Saffron and Sam Ch. 17

When we got to the studio, the musicians had already laid down three tracks for Charlie to sing to. I watched and listened as she did her magic and realized this girl really was a perfect fit for this kind of music. She really put her powerful voice to work and I felt privileged to watch her make history.

As we listened to the finished product, I couldn't help but think she was a true star. I was so glad and she came down here and took the opportunity given her.

As we were driving back to the house we started conversing again and I couldn't hold back any longer with what I felt.

"Charlie you are going to have a fantastic career." As I slid into her hugging of my left arm. I slid my arm around her and kissed her on the lips.

"That depends on my sophomore album Sammy. Who knows, I could be a one-hit wonder."

"I truly doubt that; the hair on the back of my neck stood up when I heard those songs you sang."

"Yancey was right you know; you could write songs well for people. You could also have a future, if you wanted it."

"I don't think so; I could write for you so well because I know you and your personality. I wouldn't have that advantage with other people."

"Just do your research; you were always very good at that. You bring a refreshing style to the music. That could be a big advantage."

"I think I'll just stick with my computers for the future. But always be willing to help you; if you need me."

****************

We spent the entire rest of my week seeing the sights around Nashville and playing in bed. I couldn't refuse the joy of having sex with this beautiful lady, although I felt frustrated. Then she really lowered the boom on me as she took me to the airport.

"Think of something Sammy; will you? Consider coming down here and writing for me. I would really love you to do that. You don't have to answer now, you're welcome any time. I've got something on my mind, so I may have a proposition for you later. I'll be in contact with you."

"I don't think I'm going to change my mind Charlie, but I'm flattered by the offer. This whole trip has been so surreal. Let's say our goodbyes now," as I gave her a passionate kiss and she hugged me like she was never gonna see me again.

I took out my phone and made a call to Roxy. "Hey beautiful lady, how are you?"

"I'm great loverboy; where have you been all week. Where are you anyway?"

"I'm at the airport in Nashville getting ready to board a plane for home. I wanted to make you a proposition."

"I like the sound of that already. What are you gonna propose to me?"

"Settle down Roxy, it's not what you think. Can you get off on Monday and Tuesday and fly down to Dallas with me."

"Absolutely, I've got plenty of sick days. What are we doing?"

"Picking up my new airplane; well at least it's new to me."

"My aren't you becoming royalty?"

"Don't worry Roxy, you're my friend, I won't forget the little people."

"Okay asshole, I need to make some arrangements. I'll call you if there's any problem. By the way, thank you so much for asking me. I've never been to Dallas."

"Well, don't get too excited Roxy; we won't be there that long. But I'll arrange at least to have dinner with you the evening that we're there."

After I went through the security screening I sat and waited for my flight and a few people came up to take my picture. I just smiled nicely for them and scowled after they took it. What an invasion of privacy. They didn't even ask they just came up and snapped away. The funny thing was, I even felt less than a nobody; still wallowing in my self-loathing.

The flight was relatively uneventful. All of my self-deprecating was balanced by the emotional high I felt from my time with Charlie and recording sessions. I felt a major sense of accomplishment, which made the flight go quicker. This trip was to start what I considered my age of atonement.

****************

As I landed at the airport at 5 PM, I thought I would start with the hardest thing I had to do. After claiming my bag, I got into my truck and drove over to the Halsey Aviation hangars, parked my truck, and went inside to face the music. As I walked in to the office, Buck was setting at the desk doing some paperwork. He noticed me instantly as I walked in, giving me a rather strange look.

"Hello Sammy, how are you? Right up front, I want to say that I'm sorry that you and Ally didn't work out. I thought you were really good for her, but I warned you what she was like."

"It wasn't all her fault Buck; I don't think she ever really got a fair shot. I wasn't totally over my last girlfriend. Her jealousy was a problem in the relationship and it wasn't warranted. However, some of the blame was mine. By the way, is she around?"

He pointed up with one finger and said, "She'll be down any time, she's got studying to do. Do you think there's a chance that you two might get back together?"

"I don't think so Buck. I think I'll wait for her; I'd like to talk things out with her."

"That's really a pity Sammy; you would've made a good son-in-law."

"Thank you Buck; coming from you, that's a major compliment. I hope you realize how much I think of you and respect you? And by the way, I really appreciate you handling all that auction stuff for me. I feel very lucky winning the bid for that aircraft. You're a good friend. Thank you."

"Don't start getting all misty eyed on me boy. This doesn't mean we're going to be taking long beach walks in the evening."

I just started laughing real hard and walked outside to wait for Ally. It wasn't long before I saw one of their planes making a landing and taxiing up to the hangar and lining up to be pushed into the hangar. Ally got out, looked at me, shook her head and walked over.

"What do you want drummer boy?" she said in a rather sarcastic tone. She just walked around the aircraft basically ignoring me. I finally walked over and blocked her way.

"I came here to apologize to you Ally and hopefully set things right."

"You can grovel all you want Sammy, I'm not taking you back."

"I don't want you to take me back. I want to apologize because I never gave you a fair chance. You were right the first day we talked when you said I was still carrying a torch for CC. I never really got over her and realized I'm still in love with her. Granted your jealousy is a major pain in the ass in any relationship. You really need to get over that and learn to trust your significant other. I was totally monogamous during our relationship and you never seemed to appreciate that. But our relationship failing was as much my fault as yours."

"Do you feel better now? It sure didn't take you long to get over it, did it? I saw all the tabloids in the grocery store and had to suffer the embarrassment of people in my classes showing me those papers with you and Charlie's pictures on them. How do you think that made me feel? You out all those places with the 'Bad Girl of Nashville' on all kinds of cavorting rendezvous'? It was embarrassing."

"First of all, I was there to work, not to cavort, as you put it." Secondly, you shouldn't believe everything you read in the tabloids. Everywhere we went, we were ambushed by paparazzi. I was there to rewrite a song and help her with the recording. That was all."

"You helped a major country music star record? And you just happened to rewrite a song for her? Tell me some more bull shit and I'll get out a shovel. Just admitted Sammy, you were down there fucking her."

"I came here to tell you that I never really gave you a chance and this is the bull shit you want to talk about. Okay, yes we fucked, that's what we used to do best. I'm telling you the truth; you can believe it or be stubborn and not believe it. But we were finished and I would've remained celibate if we were still together when I went down there. So you can think what you want or you can accept my apology. Either way, have a nice evening, I'm out of here."

I turned and walked away as I heard her say under her breath, "Asshole." I just kept walking, while thinking she needed to get over it or she wouldn't; I was hoping she would.

****************

As I drove to my parents' house, I couldn't help but think that this atonement thing was nothing that was going to be easy.

I reached my parents' home and knocked as I went in. My mother was happy to see me and gave me a big hug. My father sat at the kitchen table apparently going over some household bills and told me to sit down. Mom asked me if I wanted a Coke and had immediate can as I sat down.

My mother looked at me rather sternly and said, "So my son is a tabloid object now?"

"You too, mom?"

"Well I do go to the grocery store and they're all displayed on the checkout racks. What you expect? What are you doing down there anyway? Were you just down there for a fling? What about Ally?"

"Ally and I broke up before we left, her jealousy got way too out of hand. And no I wasn't down there for a fling. I was actually down there rewriting a song for her to record."

That changed the tone immediately and she began getting all giddy saying, "Oh Sammy, that's fantastic. Did they like it? Did they actually record it? Are you going to see any money from it? Is my son going to be famous?"

"If you'll stop asking questions and let me talk you might get some answers. They recorded it and it will be on her next album. I'll probably see some money from it; that's what I want to talk to you about. I have an idea I want to talk about. Were you able to take care of the check for the aircraft?"

"Yes I did, I took care of it immediately after you called. What's that all about anyway? That's an awful lot of money. You're not going to turn into one of these people that spends their money wildly when they get control over it, are you?"

"No mother, it was just a golden opportunity that I couldn't let slide by. By bidding in an auction I got an aircraft worth three quarters of $1 million for a $500,000. You knew this was going to happen sooner or later; I told you I was going to buy an aircraft. You've been handling the finances quite well and I would like you to take any money I get from the songs I wrote for Charlie to set up a foundation for scholarships or music students from my high school."

"Oh Sammy, that's so wonderful," as she started crying and hugged me so tightly I thought she would squeeze through my back. My dad got up and started patting me on the back telling me how proud he was of me. At that particular moment, my self-loathing took a back burner to one of pride. "Wait till your sister hears this; she's on her way over for dinner, you can stay can't you?"

"Saffron and I aren't exactly getting along that well at the moment. But yes I can stay."

I could smell something really good and asked her what we were having. She said baked chicken and I looked over at dad and began my little rant.

"Dad, you should've tasted the fried chicken that I ate at Charlie's house. Her housekeeper, Angela Farmer, made the best fried chicken I've ever eaten in my life. If she was over here she could definitely give Ambrosia's a run for its money. And she makes the flakiest pie I've ever sunk my teeth into. The food was fantastic.

"How is Charlie doing son?"

"She is really living the life mom, but as you saw from the tabloids the paparazzi are a pain in the ass. She does have a brilliant career ahead of her and I'm really glad for her. She is still a good friend. It was really like walking on Mars being down there recording songs. She let me get back into my music a little bit."

Saffron got there and asked me in a rather snarky tone, "Well, did you enjoy your little frolic all over Nashville with that slut Charlie? You're an embarrassment to the whole family; I hope you know that."

"First of all, she's no more of a slut than you are. Secondly, we were just two friends enjoying the nightlife of Nashville. It's none of your business anyway."

My mother stepped in rather quickly and said to Saffron, "Your brother didn't do anything wrong Saffron and in fact, we are very proud of him in this family. I don't want to ever hear you speak that way to him again."

"Where's CC Saffron? For a couple, you two sure are apart a lot."

"What do you mean a 'couple' Sammy? What does he mean by that Saffron?"

"He's just being a smartass mother. To answer your question Sammy, she's down at her old house talking to her parents. What you care anyway?"

"Just being a caring brother sis."

We ate our supper in relative calm with Saffron giving me some dirty looks along the way. I basically ignored her and let her go through her silent temper tantrum until we were done with dessert.

"Mom, you mind if I go down and see if you got a DVD that I want to watch?"

"Of course not Sammy, go down and find what you need."

"I'll try to find it quickly and get out of your hair; I've got to go back and wash clothes for my trip with Roxy down to Dallas tomorrow to pick up the aircraft."

"Oh, you're taking Roxy with you? That ought to be nice."

"It's better to take someone with you, it's a long flight and I thought she might enjoy it. She liked flying with me the time she went up with me."

I went downstairs and was picking through DVDs, when Saffron came down and sat on the couch behind me. "So, you've replaced me with Roxy, huh?"

"I haven't replaced you with anybody; our current relationship is you're doing, not mine. You're the one that chose to treat me so hatefully that night at your place and talk to me like I was some kind of a dog. I know I made mistakes and I regret them. I warned you that this would happen several times when we had our liaisons; I was afraid you would grow to hate me."

"I wanted somebody to go with me and didn't think you would want to; so I asked Roxy. I would love for you to be taking that flight with me; to be able to share my excitement with you, but not in your current state of attitude toward me. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to deter you from our first time of sex together; I should've been stronger and I bear full blame for that."

"What I'm telling you Saffron is I'm very sorry that I hurt you; that was never my intention."

"Sammy, I don't hate you; I'm just frustrated and disappointed, that's all."

"Why should you be frustrated and disappointed; you have CC."

"Sammy, I think we both made mistakes; I'm sorry I talked to you that way. I really love you as my brother."

She came over and gave me a big hug and kissed me on the cheek and I asked her for a favor.

"When I get my house built out on Beggar's Bluff, could you help in the decoration; I'm not any good at that stuff."

"I'll be glad to do that for you little brother. I'll be glad to help you spend your money."

I found the DVD I wanted and left for home. When I got home I put my clothes from the trip in the wash and started packing for my excursion to pick up the aircraft. I just put everything in my carryall and went to sleep for the night. I woke up Monday morning, got dressed in khakis, a comfortable button-down shirt, my running shoes and ate some breakfast. I drove over to mom's and got the cashier's check and drove over to pick up Roxy. She came out of her apartment in bounds and looked very excited, as well as very beautiful.

****************

"Good morning lover; how are you this fine Monday morning?"

"Concerned, if you must know; if you have been jumping any harder those puppies of your's would've knocked you out," as she lightly punched me and blushed a very deep red.

"So that's the way this is going to be. Remember one thing lover, paybacks are a bitch. Just remember you started it."

We drove to the airport and I picked up our tickets. She checked her suitcase and I carried mine through the security checkpoints and inspections and as we went through the line they asked us why we were traveling and I said, "Business," as she said, "Pleasure." This got us pulled over for a special screening from the always astute TSA. They don't like conflicting answers to travel questions. After we finished getting practically mugged we went to the gate for our flight and she looked at her ticket and started in on me.

"So you're flying me coach huh? I'm not used to being treated like this; I'm first class only."

"Yes you are first class only, but did you realize that I'm flying you home in an aircraft worth 3/4 of $1 million. You're flying home in style; the least you can be is tolerant of being stuffed into a seat beside me, the same as I am."

"Oh my God Sam, $750,000. That's more than a lot of us will make in a lifetime."

"Don't worry; I got a bargain at $500,000."

"Sammy my good friend, you never fail to amaze me. I feel like I'm traveling with royalty."

"My dear Roxy, you are, you are. It would behoove you to remember that."

She punched me on the shoulder again as we sat there and talked; our about our lives. I told her when I got back that I was going to start building my house out at Moaning Lake. She just sat there with her mouth open wide enough that she could have caught flies if they'd flown by.

Our flight was called and we boarded the plane on time and sat in our assigned seats, which were next one another. I was in the middle seat and I let her have the window seat so she could look out. We landed the Dallas-Fort Worth airport a little before 4 PM and after retrieving her bag, we walked to information to find out the directions to the particular hangar where my aircraft was stored.

We found out it was clear across the tarmac and the airport sent a golf cart to ferry us over to a large hangar across the airport. It actually took us to the large collection of West hangers. I found the hangar number that I was supposed to go to and went into the office. I talked to an employee in the office and he told me the man contacted him and that he would complete the transaction, give me the papers and logs for the plane, and he would see me at 10 o'clock in the morning. He showed me to where the plane was and Roxy and I walked over to look at it. It was a beauty, looking all shiny and new; although it was a year old. It was my first plane and I was in love with it. We thanked the employee, who couldn't seem to take his eyes off Roxy, and left to check into the hotel.

We took the hotel shuttle and went to the desk to check in. I had gotten a reservation for two rooms and the clerk asked me if I needed anything else and I told her no. Roxy spoke up, not unsurprisingly to me.

"You could save some money and just get one room. I won't bite - much."

"Roxy, behave yourself; you're being the old Roxy."

"Not true Sammy, the old Roxy wouldn't have talked to you at all, let alone be on this trip with you."

"True, definitely true."

We took our bags upstairs, showered and dressed for dinner. I had gotten us 7:30 PM reservations for Abacus, a famous Dallas restaurant with an excellent reputation.

When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated in a very cozy corner. The ambience of the restaurant was subtle, but romantic; the restaurant living up to its reputation. We ordered a bottle of wine and ordered our dinner. Roxy had a bacon wrapped filet mignon and I had a house specialty seafood platter. The food was excellent and we both had strawberry topped New York cheesecake for dessert.

"Sam Sanderson, are you trying to get me tipsy and get in my panties."

"Roxy, I'm just sharing a friendly dinner with a beautiful woman."

"It wouldn't have done you any good anyway Sammy, I'm not wearing any," as I choked on my food and spit all over the table. Roxy busted out laughing and gave me a 'gotcha' look.

"Roxy, you should be locked up somewhere."

"I know just the place too; room 343 at the airport Hilton."