Page 21 of Mailroom Delight
Chapter 6
Paige
* * *
Iwas so drained that I fell into bed when I got home.
I spent the day answering the messages and letters I didn’t do yesterday. But, I also gave into my fears and admittedly spent a good part of the day going over some of my old emails and responses.
Old emails from about four years ago.
I did sound different, because I was different.
And, I wasn’t sure I wanted that Paige back.
I got by from one day to the next now. It was hard because of what I’d been through. I must have evolved into this woman I was, and now it was affecting my readers. Today I tried to be the old me.
I ended up sounding objective, as opposed to giving my opinion on whatever problem I was being asked about.
I felt bad for it. Really bad. It felt like I couldn’t do my job anymore.
Sleep took me the minute I set my head on the soft silk of my pillows. I drifted into the dream that pulled me in.
It was a dream I’d had before, several times. Once it was every night, then it was every once in a while. This must have been one of those times and I felt the excitement take me. It always did when I knew I was going to see Paul.
Always.
It was always the same.
This dream was always the same.
* * *
I ran down the stairs and straight outside. I paused and looked around absorbing the wondrous scent of the pine trees that mingled with the slight hint of the salt in the lake and it soothed my mind. It immediately reminded me of happiness. Happy times spent out here with Paul and all our friends.
We were ten when we first met. My family had just moved to San Francisco from Wisconsin. My dad had taken a job here as the new consultant for an accounting firm.
I met Paul and I loved him at first sight.
Where was he?
It had been such a long time since I’d seen him.
“Pa…” my voice trailed away as I turned towards the boardwalk and saw him standing by the edge of the dock.
He was waiting for me.
Always waiting for me.
His golden hair glistened against the remaining sunlight, and he stood tall and proud, his broad shoulders pushed back and that confidence I loved rippling off him.
I ran to him, missing him so much my entire body ached. He turned to face me just as I reached him and caught me as I threw myself into his arms.
“Don’t, don’t let me go. Please.” I begged.
I inhaled the rich woodland scent of his cologne and savored it.
Oh, how I missed this scent, the magic between us, this feeling. This feeling I had that made me believe I’d always have that happiness I felt with only him.
