ENDING OF PREVIOUS POST:

Inside, Anderson motioned for her to sit on the bed and he pulled up a chair in front of her. "I overheard part of the conversation you had with Benjamin." He swallowed. "I'm beginning to understand why this has been so hard for you. You feel you must make a choice between your father and me. It's one or the other. No way can you keep both of us in your life, is there?"

"I don't see any way..." Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," interrupted Anderson. "I never meant to put you in that situation. It never dawned on me that you were going to have to make a decision like that. It's tearing you up inside. With my constant questions and talking, I'm only making it worse. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know." Shana wiped her eyes. "None of this is your fault."

"I'll get the jet ready, and you can be home in time to attend the synagogue with your family tomorrow morning. I'll contact your dad. Jeff will attach a detail to you. You can take Romeo. I'll help with his extra cost." Anderson turned to leave.

"Drew?" After he turned, she paused before she continued, "My apartment doesn't allow pets. Can Emily have Malachi? What about the decorating plans?"

"Give the notes to Mom, she'll finish up. Emily will love owning a cat." He stood at the door. "I need to make sure you're safe. You trust Jeff, right?" After she nodded, he continued, "Jeff will remain with you. I'll set it up."

TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 35 part 2

Anderson stood outside Shana's door and listened while she cried. As Jeff walked by, he paused. "Instead of standing at the door, why don't you go in and comfort her?"

"Because I'm the problem."

Thor had been inside with Shana. He pawed the door open, stared at Anderson, and took his hand to lead him inside.

"So it's getting to you too." Anderson petted the large dog. He tapped his buddy's shoulder. "Will you go in and comfort her?"

Jeff nodded and went inside the room. He knelt beside Shana, who was sitting on the floor. "What's the problem?"

Shana used a tissue to dry the tears. "Every time I put something in the suitcase, Romeo takes it out. Watch." She put in a blouse and the dog reached in with his teeth, took it out, and then dropped it to the floor."

"I guess he doesn't think you need to leave or he doesn't want you to leave."

"But I have to go back to Peoria."

With eyebrows raised, Jeff asked, "Why? I guess I agree with Romeo. Why do you need to leave?"

She chewed on her lower lip. "It's expected that I return home. It's not right for me to stay here."

"So it's not that you want to leave, it's because you feel obligated to leave. Who expects you to return and why is staying wrong? I don't understand." Shana started to answer, but Jeff asked, "How old are you?"

"I was twenty-three in April."

"So you're an adult. You have a job and live by yourself. You're capable of making adult decisions, am I correct?"

"Yes, but..." Shana paused.

Jeff's glare continued.

"You're making this very difficult."

"Little lady, I'm not the one making it hard. You are. You're capable of making your own decisions. Do what you want to do for a change."

"I did and look where it got me. It put a whole bunch of people in danger. Besides, Papa expects me to come home. There I said it."

"So your dad makes your decisions."

She swallowed loudly and turned to avoid his gaze. "Yes. Papa is the patriarch of our family. He knows what's best for all of us."

Jeff tilted his head. "The love you feel for Drew and Drew's love for you can't be right because your father says it's wrong? Do I understand this correctly?"

"There's more than just that. I'm Jewish and expected to marry someone who's Jewish. There's also Drew's lifestyle. The modern world's ways are not our ways. Besides, he's rich and I don't fit into his social economic class." Another tear escaped her eye. "I would be an embarrassment."

"Whoa! Wait a minute." Jeff put his finger under her chin and raised her face, so he could look into her eyes. "Any man would be honored to have you as his wife."

"You and Drew have this thing about looking into someone's eyes, don't you?" Shana forced a smile.

Jeff grinned. "I guess we do." He hesitated. "Does your family still use matchmakers to find suitable partners?" When Shana shook her head, he continued, "Good. I'm going to speak bluntly. As you prepare to return to home, I want you to think about it. First, Drew loves you. Matter-of-fact, he loves you so much that he's willing to give you up rather than continue to hurt you by pressing this situation. He doesn't care if you're Jewish or not. He doesn't care if you're rich or not. He loves you because you're you. Second, his family loves and accepts you for being you."

Jeff ran his fingers through his hair. "There's an old testament story about two women who claimed the same child. The king said he'd cut the child in half so they could both have the child. The child's mother couldn't allow that and would rather not have the child than to have the child die. Drew is giving you up so you don't have to choose between him and your father. That's how much he loves you. Not many men would be willing to do that."

He took a deep breath. "Now comes the difficult one. I know you love Drew and I know you know how much he loves you. You are an adult and are capable of making your own decisions. Why are you going to allow others to make decisions for your life, especially when they'll stop you from marrying the man you love? The God I know and worship wouldn't do that." Jeff left the room.

*****
Jeff made arrangements for the security detail to take a separate car to the airport, and also in Peoria so Anderson and Shana would have privacy. On the jet, he made sure the security team remained in the back for the same reason.

*****
The drive to the airport was silent. Once the jet took off, Shana reached over and touched Anderson's hand. He held hers and caressed it, until the jet landed.

During the limousine ride, Shana stared out the window. "I didn't want it to end this way." She faced Anderson. "I've hurt you. I never wanted that."

"I know. You gave me plenty of warning. I didn't understand what I was putting you through, for that I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

Anderson's eyes met hers. "Would you do me one favor?" After Shana nodded, he continued, "Let me know how Sarah's doing. I'd like to keep informed."

"I promise." Shana dried her eyes.

The driver parked in front of Shana's parents' house. "We're here, Mr. Sharp. What do you want me to do?"

"Please wait. I'll only be a few minutes." Anderson got out, opened Shana's door, and helped her out. "Good bye, Sweetheart. If you ever need anything, you know how to get in touch with me. Jeff will remain with you until we're positive you're safe." He chewed his lower lip. "Please don't hesitate to contact me. I'll drop everything to help."

"I know." Shana turned and walked toward where her parents and grandmother stood. "No! I can't!" She turned back around, ran to Anderson, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

His hands rested by his side. As the kiss continued, he moved them to her waist. The kiss lingered, and he fully embraced her.

Shana's mother poked her husband. "Our daughter's in love."

"I know." Benjamin watched Shana continue to kiss the gentile.

When the kiss ended, Shana's eyes met Anderson's. "I love you."

Anderson looked over Shana's shoulder, and his eyes met Benjamin's.

Benjamin gave a wink and one nod.

Reaching inside his pocket, Anderson removed a small dark blue velvet box and got down on one knee. He opened the box.

Shana's grandmother said, "He's going to propose right here in front of our house."

"He'd better after the kiss she gave him out here in front of God and everybody."

"Shana, I love you, will you marry me?"

"YES!"

He placed a two carat princess cut diamond on her finger.

THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you Tracy Byrd for 'Keeper of the Stars'. I'm pretty sure Drew and Shana's meeting was no accident. LOL











Characters so far:

Shana Kohlberg -- a 25 year old high school English literature teacher -- she's trying to get her family's painting back
Anderson Sharp -- often called Drew -- 31 years old -- works part-time on Wall Street -- a billionaire from Texas oil wells
Dmitry Bezrukov -- one of three Russian men in black suits
Jeff Burk -- takes care of Anderson's cars and important security details.
Helen -- Anderson's cook
Jane -- Anderson's housekeeper
Philip -- Anderson's butler -- close friend
Kyle -- Anderson's dog walker
Axel -- Anderson's lead German shepherd
Thor -- Anderson's second German shepherd
Romeo -- Anderson's third German shepherd
Aaron Kohlberg -- Shana's older brother
Ivan Kuznetsov -- formally Ivan Morozov, I accidently chose a real person, so I have changed it present day owner of the painting.
Patricia -- Anderson's ex-wife
Emily -- Anderson's five year old daughter
Isaiah Glassberg -- Anderson divorce/custody attorney.
Jeremy -- Jane's second-cousin twice removed, NYC undercover cop.
Hannah Jacobs -- Shana's cousin, the same age and best friend. Married within the past year and just had a baby, Sarah. Her husband, Paul. Sarah was just diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease.
Joshua Colton -- Art Museum's curator
Benjamin Kohlberg -- Shana's father
Eliana Kohlberg - - Shana's mother
Maxwell Gaines -- Lawyer hired to retrieve the painting
Erich Berger -- Manager of the Dorotheum art auction house in Austria
Mary Pritchard -- The lady Anderson hired to help Hannah while she's in Boston with Sarah.
Zachery Sharp -- Anderson's younger brother
Michael Sharp -- Anderson's father
Susan Sharp --Anderson's mother
Leon Sharp - - Anderson's grandfather
Grandma Sharp - - Anderson's grandmother
Oscar - - Team Leader of the security detail
Detective Rollins - - Austin police detective
Agent Allan Ryan - - FBI agent