Sunlight and Shadows

by Christine Cross

  “I accept your apology, Anna,” Wesley said, coming around Shamus and taking her hands. He led her to a nearby bench. “I was scared that you wouldn’t want to marry me.”

  “Cassandra gave me a good chewing out today. Made me realize that I’m not the only one who’s suffered. It was pretty easy to see where I’d gone wrong after that.”

  “She has a knack for doing that,” he laughed. “So we’re still on for Saturday?”

  “If you’ll still have me,” Anna said, looking down at her feet.

  “Considering I don’t want any other woman on this earth, I suppose you’ll do,” Wesley laughed when those big blue eyes met his. He kissed her brow before showing her what else they managed to get accomplished.

  ***

  Saturday dawned bright and beautiful as Anna spent time in prayer, thanking God for his mercy and grace. She thanked him for Wesley and her friends, for providing her with a family when she’d lost hers, and for watching out for her during her crazy life. Then, with Cassandra’s help, she managed to get into her wedding dress. Her mother came into the room where she was getting dressed and blubbered through her blessing.

  “I’ve loved you as my daughter since you were born. Then God blessed me with you for life. You are gorgeous today and Wesley is going to drool all over himself when he sees you.”

  “Oh, Momma,” Anna sniffled.

  “No crying. I can’t redo that makeup, such as it is,” Cassandra chuckled.

  The organ music started and Anna joined her father at the back of the church. “You’re as beautiful as the first time I saw you, sweetheart.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” Anna smiled, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Anna found Wesley as soon as she stepped through the doors that led to the sanctuary. She never looked away as her father led her down the aisle. The ceremony took less than ten minutes and before she knew it Anna was being kissed for the first time as Mrs. Anna Darlene Stockton.

  “I present to you, this cloud of witnesses, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley David Stockton.”

  Shouts and hollers of joyful glee rang through the air and people threw rice into the air as Anna and Wesley headed back down the aisle. The reception lasted well into the evening before Anna and Wesley could bid farewell to their guests and head home.

  Anna spent time reflecting on her life those first few months of marriage and was ever thankful for the gift of speech when she was able to tell Wesley that they’d be expecting their first baby by the middle of the following year. Resting her hand protectively over her middle, Anna knew that God had brought her full circle, allowing her with His infinite grace and mercy, to praise him always for the blessings in her life.

  THE END

  Bonus Story 11 of 20

  A Light Shines in Manhattan

  Manhattan was melting under the hottest summer on record. Even the encroaching darkness of a late sunset didn’t ease the high humidity or the suffocating heat. From her luxury apartment in Washington Street, Jessica Stone watched as the orange ball of fire began slowly sinking beneath the horizon. A dark black cloud hovered above it, teasing her with the promise of a cool, relieving thunderstorm. She cranked up the air conditioner, wishing that this long, hot summer would soon end.

  The shrill ringing of the phone interrupted her train of thought. “Jessica Stone Real Estate,” she answered, knowing that the only people who called her after hours were wealthy clients wanting to purchase a condo or a studio apartment in the affluent areas around Manhattan. “Can I help you?”

  A deep husky voice answered. “Hi, my name is Ryan Steele. I’m an investment banker with the Manhattan Bank, and just looking to buy in the area closer to work. Do you have anything available that has two to three bedrooms and security parking?”

  Jessica grabbed her laptop quickly, doing a search of her current listings. “Well, I do have a couple of condos in that area overlooking the park and with nice views of the harbor. Would you like to make an appointment to have a look?”

  “Yeah, sure. That would be great. Does tomorrow morning suit you? Around nine, nine thirty?”

  “Umm, can we make it ten? I have a prior appointment before then. Do you know where my office is? We could meet there.”

  “Yep. Ten’s fine, and I have your address already. So I’ll see you there. Tomorrow at ten.”

  Jessica hung up the phone and switched it to take messages. She was too tired to take any more calls, and she wasn’t as motivated to make money anymore. After all, she’d worked damn hard to get where she was today. At thirty-two she had worked her way up from selling real estate for a growing New York company to opening up her own agency in Manhattan. The commissions from her sales had enabled her to buy her own top-floor penthouse with magnificent views, and a sleek sports car. She was lucky to have invested wisely, and now had a healthy bank account. She had everything she thought she needed, including good looks, a great figure, thanks to working out in her home gym, and a lifestyle that she had created herself. After leaving the dismal slums of the South Bronx where she grew up she had found opportunities and success in the affluent world of Manhattan.

  But, despite having it all, a constant emptiness gnawed away at her. It was as if her soul was lost, swimming away looking for some kind of fulfillment that money could not buy. Pouring a glass of wine, she sat on her chic, leather lounge watching as the last rays of the sinking sun disappeared and night arrived to cloak the city in darkness. A darkness that was interspersed with the flickering lights of a city that was coming back to life as people emerged from their mundane working lives to enjoy the music of the nightclubs or the fine dining cuisine of the elegant restaurants.

  After a second glass of wine, she turned on the shower, enjoying the cool, refreshing water running over her aching limbs. She’d jogged around the park near her office after work, something she routinely did to keep fit, but this time she had over exerted herself. And now she was paying for it in pain. She had almost finished getting dressed into an elegant black dress when her door bell rang.

  “It’s me,” a female voice called out through the intercom. “Sorry, I’m a bit early, but I thought we could grab something to eat before the movie.”

  “Oh, Claire, that’s fine,” Jessica said, opening the door to her best friend. “I was just finishing doing my hair. It’s so hot I’m putting it up. I really should get this long mane cut off.”

  “You’d be sorry if you did, Jess. You have got the most beautiful head of hair.”

  “Thanks. Now, where do you think we should eat?”

  “There’s a nice little trendy bar near the theatre that has a really great menu and some exotic cocktails. I’ve been dying to go there as it’s had some really good reviews in the foodie magazines.”

  “Right, sounds good. Let’s call a cab. I’m not walking in these high heels and the heat.”

  *****

  The next morning dawned without a hint of clouds, promising another day of scorching heat and most likely not a breeze in sight. Yawning, Jessica stumbled out of bed, turning the coffee machine on before she showered and dressed. Her usual work attire was a cream-colored business suit made of lightweight material and a crisp white shirt. Grabbing a bagel with cream cheese, she drove to her office, remembering that she had a new client arriving at ten this morning. Ryan Steele, she remembered. The investment banker.

  As she arrived through the back door, Jessica overheard her middle aged receptionist, Louise, and her sales staff talking.

  “She is such an ice queen,” Hilary was saying. “I don’t think she has many friends either.”

  “A bit of a loner, I’d say, as well,” Robert added. “But she is nice. I wonder what made her so aloof and mysterious.”

  “Yeah, but you have to remember she is our boss. You can’t expect her to treat us as though we’re best friends.”

  “She can be very cold and clinical though. It’s as if she’s got this huge wall around her and no-one can penetrate it.”

  Jessica was stunned. Is
that what they thought about her? Ice queen, cold, clinical?

  “Yes, but she is still nice. She’s just very guarded and reserved. That’s just how some people are. Especially when they have their own business to run,” Robert said.

  Jessica cleared her throat as she walked in to her office. “A cup of coffee please, Louise, and I think we all need to get back to work.”

  “Oh, my God, did she hear us?” Hilary whispered to Robert

  “I don’t know,” Robert said. “But I hope not.”

  Louise brought in the coffee looking rather red faced and embarrassed.

  “It’s okay, Louise, the ice queen won’t bite you.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry, Miss Stone, we were just…”

  “It’s okay, Louise. And please call me Jessica. Miss Stone is much too formal. I think you’re right. I am a little too cold and clinical, but that’s just how I am. But a little constructive criticism can be very helpful at times. At least I know that despite my shortcomings you all think I’m nice.” Jessica smiled now, knowing how uncomfortable Louise was feeling. “You have worked for me for a long time now, Louise, and I value the hard work and effort you have put in for this agency. So, no hard feelings okay?”

  “Okay, thanks. And we do, we do, Miss Stone…I mean Jessica…we do think you are nice. And if there’s anything else I can get you. please let me know.”

  “Well, you can call Hilary and Robert in. I have a few listings for them to look at. Oh, and a I have a client coming in at nine to sign a contract.”

  Hilary and Robert walked in looking rather sheepish.

  “Now let’s forget the conversation you had about me this morning. And let’s focus on work, okay?”

  Her two sales staff nodded, glad that Jessica was happy to put their comments aside.

  Jessica sighed as they left, reflecting on what they had said about her. If only they knew the truth about her life. How she had starved as a little girl because her father was always out of work, and how her mother drowned out her sorrows with alcohol. How she grew up in a shack in the South Bronx with threadbare clothes and watched as her father flew into violent rages constantly attacking her mother, and often beating her black and blue. There were a few times when he beat her too, leaving her to go to bed hungry as she cried herself to sleep. The bruises had healed much more quickly than her heart, but the scars were what made her promise herself that she would never be poor or beaten again. And never would she allow a man to get too close to her and break her already fragile heart.

  Picking up the phone, she called Claire, her only true friend. They’d met in high school shortly before her mother died of alcohol related illnesses; and if it hadn’t been for that friendship, Jessica doubted that she would have achieved the things she had today.

  “Hi, Claire, are you free? I just need someone to talk to.”

  Claire was busy opening up her downtown hairdressing salon, which catered for the wealthier clients in the area. But she always made time for Jessica and their twenty-year friendship. “Sure, what’s up?”

  Jessica told Claire everything about the conversation she had overheard. “At least they think I’m nice, even though I’m an ice queen.

  “Oh, gosh, don’t let that get you down, Jess. I remember how you were after your mother died. And look at you now. You’ve achieved so much on your own. I really didn’t think you’d survive what happened to you in your childhood. But you are a survivor Jessica Stone. And if being an ice queen is what it takes, then so be it. I know how fearful of men you are because of the abuse from your father. But one day you’ll meet someone, someone different from your father. Someone who will want to love you and take care of you.”

  “I don’t know about that. All I ever meet are men just as dysfunctional with romance as I am. I seem to attract them. Maybe I’m meant to be alone.”

  “Rubbish! There are plenty of nice men out there. Look at Michael, my husband. He’s a sweetheart.”

  “Yes, I know Claire. And you’re really lucky to have found him. I just haven’t had that kind of luck. And I’m actually terrified of meeting someone nice. I don’t know how to relate to someone like that.”

  “Well, one day I’m sure that you will meet someone special. And you’ll be okay, I know it. I know you Jess, and your staff are right. You are nice, even though you can be a bit of an ice queen. They just have no idea what you went through in the South Bronx, and how that has affected you.”

  “Well, I would never have survived if I didn’t have you there to support me through all that trauma.”

  Just then Louise interrupted her call. “Your nine o’clock appointment is here.”

  She said goodbye to Claire and hung up just as one of her regular clients walked in huffing and puffing from the unbearable humidity building up outside.

  “Damn these hot summers,” he said in his usual gruff voice. “I’ll be glad when it’s autumn again!”

  “Oh, Mr. Goldman, we’re all feeling the heat. At least it’s air-conditioned in here, and your contract is all ready to be signed.

  Mr. Goldman mumbled away as he signed the paperwork. “Well at sixty-five I’m not a youngster anymore, and I tell you this heat is killing me!”

  “You’ll be alright Mr. Goldman. Look Louise has brought in some refreshments. There’s iced tea, or ginger beer.”

  “I’ll take the iced tea, and then I’m off to Hawa'ai for a few weeks vacation. At least they get some decent ocean breezes over there. I don’t understand why, when we are surrounded by water, we don’t get an ocean breeze!”

  “Give my love to Mrs. Goldman and the grandkids!” Jessica called out as he left, and her next appointment arrived

  “It’s Ryan Steele,” Louise announced.

  “Bring him in,” said Jessica with a sigh. I hope he’s not going to be cranky from this crazy heat!

  A very attractive and quite tall man with wavy brown hair and hazel eyes appeared in the doorway. He looked extremely confident and charming. This was a man who oozed masculinity and power, a man who almost took Jessica’s breath away. His designer label suit was well-tailored and the gold watch reeked of money and wealth. Jessica motioned for him to sit down, silently thinking, Wow, at last I think I may have met someone I can relate to!

  *****

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Steele,” Jessica said as he firmly shook her hand. It felt as though a bolt of electricity surged up her arm, throwing her so off guard that she almost lost her composure. He had the softest hazel brown eyes she had ever seen and for a minute she felt locked into them as he met her gaze.

  “Nice to meet you too, Miss Stone. Oh, by the way, call me Ryan.”

  “In that case you can call me Jessica, Ryan. So, can I offer you a cool drink. Everyone is being affected by that unforgiving heat out there.”

  “Yes, it is very warm today. Thanks, I’d love a cool drink.”

  Sipping on iced tea, Jessica showed him the condos she thought he would like.

  “So, is it just for you? Or do you have a wife and family?”

  Ryan was silent for a minute before responding. “Well, it’s kind of a strange story. I was married to my high school sweetheart. We were happy together for a few years then suddenly for some unknown reason to me, she seemed to get depressed and she became secretive and strange in her behavior. Then ten years ago, she disappeared into thin air, around the same time as my brother did. I hired a private detective, but no trace of either of them has ever been found. So, I’ve never really had any closure.

  "Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve never told anyone all this before. It’s just that you asked and it felt comfortable telling you. Of course, my immediate family know, but my work colleagues and associates think I’m divorced. I had to tell them something. But the search for answers and the truth of what happened to her, to them, has never stopped haunting me to this day.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Jessica said, blushing as he poured himself another iced tea. “I didn’t mean to pry. I was just trying to
find something suitable for your situation.”

  “Well, I’ve always secretly hoped that one day she would re-appear out of the blue. But ten years is a long time, and I’ve been living like a bachelor all this time. But I don’t want to buy a bachelor pad. I like space, and besides I promised my mother I would acquire something that had room for her and Pop when they came to visit from Florida. See, my Dad is a retired banker, but he loves to come back to Manhattan and take Mom shopping and spoil her in the jewelry stores. Mom is a little partial to diamonds these days.”

  “What girl isn’t?” asked Jessica, happy that this man who she had just met and who she felt an instant attraction to was being so open and upfront with her. “I think your parents sound sweet, and I’m sure they would love either of these apartments here.”

  She opened up her lap top showing Ryan the luxury condos on her list. “Wow, you have some very impressive properties here, Jessica. How about we look at these two near Washington Park. When can I have an inspection?”

  “Well, both of those are vacant already, so if you like, we can take a look at them now."

  *****

  Autumn arrived late in Manhattan bringing with it some much needed relief to the long, oppressive summer. In the last few months, the trees had started to lose their leaves covering the ground with an array of burnt orange and yellow foliage.

  Jessica had met with Ryan Steele several times since that first meeting to sign the necessary paperwork for his new condo overlooking the park.

  “How about having lunch with me to celebrate?” he said after moving into his new place.

  Jessica smiled. “That sounds good,” she said, “I’ll be free around one if you want to pick me up.”

  Danny’s Bar and Restaurant was packed with diners by the time they arrived. Jessica followed Ryan over to a comfy looking corner booth where it was a little quieter and more private.

  “So, have you settled in, yet?” Jessica asked, as she perused the menu.