Since A Kings' Christmas has been published, I'm starting something new. A Christmas story, taking place in New York City. I will be posting a segment here, every week until the story is done or I make another plan.
Please feel free to leave comments. It's not written yet. I look forward to your feedback to help me direct it. I hope you enjoy this first, introductory post. Thank you for coming. Scroll down for the link to return to Tuesday Tales and read all the wonderful writers there. Oh, this story is called, "The House-Sitter's Christmas".
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Episode 1
Laura Fleming’s pulse kicked up as the bus approached the
Lincoln Tunnel. Something magical happened whenever she crossed over from
upstate onto Manhattan island. And it being a week before Christmas only made
it more fantastic.
The Port Authority Bus Terminal was as bloated with people
as usual at Christmas. Mr. C. W. Banley had arranged for a car to pick her up.
She was the hired help, the housesitter paid to keep his majestic townhouse
occupied and to care for his cat while he traveled on business over the
holidays.
This was Laura’s third year housesitting for C.W., as she
affectionately referred to him –but never to his face. In fact, she’d never met
him. What mattered was her chance to step into the ultimate Christmas fantasy,
occupying a grand townhouse on West 81st Street for three delicious
weeks.
A man in a livery outfit stood on the crowded sidewalk,
holding a sign that read Laura Fleming. She
approached him, vouched for her identity and slid into the comfortable vehicle.
He closed the door and they were off, wending their way through the dense,
holiday traffic.
“First time in the City?” He asked, while they waited at a
stop light.
“Oh, no. I’ve been coming at the holidays for several years.”
“It’s a beautiful, if crowded, time to be here.”
“I love it. I live in the country. During the winter, I get
cabin fever with all the snow and ice.”
“You own a place here, too?”
She laughed, her light brown hair swinging with the motion.
“Oh, no. I could never afford that. I’m the house-sitter.”
“Now that’s a great gig!”
“You bet it is,” she agreed.
The chauffeur maneuvered his way through the congested
avenue. Laura looked out the window. All the restaurants and even the delis had
strings of Christmas lights. She raised her gaze to the apartment buildings and
spied many with Christmas lights in the windows, or elaborately decorated
trees, visible from the street.
He pulled up to the gorgeous, Neo-Renaissance townhouse.
The driver set her small suitcase on the sidewalk. He refused a tip, saying he’d
already been paid. Laura gazed at the beautiful cream colored building with
windows lined in black. A large, circular, black, wrought iron staircase
beckoned her.
The winter sky was turning teal blue as the sun began to
set. She climbed the steps to the large, carved wooden door. A wreath of evergreens,
red berries and pine cones hung there, welcoming her. The sharp wind penetrated
her coat, making her shiver. She retrieved the key from under the mat and
unlocked the door. Anxious to get to the antique pot of hot chocolate Maeve,
the housekeeper, always left for her on the little wooden table by the
fireplace in the study, Laura wondered if there would be a chocolate croissant
or a scone waiting, too. She licked her lips as she crossed the threshold into
a luxury she could only dream about.
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4 comments:
Love this idea. The picture reminds me of all of the houses I saw when I took my trip to NYC a few years ago. Always went in the spring or fall, but Christmas must be magical.
I hope she gets that chocolate croissant!
What a great start to a new story! I recall being in NYC a few times right after Thanksgiving and it is a magical.
What a great start to a delicious new story! And why do I think that perchance the employer she hasn't met in three years may show up here? And I'll bet he's handsome and sexy. I can't wait to read more.
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