Andrea Donovan Pt. 10 - Conclusion

"TIM, WILL YOU-" Andrea began to say in reprimand.

I never gave her a chance to finish her sentence, using her own momentum now, I pulled Andrea into my arms as I braced my butt against the car fender and threw a lip-lock onto Andrea; I soon broke away from her because of my own uncontrollable laughter. Andrea, trying very hard to remain indignant at my annoyance, suddenly started laughing herself and I even notice that Steel was laughing somewhat within the screen of the phone.

"Steel, can I call you back later? I've got a wild cowboy on my hands right now and he's out of control!" Andrea said into the phone, still smiling.

Andrea hung-up the phone with obvious frustration, I yanked her close to me again and we were soon leaning against the car and carrying on like a couple of young kids, I just couldn't stop laughing. It was almost like Andrea was an older girl in school and I was deliberately trying to piss her off and steal a kiss from her all at once ...apparently my ploy worked.

"What in the hell has gotten into you? Jesus!" Andrea exclaimed as we began to both calm down.

"I'm in-love with you, woman" I said seriously and looking her in the eye.

"You fuckin' better be!" Andrea said looking me deep in the eyes. We kissed again.

"Nice car, Amigo!" Someone suddenly said.

I looked up in time to see a guy drive slowly by us in a pristine sixty four Chevy Impala as he held up his soda can in salute.

"Thank you!" I said nodding, with Andrea still leaned over me.

"Let's get the hell out of here before we get arrested, Tim, people are starting to stare at us! What the hell have you done to me?" Andrea said as she quickly stood up and covered her face with one hand in exasperation and disbelief at the adolescent behavior which I had just provoked from within her during the last few minutes in the diner's parking lot.

Standing now myself, I looked up and noticed a couple of adolescent boys staring at us from a distance; obviously they'd been admiring the Ford coupe ...and Andrea. I made my solemn two finger salute toward them as if saying "Carry on now, gentlemen!" Both the young boys smiled and nodded their approval of the old Ford and most likely my public frolicking with Andrea as well.

We got into the old Ford with Andrea at the wheel again and left the diner.

"...Jesus, I can't BELIEVE that I let you get-away with that - IN PUBLIC!" Andrea said in exasperation as she drove the car now.

I sat in the passenger seat and started laughing all over again.

"Oh, you're a big help" Andrea said dismissively as she ran a hand through her hair and continued driving.

...We drove the fifteen minutes back to Arizona City at a casual pace and just enjoyed the quiet rumble of the little Ford's V-8 engine. The old Ford was a fun car to drive and very nostalgic for me, I had always loved the esthetics of the thirty four Ford coupe. Arriving back at the Texaco Andrea and I immediately noticed that the inner ram portion of the second floor hoist was now outside and propped up horizontally on large wooden blocks. We pulled up to the open front door to the foyer and exited the vehicle. Walking into the building I noticed Ricky now seated at the battered old desk with several more of the nineteen seventy Texaco colanders portraying Mindy Lane in front of him.

"Hey Ricky, how's it going in there?" I nodded toward the bays, and more specifically, the second floor hoist.

"They've been digging in there for the last thirty minutes and so far all they've found is dirt, no more stand-up safes" Ricky answered.

"I was hoping you'd say that, Ricky. Where's Brenda?" I asked.

"Talking to Andrea" Ricky nodded.

"...Oh, I didn't see her when we came in" I answered as I looked out the door again. Brenda was walking Yogi a hundred yards away with Andrea beside her now.

"We just had lunch and now she's taking Yogi for a stroll, Tim" Ricky said.

"...Where did you find these?" I asked, looking at the calendars.

"There's a whole bunch of them in the bottom of those grey cabinets, in the office, Tim." Ricky said.

"Oh, cool" I said, noticing that Ricky had now hung one of Mindy Lane's nineteen seventy calendars by the entryway door.

Ricky and I sat around for the next half hour just shooting the breeze as Indio and his crew disassembled the second floor hoist, it was just after two PM when I decided that I'd go for a bicycle ride since Ricky was holding down the fort. ...I wasn't exactly sure where Andrea and Brenda had suddenly gone to but decided to just let the ladies enjoy whatever it was they were doing, probably walking Pippi at the moment, I imagined. "Going for a bike ride Love U" I texted Andrea. I quickly received a reply from Andrea which read "With Brenda and Duffy - walking Pippi Yogi and Delight: Love U2"

"I'm going for a bike ride, Ricky, see you after while" I said standing.

"OK, Tim, have fun, I'll be here" Ricky replied as he remained seated behind the old desk.

...I walked the hundred yards to the ranch and got the bicycle from within the garage. Checking the odometer I then mounted the machine and began riding. The afternoon wind was picking up a bit but I didn't really mind, I just needed the solitude of the bike right now and immediately began to feel the euphoria of riding as I made my first turn within the neighborhood.

I speculated that Andrea would ride her own bicycle later in the day after Duffy rode Delight back home and Pippi was back within her "Casa" as Andrea described the stables. ...I suddenly took a deep sigh of relief; I was going to be extremely glad when the second car hoist was finally gone, once and for all. Maybe Ricky and I could start fixing the Texaco's roof once the coral and stable were completed. Indio had said that one of his buddies was interested in the large safe that had been buried beneath the first floor hoist - I'd be glad when that second safe was also gone.

John Light must have been a real piece of work, I now thought to myself as I pedaled the bicycle. How the hell did an ex-con and safe cracker hook up with a classy lady like Mildred Mayfield? ...The world is full of mysteries, my mother would often say. Obviously John Light had been an intelligent man, maybe one who'd just made some mistakes along the way in life, maybe he'd been an OK guy. Personally, I tried to steer myself away from people who'd done time. Ricky's friend "Tex" had done six years for fraud and tax evasion and was then released earlier this year with stipulations - one being that he wouldn't consume alcohol.

Tex had then wrecked a stolen car and been charged with possession of drugs, driving on suspended license and DUI five hours after his release... I speculated that the man was simply institutionalized now and couldn't help himself. Ricky had taken this latest news of Tex rather hard but had outwardly only shrugged. For my part, I'd never liked Tex and I don't think Brenda did either.

I kept pedaling the bike.

...Maybe it was easy for someone like me to stand in judgment of guys like John Light and Tex yet at the same time, we all make our own choices and I'd sure as hell rather cuddle with Andrea and be a free man then spend my life in an institution. I really don't think Tex cared, one way or the other, anymore and that was sad because he was also an intelligent man, his elaborate real-estate scams had proven that. The guy could have gone far in life if he'd only been honest with people. Maybe that was the difference between guys like Tex and guys like John Light. Apparently John Light had learned from his mistakes and Tex hadn't...

I rounded another turn now and began pouring on the coal to the bicycle pedals; the wind was at my back now and the sensation for me was similar to flying through thin air - God, I loved riding the bicycle!

...John Light certainly had reason enough to go straight, Mildred Mayfield A.K.A. Mindy Lane had been absolutely gorgeous, like Andrea. Secretly I concurred that both ladies were "Big League." ...I smiled as I thought of Andrea talking with her friend, Steel, earlier today and how I had deliberately tried and succeeded in annoying my wife during their phone conversation. Andrea and I had no problem with each other having platonic friends of the opposite sex and I'd simply been openly flirting with my wife. I laughed out loud now as I recalled her, very much annoyed, reactions to my adolescent antics this afternoon.

...I'll sure be glad when Indio and his guys finally finish-up with the Texaco today I nodded again to myself with a sigh of relief and extremely grateful for the man and his interest in the two antiquated floor hoists. Apparently the floor hoists were high quality pieces of equipment and there were said to be recent modifications from the manufacturer which Indio planned to use with the floor hoists installation which would make them even safer to operate - the guy knew what he was doing.

...I wiped the sweat off my face with my coat sleeve and now thought of Andrea again.

"I love you, Andrea Millhouse" I said aloud as I dove the bicycle back onto Country Club Way again for another lap around the neighborhood.

I rode my usual twenty miles around the neighborhood and just let my mind drift during the whole time. One thing I often noticed with the bicycle riding was that some thoughts, the important people and events within my life, were never far away from me. Andrea, Mom, Ricky and Brenda were always front and foremost in my mind. I also noticed that time really had no significance when compared to love and family. Love was ageless and infinitive in this regard, this was a relatively recent revelation for me.

...After two hours and ten minutes of riding I coasted the bicycle back into the Texaco's yard. Indio was rolling up the portable air compressor hose and there was only one of the yellow pick-up trucks remaining within the yard. Ricky now walked out from the little station's foyer and stood beside me.

"How'd it go for you guys today, Indio?" I asked, coming to a stop within a few yards of the other man.

"Good, Tim, we have back filled the hole and there were no safes hidden beneath the floor this time, my friend. What kind of bicycle is that?" Indio asked, staring at the bike.

"It's called a recumbent bicycle, Indio; this one is a BikeE, brand name. ...I'm glad that there were no glitches today with the floor hoist." I nodded with relief washing over me.

"We have a friend that wants the safe" Indio nodded toward his truck bed where the stand-up safe removed from beneath the first floor hoist was now laying flat with its dial and handle facing upward.

"Please tell the man, thank you, for me. I'm all too glad to see it go" I said honestly.

"He will clean it up and make good use of it, Tim" Indio said smiling.

Ricky and I shook hands with Indio, we were the only ones left at the Texaco and the sun was low on the horizon now.

"Please keep in touch, Indio, we would love to visit you and see your shop, sometime" I said.

"We will be friends a long time, Amigo" Indio replied, stepping into his truck.

"It's late in the day, go home and put your feet up now" I said as a parting gesture to Indio.

"You as well, gentlemen and thank you for the floor hoists" Indio said nodding as he started the truck's engine.

"You done here, Tim?" Ricky asked as Indio slowly left the yard with the air compressor in tow.

"Yes, let's lock this place-up and get outta here, Ricky" I said with finality.

"I'll do it, Tim, Brenda's already home and Andrea's waiting on you now. Maybe we'll see you tomorrow, Brother" Ricky said as we hugged briefly.

"Manana, Ricky, thanks for locking-up tonight" I said as I started the bicycle in the direction of home.

I stopped the bike and looked into the stables as I neared the garage. "Doing OK, young lady, how did you like Delight? Everything go OK today?" I asked Pippi, accompanied with a little petting.

Pippi seemed satisfied, and appeared ready to call it a day herself, so I bid her a goodnight and proceeded into the garage with the recumbent.

"Steak alright for tonight, Husband?" Andrea asked from the doorway separating the house and garage.

"Yes, thank you Honey" I said as she clicked the overhead door for me and I began to peel out of my sweat soaked shirt as the garage door started down its tracks.

"I've got some intriguing news to tell you when you get freshened up, Honey" Andrea said as she turned away from the doorway.

"K, I'll be right in, Andrea" I said as I threw my shirt into the washing machine.

A few minutes later I sat down to a wonderful meal, prepared for me by my wife.

"Love you" we each said as she leaned down and kissed me.

"I talked with Steel, AGAIN, - without INTERUPTIONS this time" Andrea began as she rolled her eyes at me and picked up her fork to begin eating.

I couldn't help smiling now "Really, what did he have to say?"

"...A gentleman named Stewart Hanes is going to visit us from California on Wednesday - a friend of Steel's. Stewart was Steel's mentor in the movie business" Andrea told me as she began eating again.

"And to what do we owe the pleasure of meeting this mister Hanes?" I asked chewing.

"He's an elderly gentleman that produced movies until the early nineteen eighties and he's extremely interested in Belle of Autumn's Master Reels, he said there might even be a finder's reward for their recovery. Apparently he even responded to your post on the webpage" Andrea explained.

"Wow, that is interesting ...this steak is wonderful by the way, Honey" I said nodding.

"Thank you, Tim. I talked briefly with mister Hanes while you were riding your bike and he explained to me that Belle of Autumn is actually considered as artwork and part of America's National heritage, similar to a painting, although the film's actual monetary value is considered rather minimal." Andrea said.

"It makes sense, as big a star as Mildred Mayfield was, that someone would want the piece for their own collection" I answered.

"Oh no, Tim, it won't go to a private collector, it'll be posted where the public can actually view the film and possibly even generate some revenue. Technically the movie is still considered by law, as someone's private property - the company that created it." Andrea explained.

"The movie company that made the film is still in business?" I asked.

"No, it was sold decades ago but the movie company that bought Wilson & Holbrook now own the rights to the film" Andrea said.

"He doesn't think we stole it, does he?" I asked.

"Of course not, Honey, - we weren't even born then, I simply told him that it was left here by unknown persons, which is the truth. Let's not mention the Lane's at all in any of this, Tim" Andrea said firmly.

"No, we won't" I said.

"...Tim, let's also not mention any of our own theories concerning Mildred Mayfield either, please" Andrea said, looking at me.

"No, Andrea, I don't want to be labeled as a conspiracy nut, in case this thing does make it to the News papers, so we'll just let it be" I said nodding slightly.

"It very well could make the News papers, Tim, and I think Mary Lane would appreciate our discretion in regard to the issue" Andrea replied.

"Andrea, in all honesty, let's also not accept any reward money either, that could boomerang back on us later down the road. Since the film is considered as National artwork let's let the people who rightfully own the movie, just have it back - it's theirs anyway." I said, rather tired of the subject all of a sudden.

"I was hoping you'd see it that way, Love. Here, I have something else to show you now" Andrea said smiling as she handed me her phone.

Andrea's phone was now showing a photo of two people in front of a large sign that read "WELCOME TO TEXAS!" The man, obviously a Police Officer complete with Uniform and Uniformed cowboy hat, smiled broadly as he held an extremely attractive woman from behind. The lady, dressed attractively also smiled widely as she held onto the man's forearm. I handed the phone back to Andrea as I began eating again.

"Looks like the arm has healed nicely, his heart doesn't appear to be doing too bad now either, with that wide smile. ...I was beginning to wonder about those two." I said without surprise in reference to Vic and Mary Lane's photograph.

Andrea began reading the message which the photo had been sent with "Thank you for inviting me to Pippi's house warming party and into your lives. I walked away with more than I could ever have dreamed of and I thank you for the cordial friendship which, especially you Andrea, showed to me in my moment of despair. You will always be considered as friend: Mary Lane."

"May they find peace and happiness together, Andrea" I said.

"I'll bet he makes Detective within a few years" Andrea said smiling happily and looking at her phone.

"I'll bet he does, at that, Andrea" I answered.

...

...I was exhausted and covered from head to toe with a brown dust which consisted of rust. I could taste and smell rust, my coveralls were stiff with rust powder and my hair was full of it. Presently the metal fold-up chair which I now sat in felt like a cushioned recliner inside the lobby of the finest hotel in the world, it felt wonderful to just sit and relax. Ricky, covered in dirt and splotches of dried cement, went to the old coke machine and popped in two quarters, he then pressed one of the machine's buttons a couple of times and two cans of Coca-Cola dropped into the dispenser duct with the familiar dunking sound.

"I haven't been able to get the refrigeration unit to work quite right yet so they might be just a bit warm, Tim" Ricky said handing me one of the Coca-Colas. ...My little brother had gotten the old Coke machine to actually work; I marveled at Ricky's ability as I stared at the antique machine and opened my soda can. I suddenly seemed to feel my Grandfather's presence with this acknowledgment of Ricky's accomplishment in fixing the old machine.

"Thank you" I said, the soda tasted delicious...

Andrea silently came across the Texaco's foyer and removed my safety goggles which were now down around my neck like a scarf, she then kissed me. Ricky sat down with his own soda in another fold-up chair, opposite of me.

"I'll take that mixer back in a few minutes, that way we won't get billed for another day, Tim" Ricky said.

"Oh hell, let's take it back tomorrow" I said tiredly.

"It's right on my way home, Tim" Ricky insisted.

"OK" I said, too tired to argue.

"We're down to two bags of cement so I think we called it pretty close on the post holes and floor hoists" Ricky nodded.

"I'll put those two bags on craigslist and they'll go" I said.

"...I'll take concrete work over wire-wheeling, any-day, Tim" Ricky said looking at my rust covered coveralls.

"Uh" I acknowledged with a nod and half closed eyes.

"You done wire-wheeling, ready for paint now?" Ricky asked, in reference to the completed coral and stables.

"Pippi's staying at Duffy's house right now and we can primer tomorrow" I said.

"The paint fumes wouldn't be good for Pippi so she's staying with Delight for a few days" Andrea now interjected.

"Not good for anyone" I said in regard to paint fumes.

"It's four thirty now, Tim, I'm gonna drag that thing over there" Ricky said in reference to the rented portable cement mixer as he stood up and drained the last of his soda.

"I'll help you hook-up" I said standing now and finished my own pop.

...Ricky soon left the Texaco's yard, driving the old battered Ford with the little bright orange mixer in tow. I went back inside the foyer with Andrea and sat down again as I closed my eyes.

I hadn't been seated two minutes when Andrea said "He's here."

Reluctantly, I go back up again as a late model grey Cadillac drove up to the open doorway of the foyer. Walking around to the front of the car I saw a man, who I guessed was around eighty years of age, as he placed the end of his walking cane onto the ground and then stood up from within the vehicle. He was a slight man in stature, probably five feet, six inches in height and immaculately dressed in a grey suit and tie. He was slender and his white hair was meticulously combed above an intelligent face with inquisitive grey eyes which looked at me now from behind large fish-bowl glasses. I noticed an expensive wristwatch and diamond rings on the manicured hands.