Chapter 5: Listening
Sandra woke up in her bed "A dream? Was that all a dream? Mother, Suzanne...the woman named Del. it felt so real." she reached for her phone to try and call her mother 'ring ring' 'click'" Yes? Hello?"
"Mother...uh ... How are you? Hesitant to stir her emotions if the events were not a dream.
"I'm having a wonderful time honey, you should make a trip out here sometime, I promise you won't regret it! Sorry I can't talk long I have a schedule. Mama loves you. Bye."
Sandra plops back on the bed with a heavy sigh of relief. "what a terrible dream that was." she looks to the clock "oh no! I'm late for work!" she rushes outside and feels water droplets on her arm but doesn't see a cloud in the sky. That scent she has begun to long for is in the air. "Del?" she whispers remembering the name from her dream. She looks around but no one is nearby. Going about her day as usual not one to stray from routine Sandra arrives at work seriously missing her daily latte. She pulls out the sketches for three other projects trying to decide which she prefers to work on today when she notices something. This one is a house registered to the name Del the last name is smudged out "Perhaps this is her?" taking the sketches she works up a layout plan for the most perfect house she can think of using the sketches as a sort of reference since the client chose these as her preferences. With a smile on her face she plans out every detail, positions and dimensions of every room to optimize the comfortability and ease of access. A large open concept kitchen with an island looking out towards the living room where a large glass double door allows access to the spacious back yard. The dining room will be fit for a Thanksgiving gathering and the master bedroom will have a gorgeous on sweet bathroom complete with a jet propulsion wide set tub and shower combo. An upstairs for children's rooms and playroom topped off with a small enclosed balcony and a sunroof. Sandra dove deep into this project thinking of every little thing and filling it with joy. The beaming smile on her face said it all, she put her heart and soul into the project, and it showed. The finished product was gorgeous, she made a couple copies of it before sending it over to the client for review. Feeling satisfied with herself she took a break to get that coffee she's been dying for.
The day passed by uneventful and Sandra was grateful for that after such a nightmare she was looking forward to spending a quiet stress-free night at home. With that thought Clark walked up to her desk "Did you hear?"
"Hear what?" hesitant to wonder whatever it could be.
"This drop-dead gorgeous woman moved to town and we are contracted to build her house!" his excitement a little too evident.
"Her name doesn't happen to be Del does it? This piqued Sandra's interest if only slightly.
"Oh, I don't know her name, but I was thinking you could find out and maybe if she's lucky she can clear out a few bats in the cave, if you know what I mean?" raising an eyebrow twice and smiling.
"First off your gross, and secondly if she is our client there is no interoffice relationships remember? Besides she's probably straight as a board."
"If so, maybe I have a chance after all as long as I'm not competing with you." Clark trying to get a rise out of Sandra.
"Oh? You think you have a chance with me out if the way huh? Maybe I'll just have to prove you wrong then." Sandra fell for his ploy using her competitive personality against her.
With a deep voice and narrow eyes, he offers a proposal "A bet then, whoever gets her personal number first wins." chuckling a bit at the end.
"Fine, but what do I win?" she replied with a snicker.
"I see your taking this seriously hmmm..." he wasn't expecting her to accept his challenge.
"How about if I win you stop meddling in my love life and if you win, I'll go on a blind date with someone of your choosing deal?" Sandra is confident she will win based on the frequency she runs into this woman; she's bound to meet her first.
"Three days without so much a hint of her whereabouts, where did she get off to? Well it's not like I'm actively searching for her either but still." she drank her morning coffee in store for the past three days keeping an eye out for the mystery beauty. "I did see her at that bar once ...maybe if I go back." lost in thought she dismissed that this Del person could be the one she's looking for. "A name I heard in a dream yeah right, I probably seen the name on the registrar and subconsciously took it in. 'ding' Her phone was alerting her to an unread email which happens to be from Del responding to her layout design for approval or changes. The email reads:
******
Dear Ms. Cuthwrite,
I really love the look and special acuity of each room, and that bathroom I can only imagine how wonderful it would be. My concerns are with how extravagant the whole thing is will this be possible with my budget. Thank you for your time and efforts.
Sincerely,
Del
*****
"That's odd he? Maybe it's a woman ... Well they did not put their last name in the email, how am I supposed to address them without admitting I don't know their last name or gender for that matter" she lets out a sigh of frustration then response to the email as follows:
*****
Dear Del,
The layout I sent you is merely a possibility based on the information you have sent us. This is used to create the structure and materials for the house. The interior design is purely cosmetic and may be replaced with anything you desire after the house is built objects such as the double glass doors are designated position holders. I hope this cleared up the confusion. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me.
Sincerely,
Sandra Lee Cuthwrite
*****
'Ding' A sound chimed as soon as she pressed send, her head popped up searching in the direction of the sound. Behind a group of people, she spots that strawberry blonde hair flowing elegantly down the slender frame of the woman she has been not so subtly searching for. She stands up checks her hair and begins to walk over to the woman when she notices Clark chatting with her, as charismatic as ever. She watches in anticipation "She's obviously going to turn him down, he's much too old for her." suddenly she has tunnel vision focusing only on the piece of paper she handed to him. "Could I have just lost....no way, that can't be possible." Sandra whips out her phone and calls Clark from across the coffee shop "Clark speaking, how may I help you?"
"Clark you sly bastard how did you do it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about" a sly smile creased his lips as he turned to look for Sandra knowing she must be here somewhere.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me I saw the whole thing" upset she lost to an old man.
"Don't be such a sore loser" he lightly teased knowing she was peeved.
"This was my first time seeing her in three days and you snatch her number up before I even have a chance to talk to her!"
"Is that what it is? You'll have your opportunity soon." he hangs up feeling pretty darn proud of himself he practically skips out the door to his car. Meanwhile Sandra is awestruck that she lots and dreading the blind date portion of the agreement.
After avoiding the hospital for three days Adelyn decided to visit Sandra once again. On her way into the room she bumps into the young doctor doing his weekly check up on Sandra's condition. "No changes as of yet miss" he offers as he makes his way to other patients. Adelyn sits in the chair furthest from the bed feeling awkwardly uncomfortable being alone in the room with Sandra now after learning so much about her from her mother. They had exchanged numbers last time and talk from time to time. Adelyn feels it must comfort Margret in some way to chat with a "friend" of Sandra's, which only makes her feel more guilty for lying to her. "Hey...um Sandy? Well I don't really know what to say except for I'm sorry...I guess I'll tell you a bit about myself ...I uh lost my job, I'm a graphic designer by the way. What was your career I wonder....? You probably had a great life before, CEO of some corporate office or a highly respected official. Something important, you look like you'd be important to many people."... I heard you have a younger sister that must be nice. I had a brother, but I always wanted a sister. You know ...to braid my hair and stuff. Your mom is super sweet she invited me over for dinner sometime. I'm not sure I'll take her up on the offer but maybe she just wants company....."
Meanwhile Sandra, in her comatose delusion, sat across from del and listened intently to her every word and answered diligently. "Graphic design huh that must have been fun...I work as an architect but you should already know that from our emails.....my position in the company is quite respectable but I'm not that important really.....oh yes Suzanne she's a brat but I love her. She hated braids" giggles "My mother? Really now that is unexpected, I didn't know she got back from her trip yet..."
Sandra soaked in all the information Del offered until she was ready to head home. Sandra thought the date went well even if the conversation was a bit odd. The flow seemed a bit one sided, but she was sure it was just Del's nerves. Sandra walked Del to the door hoping for a good night kiss, but Del just gently grabbed her arm and squeezing slightly said good night Adelyn then left. Sandra was alone in her home once more; the walls began feeling more like a prison than a home. She was so surprised when it was Del who showed up for her "blind date" set up by Clark. "I'm gonna have to thank him later, maybe." thinking about how the date ended. "maybe she wants to take things slow, I'm fine with that, I can do that." she throws herself on the bed "maybe she doesn't like me after all" she frowns.
The next day Sandra is woken up by the sound of a phone call, she enthusiasticly answered "Hello?" in a chipper almost high-pitched voice, a deep voice answered back "Well good morning sunshine, seems the date went well?"
"Oh, it's you" her tone immediately dropped an audible octave.
"What? No thank you for the amazing blind date I set up with the hottest chick in town?"
"Thanks, I guess..." she sighs heavily.
"Did it not go well?" his question not without concern.
"It did and it didn't ... We talked all through dinner but when it was time for her to leave, she gave me a brisk squeeze on the arm, and that was it."
"I'm sure she's just taking things slow." he dismisses the notion with ease.
"Yeah I'm probably just overreacting." she tries to put it out of her mind.
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