by J E Grace
She unlocked the door and turned on the neon sign stating she was open for business and walked over to her desk putting her briefcase down. She punched the button to turn on the music, and a soft rhythmic guitar solo filled the air, and she found herself humming along.
She had just finished starting a pot of coffee in the kitchen when the phone rang.
“Good morning, Shadow Lake Realty, Samantha speaking.”
“It’s Beverly. I’m heading back to the office. Is there anything you need?”
“I was running late this morning, so breakfast didn’t happen. Would you mind picking up a couple of scones from the bakery? I know, I’m bad but what can I say. Some days you have to give in to the urge,” said Samantha turning in her chair to face the front.
“Sure. No problem. I could use one myself.”
“How did the inspection go? Any problems?” asked Samantha.
“Mr. Benham seemed to be pleased, but the inspector said it would be a couple of days before we get the final report,” said Beverly.
“I can’t imagine anything coming up. The prior owners kept on top of any repairs. I’m going to give Jonathan a call and see if I can show him the house over on Foothills Rd if he’s free this afternoon.”
“Oh, it’s Mr. Benham, but your new client is, Jonathan. I see how you roll. Don’t tell me this new guy isn’t someone special. This is the first time I’ve heard you call a client by their first name,” said Beverly trying hard not to snicker.
“Okay, whatever. See you when you get here,” said Samantha laughing to herself. If Beverly wasn’t such a good friend, her remark might have irritated her. But she had a point. Why did he seem to be more than a client to me? I better watch myself. I’m crossing a line that I swore I wouldn’t.
Chapter 17
S amantha called Jonathan, and he agreed to meet her at the office at four p.m. to follow her over to the house. At least that way, he wouldn’t be riding with her. The idea of them being next to each other in her car sent her imagination reeling.
She awoke early that morning and had stopped at the Marina for breakfast and a short walk out on the pier. Ed had even taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to have coffee at her table. He was upbeat and always lifted her spirits.
She was leaving the lot when she heard an ambulance. A cold chill ran through her. A dark memory from her past came rushing in dragging her down into a bottomless pit. She got into her car before the dizziness overtook her. That fateful day when her father was rushed to the hospital and succumbed to a heart attack would always be in the back of her mind waiting for something to trigger it.
Samantha took a deep breath and started her vehicle exiting the lot. She said a silent prayer for God to give her the strength to accept what she couldn’t change. Her father was with the Lord and knowing that gave her peace, but her heart still ached from his absence. They had such a close relationship. She could talk to him about anything, and he was her rock when she was growing up. She arrived at the office a short while later, although she couldn’t remember much of the drive.
She grabbed a cup of coffee and went over the schedule for the following week with Beverly when a young teenage delivery man entered the office carrying a vase with an arrangement of yellow roses.
“Can I help you?” asked Samantha wondering if he had the right office.
“You can if you’re Samantha Dunning,” he said smiling at her.
“I am.”
“Then these are for you,” he said handing her the flowers. “Have a nice day.”
Samantha quickly checked the card, and a look of disapproval crossed her face.
“Hey, girl why the long face?” said Beverly as she sniffed the roses. “These are gorgeous. Who are they from?”
“I’ll give you one guess,” said Samantha sitting down at her desk.
“Calvin,” she said walking around the corner of the desk whispering in her ear. “He did seem bummed when you didn’t show up the other day.”
“Yeah, well. I don’t want anything to do with the man, except on a professional basis.”
“Maybe you’re jumping to conclusions, and he just wants to thank you for a job well done,” said Beverly walking over to her desk. “After all, they do brighten up the room.”
“They do that all right. I better get some work done if I’m going to be ready when Jonathan gets here.”
“You mean I might get a look at him. He has to be something for you to go gaga over him,” said Beverly. “I promise I’ll look from across the room.”
“Get to work. Make sure the Connor closing is on track. They indicated that they might want to close early,” said Samantha her face scrunched up in a smirk.
“I’m on it,” said Beverly as she walked over to the file cabinet pulling out their file.
A couple of hours later while Beverly was getting a cup of coffee, she heard the bell on the front door indicating that someone came in. She looked in the immediate direction and saw what she considered a handsome man. That must be Jonathan. Now she knew why Samantha felt the way she did. He was gorgeous. Not the same way that Calvin was, but he looked like the rugged outdoorsy type like you would see on the front of a romance novel.
~
Samantha looked up and saw Jonathan walking towards her. She rose from her desk and greeted him with a smile.
“Hi, Samantha. I’m here to look at the house. I’m a little early, but I hope that’s okay,” he said.
“Would you like something to drink before we go. I have coffee or bottled water,” asked Samantha.
“A water would be great. Thank you,” Jonathan said taking a seat at her desk.
Samantha went to get water from the frig and while she was gone Jonathan couldn’t help but notice the huge flower arrangement that sat on the corner of her desk.
A card was lying in front of him, and even though he knew he shouldn’t, he had to take a quick look. The note was addressed to Samantha and said, “I missed you today.” Calvin.
Samantha returned with the water, but she had to say his name twice before he finally acknowledged her and took the water from her hand. “I’m sorry, I guess I was daydreaming. I have a lot to think about when considering a new location. I’m ready whenever you are,” he said as he got up.
Samantha grabbed her purse and keys from her desk and headed towards the door with Jonathan close behind.
“Beverly, I’ll call you after I show the house. Maybe we can meet up somewhere for dinner. Are you free?” asked Samantha.
“Not tonight. I have to go to Dad’s and fix dinner for him,” said Beverly.
“Okay. I’ll pick something up then on my way home. Have a good weekend. Unless something comes up I’ll see you Monday,” said Samantha as she left the office.
Samantha got into her car and watched as Jonathan walked over to his silver Jeep. It was the type of vehicle she would have expected him to drive. Whoa, now I’m stereotyping people. What is wrong with me?
Chapter 18
S he pulled out of the parking lot and followed traffic up the hill and turned off onto Foothill Rd. At the end of the block, she parked at the curb in front of the house and Jonathan pulled up behind her and got out, giving the home the once over.
“Well, what do you think. Is the style to your liking?” Samantha asked walking up the front porch with Jonathan close behind.
“Very nice. Victorian’s are one of my favorites, and it looks as though it has been kept up. The roof looks good,” he said as he climbed the steps.
Samantha fished her key card out of her pocket and unlocked the lockbox on the railing. She took the key and turned it in the lock, and a couple of seconds later they were inside.
Jonathan strolled through the main room stopping a second to check out the staircase going upstairs. He smiled when he saw that the house appeared to have all the original crown moldings, pocket doors, and polished hardwood floors he liked.
“Everything seems to be in fine shape. So far, it’
s pretty much move-in ready. Maybe a few minor partitions between a room or two but nothing I can’t handle. How long has it been empty?” Jonathan asked making his way over to the fireplace.
“Only a couple of months. The owner’s husband passed away, and she went to live with her daughter in Denver. She is anxious to sell as she doesn’t want to keep paying for the upkeep. The asking price is within the range for this type of house. I believe the price could be negotiable,” said Samantha as she walked over to the main entrance. “I thought there might be enough room here for a reception area.”
“I think it could work fine. Well, I’m satisfied with the downstairs area. Plenty of room for what I need,” he said. He walked towards the staircase and stopped at the top of the landing. He watched as Samantha rose to meet him.
“There is a large bedroom, small kitchen, living room, and bathroom. It appears someone used the upstairs as an apartment at one time,” Samantha said following him.
Jonathan smiled at her before walking into the bedroom. It was a reasonably large room. The living room was much larger and had a gas burning fireplace.
He stood looking out the window at a patio area. The yard had a privacy fence which was a plus. The kitchen was small but economical.
“This is very nice. I’m satisfied with the inside but would like to check out the backyard,” Jonathan said heading for the stairs.
“There is also a sunroom off the back of the house which you might enjoy. We can go out that way,” said Samantha as she made her way down the stairs. She hoped she didn’t trip. She could sense Jonathan’s eyes on her, and her heart skipped a beat.
They made their way through the living room and past the downstairs bathroom and laundry area. A door closed off that area from the sunroom that ran the entire length of the back of the house. Windows covered each side of the room with an unobstructed view of the yard.
Jonathan turned the lock and stepped down onto the patio. His eyes surveyed the yard with its many shade trees and shrubs. A walkway wove from the back door to a storage shed by the back fence.
“I have to give this some thought, but I like the feel of the place. It’s cozy, well-kept and is closer to the downtown area. Easier for deliveries also,” Jonathan said walking out into the backyard.
Samantha walked beside him stopping only to look at the many flowers which were in bloom. She bent down to smell a particular bloom, and when she rose, she turned and found herself inches from Jonathan’s face.
It seemed at first as though she couldn’t breathe. She stood like a statue unable to move, her eyes locked onto Jonathan’s, as her heart beat wildly in her chest. A broad smile crossed Jonathan’s face, and as he turned to walk away, his arm brushed hers, and she could feel the warmth as tingles traveled through her entire body.
Samantha had never been that affected by any man and wondered if he felt the chemistry between them. She stood for just a moment before following him. She felt drunk by his slight touch, and she pondered how it would feel with his arms wrapped around her. Snap out of it. You’re on a showing. Act professional.
As they entered through the back of the house, Samantha stopped to lock the door before continuing through the rest of the house. She placed the key back in the lockbox.
“Samantha, I like what I see. Give me a day to think this over,” he said as he walked down the porch steps.
“Sounds good. Here’s my business card,” said Samantha handing it to him. “You can call me anytime.”
Jonathan reached over to shake her hand, and his touch made her melt. She smiled and momentarily forgot to remove her hand and when she finally did, a smile crossed his face before he walked to his Jeep.
Samantha started her vehicle and checked her side mirror to make sure he wasn’t already pulling out. She was still shaking. When he said her name, it affected her. It sounded sweet. She wanted to hear him call her name again.
She pulled out from the curb and headed for home. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jonathan.
Every time she saw him, she couldn’t wait until she saw him again. He was in her thoughts numerous times a day. She could see the signs, and it scared her to death. Was she setting herself up again for heartbreak or was Jonathan, the man God had chosen for her? Only time would tell, and she had to be patient. But patience wasn’t one of her best qualities.
Chapter 19
J onathan had spent the last couple of hours trying to wrap his head around the fact that Samantha might have a boyfriend. One with impeccable taste no less.
She wasn’t wearing a ring, so no fiancée. But why did he feel like they connected and had a chemistry between them? Was she unhappy with her boyfriend? She doesn’t seem like the type to play games with someone else’s emotions?
He was confused. When he had turned around in the backyard and came face to face with Samantha, he could feel the excitement pumping in his veins and felt a spark of passion which he knew she had to have felt too.
She was so beautiful, and he couldn’t get her out of his mind ever since that first day they had met under somewhat odd circumstances. Well, he could badger himself for the rest of the day to try to figure out something he had no control over at present or let things play out.
Jonathan knew in his heart that he had feelings for her and at some point, in time, would have to find out if she had any feelings for him or the worst-case scenario, she would tell him she was in a serious relationship. God knew if it was meant to be.
He spent the rest of the evening planning a local photography shoot around the lake. There were so many out of the way places waiting for him to photograph. The pines, distant foothills, green vistas, old growth forests and the stately groves of white ash. He needed to put some work together for a possible showing at a gallery in Denver for the fall.
Fall. It was his favorite time of the year. He loved the fall color, the smell of the earth; damp, vibrant with the pungent odor of the leaves. The air with just the right amount of crispness, with the wind bringing the smells of fall into his nostrils made him feel more alive. It was his time to connect with God and feel the closeness, which as of late, seemed to elude him.
Maybe moving to a new location would be best. Everywhere he looked was a constant reminder of Marilyn. All of the memories within were good memories, but they also reminded him of her absence.
She had left too soon. Taken away by an unknown killer that hit without warning creating an emptiness that nothing seemed to be able to fill. And he thought about it every day although it had been four years. Was it someone she knew? Were they still out there somewhere maybe stalking another victim? He needed closure. He had to believe that God would somehow provide it but faced the realization that he had no control over when.
He walked into his gallery and reflected on the photographs that lined the walls. His eye caught a photo of his mother as she sat at a patio table in the backyard years ago.
It was one of his personal favorites, and he had captured her inner peace and strong character. She smiled as she looked directly into the camera. How he missed her words of wisdom and strong faith. He kissed the tips of his fingers and placed them to the glass and touched where her cheek was. Love you, Mom. I miss you every day.
Even at eighteen, when his parents finally told him that he was adopted, he didn’t love them any less. He wasn’t hurt and in fact felt special. They didn’t seem to want to talk about his birth mother or his birth father though. They had chosen him and treated him as their own, so he never pressed them on it.
They were living in Idaho on ten acres, and when it got too hard for his dad to handle it any longer, they had relocated to Shadow Lake. It was his mother’s hometown, and she missed it.
When he left for college, he felt a sense of excitement but also one of sadness. After two years, with a degree in Business Management, he came back and started his frame and photography shop. Then a close friend introduced him to Marilyn; it was love at first sight. She shared his passion for photography and
encouraged him. They ran the gallery together.
With a love that seemed to grow more every day the next natural step was marriage. With the miscarriage of their first child a year later, she learned that they would never have children and she was heartbroken. He assured her that their love was enough and if she wanted they could always adopt. That seemed to give her hope and put the spark back into her broken spirit.
He climbed the stairs and decided to heat up leftovers from the night before. He had finally cooked a decent meal of chicken and vegetables. He warmed it up in the microwave and plated it, sitting down at the table. He bowed his head in prayer saying thanks for his meal and asked for God’s direction in his life.
A few minutes later, he finished his meal, rinsed up the plate and sat down in his large leather chair to read his Bible. He asked for God to open his mind to receive the Holy Spirit’s help in understanding the scriptures. When he finished, a sense of peace and calmness filled him.
Chapter 20
I t was eleven a.m., the next day, and Samantha couldn’t stop thinking about Jonathan. She had been at work for over two hours and had listened to the ribbing from Beverly about her prince charming. Well, maybe he was. Who knows?
Samantha was finishing up a phone call when she looked up and realized Calvin was standing in the reception area. What was he doing here? She hung up the phone and did the inevitable and greeted him.
“Good morning Mr. Benham. Did I miss a message? I didn’t realize we had an appointment today,” said Samantha with a puzzled look on her face.
Calvin smiled at her, walked up and took a seat at her desk. “We didn’t. I’m sorry for just dropping in, but I wanted to see if we could close this week. I need to get my home office set up. Lots to do,” said Calvin.
“I’ll check with the title company and give you a call. As long as they are ready, I know the prior owner is okay with it,” she said trying to be as professional as possible.