how to respond.
Michael
pulled me into a soft embrace. “Let me introduce you to your new home,” he murmured
softly. He wrapped his arm around me as he led me through the house. I tried
not to resist the embrace.
Although
each room in the house was grand in its own way, the garden terrace was still
my favorite room. The pool room came in at a close second. The pool was secreted
in the basement. Steam rolled low over the warm water in the cool room. A
number of palm trees were scattered throughout the room in large decorative pots.
The ivory terracotta tile was swirled with a rich caramel color, which gave the
illusion of blowing and drifting sand. Like most rooms in the house, there
were a number of sitting areas. The room was fairly dark because the recessed sun
lamps were turned off, but the ceiling sparkled with a million tiny LED lights
that twinkled like stars. The ambience conjured up visions of skinny dipping under
the stars in a remote tropical lake.
Another
tray of food was waiting for us when we returned to the bedroom. I wondered how
the staff could be so unobtrusive. Were they trying to respect our privacy,
trying to avoid Michael, or was it simply a job requirement to remain unseen?
Michael
poured our drinks as we settled onto the couch. “ Mon coeur , there is
something I have been meaning to ask you.”
I
glanced at Michael as I pulled our plates from the tray. “Yes?” I inquired nervously.
His
eyes softened. “What happened to your little dog? He wasn’t at the apartment
yesterday, and I haven’t seen you walk him since May.”
The
memory of losing Cade brought tears to my eyes. “Cade died. He was so old, his
little heart gave out.” I would never forget the night Kadyn tried to save him.
I thought Cade was having a seizure. His body was wracked with spasms. Then he
became very still. I was clutching him to my chest and sobbing hysterically when
Kadyn pulled him from my arms and resuscitated him. We rushed him to the animal
hospital, only to have him die in my arms a few hours later.
The
room blurred as tears stole silently down my cheeks. Losing Cade after sixteen
years, especially after what we had been through together, had been one of the
most painful experiences of my life.
Michael
gently wiped away the tears. “Would you like another dog?”
I
shook my head. “No, Michael. No other dog could possibly take his place.” Of
that I was certain. Cade was a small Shih Tzu, weighing only nine pounds. He
had been broken and battered trying to protect me throughout an abusive
marriage that dragged on for years. He had seen me through more than any human
ever had. There was no replacing that.
“ Je suis désolé, ”
Michael whispered as he kissed me on the temple. He pulled me close to him on
the couch, then hesitantly handed me a plate. “ Bon appétit ,” he said
with an encouraging smile.
I
forced my thoughts away from Cade as I accepted the plate. “ Bon appétit ,”
I replied. I took a small bite of the roast duck and hummed appreciatively when
the savory bread crumb stuffing melted in my mouth. I glanced at Michael before
taking another bite. “So tell me about your staff. Who do you have working here
besides the cook?”
Michael
looked thoughtful as he sampled the roast duck. “We have a butler, three maids,
and a gardener. I have a personal assistant and a bodyguard. You have already
met your bodyguard.” He paused as he took a sip of wine. “There are actually
quite a few people who guard the property.”
I
silently studied Michael. He seemed completely unfazed by the large staff. “I
had no idea so many people were in the house.”
Michael
shrugged. “If you notice them, then they aren’t doing a very good job.”
I
set my plate aside and reached for my wine. “Do they all live here?”
Michael
shook his head. “Our bodyguards and the butler are the only ones who live in
the main house. The security staff work in three eight hour shifts. So,
Michael
pulled me into a soft embrace. “Let me introduce you to your new home,” he murmured
softly. He wrapped his arm around me as he led me through the house. I tried
not to resist the embrace.
Although
each room in the house was grand in its own way, the garden terrace was still
my favorite room. The pool room came in at a close second. The pool was secreted
in the basement. Steam rolled low over the warm water in the cool room. A
number of palm trees were scattered throughout the room in large decorative pots.
The ivory terracotta tile was swirled with a rich caramel color, which gave the
illusion of blowing and drifting sand. Like most rooms in the house, there
were a number of sitting areas. The room was fairly dark because the recessed sun
lamps were turned off, but the ceiling sparkled with a million tiny LED lights
that twinkled like stars. The ambience conjured up visions of skinny dipping under
the stars in a remote tropical lake.
Another
tray of food was waiting for us when we returned to the bedroom. I wondered how
the staff could be so unobtrusive. Were they trying to respect our privacy,
trying to avoid Michael, or was it simply a job requirement to remain unseen?
Michael
poured our drinks as we settled onto the couch. “ Mon coeur , there is
something I have been meaning to ask you.”
I
glanced at Michael as I pulled our plates from the tray. “Yes?” I inquired nervously.
His
eyes softened. “What happened to your little dog? He wasn’t at the apartment
yesterday, and I haven’t seen you walk him since May.”
The
memory of losing Cade brought tears to my eyes. “Cade died. He was so old, his
little heart gave out.” I would never forget the night Kadyn tried to save him.
I thought Cade was having a seizure. His body was wracked with spasms. Then he
became very still. I was clutching him to my chest and sobbing hysterically when
Kadyn pulled him from my arms and resuscitated him. We rushed him to the animal
hospital, only to have him die in my arms a few hours later.
The
room blurred as tears stole silently down my cheeks. Losing Cade after sixteen
years, especially after what we had been through together, had been one of the
most painful experiences of my life.
Michael
gently wiped away the tears. “Would you like another dog?”
I
shook my head. “No, Michael. No other dog could possibly take his place.” Of
that I was certain. Cade was a small Shih Tzu, weighing only nine pounds. He
had been broken and battered trying to protect me throughout an abusive
marriage that dragged on for years. He had seen me through more than any human
ever had. There was no replacing that.
“ Je suis désolé, ”
Michael whispered as he kissed me on the temple. He pulled me close to him on
the couch, then hesitantly handed me a plate. “ Bon appétit ,” he said
with an encouraging smile.
I
forced my thoughts away from Cade as I accepted the plate. “ Bon appétit ,”
I replied. I took a small bite of the roast duck and hummed appreciatively when
the savory bread crumb stuffing melted in my mouth. I glanced at Michael before
taking another bite. “So tell me about your staff. Who do you have working here
besides the cook?”
Michael
looked thoughtful as he sampled the roast duck. “We have a butler, three maids,
and a gardener. I have a personal assistant and a bodyguard. You have already
met your bodyguard.” He paused as he took a sip of wine. “There are actually
quite a few people who guard the property.”
I
silently studied Michael. He seemed completely unfazed by the large staff. “I
had no idea so many people were in the house.”
Michael
shrugged. “If you notice them, then they aren’t doing a very good job.”
I
set my plate aside and reached for my wine. “Do they all live here?”
Michael
shook his head. “Our bodyguards and the butler are the only ones who live in
the main house. The security staff work in three eight hour shifts. So,
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