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Is Anderson a gallant knight? Can he recover Shana's family's stolen relics and heal the wounds of genocide?
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ENDING OF PREVIOUS POST:
A heavyset delivery man asked, "Sir, we're supposed to put the bed together. Do you have any tools? We forgot ours."
"Take it out of the boxes. I'll put it together later." Anderson shook his head. "And take the boxes with you." He continued to the kitchen. "Mom, is any breakfast left?"
Susan opened the refrigerator and removed two plates. "If this isn't enough, I have leftovers." She placed one in the microwave and poured two cups of coffee.
"Drew, do you know how to put the bed together?" asked Shana.
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" His eyebrows rose.
"Your engineering degree is in oil, not putting things together."
"I'll have you read me instructions," teased Anderson.
"I'm glad that MIT education I paid for isn't going to waste." Michael laughed.
As Susan set the plates down, Anderson's phone rang. He checked it. "It's Philip. I'd better take it. Go ahead and start eating." He stepped onto the patio.
Moments later he returned. "I need to fly to New York." He answered Shana's questioning eyes. "It's only business. I'll be back in time for dinner. Romeo and Thor will come back with me." He took a bite. "When I return, you can help me put that bed together."
Jeff sat beside Anderson. "Did I hear you're leaving for a few hours?"
"Sure did. There are some business issues that need my immediate attention. Is that a problem?"
"I have some people working at the place on Wild Road. I wanted to be there to make sure they're doing what I wanted and don't take any shortcuts."
Anderson looked at Shana and bit his lower lip. "Do you think there's enough security? I know you added some men."
"I'll speak with everybody and make sure there are no mistakes." Jeff smiled as Susan sat beside them. "I'm sure she's more than capable of looking after Shana."
Susan grinned. "You bet."
TODAY'S POST:
Chapter 28 part 1
After Anderson prepared to leave, he joined Shana in the living room. "Reading 'King Lear'?"
"There could be the possibility I can teach this fall. Just in case I want to be ready." Shana smiled. "I see you're in your New York City clothes."
"I am. People think I need to look the part. I don't know what their problem is." Anderson grinned and glanced down at his Armani suit. "Do I look all right?"
Pink tinged Shana's cheeks. "You look handsome, but I've noticed you seem more relaxed in the jeans."
"I'm more comfortable here. I don't like the city. I don't know what I thought when I moved there."
"I didn't mean to ruin your reputation with the pillow fight. I wanted you to stop teasing me."
Anderson chuckled. "You've completely turned my life upside down."
Shana frowned. "Is that a bad thing?"
Walking over, Anderson rubbed the back of his finger along her jaw line. "No, it isn't. You've reminded me what's important in life."
Michael stood in the doorway. "Ready?"
"Yes. Leave the bed until I get back. I'll take care of it, then. I plan on being back late afternoon, early evening at the latest." Anderson glanced at Shana. "I'll see you in a few hours."
"Be careful." Shana attempted a smile. "Please!"
"I will." Anderson faced his dad. "Ready. You guys dropping me off at the airport and then stopping at Wild Road on the way home?"
"That's the plan. We need to talk about a few things on the way. Don't worry about your gal. Jeff reamed the men out. He said there'd better not be a hair on her pretty little head out of place or they'd be dealing with him." Michael chuckled. "I hope one of the Texas wind storms doesn't blow in and mess up her hair."
"Dad, she's not mine."
"Right. Keep telling yourself that, but we all know the truth."
*****
Susan came into the living room and smiled. "Shana, I'm going out back to work in the garden. Help yourself to whatever you need. Please make yourself at home."
"I will." Shana held up the book. "I only have a few more pages to read and then I'll come out to help. I'm probably wasting my time, anyway."
"You don't need to help, but the company would be nice."
"I enjoy gardening. My parents always have a large one. Do you can the produce?"
"Sure do. I try to put up enough vegetables for the winter months."
"Do you actually have winter in Texas?" asked Shana.
Susan laughed. "It's not as hot as it is in the summer. While it's still cool, I'd better get out there." She left.
"I'll be there shortly." Shana stared at her book. "I'm not sure this is the right book for me to be reading. Shakespeare has a lot of great plays. Why did I choose this one? It seems to mirror my life, right now. King Lear disowns his beloved daughter. Of course, when I did choose this play, how was I to know I'd meet Drew?" She released a deep breath. Would Papa really disown me?
After Shana finished reading, she put the book in her room and went to the kitchen. She paused when she heard a knock on the front door. She glanced around and realized she was the only person available to answer. At the penthouse, I was told not to answer the door. Does that hold true here? She shook her head. Of course not, there are plenty of security men outside. Besides why would a bad guy knock?
Shana answered the door. "Oscar, right?"
"Yes, Ma'am," said Oscar, the security team leader. He held a female's arm. "This lady says she knows Mr. Sharp."
"Of course, I know him. I was married to him for two and a half years. I'm Mrs. Sharp." Patricia yanked away her arm, almost falling. "You must be his new woman." She looked Shana over. "Where's Drew?"
"He's not here right now. When he gets home, I'll tell him you want to speak to him."
Patricia shoved her way inside. "I'll wait. I never liked it here." She faced Shana. "Why'd he come back to this hell-hole?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask him. Are you sure you want to wait? It might be hours."
"We can get to know each other." Patricia went into the living room.
Oscar watched Patricia. "Ms. Kohlberg, would you like me to stay?"
"No. She doesn't need you to stay. You're only hired help anyway. We can share Drew stories, right, dearie?"
"Thank you, Oscar, but I'll be fine." Shana took a deep breath and closed the door behind him.
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
Allan Ryan - -FBI agent, the lead agent
