Chapter 16
The sky was streaked with late afternoon amber and pink when Sarah arrived back at Asheville. Walking from her garage toward the staircase leading to her upstairs apartment, she glimpsed Mark’s car parked in the visitor’s area. She smiled.
Now that she was single, her brother used his keys to let himself in whenever the urge came. She didn’t mind. It was better than coming home to a silent house every day. She had a gentle pant going by the time she’d made her way up the five flights of stairs. It took more time than taking the lift, but she managed to keep her legs in good shape this way.
As she stepped into the corridor at the top, she turned to her left and looked down out of habit. She sidestepped a bunched-up area in the faded camel-colored carpet. Previous trips had taught her to be careful of where she trod.
She opened the door. Her brother looked up from her round, wooden dining table. A silver spoon dangled from his hand and a rose red bowl was in front of him.
His lips lifted into a smirk as he mocked, “How’d things go with McDreamy’s mom?”
She rolled her eyes, “‘McDreamy’ . . . really, that’s the best you can do?”
He laughed, “You didn’t answer the question.”
She popped her bag and keys on the stand by her door then replied, “It was brilliant. More than I was expecting.”
“I’m glad.”
He spooned what she guessed to be cereal into his mouth.
She walked toward him. After giving him a kiss on the cheek, she made her way into the kitchen and stopped in front of the old-fashioned wood pantry.
As she lifted her hand to the handle, she heard Mark ask, “Was she as much of a diva as the rumors say?”
Sarah pulled a packet of Cheerios from the pantry––there was no way she was cooking before her shift tonight––and answered, “Nope. Actually, she was the complete opposite. I feel like I’ve learned so much already.”
“That’s good.”
She fixed herself a bowl of cereal then joined her brother.
Before taking her first mouthful, she said, “Actually, McDreamy was there.”
Mark’s eyebrows shot upward in clear interest, “Really?”
“Yeah, he was helping out.”
Her brother wiggled his eyebrows mischievously, “And . . .?”
“And what?”
He exaggerated a sigh, “Is he just as gorgeous in the daylight?”
“Don’t you think of anything other than sex?”
“Hey, I wasn’t talking about sex, I was talking about looks. But now that you mention it . . .”
Sarah laughed, “You’re terrible.”
“I know.” His expression turned mysterious. “I shouldn’t be looking at other men now anyway.”
“Really. Why’s that?”
He grinned, “I sort of have a man.”
“Since when?”
A sparkle hit his eyes. “Remember that concierge from the hotel who helped you out of the limo?”
Sarah’s mouth opened in shock. “You mean Francisco?”
He nodded and chuckled, “Turns out that romantic mind of yours was right. He chatted me up that night at the hotel bar and we caught up for lunch the next day, when you were out playing the tourist. He called me yesterday and I Skyped him just before you got here.”
He thumbed over his shoulder toward her computer, indicating the reason he’d come for a visit: to use her internet.
“Well, I’m happy for you both. He’d better be good to you or I’ll have to take care of him.”
Mark grinned. “I’ll tell Francisco you said that.”
He pronounced his new boyfriend’s name in a dreamy way.
Sarah beamed and slapped her brother on the arm, “You’re in love!”
Mark snorted, “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s only been four days.”
“You only need a moment to fall in love.”
Mark rolled his eyes, “There goes that romantic mind of yours again.”
“Hey, I was right the first time, wasn’t I?”
He shook his head––though a smile was on his lips––then scooped some cereal from his bowl. She copied him and, as her thoughts went back over the events of the day, she felt her stomach do a funny little flutter when she reached the part where Charles Morgan had called her Sarah for the first time.