A Somers Dream

CHAPTER 1

I can’t believe I’m doing this
, she thought as she watched the landscape pass by the window.
I hope I know what I’m doing
, she added while reminiscing about the events leading up to today. Up until two weeks ago, her life was simple and planned and dull. No-one would believe that she, Penelope Dawson, would ever conceive of doing something as spontaneous as this. Anybody who knew her would describe Penny as a ‘planner’ kind of girl. She always had her days worked out weeks in advance and always followed her schedule. Not once deviating from it and never making exceptions. But for the past two weeks, she was anything but her old self. At this moment, she felt reckless and wild, and she couldn’t help but smile to herself while feeling the way she did. Her whole life was all about scheduling and planning. She had everything she wanted. Well, almost everything. Because of her determination to put her career in front, her social life suffered greatly like it suffered when she was young. She had a few select friends but only one where she spent “girl time” with. Penny had been Cathy’s roommate in college and they have been inseparable ever since. Now married, Cathy had a family of her own and there wasn’t really much time besides the occasional phone call but she was loyal to her friend. Penny never made a move in life without discussing it with Cathy first. She was her soundboard. But even with Cathy and her family in her life, she was still lonely. She didn’t have problems meeting men. In her business, she was always meeting with someone whether they be authors or C.O’s. She just had problems meeting the ‘right’ men. Penny had heard about on-line dating but disregarded it quickly thinking it absurd and lewd. She believed that only desperate people and hermits were into that and there wouldn’t be anyone she would be interested in. That’s when curiosity got the better of her. All she wanted to do was check it out, scan the allure that on-line dating had become for millions of people. She figured she wouldn’t be on long, just a few minutes to see what the hype was all about. Not until she quickly scanned the time did she realize how addictive it was. Two o’clock in the morning! She had been scanning for three hours and she still was enthralled by it all. So many profiles. So many people looking for someone. So many like her just searching for that one in particular.  Not that she was seriously thinking that any were likely prospects, it was more like research. She wasn’t
desperate
, just busy. At least that’s what she was telling herself. Until she came across
his
profile.

The taxi turned and she noticed the street name, Harbor Grove Circle. She was nearly there and the butterflies in her stomach were beginning to feel like they were trying to fly out. All she had was a name and pictures to go by. She had heard the stories, about people lying about who they really were and that they posted fake profiles to attract the best possible singles. They’re reasoning, she supposed, was if they got to know who they were they wouldn’t care what they looked like. She guessed it was a good way to meet people but, it was a harsh truth once someone went to actually meet them. The disappointment and betrayal. She hoped she wouldn’t be in that category today. But after speaking to him for hours and weeks, he seemed on the level and truthful about who he was. He was witty and charming with a hint of sarcasm to make her laugh. He had many qualities that she admired and found herself wanting to know more about him. That’s when his offer of meeting came to pass. He offered to pay for the flight but she declined. She would rather have matters in her hands than in someone else’s. She decided to visit Cathy to discuss her plans and to get her viewpoint about what she had decided. It was exactly what she had thought.

“
Are you insane? Colorado?!” said Cathy, “You can’t go flying off to Colorado! He could be some serial killer or… or some type of freak or something.” Cathy made her way to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers. Finding the opener, she popped the cap off of one, took a sip and looked seriously at Penny. “You can’t be serious? Going out to some stranger’s place that you have only been chatting with for a couple of weeks is like teasing a snake, you’re gonna get bit. It’s dangerous! And it’s Colorado! That’s like six or seven hours away by plane! Couldn’t you find a nice New Yorker who lives in Manhattan?!” Cathy popped open the other beer and handed it to Penny while seating herself at the table. “It’s actually more like five hours away and I’m more likely to meet a serial killer here in New York than I am in Colorado. Besides, there was no one I found online who lives in the vicinity that interests me. This one does. Yea, it’s a long trip but you always said I needed to spread my wings” Penny gave her a grin and a wink. She knew her friend would have a hard time swallowing this bit of news. “Why not have him come out here if you are so intent on meeting him? It would be a lot safer for you and a lot less grey hairs for me. I can have Greg set himself up in the backyard with a sniper rifle in case the guy gets a bit too
serial
like, if you know what I mean.” Penny took a sip from the bottle and looked at her friend’s worried face. She and Cathy have been the best of friends for so many years, they were more like sisters. Cathy has always been by her side through every aspect of her ups and downs, and then some. She was so happy when Cathy met Greg. They were perfect for each other. “As much as I would love to have Greg play Commando in my yard, I want to be alone with him, especially if he’s who he says he is. If I stay here, work will hound me. I need the peace to get to know him. To see if, you know, if he’s the one.” Cathy took a hold of her hand and let out a long sigh, “There is no such thing as
the one
, Pen.” “I beg to differ”, said Penny, “you found Greg and you’re happy. I just want the same. I want someone I can share things with and do things with. Have someone who can be there when I need that shoulder to lean on. Is that so bad?” Cathy took a sip of her beer and without looking at her said, “What am I? Chopped liver?” “You know what I mean” said Penny, “You can’t travel with me because of the kids and you’re life here. Just trying to take a vacation is like getting a tooth pulled, it’s a painful and long process. By the time you are ready to leave, you need an extra vacation just to relax from the process of starting one.” Cathy sighed, “You’re right. It is difficult to get away on the spot. Okay then” condition.” Penny had a feeling that there would be; she smiled at her best friend and said “Alright, what condition is that? Finger prints before leaving? Tracking chip under my skin?” Cathy gave Penny the look she only reserves for her children when she’s serious and said “I want every piece of information about this guy. Where he lives, address, phone number, picture, Social Security Number…etc…etc…etc. If I don’t hear from you in three days, I’m calling the National Guards.” Penny started to laugh and agreed to give her the information she wanted before she left, minus the Social Security Number and that she would be sure to call in three days’ time to let her know she was still alive. Once that was all said and done, she hugged her best friend and left for home. She was leaving tomorrow afternoon and still needed to pack.

The taxi turned onto a long drive with oak trees lining the way on each side to a
n old colonial house. It was beautiful. The house was nestled far away from the world it seemed and it took her breath away. She had never seen anything so extraordinary. “I hope he’s as amazing as this house”, she whispered to herself. Nerves had started to take over and she was mentally trying to calm herself down.
Breathe, girl. Just breathe. How bad can he be?
That’s when she realized she was praying. Not that she was a religious person but a little help never did hurt. As the taxi pulled up to the front, she stared at the door, her anxiety was beginning to surface. Before pulling the handle, she asked the driver if he wouldn’t mind waiting for a bit, just in case she had the wrong address was the excuse she gave him, was a comfort factor for her to settle her anxiety. If he wasn’t what he portrayed himself to be she can easily jump back into the cab and never look back. Penny got out of the cab and slowly started to make her way up the stairs to the front door. Then, like a bolt, apprehension started kicking in. The “what-ifs” were beginning to enter her mind and once she got to a good point on one of them and was about to turn around to run…the front door opened.

CHAPTER 2

Just one more hour,
he thought as he put the final touches on a floral arrangement he bought. Normally, he would have someone come in to clean and make the house shine and arrange everything but this was special. He wanted to do this himself because it was a special occasion. He spent all week making sure things were properly in their place and putting small touches here and there to make it more inviting. He was proud of his house, had bought it a couple years back in run down condition but he had seen the potential. Although there was a lot of aggravation and, at times, despair during the process of renovating, it was worth every penny he paid for it and worth the year long wait to see it finished. The best features of the house were the vaulted ceilings in every room, the kitchen and the backyard.
Especially
the backyard. It was like a private oasis away from everything but so close to civilization. Since he had no neighbours for at least five miles in all directions, it didn’t matter that the trees and foliage gave privacy. It was more for the aesthetic pleasure for the eye and other senses than anything else. He had added a few extra features like the waterfall and pool to have the feel of being on a secluded island. He worked very close with the landscapers on how everything should be and where things should go. What plants would look best and where they should go, what stones were more appealing and which trees to plant. Although he had an apartment in the city, Evergreen was his home away from home. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, this was his
getaway
from everyday city life. And now, his private rendezvous place with, here’s hoping, a perfect woman. He realized at that moment that Penny will be the first woman to ever see his private domain. “She must be special”, he said because he never brought anyone here before. Not even the ones he had dated for more than a month just to show off what he’s been doing. The only person who had ever laid eyes on it was his brother, Gabriel, to which Shane looked too for ideas and suggestions.

He had been at the ‘online dating scene’ for several months now. He wasn’t much into the club scene anymore and the whole ‘meeting someone at the deli counter’ in the local supermarket just wasn’t what it was cracked up to be. It was easier to just sit at home in front of his computer and just search from there. ‘Everyone does it, why not me?’ he would say to himself. It did seem pathetic in an odd sort of way to find a woman whom he could get along with inside a screen. There were many to choose from, that was for sure, but to find the
right one
was the challenge. He had been on several dates and a couple lasted no longer than a month or so. They were either not what they portrayed themselves to be or they were just plain crazy. He may seem desperate being online but hell; he wasn’t
that
desperate to deal with the drama queens and boxers of the female species. No one ever accused Shane Somers of ever being desperate. Women, to him, were a dime a dozen in his world. Coming from a wealthy family and creating his own stamp in the world financially, he had always gotten what he wanted and women were always at his disposal. Unfortunately, they were all vapid and plastic. He had them all but now it was time to find his intellectual equal. One who actually believes that the word
‘Hello’
is not a phrase and could actually keep up on a conscious level. When he first came across
her
profile, he was hooked. There was something different about her, about the way she looked and what she had written in her profile. It wasn’t like the others he read. They were either over confident, too dependent, too girly or too masculine…tough girls who would rather cross-check you instead of hug you. No, she had a bit of something of everything in one package. She was…real. He sent her a message and was excited when she had responded. She had humour and sarcasm in her writing with a hint of vulnerability and strength. So far, she was perfect. When it would come time to move it over to Instant Messaging, he would find out if this witty person was what she made herself out to be online. To Shane’s surprise, she was. She was quick with the responses and her sharp wit shone through. They started to chat for a while until he found it tedious and long. He suggested calling her so that they could talk properly. She refused at first, saying that she never gave out her number but after a bit of coaxing, she relented. He called her immediately and when she answered the phone, it seemed like an angel answered the other end. At least to him anyway and if she looked the way she sounded, he would definitely be in heaven. They exchanged photos while online but one can never be too careful as he found out the hard way several times in the past. They had talked for hours and hours. Then the hours turned into days and the days into weeks. He had to admit, he was curious about this woman…about Penny. He knew they had to meet and soon.