by S S Bazinet
Claire was probably the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, with the exception of his first love, Justina. But there was so much more to Claire than outer beauty. She was strong and steadfast. She approached everything with an unswerving attitude. She was dedicated to her work and was selfless in her devotion to helping others. As he watched Claire sleeping, he knew he was experiencing a bit of paradise. If he never left their bed’s soft confines, he’d be the happiest man alive.
When Claire finally stirred, she stared back at him with sleepy eyes. “You look very content. What are you thinking?”
Arel caressed her face, sure that he was touching his soul mate. As soon as the idea slipped in, he was confused. Soul mate? Was there such a person? He’d thought of Justina as his soul mate, but in a vision she’d indicated otherwise. It was a very puzzling topic.
Claire pressed for an answer. “Stop holding out, Arel, and tell me your thoughts.”
He brought himself back to the moment and made a decision. It didn’t matter if Claire was a soul mate or not. “I’m thinking that I’m happy just being with you. I want us to always wake up to each other.”
Claire’s brow creased. “I had a terrible nightmare last night. We were working together in a poor village, but you disappeared. I couldn’t find you.”
“I know all about bad dreams. I also know they don’t mean anything unless you hold on to them. So let’s forget everything but this moment, and what we can make of it.”
Claire returned a playful look. “I’m open to suggestions.”
Arel reached out and pulled her closer, kissing her softly and then more fervently. As love and desire surged through his body, he wanted it to invade Claire’s body too, like a warm, sensual wave of devotion. Because that’s what he intended his relationship with her to be. He’d failed Justina. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. His connection to Claire would be lasting and true. He wanted to dedicate himself to her, to let her know that she could always count on him no matter what.
Claire responded with a giggle, then became more serious, as if she could read his thoughts. “I didn’t know you existed until a few days ago. Now, look at us. We fit together very nicely.”
Her statement was spoken in a light, playful tone, but Arel knew it was true as he ran his hand slowly up and down Claire’s back. His touch was light and teasing as he began to kiss her neck.
Claire trembled with delight and returned a mischievous glance.
Arel paused just long enough to study her eyes. They were dark with mystery and the unknown. But he was determined to explore that unknown part of the woman who seemed like perfection itself. “When I touch you, I feel more alive than I’ve felt in a very long time,” he whispered.
Claire buried her face in his chest and breathed deeply. “You remind me of Christmas and those wonderful spice cookies I love. You make me hungry, very hungry.”
Arel smiled, tipped up her chin, and kissed her again.
Claire responded by letting out a breathless moan.
Arel immediately pulled her so close that he could feel both of their hearts beating, pounding with excitement. The vessels seemed to be waiting anxiously for that moment when they joined and gave themselves to each other with abandon. When he’d lost Justina, he’d didn’t think he’d ever find someone who could share his passion so completely again. But he was sure Claire’s eyes were as bright with want and need as his own.
* * * * *
Annabel stood at the entrance to the living room and stared at William. He was sitting on the sofa, studying a journal. As she noted his uneven brow, it was easy to feel his discontent. She’d ignored it until now, but she had to be honest with herself. The man she’d married wasn’t happy. She let out a sigh of frustration. She needed to do something to stop whatever was causing his restlessness. But she didn’t know what that something was.
William sighed. “Oh please, Annabel, stop always giving into your worries.”
Annabel frowned back. William had spoken to her without even looking up from his magazine. She came forward and stopped a few feet in front of him. “Are you reading my mind?”
“Your mind is like a radio with the sound turned up. It’s impossible not to know what you’re thinking.”
Annabel took a seat in a chair opposite the sofa. “Maybe that’s just as well. I hate having to always explain myself.”
William finally put his magazine aside. “What’s there to explain? We both know what you want.”
“I want us to love each other.”
William held up his hand. A new wedding band was prominently displayed on his finger. “We’re married, like you wanted. Isn’t that enough?”
“William! Why are you being so cold?”
“You think I’m being cold, but I think I’m being candid about our situation.” William sighed again. “Are you happy, Annabel? I don’t think so. But you’ve convinced yourself that it’s my fault.”
Annabel looked away. William had a point, but it was a point that made her hold herself in a tight hug. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Can’t you see that? When I still had my wings, I wasn’t personally involved in people’s lives.”
“And if I had to evaluate the job you performed when you were an angel, I’d say you did it very well. Unfortunately, you seemed to forget everything as soon as you took off your wings. And that’s why you’re so miserable.”
“I wasn’t miserable until recently. I was happy.” She gulped in some air. “Then you tossed your ring down the disposal.”
“You were happy because you were living in a dream world, pretending that we were just another normal couple.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with being truly alive.”
“I don’t understand.”
“When you were an angel, what did you do?”
“I enjoyed helping people. It could be very challenging, but it also felt wonderful when people found ways to be happier.”
“I’ve been thinking about angels a lot ever since Rolphe said I looked like one.”
Annabel smiled. “Rolphe said that?”
“I thought he was crazy at first, but maybe I was wrong. When I was in Arel’s world, with all your ex-friends around me, and they all looked to me for leadership—”
Annabel jumped up. “That’s the problem. Your ego got inflated after that experience. Now, you want thrills instead of love and commitment.”
William laughed. “I had those thoughts too, but it’s not how I see any of it now. After recalling the time I spent on that battlefield, I understand that it wasn’t my personality running the show. I had to forget about my supposed big ego to do what I did. I had to focus on the real me, the person who faces his fears and does what he thinks is best in spite of them. I still want that.”
“So how does a normal life get in the way of you being who you are?”
“I’m still thinking that through.”
“And how long will it take for you to come up with an answer?”
William twisted the gold band on his finger again. “What difference does it make to you? You’re free to work on your sculpting or do whatever you like.”
“I don’t feel free!”
William picked up his journal. “That makes two of us,” he said in a barely, audible tone.
Nine
ELISE SAT AT her desk, staring at a blank screen on the computer monitor. She thought she’d had the story outline for her next book worked out. She managed to finish the first chapters, but she was stuck. Events weren’t going as planned. She couldn’t get her main characters to fall in love. Her protagonist, Linda, was the principal problem. She was pretty but independent. When it came to her interactions with an attractive man named Mason, Linda became aloof. She adopted a hard as nails attitude to Mason’s advances.
“My Linda character has hijacked my personality, the witch!” Elise stiffened as she rubbed her temples. The story’s plot had begun to
parallel her life. She hadn’t intended it to happen. But recently, Linda and Mason made all the decisions about how the story line was proceeding. They wouldn’t let Elise change their personalities or their reactions to each other.
As a writer, Elise was familiar with characters taking on a life of their own, but she had never had a female heroine who acted so completely in line with Elise’s negative emotions. However, her stubborn protagonist wouldn’t budge or allow Elise to move her in a more romantic direction. “This is a totally unacceptable situation! I have no time for a fictional character side-tracking my story!”
She’d battled the keyboard for hours that morning, trying to find words to put in the male character’s mouth. She needed Mason to solve the problem. “But he’s a complete idiot who doesn’t know anything about handling a difficult woman!”
As soon as Elise spat out the statement, she knew she wasn’t being fair. Her male character was simply too nice, and Linda the witch wouldn’t listen or allow his sweetness to influence her.
Elise got up and scowled at the monitor. Her patience was long gone, and her anger was taking over. When it peaked, she didn’t think, she acted. With a well-aimed thrust of her foot, she sent a nearby trash can flying. It slammed into the lower shelf of a bookcase. The sound of something breaking made Elise come back to herself. She rushed over to the bookcase and pushed the can aside.
“Oh no!” she screeched as she picked up the remains of a fragile statue. The little ballerina had been a gift from a friend in high school. The thoughtful girl knew Elise had always wanted to dance. The idea made Elise’s mother laugh, but her friend tried to encourage her. The statue had remained a small reminder that at least somebody believed in her. Now, the figurine was missing its head and one arm.
As she sat on the floor and examined the damage, the doorbell rang. She was immediately irritated again. She didn’t have time for interruptions. Then she remembered that she’d invited Michael and Carey to come over. As she got to her feet, she almost smiled. The two men had great timing. They’d arrived during another small crisis.
After she placed the broken ballerina on her desk, she visited the wall mirror by the office door. Her brows furrowed when she noted the numerous strands of blond hair sticking out at odd angles. They had escaped the little barrettes that were supposed to keep them under control.
She’d gone to a salon at the mall to have her hair trimmed. The woman at the reception counter had recommended a girl named Sissy, and Elise had taken a chance on the young woman. She was paying for her mistake. Her hair was much too short and totally unmanageable. “Dammit! It’s going to take forever to grow out!”
When the doorbell rang again, Elise decided she needn’t worry about her hair. Michael and Carey were just neighbors. Besides, she’d soon move away and never see them again.
She felt more at ease when she welcomed in her visitors. She even made small talk about the weather as she took Michael and Carey back to her office. But once she got them seated on the couch, she quickly got down to business. “You both got my text, right? You understand why I asked you here.”
Carey gave Michael a nod and looked back at her. “Yes, we’ve been going over some possibilities for your story.”
Elise leaned back in her office chair. “Good, because I have a deadline to meet. I don’t have time to waste, especially since I’m moving soon. So tell me how my male character, Mason, can make some headway into Linda’s closed-off heart.”
Michael raised his hand. “We were thinking about a puppy.”
“A puppy? That’s ridiculous,” Elise yelped. “What does a puppy have to do with a romance novel?”
Michael returned a curious look and stood up. “I’m sorry, Elise, I don’t want to upset you. Maybe I better leave.”
Carey stood up too. “He’s right. Neither of us has a clue about writing.”
Elise jumped up and held on to her temples. A steady throbbing had taken hold. “Just wait a minute, both of you. The first thing you need to learn is that you can’t get jumpy every time I raise my voice. It’s just the way I sometimes communicate.”
Carey and Michael exchanged glances and sat down again. Both stared at Elise as if waiting for further instructions.
Elise returned to her seat. It was obvious that she had a couple of very sensitive guys on her hands. She’d have to try to appease them. “Alright, let’s say I indulge you, Michael. Why a puppy?” She had wanted to say, “worthless puppy,” but she’d stopped herself when she remembered that her father had thought in those terms. His statement still rang out loud and clear in her mind. “Dogs are a worthless waste of time and money.”
Michael gave her a hopeful smile. “Sometimes animals can help when people don’t know how to go forward. Maybe your character, Mason, thinks that the puppy will help Linda to be more open.”
Elise blinked several times. “But I can’t write about something like that. I never had a pet. My sister did, but I didn’t. I wanted a dog like most kids, but my parents refused to get one for me.”
Carey frowned. “So how did your sister get a pet?”
“My sister is the baby. She whined a lot, and my parents gave in to her.” Elise paused and swallowed back the resentment that she still felt for her sibling. “I hated her dog, and it hated me. It bit me twice.”
Carey’s eyes brightened. “But a puppy might be the ideal gift for your heroine, Linda.”
“Even so, how can I write about a subject I don’t know anything about?” Elise asked.
Carey moved to the edge of his seat and offered Elise another smile. “You could do some research by getting a puppy. Then you could write about what it’s like to have one.”
For a moment, Elise flashed back to a time when she would have done anything to have a dog of her own. As an adult, she’d started to see her father’s point. “Even if I went for your idea, I don’t want the responsibility of a pet.”
Michael spoke up. “You wouldn’t have to keep the puppy. After you learned what you needed, you could find it a proper home.”
Elise felt her mood lift a little. She had a book deadline, and she needed something to advance her story. Michael’s suggestion was the only one she had to work with. Practically, the addition of a puppy in her story could have added benefits. People loved books with animals in them. Maybe a dog for Linda would sell more copies.
She stood up and began to pace. “If I got a dog, it would have to be a small one. I don’t see myself using a king-sized pooper scooper. And it can’t shed. I detest dog hair. Probably a Bichon Frise would do. They don’t need a lot of exercise, just a daily walk. They do need to be groomed, but I wouldn’t have it that long, would I!”
Carey gave her a curious look. “What kind of dog is a Bichon Frise?”
Elise smirked. “It’s the kind I wanted when I was a kid. They’re white and fluffy, sort of like a puff of fur.”
“I thought you didn’t know much about dogs.”
Elise avoided Carey’s eyes. She didn’t want to admit that she’d read every dog book that she could get her hands on when she was a child. She’d even forgotten that fact herself. “Yes, well, I said I never had one, but I do know a little about breeds and stuff like that.”
“You might be able to get one at an animal shelter,” Michael said.
“No, I think I’ll go to a breeder. I want a dog with a pedigree. It’ll probably cost a considerable amount, but that’s okay. It’ll be easier to find it a home afterwards.”
Elise went to her desk and got her car keys from a drawer. “Carey, could you do me a favor and get me a local paper so I can check the ads? You can use my car.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Carey said as he stood up and retrieved the keys.
Elise smiled at Michael as Carey rushed out the door. “Thanks for the idea. It’s sort of brilliant. I never would have thought of it.”
“You’re welcome. Now, I better get back to some chores in my garden, but call me if you need anything else.”
“Don’t worry. You’re at the top of the list if I get stuck again.”
* * * * *
Elise hadn’t thought that she’d have to call on Michael so quickly. But after Carey came back with a paper and the puppy ads, everything spun out of control. A breeder Elise called said she had one puppy left. Some interested party was going to look at the dog the next day. Elise had to act fast to get to the breeder’s house first. But she didn’t want to go alone. She needed all the support she could get. Since the dog was Michael’s idea, it was only fair that he come along with her and Carey.
Afterwards, when the three of them returned to Elise’s house, she was still in a state of shock. Strangely enough, she also felt rather content. She’d never dared to imagine that her childhood wish would come true. But it had come true. She marched through her front door with a small, white, curly-haired puppy cradled in her arms.
Carey followed with a dog crate and dog bed. Michael brought up the rear with dog food, food bowls, and bags of dog treats.
“One call to a breeder, and I’m stuck with this little mutt,” Elise complained as she walked over to the sofa and sat down. She was trying very hard to maintain her usual stiff attitude around her neighbors. But it wasn’t easy. The puppy was snuggled close, with slits for eyes as he dozed. Elise figured he’d worn himself out with excitement earlier.
“Where do you want this stuff?” Carey asked.
“Put it anywhere,” she said as she held up her purchase for inspection. “But it is cute, isn’t it?” She was talking more to herself than to Carey and Michael. They were busy putting away her purchases.
“I left the food and bowls in the kitchen,” Michael said as he came over to inspect the puppy.
Elise looked up and frowned. “I didn’t get much for my money. Plus, I wanted a female, but this little runt was the only one left.” She let out a hiss. “Can you believe that woman’s story? She claimed she was thinking about keeping the puppy for herself. Likely tale to drive up the price.”
