Part 353
"You two ready to go?" Bob Carter was standing waiting at the bottom of the stairs when Nick and Becca finally made their way downstairs.
"I suppose," Becca said hesitantly.
"Bec, he's gonna be fine." Nick had his arm around her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"What's wrong?" Bob asked his son.
Nick shook his head, not really wanting to get it all started again.
"I can't help it Nick, I'm allowed to be worried."
Bob smiled at them. "First time leaving Garrett, huh? I remember the first time your mother left you at home. She called home every twenty minutes and I finally just gave up, paid the check and took her home."
"I'm not going to be like that," Becca insisted, "I just …" she sighed. "Okay, so I am that bad. I can't help it."
"Baby, it's only for a couple of hours. We can relax, have a nice dinner …"
"You're sure its private?"
"Everything is all set, Becca. We know the owners, so there won't be any problems. Let me grab my keys and we can get going." Bob smiled sympathetically at his son and went to the hook in the kitchen to retrieve his keys.
"I'm sorry I'm such a pain," Becca said, biting her lip as she looked down at the floor.
"Baby, you're a new mom, it's ok. It's just for dinner and we'll be back before you know it. Besides, it's not like we're leaving him with some teenage stranger. GT's gonna have so much attention tonight he probably won't even miss us."
"You really think so?" Becca asked, her lip trembling and her eyes filling with hot tears.
"God, Bec, I meant that in a good way. I didn't mean that-"
"All right you two, let's take off," Bob said cheerfully.
"Thanks, Dad," Nick said with relief, taking Becca's hand and pulling her out the front door. Looking back, he saw that they were alone. "What about Billy?" Nick asked.
"Your mother gave him the night off. Besides, this place is about as secure as you can get. You'll see once you get there. Bob held the car door open with a flourish, covertly pressing a hankie into Becca's hand as he helped her into the back seat.
"Thanks," she whispered gratefully, blowing her nose as delicately as she could and trying to make the best of the situation. She'd really been looking forward to this, but when it came time to actually leave Garrett behind she'd come close to falling apart.
"So Dad, where are we going?" Nick pulled Becca against his side, his arm holding her close.
"Casa Bella," he replied. "Some friends of ours own it. They bought an old house and renovated the inside."
"They gutted it?" Becca asked with a frown.
"Not at all. Wait till you see it! They kept the original rooms and antique furnishings, and turned each room into a little private dining area. There's a bar, a larger room for big parties, and a covered balcony on the back that overlooks some of the most beautiful scenery around here."
Becca giggled. "You sound like a tour guide. Are they paying you for this?"
"There's a thought …." Bob laughed as he pulled the car into the deserted parking lot of a charming old two-story house.
"Are you sure they're open tonight?" Becca frowned.
"They don't open for another hour. I arranged for you two to be seated before the crowd to ensure your privacy."
"That's so sweet of you," Becca smiled. "And of the owners."
Bob helped her out of the car and grinned as she stood looking around. It appeared her earlier crisis was forgotten, at least for the time being.
"Dad, this is perfect. Thank you!" Nick slapped his dad on the back, grinning happily.
"Come on, let's go meet your hosts."
They walked up the front steps and through the leaded stained glass door into what appeared to be another world. As promised, the house was charmingly eclectic, and indeed had a dozen or more small dining rooms that were set with mis-matched china, silver and crystal.
"This is amazing!" Becca whispered. "Nick, I love this!"
"Thank you!" A deep voice spoke right behind them, and then laughed as Becca jumped.
"I'm sorry, I'm Teddy, one of the owners."
"Hey, nice to meet you," Nick said, extending his hand in greeting. "Thanks for doing this for us."
"No problem, man. Stuart and I are more than happy to help out."
"Stuart?" Becca asked.
"My partner." Teddy clarified. "Right now he's in the kitchen overseeing a minor crisis, but I'm sure he'll be out to meet you in a bit. Take a few minutes to look around, and then I'll show you to your seats."
"A private room, right?" Bob asked.
"Absolutely. In fact, your son and his wife have the entire upper sun porch to themselves."
Becca began to protest. "Teddy, that wasn't necessary."
"It's okay, this isn't one of our busier nights anyway, and I understand it's a special occasion for you two."
Nick smiled as Becca blushed. "First night out away from our newborn son."
"Painful, huh?" Teddy asked Becca, shaking his head sympathetically. "Well, we'll help you forget all about it. Look around, and meet me back by the bar. Then I'll show you upstairs."
Becca giggled as she watched him flutter away to find his elusive partner. "He's too cute," she said.
"Dad, his 'partner' –"
"Is not only his business partner," Bob laughed.
"So I gathered."
"You mean they're-" Becca broke off as full understanding hit her.
"They've been together for about fifteen years now," Bob said.
"Oh," she said, blushing again.
"Come on, Bec, let's go find them so we can order," Nick said. "I'm starved."
"And this is new how?" Becca laughed.
In minutes they were seated on the spacious sun porch, the cooling evening breeze blowing Becca's hair across her face. "Nick this is beautiful, thank you."
"Thank my mom and dad, this was their idea. I'm glad you like it."
"I do, and everything smells so good. How can I possibly choose?" She was staring at her menu. Not only the house was eclectic. The menu contained everything from the traditional pasta dishes, to seafood, to Mexican fare.
"Well," Nick hesitated, apparently having the same difficulty. "Why don't we get a couple of different things and share?"
They studied the menu intently, finally settling on a mixed appetizer plate, lobster fettuccini and something Mexican that Becca couldn't pronounce to save her life.
"You kill me, Bec. You're the one who can sing in four languages and you can't pronounce what you're about to eat?"
"Shut UP!" she pouted. "It's the wine's fault."
"One glass Bec, and you've only had two sips. Try again."
"It's because I haven't had anything to drink in so long," she huffed.
Nick smiled, loving the color that had come back into her cheeks and the way she'd seemed to come alive since she'd begun to relax. Reaching for her hand, he threaded his fingers through hers and leaned his head on his other hand, content to simply watch her.
"What?" she asked nervously, suddenly aware of the way Nick was looking at her.
"Nothing," he said. "I just like looking at you. I've missed this, Becca. The quiet times we used to have together… I mean, I know we will again, but the last few weeks have been so crazy. It feels good to just take some time for you and me."
"Yes, it does," she sighed. "It will be nice once we finally get back home. We can put down roots a little, you know?"
"Well, yeah, but-"
"I know, Nick. There will always be appearances and trips, but I'm still looking forward to being in my own house again. Or yours."
"My domestic goddess," he grinned. "I never quite pictured you in the role, Bec."
"Neither did I, Nick, but I'm enjoying it. I want to go home and take care of Garrett and bake and clean and-"
"Clean?! Bec, are you coming down with something?" Nick leaned forward to press his hand to her forehead.
"No smart guy, and you'll remember that it was YOUR laptop that was hiding inside a pizza box on your bus?" She waved a shrimp at him to make her point before losing the fight to remain serious. "I know I’m going to be busy, but with all the plans we're making for the foundation and talking about me getting into music again … I feel really good about it all, Nick."
"I can tell," he smiled. "Pretty soon you'll be more famous than me."
"Bite your tongue, I will NOT. And I have no desire to be." She picked at her food for a moment, deep in thought. "I just want to help, Nick."
"I know you do, Bec." Nick sat back and watched the expressions change on her face as she chose her words.
"I made so many mistakes, Nick. And there are so many others out there that are just like I was, naïve and vulnerable and lost. By the grace of God I was spared, and I have to believe that was for some larger purpose."
"Then you're on the right track, baby, and I'll do whatever I can to help."
They finished their meal in comfortable silence, every so often reaching for the other's hand to give a reassuring squeeze. Stuart cleared away their dishes, and promised dessert soon, leaving them alone once again. Soft music wafted up the stairs, and Becca closed her eyes to listen, not realizing that Nick heard her sigh. She opened her eyes to find him standing by her chair, holding out a hand.
"Dance with me?" he whispered, his eyes sparkling and smiling that irresistible grin of his.
Silently she took his hand and he pulled her into his arms, swaying gently to the slow melodies. Becca rested her head on Nick's chest, feeling his comforting warmth and strength and melted into his embrace. "I love you," she whispered contentedly.
Nick smiled and rested his cheek against her hair. "I love you too, Bec. More than I will ever be able to tell you." His hand reached up to cup her cheek, and he trailed his fingers down her neck, stopping at the hollow of her throat. "You're wearing it again."
Becca looked up and smiled. "I found it in my bag this morning. They took it off of me in the hospital and it must have gotten packed away."
Nick gently lifted the diamond heart in his fingers, watching as the stones caught the light and sparkled. "My first Christmas gift to you," he mused.
"I didn't get you anything nearly as fancy," she said.
"No, you gave me something much better. You gave me 'you'."
They both sighed happily as they remembered Nick's impulsive proposal last Christmas and Becca's acceptance. It was a Christmas neither would ever forget. A discreet sound from the doorway caught Nick's attention, and he looked up to find his father waiting in the shadows, pointing at his watch. Closing his eyes tightly, he held Becca closer, wanting just another moment to savor the normalcy, the privacy of their time together.
Nodding his head in understanding, Bob quietly slipped back downstairs to the waiting car.
As always, Becca seemed to know what he was thinking.
"It's time to go, isn't it."
"Yep, I need to get you home Cinderella, before our coach turns into a pumpkin."
Becca stayed wrapped in his arms, not wanting to leave any more than Nick did. "I dunno, your dad would make a cute mouse…"
That did it. They both got the giggles, and the spell was broken. Nick leaned his forehead against hers, wishing they could stay here forever. "Thank you, Becca."
"For what?"
"Tonight. Just for coming out with me, and trusting my family enough to let them make this happen for us."
"I love that they did this for us, Nick. It makes me feel like they've really accepted me."
"I knew they would, baby. How could they not?"
"Kiss me?"
It was a request he couldn't deny. He knew time had run out, but he pulled her close, practically lifting her off the floor. Their lips met and he kissed her slowly, completely, his breath becoming hers and then being returned to him in the next heartbeat. It was the perfect end to a perfect evening, and they left in silence, slipping unnoticed down the back stairway and into the waiting car.