Page 60 of Miss Fortune

“Hello, you have a package at the front desk.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll be right there.”

I figured the delivery would be for my boss, but when I walked out to reception and saw the huge bouquet of colorful tulips, my heart beat faster. The receptionist barely looked up as I gathered the flowers and carried them back to my desk. Once there, I took out the card, curious who could have sent them. No way Caleb would send me flowers at work.

Wrong. And the sweet note made me tear up.

“A little something to say thank you for the sunshine you brought over the last six weeks and to let you know I’m thinking about you even when I don’t show it. See you tonight.”

For the first time, we’d made plans for me to go over to his house, and I couldn’t wait. A person’s home said a lot about them, and I found myself curious to learn more about Caleb. I tucked the card into my purse and took out my phone to type a quick text.

“Thank you for the flowers.”

Crap, maybe I shouldn’t have sent him a message at work. But he responded quickly.

“You’re welcome. See you tonight at eight o’clock. Bring your appetite.”

I felt giddy while driving home that evening. Once there, I showered and took my time getting ready, smiling every time my eye caught the beautiful tulips on my counter. The fact he’d listened to me when I’d said I wanted more meant the world. It meant he was willing to make the effort.

After parking in Caleb’s driveway, only three miles away from my house, I took in the modern symmetry of his two-story home with appreciation. It appeared to be fairly new, and the white roses in front were in perfect rows, hugging the walkway to the large, wooden front door.

He answered the door dressed in navy cargo shorts and a white polo shirt. His damp hair revealed he was fresh from the shower. But it was his bare feet which made me smile. Goodbye, workplace Caleb. Hello, comfortable-in-his-home-on-a-Friday-night Caleb.

“Hi. You look stunning.” He gave me a soft kiss on the lips.

“Thank you.” I’d worn a strapless green dress with blue sandals and a matching blue flower in my hair.

“Would you like a tour of the house?”

Did I ever. “I’d love one.”

As soon as I stepped into the house, I admired the beautiful hardwood floors. The first room off the entryway was a sitting area covered in a beautiful white carpet. A gray couch and two darker gray chairs gathered around a fireplace. He then led me further inside toward the kitchen and family room. Both were tastefully done, but again, black and white only, without any hints of color. The place appeared as if it was staged for a magazine photo shoot with no personal items about. If I’d needed a demonstration of how opposite Caleb and I were, I had to look no further than his choice of colors or the fact nothing was out of place.

“I don’t use these rooms much,” he muttered, glancing around before leading me toward the French doors in the back.

As soon as I stepped out onto his patio, I could tell this was where he spent his time. Gone were the museum-like pieces of modern furniture. Instead, there was a colorful orange-and-blue patio furniture set and a flat-screen television above a rustic stone fireplace. To the left was a blue-tiled outdoor kitchen, complete with barbeque, refrigerator, and sink. The flowers planted all around the lush green yard made me smile.

His home was like a parallel to his life. He’d carved out a small piece, which reflected his joy, from the mundane, everyday black and white of what he thought he should do. I didn’t know what kept him in a job which made him miserable, but perhaps this was a clue.

“Your backyard is gorgeous. I’d spend all of my time out here.” It didn’t feel as though we were in the middle of the city; instead, it felt like an oasis. Maybe Caleb’s oasis.

“If I’m not sleeping or working, I’m mostly out here. Come here. I’ll show you my newest project.”

He took my hand, leading me over to one side of his yard. His enthusiasm showed me a rare glimpse of his true passions.

“I have the room for a pool. Someday, I might put one in, but for now, my water feature will be this.”

He showed me a little pond with a babbling, two-foot waterfall feeding into it.

“I love it. The sound is so soothing. Will you get some fish?”

“Yeah, you care to go with me to pick out some koi tomorrow morning after the beach?”

“Do I get to name one?”

He chuckled, pulling me into his arms. “You can name all of them. How was your last day in the office?”

“Great. The flowers made my day. I bet you’ll be glad to get Doris back on Monday.”