You Don't Know Me | A Andy Gibb What If Story

Chapter 38

"Violet this exhibit is incredible," I told her as we waltzed through the exhibit.

"Thank you. I am so glad that three of my pieces are featured. I never thought I'd be featured in a modern art museum," she remarked.

"You better believe it," Andy encouraged.

As we walked through the exhibit, I was full of pride for Violet. She really finally made it on top of the world. 

There were people of many minds and many coats of life. Violet was the youngest featured in the exhibit. 

"Isn't it weird we are the youngest ones here?" I asked Andy in a whisper.

He chuckled.

"What do you mean darling?" Andy asked as he looked around.

Then, he stopped as he noticed a lot of older men with grey hair smiling back at us.

"See," I whispered as we smiled back.

"I didn't even notice 'cause I've always been with people older than me," Andy commented as Grandma and Violet disappeared to the refreshments table.

"And no one has taken pictures of us?" Andy asked.

"No which is strange," I remarked.

"It's kind of nice for everything to feel normal," he commented happily.

"Right," I remarked as we walked to get some refreshments.

Violet looked nerve-wracked.

"What's the matter?" I whispered to her.

"I'm supposed to meet the mayor here in 5 minutes," Violet told me.

"You'll be fine," I told her.

She sighed as she did a breathing exercise like we taught her in AA. Andy joined Grandma at the refreshments table.

"I know I'll probably never meet him again but it's nerve-wracking," Violet commented. 

"What's the mayor's name?" I asked her.

"Ed Koch," she replied.

"Okay Ed Koch got it," I remarked.

Andy brought me a cookie and a cup of punch.

"Thank you, Andrew," I told him.

"Of course darling," Andy told me.

"Okay I'm going to stand right here while Mayor Koch comes to talk to you," I told Violet.

"I got this," she told me.

"Yes you got this," I told her as I stepped aside with Andy.

The mayor was now walking in. They were clapping and giving him the whole nine yards.

"She looks really radiant," I whispered to Andy as Violet did her thing.

"You both do. I ain't just saying that," he told me.

I smiled at him.

We enjoyed our refreshments while Violet got to talk to the mayor about her struggles, her new path to life, and everything in between.

Before we knew it, the entire thing was over.

We went back to the hotel for the night. But before we did, Violet pulled me aside as Andy and Grandma made it back up to the rooms. We stayed in the lobby of the hotel walking through and looking at the brochures briefly.

"Hey I wanted to tell you something but you cannot tell Andy," Violet told me.

My eyes went wide.

"What? Is he cheating?" was my first instinct question.

"No no oh my god. I wanted to tell you I had called ahead to tell the photographers and such not to take photos of you guys. I want things to stay kind of calm and normal between you two. I hope I didn't step on any toes," Violet expressed.

"Wait you did that? For us?" I asked her.

She shook her head.

"Yes I did that cause I can see how happy you two are. And you two are not in the spotlight together. I know eventually you two will have to go public but for now, you two deserve this secret love," Violet explained.

I turned to hug her. No one ever cared for me as much as Violet did or now how Andy does.

"So until it's time for you two to be public public, let's keep it our little secret," Violet told me as we separated in a hug.

"Thank you Violet for this. It really meant a lot to me but I know it meant a lot to Andy," I told her.

"We better go up to our rooms before they get suspicious," Violet joked.

"Ha-ha very funny," I told her as we took some of the brochures with us.

We went up to our rooms for the night. I knocked on the door since I let Andy keep the key.

Andy was undoing his shirt cuffs when he opened the door.

"I thought Violet took you away forever," he teased.

"Shush," I remarked as I walked in.

"Tonight was really lovely all around. I hope Violet really basked in it," Andy told me.

"She did. That's sort of why she pulled me aside. She can't believe how much is happening for her," I told Andy as I took my shoes off.

I am so thankful I went for flats instead of heels.

"I can imagine. I remember those early days of success," he told me as he put the cuff links back in the box he had them in.

I glanced at the clock. It was after 9. I really wanted to get ready to wind down for the night.

"Would you mind if I went ahead and showered already?" I asked Andy.

Andy laughed.

"Darling, you don't need my permission to do that. If you are ready to shower and go to sleep, go right ahead," he told me.

I smiled at him.

"I just," I remarked.

He cut me off by kissing me.

"Shush now go get relaxed. I'll follow suit," he told me.

I sighed happily as I went to gather my stuff.

We had a few more days in New York and a lot of things to do in a short time.

"What is on the agenda for tomorrow?" I asked Andy as I got my pajamas and stuff together.

"Well I think we have the tour of the Empire State Building booked right for noon?" he asked as he looked for the brochure we had with all the info on it.

"Yes that's right," I replied as I took my hair out of the high ponytail.

"So that plus breakfast at that one spot down the street?" he confirmed.

"Oh right Violet was ranting and raving about it," I chuckled as I grabbed my towel and pajamas to head to the bathroom to shower.

Andy chuckled as I disappeared to the bathroom.

After I got ready, I came out and Andy went to do his thing.

I flipped the channels to find something to put on as background noise as I did my hair and normal night routine.

After 20 minutes of me being myself, Andy was finally done.

"The shower pressure sucks," Andy remarked after opening the bathroom door.

I laughed.

"What?" I asked him.

"I keep thinking it'll get better but it is not the same as the shower back at my house," Andy commented as he went to brush his hair.

I chuckled. 

To another night in New York.