Inheritance, K.C Baylor [most popular novels of all time TXT] 📗

she did not think it odd a stranger staring directly into her face. She looked him in the eye and spoke softly.

"Hello, my name is Michelle. Would you like to share your name or did you have plans of letting me know how awkward I am by staring?

"I'm so sorry, I don't mean to be rude it's just you're" He sounded so puzzled something that he has never sounded before. For the first time in his life Christoph forgot about money or being powerful, but was totally captured by this woman's elegance and grace.

"It's my book right? Well if you'd like I can let you have it. I don't mind buying a new copy."

"No, no it's not your book. I'm sorry my name is Christoph and I noticed you from the bistro across the street. If it's not being extremely rude would you mind having lunch with me." To his surprise, she agreed and that is where a romance so intense like nothing he's ever experienced first started. Quite naturally she noticed the wedding band on his finger and asked him about it. For a brief moment lying was something he considered but

he instead opted for the truth he told her of his one-sided business arrangement with Madelyn. He also told her about Julian and the amazing thing about Michelle was that she sat listening, no interruptions, no judgment, just listening. That was the first and last conversation they had on his wife and son. She asked him all of the questions that she felt she needed to know and that was the end of it. He even showed her the two pictures of Julian he carried in his wallet. One was him as a small boy the other a college graduate.

         Christoph quickly finished his breakfast taking a shower shortly after. Half an hour later a soft knock on the door made his heart speed up. He hasn't seen Michelle in over four months. He opened the door slowly. She stood on the other side of it with a smile so broad it was contagious. He took her by the hand and led her into the fairly large hotel room. He made sure the help put in fresh flowers and clean sheets while he showered. He stood there admiring her for a few moments before he slowly pulled her close to him in a long embrace. Her sandy blonde hair tickled his nose, her soft face pressed against his. She wore no makeup, which he loved because the beauty that she held within was enough to shine through any lipstick.

"I've missed you Chris. I've thought of your coming over and over. It could not have come fast enough." Her words were whispered.

"I've missed you too."  Michelle was the only person in the universe who was allowed to call him Chris many have tried even down to his mother but was cut off by his insisting that they did not. He didn't have to be in constant control with Michelle like he did at home. He did not have to know all of the answers or even make all of the moves here, he was able to be himself or find himself rather. She made things so comfortable for him that he never wanted to leave her sight. The irony in this situation was that Madelyn was not that much different from her but she couldn't find the nerve to stand her ground. She didn't want to make any of the decisions; she let him be in charge of everything. He gave his wife numerous amounts of time where she could have taken charge something that would have made him love her but she just took her place, behind him. With Michelle there was no doubt that he was the man but she never hesitated when it came to something she believed in that he may not have agreed with. She let him know her position on the matter and went back to normal. The two stood in an embrace that said everything they both were holding in for the past four months.

"Come in." He closed the door behind her.

"I had so many things to tell you on my way here, but I can't think of any of them now."

"Let's not use words, come sit with me." Christoph sat on the small crimson colored loveseat inviting her to sit beside him. He felt the warmth from her body reaching out to him. He drew her near squeezing her shoulders gently. He kissed her neck. When his body finally relaxed against the soft cushioning of the small couch hers did also and they sat with her back pressed against his chest in silence for what felt like decades.

         Christoph decided that they did not have to leave the beauty of the hotel room right away. Instead they could stay in and watch a movie on pay per view. He did not mind what she chose as long as they were together, a classical opera. It was something most men would not have cared to watch. This did not bother him because he had the most beautiful woman in the world sitting there beside him.

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       Harmony insisted they go out for lunch but her mother-in-law made it very clear that she wanted to make lunch for them both. Harmony was glad she agreed. Madelyn placed the colorful plates on the table along with a large picture of lemonade. She loved her delicious smoked turkey breast sandwiches on rye bread. The only sound came from the ice tinkering in their glasses for a few moments.

"When is Christoph do back?" Harmony tried to appear nonchalant.

"Next Friday, When is Julian going on his business trip?" Madelyn already seemed bored with the obvious attempt at chitchat.

"Well, I think it's next week some time. I'll know for sure by this weekend." Harmony was a little uncomfortable only because she knew her otherwise talkative mother-in-law was sad about something. Not feeling close enough to pry Harmony didn't know what else to do.  Madelyn leaned in closer to the table and began to whisper like there was someone else out there she didn't want to hear.

"Have you ever felt like your life was coming to an end? Like everything around you was becoming so unfamiliar or unrecognizable that it was hard to remember what they once were?" Harmony didn't know how to answer this; still a little unsure of where this conversation would lead.

"Yes, I've felt like that a lot before I met Julian. He changed everything for me, my outlook, my opinions, he made everything new." Harmony spoke with sincerity. She didn't know what exactly her mother-in-law was trying to tell her but she was here to listen.

"That's wonderful, sweetheart. I am so glad you were the girl my son has chosen to marry. There were a few times I was almost afraid with chooses of girlfriends he had in high school." The laugh that escaped from her throat was strained. Harmony knew that Madelyn used humor to mask her real emotions. How lonely that must be.

"The day is very beautiful isn't it?" Madelyn changed the subject as quickly as she had brought it up. Her eyes said everything with out saying anything at all.

        After lunch, Harmony insisted that she clean the dishes alone. Madelyn sat on a stool in the center of the island in the spacious kitchen.

"What other plans do you have for the rest of the house?"

"I'm not quite sure yet, Julian says he will agree to anything but pink or flower prints."

"That's sounds like my Julian he's never liked any pattern that had flowers on it."

"Well what do you have planned for the day?" Harmony was curious mainly because lunch with her was all she had planned.

"I was going to take a look at a new art exhibit in town. The artist is said to be very promising." A little excitement entered her voice.

"Would you mind if I went along."

"No not at all" After the two dishes and glasses were washed then dried they headed for the garage.

"Let me just call Julian at the office, incase he tries to reach me later." Harmony quickly spoke to Julian to let him know what her plans were for the day. He was so excited that she chose to spend time with his mother that he thanked her more than once.

"Let's take my car, we can put the top down." Harmony had no disagreement with that offer the weather was so lovely that it was welcomed. The black convertible was still out of the store shined; she loved the softness of the cream leather interior seats as she sank down into the chair. The purr of the engine was like a song she loved to hear. Madelyn turned the radio on. A wonderful musical ballet from Eric Clapton filled the air around them taking them to a place far beyond their troubles.

               The art gallery was filled with contemporary art and a few abstract, but what drew Harmony in was a painting that had two little girls sitting on a swing in the middle of a lawn. The expressions on their faces were sheer bliss.

"Wouldn't it be nice if every day could be like that?" She looked over to her mother-in-law. Madelyn did not answer just turned her lips up in a smile. They each took a glass of white wine from the waiter walking the floors one of the many pleasures of attending the art gallery.

        Two hours later they departed in front of "The house on the hill" Harmony rushed to make Julian dinner in the hour she had left before he was due home. She cut the chicken breast in thin strips, seasoning them with salt, pepper and cilantro one of her favorite spices. The extra virgin olive oil made popping sounds in the large pan. She let the chicken caramelize before she added sliced mushrooms and green peppers. She used a smaller pot to make a rich garlic cream sauce, which was poured over the dish when it was complete. She liked this recipe because it was so simple to make and it cooked in a short amount of time. Once the rice was done cooking, she dished out a nice portion to both of the plates placing the chicken mixture on top and adding her rich garlic cream sauce to make the meal complete. Harmony was satisfied with her work. Now if only she could shower and change her clothes before he walked in the door she thought to herself. Just as she stepped into the shower, she could hear his keys in the front door a little disappointed she wasn't there to meet him she quickly bathed in the soothing waters.

Moments later she walked barefoot down the stairs. Julian looked especially handsome to her this evening; maybe it was the grin on his face when he saw her enter the dining room that did it. He walked close to her wrapping his arms around her slender waist he drew her into him.

"I've missed you all day long." He whispered the words into her ear. She kissed him softly on the lips before pulling away taking his hand to lead him into the kitchen.

"I made a special meal for you tonight"

"Well I hope it's as good as it smells, or is that you?" He rested his face in the grove of her neck.

"It's probably a combination of both. Come sit with me and enjoy the labor of my hands." She loved to cook for her husband because she knew he really appreciated it. Julian carried the plates into the dining room placing them carefully on the table while she brought in the picture of pink lemonade. She decided she had enough wine for the day or the week for that matter.

"So tell me how was your day?" She started the conversation off.

"Today was very interesting. I found out my father hired one of my old high school buddies, we were