by Galen Rose
“Laney Muldoon, I don’t know what you mean. I have a gift for you that cannot wait until we get back from Maui and I will say no more.”
True to his word, I couldn’t drag it out of him. Twenty minutes later we pulled to a stop. “Hang on.” Sean got out and I heard him come around the car and open my door. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” He said, taking my arm and guiding me out of the car. I felt silly with the blindfold on as I stepped up on a curb.
“I know you’ve been looking for a place to start New Directions.” I turned to the sound of Sean’s voice.
“How did you know that?” I had only told Mason about it on one of our many flights to and from Los Angeles. We had won the case and it was only a matter of time and paperwork before the money was mine to do with as I pleased. “Mason told you,” I said, not knowing if I should feel mad about that. I was planning on telling Sean about my ideas once I was sure I had won. I wasn’t afraid to tell him. I knew he would support whatever I did.
“She did, but only because she found this building a couple of days ago and knew you had no time to take a look at it.”
Sean removed my blindfold, and my eyes adjusted to the sunlight. We were standing in front of an old brick building. It had a brick front walk up, three floors, and a sign over the doorway that read, “Future Home of New Directions.” I looked at Sean in shock. “If you don’t like it then you can look for a different place. But Mason, Mindy, and Stacey all thought it would be perfect. Mason told me about your ideas on how to use the money you inherited from William. You have my help whenever you need it.”
I just stood there, mouth open.
“Come on. I got the key from the landlord.” Sean grabbed my hand, dragged me up the brick steps, and, unlocking the door, pushed it open and stepped aside for me to go through.
I knew the moment I walked in that this was the place. I could see the offices that would be used to help people find jobs, get on their own feet, and get out of the fear.
I wandered around each room and up each floor while Sean hung back, watching me.
He finally got tired of waiting for me to say something. Anything. “Well?” The sun was just starting to set as I looked out the back windows from the third floor. I could just make out the Pacific Ocean over the tops of other buildings. Streaks of pink and orange light radiated out over the gathering fog.
I extended my hand to grasp Sean’s and then took his face in my hands. “You have given me the perfect gift, Sean Michael Muldoon. The perfect gift.” I pulled him closer and kissed him gently. We stood at the window, arms around each other, and watched the sun set. I just hoped that he was ready for the gift I would be delivering to him in eight months. I laughed and leaned against Sean and looked to the future.
About The Author
Galen Rose: I have repaired bikes, been a telephone solicitor, a day care aide, managed the order department of a family law publishing firm and for 9 years I ran an on-line Celtic jewelry and gifts store. Oh, and you can add in wife and stay-at-home-mom too. A Jill of many trades but not one true color for my parachute, until the day I sat down to write and kept on writing for three months. Once I came up to breathe and catch up on life and laundry, I knew I had finally discovered what I wanted to do.
I live in the Santa Cruz mountains with my very patient and supportive husband, my teenaged son who seems determined to give me gray hair, and 3.5 cats. When I’m not writing, I’m photographing flowers or wildlife, tending my garden or cooking. I have a passion for travel and a love of people watching.
Stop by and say hello at:
www.galenrose.com
www.pinterest.com/galnrose
www.facebook.com/GalenRose
In the mood for more Crimson Romance?
Check out Killing Casanova
by Traci McDonald
at CrimsonRomance.com.
