Summer Love

It was a cool summer day with grey clouds looming and blocking the sun from it’s usual daily duty. She had learn from experience that in the San Francisco bay area it was a common thing making it alway cool enough for a jacket as she buttoned the top of hers.

She sat back in the Uber and let out a sigh of relief. The luncheon was a success. The antique rugs from Italy’s contract was a done deal and now all she wanted to do was to take a hot bath and relax. Instead of going back to San Fransico she thought it best to stay overnight in Carmel at her favorite hotel. She deserve it, she thought to herself. She was always busy taking care of her antique shop, and now she needed a little self pampering.

Only- she remembered, just last night she had that dream again. It was coming more frequent now. What was it trying to tell her? Was there some secret message her subconscious mind was relaying to her that she couldn’t get it? The dream would began with a boat on the horizon then a man’s hand reaching out to her hand and just as their hands are about to touch- she would always wake up.

The Uber car abruptly stopped, bringing her back to the present moment. She looked out the window of the car at the fabulous hotel. A gorgeous elegant building situation across from the ocean.

She stepped out of the car sand turned to get a full view of the magnificent ocean. She quickly noticed a boat on the horizon - not the usual sail boat or motor boat but - yes she thought to hersef- it was like the one in her dreams- a large spectacular white yacht! The kind only the very wealthy have or a rental for an celebrity party.

Just a coincident she thought and decided not to make anything of it. She grabbed her overnight bag and walked carefully in her high heels due to the morning rain on the pavement which was damp and slippery.

She was wearing a beige knit suite with her favorite parsley scarf, and was feeling especially glamour as she approached the hotel’s front desk.

I have a reservation, she said to the front desk attendant.

The attendant looked up from her computer and immediately exclaimed ,

Why what a lovely brooch!

Oh thank you.

It is a gift from my late grandmother, she replied.

While she was waiting for her keys to her room, she felt uneasy like someone was watching her. She slowly looked around and saw a gentleman, very distinguish looking directly at her with piercing eyes, sitting in a chair with a newspaper on his lap in the lounging area . She notice he wasn’t really staring at her but had his eyes fixed on her brooch. When he saw her looking at him he put up his newspaper and acted like he was reading it. She hurried to her room and locked her door. There was something unsettling about the strangeness of the incident, but she refused to let that take away from her small escape.

That night she dresses for dinner carefully. A smart black dress with a silk shawl and added one of her lovely brooches to top off the elegant look.

The dinning room over looked the elegant grounds and a gazebo could be seen on a cliff over looking the ocean. The yacht was closer now - even parked next to the hotel. She was looking at the menu when the waiter came over and said a gentleman had order her a drink and would like to know if he could join her-

Well please tell him thank you but - she looked up to find him looking down at her . May I ?

Well if you insist—

I do!

He was dressed in a stylish expensive suite and she noticed the Rolex watch he was so casually wearing as he sat down in the chair close to her and casually took a sip of his drink he had brought over with him.

The waiter seem to know him or should I say know of him and he seem to become a little nervous as he took his order for another round of drinks for us both.

If I may be so presumptuous, where did you get that brooch you are wearing?, he asked.

She looked at him in surprise. She put her hand on her brooch, protectively.

Why, my late grandmother owned an antique shop and she gave it to Why do you ask?

Do you like it?

Most definitely- only you can wear it so perfectly.

She smiled at him. He so graciously returned the smile .

You see the reason I asked, he began to explain, my great grand father loved my great great grand mother very much so on their wedding day he gave her a exquisite brooch and from that time on , on every wedding anniversary he never failed to give her the same token— another gorgeous brooch as a symbol of his undying love for her - a total of 35- until he passed away. This hotel by the way- use to be their home where they threw lavish parties. He was an artist and she -well- she was part of our family.

You see the brooches somehow they got lost -

That is amazing - there are a collection of 35- my grand mother gave them to me from her antique shop before she passed away. So I have a deep attachment to them.

Well I’m willing to pay what ever you want for them —

Then a gust of wind hit the hotel and she looked out the window to see the trees on the lawn bending from the forceful winds and the attention of the yacht docked d right next to the hotel’s grounds seem to overwhelm her mind with curiosity.

He saw her looking at the

Yacht and he stood up from the table and offered to help her get up with his hand .

Come let’s go for a walk.

Okay, she agreed and she put her hand in his and a sudden thrill went all though her body. A flash back of her dream of the two hands reaching out to each other went though her mind. She shuck it off and got up to go with him.

They went outside and the trees were blowing gracefully in the night wind and were all lit-up and glowing with white lights wrapped around them. It looked like a fairy land. They walked in silence. The fog had begun to roll in off the ocean, making it hard to see where they were going.

Then he stopped and she turned to see they were standing in front of the gateway to the yacht.

He made a gesture for her to go aboard.

“Welcome to my home away from home,”he bellowed.

Taken by surprise she stared up at him.

This is your boat?

Yes won’t you join me for a night cap?

After overcoming her shock, she smile at him. Sure!

He let her board first. He loved everything about her from the moment he set eyes on her. The way she smiled with her green eyes, her gestures with her hands while she talked and even the way she walked. She carried herself with poise and to him she represented a graceful true lady with class.

It was beautiful inside the boat with all the luxuries a yacht could have. He introduced her to the Captain as the waiter brought drinks to them. He gave her a small tour of his fabulous vessel,and ended it with a stroll on the deck - the fog had rolled in making the air a little chilly so she wrapped her shawl tighter around herself.

My mother told me that when that special one comes in your life, there will be a sign - a sign that will touch your heart and you will know that she is the one.

She looked up at him.

Are you saying what I think you are saying-

He suddenly put his arms around her, pulling her close to him.

She could feel the warmth of his chest and his face close to hers.

It felt so natural like she had been in his arms before and knew the wonderful thrill that it was now bringing her.

The sound of a romantic song filled the air coming from inside the cabinet. She listen as the words became clear- “At Last”

Yes that is exactly what I’m saying— I know you feel it also. He elaborated.

The full moon moved almost magically in sight through the thick fog, casting silvery moon beams on them. They both looked up at it hanging so gracefully in the sky.

His mouth found hers and she felt like she was floating and eagerly kissed him in return.

Then he push her away holding her looking deep into her green eyes.

“Come away with me- travel the seas with me- now that I have found you- I never want to live another day without you by my side.”

It was strange but she felt the same way.

Now her dreams her constant dream of a boat on the horizon and a hand reaching out to her hand was all becoming clear. It was all leading up to this very special moment.

Yes! yes I will! She to her surprise didn’t hesitate. She felt in her heart that her late aunt had known all along about the brooches and that is why she had given them to her.

.They held hands and saw the fog covering the moon again. They looked into each other eyes as he pulled her closer again and kissed her tenderly and then passionately as she pleasantly surrendered to him and her exciting wonderful destiny.