When morning came; I got up briefly to see Cassie off. She came out of her room ready for and I said "Good morning" despite the croak in my voice.
"Morning Sam. Oh I never got the chance to ask but how did it go last night? It must have gone quite well since you have a sore throat" Cassie asked.
"Yes, it went well" I answered, taking another sip of my tea. "Actually, they didn't want me to stop" I added with a weak chuckle.
"That's a high compliment right there" Cassie smiled with a grin.
"Thanks but I hate what happened to Gloria" I told her.
"Wait, what happened to her" Cassie asked curiously.
"I don't know many details. Just that she was found dead. The police came just as I finished a song she had specifically requested" I told her.
"Dead? Oh lord" Cassie murmured.
"And with police around means it was either murder or extremely suspicious not to mention she'd be a high priority" I added.
"Sounds about right" Cassie commented.
"But I think I saw that cutie you talked to in the bookstore" I told her after taking another sip.
"Lucas? He told me he worked as an assistant ME. He didn't say who he was assistant to but it could be possible you saw him" she replied, trying not to smile.
"Yeah but I got intrigued by the one who was speaking to him. I assume that was the one he works for. He had a slight bit of curl in his hair, sharp dressed, and a scarf around his neck" I told her, coughing slightly.
"He sounds like a good looking guy. Did you get to talk him" Cassie asked as she got her lunch ready.
"No, he wouldn't even look my way" I asnwered, pouting slightly.
"Awe sweetie, maybe you will see him again and get a chance then" she commented.
"Please" I scoffed and added "There is no chance that I will see him again. New York is huge. The odds are as a tiny as a microdot that I will see him again."
"Never say never" Cassie sing songs as she grabbed her keys and lunch.
"Don't you work too hard. I know how much comes to your shop" I told her.
"Can't make a promise" Cassie told me.
"I'm serious" I replied and watched as she left. I stood at the living room window before finishing my tea and going back to bed, not knowing how right Cassie was.
Cassie's P.O.V
As soon as I was in the shop; I started working on a few small repair jobs and one skirt that needed to be hemmed. It was half after twelve when I finally had a break and my stomach rumbled. I had finally gone into my office, took out my lunch, and sat down to eat. I had just started on my sandwich when my cellphone rang. "Hello" I answered, trying not to choke on the bite I was hurrying to swallow.
"Hi Cassie, it's Lucas" my caller answered.
"Hi Lucas, I didn't expect a call this soon. How are you" I asked, smiling to myself.
"I'm good. I was wondering if you wanted to get lunch" he answered.
"Sure but it will have to be tomorrow. I'm sorry but I'm already in the middle of lunch for today" I replied, slightly chuckling.
"Tomorrow would be great" Lucas answered and I could tell he was smiling.
"Alright and we can totally discuss our latest reading adventure" I commented before asking "Where and what time?"
"How about that deli three blocks from your shop? It's usually fairly quiet. How about noon" he suggested.
"Perfect. I can't wait to see you" I answered and once our plan was set, we hung up and I finished my lunch. After finishing my lunch, I was grinning, at least inside, like a giggly school girl as I went back to work and altered a few homecoming dresses. I knew things were certainly about to get very interesting.
Sam's P.O.V
After I got up again around 12:30pm, I dressed and made sure I looked appropriate. I first stopped by the museum to pick up my pay for last night, as that was where I had been told to get my check, and to also sign the memorial book that had been left there for Gloria. After getting my check and signing the book; I noticed a guy staring at a painting and he was sharp dressed with a scarf around his neck. 'Could he be the one I saw last night' I wondered as I walked over to the painting he was staring at. "Admiring the piece" I asked.
He turned and looked at me. "In a manner of speaking" he answered before asking "You sang last night, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did. I'm Samantha Lowell" I answered.
"Henry Morgan, a pleasure to meet you Miss Lowell" he commented.
"Please, call me Samantha. I do hate being formal" I answered, smiling. I looked in his eyes and that's when I realized 'Oh my, he looks like the picture.' After a few minutes, I finally asked "Did you know Gloria Carlyle?"
"Yes, I did. She was a fine lady. It's such a shame" Henry replied.
"I agree. It's such a shame. I believe inside, despite what most people said about her being irritating, that she was a kindly old soul" I commented, staring at the painting and making note of it.
"I must agree there. I believe time and circumstance forced her to hide her kindness to be taken serious. At least, that was my understanding from what I knew" he told me.
"That's sad when you can't have a balance in your life" I commented. He nodded in agreement and we both stood there a moment.
I waited a moment before asking "This is going to sound random but do you believe in past lives Henry?"
"I do. May I ask where this question came from Samantha" he asked in reply, looking at me curiously.
I didn't know how to answer but I answered "I had a dream and I hope this doesn't sound weird but you sound like someone from my dream." I blushed deeply and then added "I am sorry. That was too foward of me. I really have to go now. Uh, nice to have met you" and I ran out of the museum. With that, I quickly made my way to the bank. I had no idea that encounter would be the first of many.
Cassie's P.O.V
I had paused to let my hands rest when my phone beeped with a text from Sam that read 'I hope you aren't working too hard.'
'Foolish hope dear' I answered and put it back. For a moment, I thought about my phone call with Lucas. I was interrupted when my phone beeped again.
'I do hope you remembered to eat. I know how you get when you're busy' she wrote.
'Don't worry, I had lunch at 12:30 and had a phone call' I typed. Wasn't a second later when she typed back asking who. 'Lucas' I texted back, smiling to myself.
She must have been surprised because it took a few minutes before she replied 'Tell me more when you get home. I have something to tell too. I saw him, the scarfed , need help looking at an antique store for answers to the necklace.' I wrote back and then went back to work on finishing a dress.
When all was done for the day, I headed home and walked in. "Sammy, I home" I called.
"In the kitchen" she called and I smiled when I smelled spaghetti and Italian sausage.
"You look and sound like you feel better than you did this morning" I commented, walking in.
"Much, now enough distraction. Tell me about your call with Lucas" she replied, stirring everything together.
"Not much to tell. We are having lunch tomorrow" I told her, smiling again.
Sam squealed in delight as she replied "That's wonderful." As we talked, she finished dinner and placed a plate of spaghetti in front of me before sitting across from me with her own plate.
Sam's P.O.V
"Now, what about you and Mr. Scarf" Cassie asked after a few minutes.
I swallowed the bite of sausage I had in my mouth and answered "Mr. Scarf's real name is Henry Morgan" and no sooner had I said that, I paled in realization added "That's the same name."
"Freaky" Cassie commented as we ate.
"You're telling me. He is a dead ringer for the one in the picture" I noted, more curious than ever.
"What if he IS the one in the picture" Cassie asked equally curious.
"He'd have to be over a hundred years old and that's impossible" I answered. We ate in silence and then made our plan to start looking at antique dealers and talked about her lunch date.
"What if he's like a vampire or something" Cassie suddenly asked, talking about that guy again.
"A vampire? Get serious, you have been reading too many graphic novels" I teased gently.
"Well, I was thinking immortal in general" she told me.
"That's impossible though" I told her.
"You never know" she reminded me.
"True considering what we learned last night. I suppose anything is possible" I admitted.
"And it's always best to keep an open mind" she added.
We finished eating and talked about our days. I was happy that she had met someone and I couldn't wait to hear how it went tomorrow. We then cleaned up, stored the leftovers, and then moved to the couch and started researching antique shops. Neither of us knew what would be uncovered and what sparks would ignite.