sure what period it was, only that it was too formal for her taste. Nonetheless, the lobby and the view of the ocean at the rear of the building were magnificent. Jameson led them past the elevator bank to smaller hallway, which he used a card key to access. “ Won ’ t we be taking the elevators to the penthouse, Mr. Jameson? ” Leah asked.
“ Yes, Ms. Gold. The penthouse, however, has a private elevator entrance. Here it is. ”
He held the card key up to a keypad, which beeped twice and the elevator door opened. “ You can use the card to access the elevator, or the keypad in the event you forget or misplace your card key. ”
“ What ’ s the code for the key pad? ” Ali asked.
“ There will be instructions upstairs that you can use to set your own private code. A set of personal card keys is already in the residence on the foyer table in a folder for you, along with information about all the services available here at The Sands. I ’ m sure you ’ ll be pleased with our elaborate security system as well as the many conveniences our residents enjoy. Here we are, now. ”
The vision Leah beheld as she stepped into the penthouse foyer took her breath away. It was everything she loved about South Florida in one panoramic view. The choppy, blue-gray Atlantic Ocean on one side, the calm waters of the Intracoastal lined with boat-filled marinas on the other and the surrounding vista of Fort Lauderdale stretched out before her eyes.
“ Would you like me to show you around the residence? ”
“ No, I— ” Leah began.
“ Show me, ” Ali interrupted. “ Where are the bedrooms? ”
As Ali disappeared down a corridor with Jameson, Leah stepped haltingly toward the floor-to-ceiling windows of the great room. The sheer magnitude of the natural beauty overwhelmed her. All at once she felt in awe of nature and inspired by its possibility, while at the same time reminded of her own lack of importance and significance in comparison. She steadied herself by leaning against the back of the couch as she stared out, transfixed by the view.
“ Mommy! Come here and look! ”
Leah broke from her trance and followed Ali ’ s voice, expecting her daughter to show her the bedroom she had selected. Instead, Ali came running down the hallway, holding a small, furry dog. “ Can you believe it? They left their dog! Are we going to keep him? ”
Leah looked questioningly at Mr. Jameson behind Ali. “ Who ’ s taking care of the dog now? We won ’ t be moving in for at least two weeks. ”
“ The house staff will look after Mitzi until your arrival, Ms. Gold. ”
“ The dog ’ s name is Mitzi? Perfect. ” Leah forced a smiled. “ What kind of dog is she, anyway? ”
“ She ’ s a Yorkie, Mom! Why don ’ t we take her home with us so she won ’ t have to stay alone until we move in? ”
“ I don ’ t think that ’ s a good idea, Ali. I ’ m sure Mitzi would be much more comfortable here. ”
Leah looked out at the terrace. It was landscaped like a city park, not a rooftop garden. There were plants and trees everywhere, inside and outside the apartment.
“ What about the foliage, Mr. Jameson? Who will care for that? ”
“ Our instructions were to have the house staff make maintenance calls until your arrival. ”
“ Uh huh. ” Leah pondered what she was getting into as she watched Ali playing with the manicured pup. “ That dog probably spends more time getting her hair done than I do, ” Leah muttered. Mitzi wore a large pink ribbon tied around a tuft of fur, which had been pulled into a tiny ponytail at the top of her head. She was licking Ali and wagging her tail.
Leah felt the chilling dread overcome her again. It wasn ’ t fear of killing plants or losing the dog. She knew some kind of real trouble was brewing. “ Ali, let ’ s go home now. You ’ ve got a test tomorrow, and I ’ ve got more packing to do. ”
She turned to the concierge. “ Thank you, Mr. Jameson, for the tour. I
“ Yes, Ms. Gold. The penthouse, however, has a private elevator entrance. Here it is. ”
He held the card key up to a keypad, which beeped twice and the elevator door opened. “ You can use the card to access the elevator, or the keypad in the event you forget or misplace your card key. ”
“ What ’ s the code for the key pad? ” Ali asked.
“ There will be instructions upstairs that you can use to set your own private code. A set of personal card keys is already in the residence on the foyer table in a folder for you, along with information about all the services available here at The Sands. I ’ m sure you ’ ll be pleased with our elaborate security system as well as the many conveniences our residents enjoy. Here we are, now. ”
The vision Leah beheld as she stepped into the penthouse foyer took her breath away. It was everything she loved about South Florida in one panoramic view. The choppy, blue-gray Atlantic Ocean on one side, the calm waters of the Intracoastal lined with boat-filled marinas on the other and the surrounding vista of Fort Lauderdale stretched out before her eyes.
“ Would you like me to show you around the residence? ”
“ No, I— ” Leah began.
“ Show me, ” Ali interrupted. “ Where are the bedrooms? ”
As Ali disappeared down a corridor with Jameson, Leah stepped haltingly toward the floor-to-ceiling windows of the great room. The sheer magnitude of the natural beauty overwhelmed her. All at once she felt in awe of nature and inspired by its possibility, while at the same time reminded of her own lack of importance and significance in comparison. She steadied herself by leaning against the back of the couch as she stared out, transfixed by the view.
“ Mommy! Come here and look! ”
Leah broke from her trance and followed Ali ’ s voice, expecting her daughter to show her the bedroom she had selected. Instead, Ali came running down the hallway, holding a small, furry dog. “ Can you believe it? They left their dog! Are we going to keep him? ”
Leah looked questioningly at Mr. Jameson behind Ali. “ Who ’ s taking care of the dog now? We won ’ t be moving in for at least two weeks. ”
“ The house staff will look after Mitzi until your arrival, Ms. Gold. ”
“ The dog ’ s name is Mitzi? Perfect. ” Leah forced a smiled. “ What kind of dog is she, anyway? ”
“ She ’ s a Yorkie, Mom! Why don ’ t we take her home with us so she won ’ t have to stay alone until we move in? ”
“ I don ’ t think that ’ s a good idea, Ali. I ’ m sure Mitzi would be much more comfortable here. ”
Leah looked out at the terrace. It was landscaped like a city park, not a rooftop garden. There were plants and trees everywhere, inside and outside the apartment.
“ What about the foliage, Mr. Jameson? Who will care for that? ”
“ Our instructions were to have the house staff make maintenance calls until your arrival. ”
“ Uh huh. ” Leah pondered what she was getting into as she watched Ali playing with the manicured pup. “ That dog probably spends more time getting her hair done than I do, ” Leah muttered. Mitzi wore a large pink ribbon tied around a tuft of fur, which had been pulled into a tiny ponytail at the top of her head. She was licking Ali and wagging her tail.
Leah felt the chilling dread overcome her again. It wasn ’ t fear of killing plants or losing the dog. She knew some kind of real trouble was brewing. “ Ali, let ’ s go home now. You ’ ve got a test tomorrow, and I ’ ve got more packing to do. ”
She turned to the concierge. “ Thank you, Mr. Jameson, for the tour. I
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