Part 1234 – Messages And Roses

Delighted.

She’d be delighted.

“Uhh. Umm.” Sammy cleared his throat and stood up straight. “Any messages?”

Barbara returned to her seat. “Ms. Brant called again. She really wants a gargoyle to guard her garden.” She sighed. “I told her that we don’t have any available gargoyles, but she got all offended. She wanted you to call her back. I forwarded her call to your voicemail.”

Barbara opened her call log and went over the other messages.

Sammy admired her as she spoke.

The artlessly careful way she had styled her hair.

The brightness and sparkle in her eyes.

Her pens slowly sprouted leaves and thorns and rose buds. Rose buds that leisurely unfolded into vivid red blooms.

“Then, I told him that we don’t deal with—”

“Ms. Addleston.”

She looked up at him. “Hm?”

“You won’t leave, will you? I mean, after you marry Mr. Smith, you will stay on here, won’t you?”

“Of course! I love this job. It makes me happy.”

“And.” He cleared his throat again. “You will marry Mr. Smith? I mean, you’re going to go through with it?”

Barbara smiled. “Absolutely.”

The roses turned back into black pens.

Sammy nodded. “Of course. As you were saying?”

“Uhh. Oh, yeah. I told him that we don’t deal with…” She stopped. “Sammy?”

“Yes, Ms. Addleston?”

“Will you be all right attending our wedding?” The compassion in her voice and in her expression stole his heart all over again.

Sammy managed a small smile. “Yes.” He thought about Deliosa and his smile became sincere. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”

***

Sammy entered his office and sat at his desk. He pressed the button for his voice mail and listened to the variety of messages. Ms. Brant’s message was the very last one.

He stopped it and sat back in his seat.

It will hurt to see her walk down the aisle and hear her say those vows to him.

But.

I need to be there.

I need to see it.

I need to hear it.

Only then will I be free.

Huh. I wonder if I should tell her about Deliosa.

I will.

Eventually.

This isn’t the right time, the right moment.

But it will come.

I’ll tell her then.