Page 2 of Declan
“Great,” he answered, touching the brim of his white straw cowboy hat. “You?”
“Busy as ever. Sam, this is Elise Ramsey. She’s moving here from New York to open a dance studio. Elise, this is Sheriff Sam Garrett.”
“Ma’am,” Sam said, offering his hand. His grip was firm and friendly. “Welcome to Clifton. I hope you’ll like it here.”
“Thank you,” Elise replied, looking into his beautiful blue eyes.
Sam nodded respectfully. “I should get back to the office. You ladies have a wonderful day. Lydia, tell Colson hello for me.” With a final salute, he strode off.
Elise turned back to Lydia, her cheeks warm. “He’s… gorgeous.”
Lydia grinned. “We dated years ago. But he knew, better than I did that we weren’t meant to be. Now he’s happily married, with two kids, and head over heels for his family, and I met the love of my life here.”
“The sheriff seems like a great guy,” Elise said.
“He is,” Lydia agreed. “He loves this town and the people in it. He will go to any length to keep us all safe. Well, here we are.”
They stood in front of a two-story brick building. Its large display windows flanked by potted ferns. Lydia entered the code for the lockbox, removed a key, then inserted it into the lock. The door swung open on old, squeaky hinges, releasing a puff of dusty air. Inside, the hardwood floor was scuffed but sturdy, and the tall ceiling boasted exposed beams. Sunlight filtered in, illuminating spider webs in the corners of the windows.
Lydia inhaled deeply. “It needs airing out. It’s been empty for a while and they finally decided to sell. Let’s take a look.”
They walked through the building, each step echoing softly against the worn wooden floors, and Elise could visualize it perfectly in her mind. This space would be ideal for her dreams. It featured a lobby, and the four expansive rooms bathed in the gentle glow of sunlight streaming through large windows, were perfect for teaching ballet in them and hosting dancercise classes in one on Saturdays. All she needed was to install a wall of gleaming mirrors and a sturdy, polished barre in the ballet rooms.
“I wonder what’s behind this door,” Lydia murmured incuriosity as Elise approached her.
“Can it be opened?” Elise asked, intrigued.
Lydia reached out, her fingers curling around the cool, brass knob. With a twist, the door creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase that ascended into the shadows. She turned back to Elise with an excited glint in her eyes.
“Maybe there’s an apartment up there. Let’s find out.”
Together, they climbed the steps, their anticipation growing with each step. At the top, they encountered another door. Lydia pushed it open, and they stepped into a charming apartment.
“Oh, this is fantastic,” Elise exclaimed, as she wandered through the cozy rooms. “Just one bedroom and a bath, but really, how much space does one person need?”
“True enough. And look at these windows,” Lydia said, her voice full of admiration as she approached them. Elise followed, captivated.
“They offer a stunning view of the street and those mountains in the distance,” Elise observed, her eyes sweeping across the scene below. “I absolutely love this.”
“It’s much nicer than I imagined, especially considering the downstairs and it needs a thorough cleaning. But this looks untouched, as if no one has ever lived here,” Lydia added, her eyes taking in the pristine surroundings.
Elise looked at her. “I want it.”
“You don’t want to see others before making a decision?”
“No, this is it.”
“I love it when someone knows the place is right. Let’s head back to the office and I’ll work up the paperwork. Will you be getting a mortgage?”
“No. I can pay by certified check. My grandfather died last year and left me a pretty good inheritance, and I know he’d be happy to see me using some of it for my dream.”
Lydia smiled. “I’m sure he would. We will get it inspected foryou first. I’d hate to have you buy it and then find something wrong.”
“Sounds perfect.” Elise looked around. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“Let’s see where this door leads,” Lydia said as she walked toward another door. She opened it, then looked back at Elise. “It leads to a metal stoop, so you can either come up here by the door we did, or this door. You could park your vehicle at the bottom of the stairs.”
“I am so happy to have found this place. Thank you, Lydia.”
