Chapter 3
A couple of weeks had passed since my trip to Dallas. Life in San Francisco was business as usual. I had been hit with a deadline and was pulling 12-hour days. On Wednesday afternoon, my assistant, Tessa, walked in with the most beautiful bouquet of roses I had ever seen. She set them on my desk and I thought to myself, "Collin, how did you know I needed this."
I opened the card and it read:
Gwen,
You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I know that these can not begin to compare to your beauty, but I hope they can bring a ray of sunshine to your day.
The card wasn't signed. Collin always signs his cards and he has never sent me flowers unless it was a special occasion. I decided to call him, it had to be him.
"The End, how may I direct your call."
"Collin Fox please."
"May I tell him who is calling?"
"Gwen Latham."
"Oh yes Miss Latham, one moment please." The music began to play and then the line picked up.
"Collin Fox, how can I help you."
"Hi honey."
"Cakes, it is good to hear from you."
"I was just calling to thank you."
"Thank me? For what?"
"The flowers, they really have brightened up my day."
"Gwen, I wish I could say that I am responsible for the sunshine they are bringing you, but I can't...believe me, I would have sent them had I known but -"
"They weren't from you?"
"No sweetie, looks like you have an admirer."
"Yeah right, who would admire me?"
"Come on Gwen, you know you are gorgeous, everyone thinks so. You should have heard the guys the other night after the show. They were talking about how lucky Cree was to have such good genes."
"Shut up, you are silly! I need to go."
"OK - I love you and will call you later."
"Bye."
As I hung up the phone, I tried to think of who could have sent me the flowers. My mind was drawing a blank. About an hour later, Tess walked in with another package. This time it was a small house plant and a box of strawberries. Once again, there was a mysterious note. A package was delivered every hour on the hour, each with something different and a strange not, but they were all somehow tied together.
Around 5 o'clock, the final package arrived. It contained a black DKNY tube dress, a pair of Prada sandals, some beautiful sterling silver jewelry with black onyx accents (necklace, bracelet, ring, earrings - everything). It was something I would have picked out for myself. I looked down at the box and I noticed the final note. It read:
Gwen,
I know this seems strange to you, the gifts and flowers, but I do not know how to express the feelings you brought out in me when I saw you. Please meet me at Fisherman's Warf at 7:00pm/ I hope you won't be disappointed. Wear this...
NC
P.S. I understand your current situation with Collin, but you have left me breathless, I had to at least try.
"NC, who the hell is NC? And what is this?" I asked myself outloud. After much debating, I decided to go for it. There was no harm in seeing who had done all of this for me, if only to thank them.
I finished up my work in the office and headed to the ladies room to change. I felt so nervous, finally, when I looked in the mirror I was satisfied with the outfit the admirer chose for me, so satisfied I would have picked it out for myself. I left my long blonde hair hanging limply down my back and left for the warf.