“ You’ve had enough Zoë!”
“Like hell, I’m just getting started,” she slurred, “so shut your mouth an pour me another”
“I don’t want you causing a scene tonight, so why don’t you just stop there and go home”
“If you don’t pour me another drink, I will just get one down the street!” Zoë spat, “So pour!” slamming her glass on the counter.
“I didn’t buy this pub to keep you in supply Zoë, you want another, than let’s see your cash!”
“Why the hell did I marry yea for, If I can’t get a few drinks, every now and then?”
“Every now and then!” Pete laughed, “give me a break, don’t you mean every day from open till close!”
 “Are you saying I have a drinking problem?”
“I don’t have to say it Zoë’ this whole damn pub can smell a skunk when she walks in”
“Oh really! A skunk Ah, so that’s how you feel,” Zoë said getting louder.  
“You wouldn’t even have this damn pub if it wasn’t for my say so!”
“Is that right, Well for your information I Didn’t need your Damn say so, it was already paid for way before I talked to you about buying it!”
“What! You Fucker, your suppose to come to me with all your Ideas, to get my approval.”
“What the hell do I need your approval for, I can make my own fucking decisions!”
“It was to show that we are a team, a shared marriage, and all that shit!”
“It doesn’t mean I need you to pick out my fucking underwear for me!” Pete spat back.
“Buying a pub is certainly not picking out underwear, it’s about our investments, asshole!”
“This investment is mine not ours, I didn’t take a damned red nickel from you!”
“Why the hell are you taking the us out of our marriage?”
“Let me tell you something Zoë, you are the one that took the us out of our marriage, a long time ago, right around the time you started drinking!” Pete said in a low tone, yet angered.
“I just bought this bar to keep us together, but you are now putting the booze and other men in my place!”
“You prick, I wouldn’t have to turn to booze and other men if you knew how to keep me satisfied!”  Zoë spat
“Ass hole!” Zoe she threw her glass at Pete and left through the back exit.

Tragedy

The four men closest to the bar got up from their table to leave, not noticing that the argument had ceased and Zoë had left threw the back exit. The men said their good-byes and headed to their cars, Michael DeAlmos was the only one parked on the other side of the street. As he walked to his car, a fast approaching drunk Zoë sped around the corner hitting Michael head on, causing his head to crash into her windshield and threw him one hundred feet into the street and sped away.      Michael’s best friend and co-workers stood by in shock, As Max ran to his side, Justin and Rick ran back inside to call for help.  As Rick was on the phone calling 911, Justin rushed over to the bar to tell Pete what had just happened.
“Your OLE lady just hit Michael with her car” he said shaken,
“What! Holy fucking shit! Is he alright?” Pete asked with wide eyes, as he came out from behind the bar and headed for the front door, I just knew one day she would do something like this, Pete said in a frightened voice.
   The police and ambulance were at the scene by the time Pete and Justin came running out.  As the scene was investigated while Zoe watched from the back seat of the police cruiser, passed out yet
unscaved from the crash.  As the officers were taking reports on the crash calling it a hit and run, since Zoe did not get very far crashing into a light post two blocks away. As soon as all the reports were taken, Max jumped into a cab and rushed over to Michaels house to tell his wife before she heard it any other way.

The News         

Hannah sits quietly on the small leather sofa in her small, what she thinks to be a dull un-decorated apartment,She was eagerly  waiting for Michael to arrive home from work. Emma was trying to rekindle the flame they once had in their now fading marriage, She still loved him but it seemed as if he had stopped trying to please her as when they were first married. Michael would bring her a surprise home from work once a week for no apparent reason; weather it was just a card to tell of his love for her or uncut flowers in a planter, she did not like the idea a killing a like even if it were just flowers.  Hannah is wearing a new see through blue negligee that stopped just short of her pelvic area. Tall and beautiful with her long auburn hair pulled back to reveal the nape of her neck and a splash of scent on her shoulder blades, her face is flawless beautiful.
 Hannah looks at the clock and sighs, “ Damn it, he is late again” getting up from the sofa she walks to the window and stares out into the dark night, “ Oh Michael where are you? You do this to me every time I have a romantic evening planned” Hannah cries to herself.  Suddenly there is a soft knock at the door; Hannah goes rushing to answer it, hoping that Michael had forgotten his keys again. She opens the door to display her new outfit to Michael, but much to her surprise and dismay, Hannah’s face goes red when the visitor at her door was Max, Michael’s co-worker she quickly hides behind the door. Max’s face also turns another shade of red, not expecting Hannah to be so scantly dressed,
 “May I come in?” Max asks,
 “ I don’t think so, I am waiting for Michael to get home as you can see” she chuckles,
“ Wouldn’t want to give him the wrong impression,” she adds with an innocent grin, As an awkward silence falls between them,
 “ Hannah, I need to talk to you about Mike, so may I please come in?” Max requests,

“Oh, ok, just give me a second, so I can throw something less revealing on,” Hannah laughs and dashes to the bathroom, grabbing her robe and quickly wraps it around her and ties the rope belt. Hannah re-opens the door to lets Max in.
 “Hannah, I think you should sit down,” Max says with a serious look on his face.
“Max?” Hannah replies with a shaken tone,
 “Why are your eyes red, what’s wrong did something happen between you and Helen?” she questions.
“No Hannah, its not Helen, its Mike” Max answers,
Hannah cuts in, with a lump in her throat,
“What about my Michael? Is he drunk again and sleeping it off at your place?” as a typical move on Michael’s part.”
“Hannah, listen very carefully and know that I am serious” he says trying to get her to settle down.
“Well, yes Max, I can see that your serious” Hannah now feels the knot growing larger in her stomach,
“Go on, what is it you want to tell me about Michael.” Thinking that Michael probably sent Max over here to give her the kiss off, because they have been having a lot of marital problems and he had threatened to leave her on many occasions.
Max went on, “Well Hannah,” he says taking a slow breath, “Mike and the guy’s, including myself went to Bailey’s Pub for a few drinks after work,” Hannah looks on thinking, ‘ok nothing new there,’ Max continues,

“Mr. Bailey and his wife had a huge argument again about her drinking and she stormed out”. He stops to take in another breath, without falling apart for Hannah’s sake. “As we were on our way out of the Pub, Mrs. Bailey came screeching around the corner” Max pauses for a few seconds to regain his composure, the crackling in his voice begins to worry Hannah even more.
“ Well, umm. She hit Mike head on” Max now at the point of tearing up.
Hannah can’t believe what she is hearing it all seems like Max is so far away, she violently shakes her head, tears are streaming down her face as she replies,
 “Oh my God No!  Oh my God is he hurt badly? I must get dressed, you have to take me to him” Hannah jumps up from the sofa and heads to her bedroom to get dressed. Hannah’s thoughts were racing while she was getting dressed; ‘he can’t be hurt badly. Michael always said he was make of the steal he forges. Max is making too much of a fuss out of this, he is fine, maybe just bruised up a bit, Oh my God, what if it is bad? What will happen to me if I loose him? No I can’t think that way.’                                                
  Hannah rushes back into the living room, Max is still sitting on the sofa and gets up to meet Hannah at the door, “ Hannah, I have to tell you, it don’t look good, he was banged up real bad” Max warns. “Let me draw my own conclusions, let’s just get to the hospital first, OK!” Hannah says with optimism yet enormous fear, trying to look strong.
   Hannah didn’t talk to Max on the way to the hospital, there was a dense quiet in the air, as she was too scared to ask anymore questions, fearing she would not like the answers.
As they reached the emergency room Hannah rushes to the reception to find out about her husbands’ condition, the nurse picked up an internal phone and told the person on the other end that she had arrived. A short stumpy looking doctor approached her,  “Mrs. DeAlmos?” the doctor asked, “yes, that’s me, where is my husband, he is alright isn’t he?” Hannah asks with urgency,
“Mrs. DeAlmos, I am Doctor Farrows, follow me please” The Doctor leads Hannah to a private lounge in the ICU waiting area.
“Please have a seat, there is a matter of importance we must discuss regarding your husbands condition.” The Doctor looks at her passionately and refers to the chart held in his hands,
 “Mrs. DeAlmos” he continues, Hannah cut in to insist, 
“Please just call me Hannah. Give me the real deal doc., I don’t want any medical lingo that I have no hope of understanding”
“Of course, Mrs., Ah. Hannah, your husband was hit by a motor vehicle tonight, He sustained massive brain injures,” the doctor pauses to let Hannah take in what she has heard so far. Hannah stares at the doctor with a dazed and confused look on her face as that far away sound of muttering returns. The Doctor continues,
 “Hannah, do you understand what I have told you thus far?”  Hannah nods her head in agreement,
“ Will he recover?” Hannah asks feeling a fog fill her head; numbness takes over as the doctor finishes.
“ Your husband is clinically brain dead, we placed him on life support pending our talk with you.” Dr. Farrows pauses then continues, ”Which brings me to my next question, have you and your husband ever discussed organ donation?” Dr. Farrows asks, not awaiting an answer, he adds, “Because right now is the time to make that decision. There are many waiting for organs as your husbands seem to still be in excellent condition.”
 “ Well, Ah. Yes we have talked about it” tears welting up in her eyes more heavily; it became very hard to talk through her sobs. “But, I never took it seriously, we were suppose to grow old together” Hannah wept heavily,
 “ Mrs. DeAlmos, Ah. Hannah, What would you like to do, did he ever sign a donor card?” the doctor asks. Hannah sat there staring blankly at the doctor not saying a word for what seemed to be hours. Hannah murmurs “ Huh, what would I, ah. What to do, what to do, Yes I think it is in his wallet” Hannah throws her head in her hands and sobs for a moment “I need to see him please let me see him you are wrong bring me to see my husband now!” Hannah shouts in disbelief.
 “Yes of course, this way.” The doctor leads her to the ICU room where Michael lies. Tubes coming out of every possible faucet that Michael has; heart monitors bleeping, machines humming and the sound of oxygen being forced through his lungs. Hannah slowly approaches Michael’s bedside, sobbing heavily, she pulls a chain next to him and sits down. Hannah cautiously taking his hand in hers and whispers to him,  “Michael, I know you are on your way to meet up with your parents, I know that your time has come, I accept that. But Damn it Michael why now, why now as we were planning a nice romantic evening, we were getting our lives back together the way they used to be” her sobbing turned to hyperventilating, she paused to catch her breath.
” Why are you leaving us, I love you and will never stop loving you. I just hope you will be happy and out of any pain where you are going” sob “ Well heck I don’t have to wonder about that, I know you will be happy. We will miss you deeply my darling” Hannah kisses Michael on the lips then leans down and rests her head on his chest, and quietly sobs, hearing his heart beat through all the noise of the life support machines some how gave Hannah comfort. About an hour later, Doctor Farrows enters the room.
 “Hannah” he whispers as she looks up at him, with a blank stare that still resides in her eyes.
“ It is time to make that decision, there is someone who desperately needs his heart right now.” he whispers.  Hannah reluctantly signed the papers giving the doctor the permission he needed to donate Michael’s organs.
    Max drove Hannah back to her apartment and helped her to the sofa. Hannah cradles her head into Max’s chest and uncontrollably weeps,
“What am I going to do now? Max, What? How can I go on without him?” She cries while still cradled into his chest,
 “I’m so sorry Hannah, Mike was my best friend, if there is anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask” Max states and also begin to cry with Hannah. 
       Hannah passes out on the couch from pure exhaustion, Max picks up the phone to call Helen and let her know why he hasn’t been home yet. “Oh my God! Maxie are you ok? How is Hannah doing? Oh the poor dear, she must be devastated” 
“Yes sweetie I‘m fine, and yes Hannah doesn’t seem to doing very well” Max replied, and before Max could get another word into Helen,
“I’m coming over She is going to need the support of her friends now” with that Helen hung up the phone and headed toward Hannah’s apartment. Helen was a very large woman, when cradled in her arms you basically smother. As Helen reached Hannah’s place, Max was making Em a cup of tea. Helen sat beside Hannah threw her arms around her,
“Oh Hannah, I am so sorry for your loss, Just know that you have tons of friends to help you through this difficult time, You do not have to go through this alone” Helen lectured
   Hannah looked at Helen through her tear filled eyes and gave a tiny wince and thought how lucky she was to have friends who really cared.
 “Always the therapist, ah. Helen” Hannah teased, tears staining her face.
“You betcha kiddo, rest now you will need it in the days ahead of you” Helen said. Hannah looked into Helen’s eyes,
    “Helen” she said softly
“Yes Hun?” replied Helen,
“Thank you for coming over” and at that Hannah pasted out from the sheer stress of the nights horrors. Max carried Hannah to her room and tucked her into bed with Helen trailing behind. Helen leaned down and kissed Hannah on the head, “nighty night Hun, sleep well” she whispered tenderly.
   The next day Hannah had the horrible experience of calling friends and family members, giving them the tragic news about Michael’s passing. Michael had lost his parents a few years back from cancer, His mother was the first one to go from the fatal disease, and she was in pain for many years before surrendering to the cancer. His father died a year later from cancer, but his death was quick, no one knew he had it, until he died on the operating table, during the biopsy. That just left her to deal with Michael’s older sister, Patty.  Helen offered to call everyone that needed to know, to help reduce the stress.
“You have more pressing matters to deal with now Hun” Helen said,
“What are you talking about?” Hannah asked, gapping the most important things to be done,
“Oh right, right, I know, after you make those calls I will start on the arrangements” Hannah answered and went to the kitchen cupboard to fetch the phone book. (research funeral process)
     
   
   
   
    The funeral

    Hannah made all the arrangements for Michael’s funeral; it was set for the day after next.
 After Hannah and Michael were married they made out their wills and discussed burial plans, Michael stressed he wanted to be cremated, if he were the one to die first his ashes were to be set on his parents grave. At that time he had expected to inherit his parents’ cancer, and already knew he would be the first one to die. In the days leading to the service Hannah gained a lot of moral support from Michael’s friends and co-workers. They took turns helping Hannah around the house and brought her pre-cooked meals, she would not have to worry about cooking for the next few days.
    Mysterious gift baskets filled with tea, coffee, cookies and various biscuits, fruits and personal care items, showed up at her door, from people she didn’t even know. Hannah was amazed at all the people whom she had never met, but they had known Michael from past business contacts.
       The funeral parlor was filled with beautiful floral wreaths and pictures of Michael partaking in his favorite hobbies on the wall behind his casket. Every one that knew him came to say their last good

byes. They walked up to his casket said what they had to say and went to take their seats. Some of them said a little prayer; some kissed him and some just to look.
The service was not to long yet very tearful to all that loved Michael. Hannah sat in the front pew with her family members, unable to contain her grief. Max had written a touching eulogy in Michael’s memory, so touching in fact, that the whole congregation began to weep.
Hannah walked up to the podium kissed Max on the cheek and thanked him for those wonderful memories; she gained her composure and started to speak,
“My Michael, you have a beautiful soul and now it is up in heaven with God, I am not sure if any of you knew it, but Michael was a poet. His words spoke loud and clear on paper, even thought he had trouble saying them through his mouth, his heart spoke out anyway.” Hannah began to sob again, excused her self as she wiped her cheeks and tear soaked eyes.
“I have chosen a poem he had written a few years ago when we had that cancer scare” She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes.
   
   
    “Don’t cry for me
    I am at peace
Don’t cry for me
My life has been lived
Don’t cry for me
My memory lives on
    Don’t cry for me
When I am gone
Just remember me
With love in your heart
Just remember me
With the good you have seen
Don’t cry for me
Just remember me”

Hannah found comfort reading his poem, but still couldn’t help crying. She slowly walked away from the podium and sat back in her seat.
    Many of Michael’s friends had written something for him, in which; they placed in a cylinder container that Hannah had placed in Michael’s hands, so he could take them with him. When the service was over Max and Helen drove Hannah the hour and a half to Michael’s final resting-place at his parents’ gravesite. Michael’s sister Patty followed behind.
    It was late in the fall, colorful leaves were covering the quiet cemetery. Hannah quickly found the gravesite of Mr. and Mrs. De’Almos. She knelt down and slowly cleared off the colorful but frail leaves, Hannah dug a small hole big enough to place Michael’s urn. She carefully set the urn in the hole and placed potted mums on top then covered it with the earth that she dug out. They all spend a few minutes in silence and said a prayer.
      After the funeral and everyone had left their love and condolences, Hannah retreats to her room as in a deep depression, only to come out to use the washroom. Helen would walk by her room and

pause; it broke her heart to hear Hannah crying. Helen knew that this stage has to be overcome.
    Over the next few weeks the crying subsided, Helen stayed by her side to make sure Hannah eats and keeps hydrated. After three weeks of taking care of Hannah, Helen thought it was time that she started to function on her own again.
 “Hannah Honey, I am coming in, we need to talk” without waiting for an answer Helen walked into Hannah’s room and plunked herself on the bed next to Hannah and placed her hand on Hannah’s,
“ Listen to me sweetie and listen good, there is something you need to hear” she started,
“I have put off my practice for three weeks now, my patients are probably starting to look elsewhere for help” Helen snorts out a laugh and continues,
“Its time to pick your butt outta that bed and continue living, Michael would have never wanted this for you. Plus if you don’t, your gunna end up as big as a house, just like me.” Helen gestured at her plump body,
“Now, you wouldn’t want that would you?”
She added. Hannah sat up in bed and stared at Helen for a few minutes, then burst out laughing, “I guess I wouldn’t” Hannah stated.
   Helen pulled out her prescription pad, and scribed a script for fifty milligrams of zoloff to be taken three times a day. She handed it to Hannah, “Here Hun, It’s time you start helping yourself to mental wellness, my job here is done.” and with that Helen walked out of Hannah’s room.
     A few hours later Hannah walked out of her room, and went into the living room. She sat beside Helen and put her hand on Helen’s,
 

“Without friends like you I would be where Michael is by now, Thank you so very much for sticking by my side” Hannah paused, 
“I had a while to think about my loss, you are right, Michael would not want me to wallow in self-pity”
“Yup” said Helen giving Hannah that ‘I told you so’ look about her.
“I thought you were going to leave, you stayed, why?” Hannah asked,
“I wanted to see if I was in the right profession” Helen quipped.
“I think you are in the perfect job, you brought me out of my coma” Hannah replied then added,
“ What took you so long to give me that lecture?” Hannah questioned
“You would not have listened any sooner, I had to give you ample time to grieve” Helen answered.
“Where do I start Helen? I was with Michael from a very young age” Hannah asks,
“You Start from today (ask a doctor opinion on what to say here)
“Let’s get out of here and get some fresh air, and on the way you can drive me to the drug store?” Hannah said,
“Now you got the ticket,” Helen replied as they threw on their fall jackets and headed out the door.
  

   
   
   
    The Real World

    Hannah finds out that Michael had accumulated a massive amount of debt from day trading. She numbly sorts through all the unpaid bills and loans that she had no idea of their existence, she sorts them out from the most pressing to the least important.    Michael’s insurance is almost gone and she does not have a way to pay them all, as she gave up her job after she and Michael married.
    Frustrated at the fact that paying a large amount of money on her rent and utilities, there would be little chance at getting caught up.
 Hannah sits in a chair that she placed by the window and stared into the busy street, trying hard to figure out what her next move would be. (needs more thought)

The following day Hannah set out to search for a job. Hannah’s only work experience was factory assembly lines. Fortunately she was able to regain a position in the packaging plant she worked for before she got married. She was put on a line to place bundles of plastic drinking cups into boxes to be shipped to stores. She hadn’t worked since before she and Michael were married, and now it was hard picking up where she left off after ten years ago.
 Hannah found that the hardest part of being out in the working world again, wasn’t the pain she came home with every night, a hot bath always calmed her sore muscles.
 

 The hardest part was coming home to an empty apartment, knowing that her husband will not be there to greet her. In opening her closet while changing out of her work clothes to see Michael’s clothes still hanging where he had placed them. Going into the bathroom and seeing his bathrobe on the back of the door, his shaver and colognes still sitting in the medicine cabinet next to hers. It was too much for her to bear to have a constant reminder of the man she deeply loved.
   Almost a year after Michael’s death, Hannah decided it were time to donate all of his belongings to the needy, Hannah calls her good friend Helen to help her out and to bring Max to see if he would like anything that had belonged to Michael. It took them almost a whole day to sort out what goes where, but now it was done and Hannah could start her new life without Michael.
    The problem that was still left to solve was paying down the debt that Michael had left behind.          Her job was barely enough to pay the rent and utilities, for food and the cost of transportation. It was back to the drawing board so to speak; she sat in the chair by the window with a writing pad and a pencil to scribble down any ideas she may come up with.  (Decides bankruptcy)   *******                                               Hannah felt her well of ideas was empty, two hours of staring out the window to discover that there was only one possible solution, so she picked up the phone and called her mother.
    A few weeks later a decision was made, she would be moving in with her mother. This way she would only have to pay a quarter of what she was paying in rent and use the extra for the debts. The next day Hannah gave notice of her departure to her landlord and her employer; her plan was set into action. Max and Helen helped Hannah to pack and some of

Michael’s Co-workers pitched in to move her out of the city to her mothers’ house in the country.
“We are going to miss you Hannah, so very much” Helen sobbed,
“It’s not like I’m dead Helen, you know where I am, you can always come and visit” Hannah quipped
 “This is true, now who sounds like a therapist” Helen replied as they laughed together.
“I promise I will keep in touch and fill you in on every thing that goes on” Hannah promised. Helen was happy with that promise.
“Thank you all for all the help you have given me over the last year” Hannah said looking at all Michael’s co-workers
“And you Helen, you have been my rock, you helped save my life, Thank you so very much, I will never forget” Hannah professed to Helen. The two women hugged and said their farewells.
      Once again Hannah set out to find a new job closer to her mothers’ house. Hannah doesn’t drive so the cost of transportation would have weighed heavily on her if she kept her job in the city. For the next few months Hannah searched the classifieds and went on many interviews. During her time between her interviews, Hannah found a quaint little garden park facing the most beautiful mansion she had ever seen. It looked like the mansion was split into apartments. She decided that she would visit this park whenever possible. That very day Hannah finally found a job, in a little downtown dress boutique.
   She started her new job the next day and she was very excited. Hannah was not able to buy any of the beautiful designer dresses in that boutique, they were well out of her price range, but she enjoyed the job anyway, it gave her a chance to meet new people and start her

new life. Working at the boutique was far easier than the packing plant and she enjoyed it far more, not that she enjoyed working at the plant.
    Within a few months Hannah had all of the pressing debts paid down, and can now concentrate on herself. The boutique was just a block away from the little garden park, so she would walk there on her lunch breaks.

Page Turned

       A handsome, mysterious man looks out through his apartment window at      the tiny garden park watching the children play happily, envying the families that play there. Blake was in his early thirties; he stood a little over six feet and had a body of a bricklayer.       Well cut and very lean with piercing blue eyes, he never married and never had children. He longed to settle down with someone true that would love him for who he was not what he carried in his bank account.
    Blake Cotterington lived in a bachelor apartment in a beautiful old downtown mansion. Blake was dating a tall unattractive woman, Pauline Voyier. Pauline was a material girl; her only passion was pursuing expensive shoe stores and jewelry shops. Blake didn’t make enough money to keep Pauline happy and he couldn’t keep up with her continuous spending habits, she would max out her credit cards and have Blake pay them off. Many a times had he told himself how much a fool he was for allowing this to go on.
    This is certainly not the woman he would consider settling down with, Pauline hated children and wouldn’t even dream of becoming a mother.
The phone began to ring in Blake’s tiny apartment, he hesitated as he picked    it up, knowing full well who it was,
       “Hello, Blake here” he said,
       “ Blake darling, its me Pauline” she said with a condescending tone,
       “Pauline, where in hell are you?  We were supposed to be at the restaurant an hour ago, I had to cancel the reservations!” he snapped back,
       “Oh darling, don’t be so dramatic, the world doesn’t revolve around only you.  So chill, I’m at my friend Rachel’s house,” she spat out in her squeaky stuck up voice,

“Guess what we did today” she asked. Blake thinking  ‘like I care’
“Ok, Pauline what did you and Rachel do today” Blake asked, humoring her.  
“We were out looking for a job together” she spat back,
 “Oh really? That’s rich” Blake chuckled, Pauline looking for anything but a new pair of shoes was a far stretch,
 “Did you find a job?” Blake asked with a skeptical tone.
“For sure” she squealed and said,
“It’s a great job, you know how I’m a night person?” she pause waiting for a smart-ass remark from Blake, but he didn’t give in to her game.
“ Well, I got a night job. It has wonderful pay and excellent tips.” she answered,
“ So you took a waitress job at a bar did yeah?” he said in disbelief,
“ Oh No! Blake dear” she let out an annoying chuckle and continued,
“I’m now a feature dancer at the Owl’s Den” silence went over the phone for a minute,
 “ What! Did I hear you correctly? You accepted a job to strip in front of a bunch of drunken men! Are you fucken nuts?”  He replied in anger,
 “ Yes dear that’s right.”
“What the hell is wrong with your head, did you think I would approve?” Blake yelled through the receiver.
 “Don’t take it so personal, you just don’t make enough money to give me the kind of life I desire. So I thought this job would help us both out.” She said sounding confidant, she really did think that the world revolved around only her.
“Listen Pauline, don’t count me into your us anymore. I’m not into dating strippers. I want you to come and get your belongings out of here today!” Blake hung up the phone and thought to himself, ‘is there anyone out there that doesn’t put their feeling up against the all mighty dollar bill? Oh well at least I am free look for someone who will love me for me, not the size of my wallet.’
     That evening Pauline came over to try and talk Blake into accepting her    new career choice, and to take her back. In her mind he may not have a lot of money but he is a damn good lover, she didn’t want to miss out on that, plus there isn’t a man in this town who makes a lot of money and is single.
   Pauline was dressed in a micro mini skirt that had slits up the side, revealing the sides of her butt cheeks. Her blouse was a single piece of fabric, low cut in the front and ties in the back, exposing her breasts.
       “Hi, Blakey,” she said with an infantile tone, he didn’t even turn to  look at her
“I assume you are here to get your stuff” he spat out.
“Well no, you weren’t serious, I know when my Blakey is serious,” she said, Blake just huffed at her comments
“I just want you to accept my new job and continue loving me,” she said, still in that annoying infantile voice
“Love you? Who are you kidding, I have never told you that I Loved you” Blake turned to look at her and shook his head, he knows what game she is trying to play now. It’s the let’s get naked and everything will fix itself out, game.
“What about this past year, all those nights we spent together, in there?” Pauline said, pointing to the bedroom slyly. Blake started to laugh heavily.
“Sex Pauline! It was just sex, and obviously a big waste of my time!” he yelled,
“There you go again, getting dramatic on me, you were so hot and heavy for me, you surly cant just turn that away?” she demanded.
“Listen Pauline, it’s a waste of my time to even continue this argument, if you can’t distinguish between sex and love then it is pointless to go any further, You are a waste of my time!” Blake was really getting annoyed looking at her.
“Just get your things and leave, Now!”
Pauline calmly walked into the bedroom picked up her few belongings placed the key to Blake’s apartment on the table and left, but not before spitting out one last remark, “who needs a loser like you anyway, I can do much better without you anyway!” As she walked out the door Blake began to laugh uncontrollably.
      The following day Blake went out to pick up a pack of smokes at the corner mini mart before heading off to work. On his way there he happened to look into an upscale dress boutique. He saw a woman that caught his eye, she was standing by the dressing room mirrors, admiring her figure up against a beautiful expensive gown.
    Blake thought twice about getting another material girl, but because of her sheer beauty he kept staring. To his absolute delight he saw disappointment in her face as she walked back behind the counter, he had realized that she was an attendant and not a shopper.  Blake recognized the girl; she sits on the bench in the little garden park, out front of his apartment. He thought she was an angelic vision then, as does he now. ‘She has really sad eyes.’ Blake thought. For this reason, Blake was glad to be rid of Pauline, because it is just about time to capture the heart of his dream girl, the girl in the boutique.
    The next day around two in the afternoon, Blake walked by the garden park in search of this fair maiden that made his heart jump. There she was, sitting on the bench reading a mystery novel. Blake stood there for a few minutes, his breath taken away as his heart jumped with excitement. He brushed back his hair with his fingers and started toward the bench.
 “Hi, do you mind if I sit down next to you?” he asked,
“ Sure, go ahead” she said, while still reading her novel. Blake went breathless just hearing her voice; it was just as he had imagined it to be, soft and sweet.
 “Do you mind if I ask what your book is about?” he asked, trying to start a connection. She looks up at his handsome face and stares quietly for a moment,
 “Oh sure, it’s about this young woman who searches out old rich men, bilks them penniless, while supporting her lover on the side. She gets the men to fall in love with her and they put her in their will. And then she poisons them to gain the inheritance.” Hannah answers.
 “Sounds pretty gruesome, what do you think of her, chasing the money and all?” Blake asks, trying to get a view of her morals.
“In my opinion, I don’t know how any woman can be so materialistic, love is far richer than any amount of money” Hannah said with conviction. Wow! Thought Blake I have found my dream this is the woman who will be my wife.
“Wow, that’s deep, do you really feel that way?”
 “ Oh yes. I’d rather have love then all the money in the world,” She paused, “sure if the man I fall in love with has a lot of money, I would be happy, but without the love, money is meaningless.” Hannah said with wide eyes, wondering why this handsome stranger was interested in her book.
  “Oh, by the way, my name is Blake Cotterington.” Blake extended his hand out to create a formal greeting, She felt mesmerized as she extended her hand to greet his.
 “Oh, sorry for being so rude, I’m Hannah DeAlmos” Hannah said with a stunned tone and had and declared him known.
 “Hannah, what a beautiful name, meaning blessed with beauty, the name suites you” he says with a smart smile plastered on his lips. There was a long pause as they pierce each other’s eyes.
   There was a spark of chemistry between them. Blake knew it all along, ever since he spied her at the boutique, and Hannah was just realizing it herself.
“Would you like to join me for dinner tonight?” Blake blurted out without thinking, not sure if she felt the same spark,
“That was mighty sharp of you, you cant be serious, I don’t even know you” Hannah said shyly,
“I agree, it was a smidgen quick of me, I just felt like it was the right thing to say” Blake confessed. Another silence fell between them as they looked into each other’s eyes.
“Well, ah” Hannah stumbled over he words, entranced in Blake’s deep blue eyes. “I’m not sure, I live with my mom and don’t know what she has planned” Hannah said shyly not sure why she said that, and thought to herself, Man. that must have sounded so lame. Blake took a pen and a small piece of paper from in pocket, scribbled his number on it and handed it to Hannah.
“Here take my phone number and call me to let me know where to pick you up” Blake slowly rose from the bench and walked away with a winning grin on his face.
   Clutching the paper with Blake’s number in her hand she closed her book, carefully placed it in her bag and started back to work. Hannah wasn’t aware of anything that sold in the store that afternoon, she was in such a fog from her happenstance with Blake. Her employer mentioned good sales from that day, and congratulated her for a job well done. When Hannah’s shift ended, she headed straight home to discuss this event with her mother.
    Hannah knew that changing dinner plans would not bother her mother, it’s the chance meeting and quick endorsement that would bother her.  Hannah walked into the house and called out to her mother. She was sitting in the kitchen with a neighbor drinking tea. She met her mother in the kitchen, poured a cup of tea and told her mother all the events of the day, especially about the Man in the garden park on her lunch break. At first her mother did not approve, but her neighbor did not agree, it was similar to the way she met her husband. Soon Hannah’s mother realized that it might do her good to start dating again as she saw a new light in Hannah’s eyes, the same light that went out when Michael died.
    Hannah reached into her purse and pulled out the paper that Blake scribbled his phone number on. She picked up the phone and dialed half of the number than hung up, losing her nerve. Her mother and neighbor sat there chuckling at Hannah, teasing her about her cowardice. She sat down to finish her tea then five minutes later Hannah found the nerve to dial his number and not hang up, until after she finishes talking to him.
“Here goes,” she said as she picked up the receiver and dialed. The phone rang through Blake’s apartment; He raced to answer it, hoping it was Hannah. “Hello” Blake greeted,
“Hi, ah. Blake?” she said questionably not sure of his voice over the phone.
“Yes this is Blake” also not sure of the voice on the other end.
“This is Hannah, from the park today” she said
“Right, Hannah, Hi, have you decided to take me up on my offer?” he asked, then thought to himself, of course she has or she would be calling me so early
“Yes, I have decided to go for dinner with you, I thought that would be lovely” Hannah replied.  She gave him a time and the directions to pick her up.
    After she hung up the phone with Blake, Hannah ran straight upstairs to shower and get ready. At seven Blake called to let Hannah know he was on his way to pick her up. Hannah’s mother answered the phone. “Hello, Cerello house” she greeted, “ Hi this is Blake Cotterington, I am calling for Hannah, is she there?” Blake asked
 “Oh hello Blake, this is Hannah’s mother. Hannah is still getting ready, she should be done in about fifteen minutes.” Ms. Cerello replied
“Great, tell her I am on my way there, it should take me around half hour.” Blake said,
 “Alright Blake I will let her know, bye then” she hung up the phone and headed up the stairs to give Hannah the news.
    Hannah’s mother knocked on Hannah’s bedroom door,
“Hannah honey” she called,
“Come in mom, I’m just about done” her mother opened the door and her mouth went agape in awe as she looked at Hannah.
“Oh my goodness, Hannah you look you absolutely gorgeous. I haven’t seen you look that lovely since you wedding”
“Really mom, you really think so?”
“Yes really honey, you have out done yourself.”
Hannah had her auburn hair tied up in a bun with a few strands around the side of her face, her make-up was applied softly; in which gave her an elegant look. She was wearing a pale blue silk and lace dress that hung a little past her knees, the lace hugging her thighs. The top of her dress went just above the nape of her neck. The sleeves reached her wrist with flaring lace, The dress left Hannah’s shoulders exposed; in which made her look very alluring. She splashed her neck and wrists with obsession then searched through her closet for shoes and a shawl; she threw on a pale blue pair of pumps, and a white knitted shawl.
 “A picture of beauty” Her mom said, throwing her arms around Hannah’s shoulders, kissing her on her forehead,
“Are you all set for a lovely evening?” she asked,
“Oh mom, I really hope so. I just met this man and it feels like I have known him all of my life. It’s so weird. Its like fate brought me to this point, or ah. What’s that word?”
“Kismet” her mother added
“Yeah, That’s it, kismet, I like that word” Hannah replied,
“I hope this man make you happy, you need happiness in your like after all you have been through in the past two years” her mother said whit a gleam of pride in her eyes.
“I have just a couple words of motherly advice, number one; don’t fall too deep too fast. That is how I ended up here alone and number two; have a wonderful time” Hannah mom scolded teasingly.
 “Thank you mom, you are so wonderful yourself, I have no idea how Martin could have left you so hastily ” She said as kissed her mother on the cheek. Just as Hannah was putting the finishing to her face the doorbell rang out through the house,
 “Oh yeah, Blake called and said he was on his way” mom chucked as she walked out of Hannah’s room and went to answer the door.
“Well hello, you must be Blake, come in my dear, Hannah will be down any minute now” Hannah’s mother said, Blake stepped in and looked around spying for Hannah but she hadn’t come down stairs yet.
“Thank you, you must be Hannah’s sister, I see the resemblance” Blake kidded putting a blush over Hannah’s mother’s face
 “ No silly, I’m her mom, but thank you”
“ Ah, right, I can see where Hannah got her beauty from” Blake said with a teasing smile, Hannah’s mother chuckled. Hannah slowly made her descent down the stairs, keeping her eyes on Blake. Blake’s eyes went wide as his met with Hannah’s. His teasing smile turned into wonder and excitement, Blake walked to the bottom of the stairs and met Hannah with an open hand, Hannah gladly took Blake’s hand three stairs from the bottom and walked down. Keeping her eyes locked on his, a smile so wide and wondrous.
    Hannah’s mother saw the spark they had going between them and thought to herself, ‘these two young people do have kismet together and will have a long and happy life together’ although, see kept that thought to herself.
“I have only one thing to say, WOW!” Blake said, Hannah just gave him a sly look and they set out to the car.
 “Have a great time kids!” Hannah’s mom called out. As Blake was opening the car door for Hannah, she thought, ‘shivery is not dead after all, I can get used to this’ Blake closed the door and walked over to the drivers’ side and got in, buckled his seat belt and drove away.
“You really do look beautiful tonight Hannah” Blake said
“Thank you Blake, You look particularly handsome yourself” she replied with a glint of tenderness in her smile.
“I hope you like Italian food, I know of this wonderful bistro uptown”
“Yes, I love Italian food, it is one of my favorites”
“Great to hear that because it is my favorite also” Blake replied
   There was a calm silence between them on the way to the restaurant; Hannah glared out the passenger side window at the scenery. When they arrived at the restaurant they were shown to their table, Blake pulled out her chair and pushed it in after she was seated. 
   The Bistro was quaint and dimly lit, with small round tables, placed far enough apart so that no other diner would be able to pick up on anyone else’s conversation. There was a small red glass candle pot on each table adding a charming glow to Blake’s handsome features. Blake ordered a bottle of wine to start; they both stared at the menu for a few seconds before Blake started to talk again.
 “I’m not much a talker when I am driving, as you can tell” Blake started,
 “Well neither am I, I completely understand, you have to concentrate on all the crazy drivers on the road these days” Hannah replied
“That is it exactly, you are so right, I had so many brushes with people who think they know how to drive” Blake chuckled,
“I’m the kind that likes to look at all the sites and take in the view. Have you lived in town a long time?” Hannah asked
 “ Yes, I was born and raised here, I love this little town, with the exception of some of the people” he added thinking of Pauline.
“What about you, have you been here long?” he asked
“No not at all, my mom moved here four years ago with a man she had met and a few months later he split on her, so she decided to stay a while”
“Lucky for me that she did, or this dinner would never have taken place, look what I would be missing” Blake teased, Hannah chuckled at his statement.
“I used to live in the city with my husband, until he died a year ago” Hannah said with that sad look in her eyes as she dropped her head.
“Oh I’m so sorry to hear that, it must have been hard adapting to a tragic situation like that”
“Yes it was very hard, we were married very young and he was my life for a long time”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to dredge up sad memories, you don’t have to continue if it makes you feel uncomfortable”
“Oh no, its alright, I really don’t mind talking about Michael, I should have gotten it out of my system a long time ago”
“I don’t know about that, When you have loved someone for such a long time I don’t think anyone could ever get it out at all, I mean letting go, do you know what I mean?”
“Yes I know, I’ll probably never let go of the happy memories but at the same time I could never let those memories stop me from making more” she replied then added,
“ We were having some marital problems just before he died and were trying to work it out. We were scheduled to see a marriage councilor, but we never got around to it”
 “That is a shame, but you do have a good attitude about it all”
“Yeah, It took a while to get over it, and I had the support of some wonderful friends, but here we are tonight, making new memories. Wow. I never thought I be out on a date after Michael died, I was determined to be a lonely old maid for the rest of my life” Hannah laughed along with Blake. Their eyes twinkled in the candlelight as they looked at each other, Blake reached over and touched her hand and in the other hand holding his glass of wine
“ Here’s to new and wonderful memories.” He declared.
“Yes to wonderful new memories” Hannah added.
Blake looked down at his watch realizing that they hadn’t ordered yet, and picked up his menu.
 “ Wow, how time flies when your having fun, I am starved what about you” Blake quipped.
“I guess I am, we were having such a lovely talk I forgot all about my hunger” she laughed.
“No wonder the waiter kept interrupting, I thought he was hired by someone that don’t want us together” he said jokingly.  They both took a few minutes looking at the menu before deciding.  Hannah ordered the seafood penne and Blake settled for a panzorotti, they continued to talk throughout the evening and through dinner. It truly was as if they had known each other for a long time, Hannah felt really comfortable with Blake. The evening drew to a close, Blake escorted Hannah to the door,  “I had a terrific evening, thank you for agreeing to join me” he stated,
 “ I also had a lovely evening, one that will be added to my memory file” Hannah said jokingly. They both let out a laugh and then as suddenly as it started, the laughing stopped and a still peace washed over them as they stood on the front porch staring into each other’s eyes. Blake took Hannah’s hands in his and cocked his head slightly to one side slowly drawing toward her to kiss he goodnight, Hannah closed her eyes as their lips met. He then placed his hand on her cheeks while Hannah drew closer placing her hands around his waist.  Blake’s tongue danced with Hannah’s, she thought he tasted wonderful and did not want that moment to end. Blake pulled away gave Hannah a wink and walked back to his car and drove off. Hannah was left on the front porch in a daze, still trying to take in the evening and especially that kiss, wondering if it was serious and if Blake would ever call her again. Hannah slowly opened the door, her mother was sitting in the livingroom sipping on a tea, and she turned to look at Hannah. “I take it you had a good evening?”
“Oh mom, I was more than just a good evening, it was magical” she said as she twirled around toward the stairs and rushed up to her bedroom. Hannah got ready for bed and climbed in, when there was a tap on her door “ goodnight Hannah honey, I am glad your evening was as wonderful as your eyes look.” Her mother said. Hannah pulled the blankets up close to her chin gripping the blankets tightly, she let out a sigh and drifted off to sleep.
   Over the next few months Blake and Hannah went out for dinner twice a week, and continually talked on the phone. Their kissing became even more intense, but up until then, Hannah didn’t feel that she was ready for anything more then their passionate kisses, she haven’t even been to his apartment. On a hot summer evening in early August, Hannah offered to cook him dinner instead of wasting money at restaurants, Blake agreed, but under one condition, she was to cook it at his place. That evening Hannah went to the grocery store to purchase the ingredients she needed to make dinner, then arrived at Blake’s apartment, Blake was still at work he gave her the key to let herself in to start cooking. Hannah set the grocery bags on the counter and started pulling the items out of the bags, placing them in order that was needed to prepare them. Before starting she looked around Blake’s little apartment to get am idea of his tastes in décor. It was a small apartment, but seemed to be a little bigger than the one she had before Michael died. As you walk into the door there is a long hallway, which splits into four different rooms first to the right is the livingroom area then the bathroom next the kitchen and off of the kitchen was the bedroom, all in which; were decorated very scantly.  Hannah walked back to the kitchen and started her preparations. A half-hour later Blake walked in to the kitchen, Hannah didn’t hear him enter and jumped with fear as he came around the corner. “Oh my you scared the poop out of me” Hannah quipped as she turned to him and gave him a passionate kiss. As she opened her eyes she saw a bouquet of wildflowers and a bottle of white wine. “Umm, Smells good, can’t wait to eat”
“Why thank you, you do have enough time to shower before dinner is ready”
“Oh good, would you like to join me in the shower?”
Hannah gave a nervous laugh, “then dinner will spoil, can’t have that if I’m going to tantalize you belly” she said laughing and rubbing his stomach.
“Can’t blame a man for trying” he said while stripping off his shirt. It was the first time she had seen his bare chest and was impressed, yet tempted to take him up on his offer.
“Go jump into the shower, you silly man”
“Ok, I’m going” he kissed her on the cheek and went toward the bathroom. While Blake was showering, Hannah found a tablecloth to cover his two-person table, she threw it over the table placed the flowers in a vase placed it in the middle and set a red candle on each side and set out the place settings. Dinner was ready, Hannah was standing at the stove when Blake came in and placed his arms around her waist and gently kissed her neck, she spun around and started to kiss him passionately, then pulled away. Blake looked as handsome as ever, he smelt better than dinner did and she had a feeling in her chest that tonight is that special night where they will finally know each other in a much more intimate way. 
“The table looks wonderful and dinner smells even better Hannah” Blake said
“have a seat, and the taste may say differently” Hannah replied with a hint of humor in her voice
“Nothing that smells that good can taste any differently, I’m sure I is going to be excellent” he said. Hannah carefully arranged that Parmesan chicken and noodles on the plates and carried them to the table and set them in their places.

  If you liked this part of the story, you can read the whole book comming soon to your bookstores

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