,” Jodi concluded, pushing her sleeves back as she stood, ready for work. “We’d better order that pizza now if we want it here in the next couple of hours. Then we can get started on this apartment. Who’s holding the cell phone?” she asked in general, but looked to Marcy who was certain to have one with her and she did. Hanna watched from her seat on the floor as her friends fanned out through her tiny apartment and smiled. She had forgotten what it was like to be a part of something special. Her three friends, her best friends since high school, were like family to her. They fought and laughed and cried together more times than she could count. They were always there for her without fail. Even when she had moved half way across the country, they wouldn’t let her lose touch. She had missed their support more than anything and she hadn’t even realized it until that moment. “Get off your duff, Ms. Miller,” Toni ordered as she picked up a box that belonged in the bedroom. “We’re here to help, not do all of the work for you.” Hanna smiled as she jumped to her feet to start collecting the scattered packing paper and empty boxes. It finally felt good to be home. * * * Hanna unfolded her long legs from the back of Greg’s Camaro and took a minute to straighten out her short black dress, or rather Jodi’s black dress which was the reason that they were an hour late. “I could have sworn you said that this was the hottest party ‘in’ the city,” Hanna remarked after the forty-five minute drive. “It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s worth every mile,” Greg returned as he looked up at the star-studded sky. “You can’t see a view like this in the city.” “My romantic,” Jodi gushed as she linked her arm around her husband’s. “But you’re not fooling me for one minute. I know that you like to come up here because you love to drive that car.” “I never get the chance to in the city,” he complained. “You can drive it any time you want. You just don’t like the thought of having to park your baby on one of those hills.” “After losing two already, do you blame me?” “Oh it was ugly,” Jodi explained to Hanna as they started to walk toward the house. “The last car we had ended up in the middle of a fish restaurant by the bay. Since then, Greg won’t drive his car unless he knows for certain that he can park it on level ground.” “I think that would do it for me too,” she chuckled softly as she discreetly tugged at the hem of her skirt which insisted on inching up as she walked. The soft cotton molded to her body to the point where she was concerned that nothing would be left to the imagination if it got any shorter. “Stop fussing, Hanna,” Jodi admonished. “You look beautiful.” “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” she complained. “There wasn’t any thing wrong with that pants suit I had on.” “Pants suits are for business. Slinky dresses are for parties,” Jodi insisted. “Come on Hanna. It’s New Year’s Eve. You’re suppose to dress up and kick back.” “I’d better not kick back too far or every person in this place will have my full name and address,” she joked. “It’s about time you got here!” Marcy called from the front door, holding it open as they approached. She looked Hanna up and down. “Don’t tell me. Jodie’s?” she asked pointing to the dress that she was wearing. Hanna nodded as she took the glass of champagne from Marcy’s hand. “That’s why we’re late,” she said without need for further explanation. “Is Toni here yet?” “She’s here, but Nicki has stormed out. I guess they had another fight.” “Is Toni okay?” Hanna asked with concern, but Jodi brushed it off. “Don’t worry about those two. Nicki will be back before midnight and they will make up,” Jodi explained. “They do it all the time. It’s almost a ritual at parties these days.” “It looks like half of the city is here,” Hanna commented as she stepped just inside the door and looked around at the swarm of people. “Oh this is the small group,” Marcy returned. “Most of the people are out back listening to the band.” “You’re kidding? A band?” she said in disbelief. She had heard the music, but she assumed that it was coming from a stereo inside the house. “We do everything big around here. You know that,” Marcy said, snagging a couple more glasses of champagne off of the tray of a passing waiter and handing them to her friends. “I guess I’ve gotten use to the way things are done in Minnesota.” “Don’t tell me that’s little Hanna Miller?” a voice from the past asked as he approached through the teeming crowd. Hanna looked at the man curiously as he stepped up to the small group, but she couldn’t put a name to the face. “You don’t recognize me, do you?” he asked mysteriously as he held his arms wide for her inspection. When she shook her head, his smile grew. “Danny Webster.” Hanna couldn’t stop the shocked expression. “Danny Webster?” She was incredulous. “The last time I saw you, you were five-foot-five and weighed over two-hundred pounds! You look fantastic!” she complimented him, then actually had to reach up to give him a hug even though she was nearly five-foot-ten in her high heels. “This is what the California sun will do to you,” he joked, then sent an appreciative glance over her long legs. “But it looks like it didn’t hurt you any to get away for awhile. What have you been doing with yourself?” “Keeping busy working at a little magazine out of Saint Paul, Minnesota,” she returned. “What about you?” Hanna’s conversation with Danny continued as they mingled with the people around them and she bumped into several more of her old friends, literally in some cases. Marcy, Jodi and Toni as well as their significant others would disappear from time to time as they moved through the house, but everyone was able to eventually meet back up when they found a spot to listen to the band outside. Hanna had to admit that she was very impressed with everything that she saw. Tables and chairs were in abundance on the patio and grounds behind the house. Waiters continually circulated with a wide selection of food, pastries and drinks. The guest were able to have their fill. The band that was playing had an eclectic sound. They weren’t really rock or country, but a combination of the two. However, they were easy to dance to and their sound system didn’t overpower the conversation. To her, everything was reminiscent of the old classic movies which she loved so much. Glamour was the watchword, money was no object, and everyone appeared to be having a wonderful time. As she waited at one of the many bars to get herself a glass of white wine, she paused for a moment just to take in everything around her. The air was warm with the light scent of expensive perfume dancing on the gentle breeze. The clothes ranged from the classic black tie and formal gowns to brilliant fluorescence and revealing sheers. The atmosphere virtually bubbled with anticipation of the midnight hour which was fast approaching. “Isn’t this place incredible?” she asked the man standing next to her at the bar, giving him an appreciative glance as she turned to receive her drink. She brought the glass to her lips quickly to cover a smile when she saw the tie that he wore. It was obviously hand painted and most definitely by an abstract artist, but it was the tiny flashing lights that forced her to keep her eyes level with his. “Do you think so?” he returned, his eyes taking in every inch of her face, then the long length of her body as she took a sip from her glass. “You don’t think it’s kind of old- fashioned?” She nodded as she gave him a smile. “Oh it’s definitely old-fashioned, but that is the beauty of it. No one takes the time to put on those great old Hollywood parties anymore. And this,” she paused as she glanced around once more, “is a great party.” “I don’t believe we’ve met before,” he stated as he held out his hand to her. “You are?” “Hanna Miller,” she returned solicitously. “I’m kind of a party crasher,” she divulged in a conspiratorial whisper. “I just moved back into town and some friends of mine ask me to come along. I have to admit, when my friends told me that an architect was giving this party, I was expecting a long, boring evening, but this has been the best night I’ve had in a long time.” His lips twitched in a fraction of a smile, which he covered with a brush of his fingers against his mouth. “I’m glad you’re having a good time. Have you met many of the people here?” he asked conversationally. “A few. My friends have been keeping me on my toes in the name department, though. I can usually remember a face, but I’m horrible with names.” “So where are you friends?” he asked, taking a glance around to see who she was with that evening. “Don’t tell me that they have left you to fend for yourself?” “Oh no. Toni is trying to find our host and I snuck away for a drink. I have a feeling that I’m about to be set up with him and I want to make sure that I have a few of these in me first.” She lifted her glass in explanation, then took another sip. “Is that an aversion to men entirely or just that particular one?” he asked curiously. She smiled at the roundabout way he had of asking whether or not she was gay. She took a moment to brazenly look him up and down. That wouldn’t have been something that the men in Saint Paul would even consider, but it was practically a standard question in San Francisco. “No, I like men,” she assured him. “But, once bitten twice shy,” she said cryptically as one of the band members stepped up to the microphone to announce that they were in the final seconds of the year. As the countdown commenced, a flood of people from the house moved out onto the patio so that everyone could bring in the new year together. Then, when the zero hour was reached, a cheer rang out along with clatter of noisemakers and the traditional song began. Hanna joined in happily with the round of hugs and kisses even though they were coming from complete strangers as she craned her neck to see over the sea of people, hoping to find her friends. She finally gave up with a sigh as fireworks began to explode overhead and people started to couple up to share the first dance of the new year. There were simply too many people for her to be able to find her little group easily and she resigned herself to watching the ever-changing array of colors in the sky. If she had known that it was so close to midnight, she wouldn’t have left her friends so quickly. When she turned back to the bar to retrieve her glass of wine, she glanced up at the man beside her once more. She gave him an awkward smile, then jumped slightly when he abruptly closed the few feet between them and slipped an arm around her waist. She grabbed at his shoulders instinctively when he dipped her back unexpectedly, then his gaze locked with hers. His deep, penetrating brown eyes bore into hers for several breathless moments as she clung to him, then his mouth came down on hers in a kiss so complete that the world around them was obliterated. * * * |