"Carl, look at the ceiling! It's painted, and the stained glass!"
"Yes, Rosie, it's all quite magnificent. I must tell you, though, that I live on the estate and have worked for Francesco for nearly thirty years."
"He seems like such a sweetheart … "
"And he has said the same about you, Rosie."
He noticed her blushing. If felt so wonderful having a lady in the house again. Perhaps now Francesco's lonely days will be over, Carl thought as he led her up the stairs.
Daniel was about to go for a walk on the grounds when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Daniel, do you mind if I walk with you?"
"No, Father, not at all. I'd enjoy your company."
"You know how proud I am of you, Daniel. You've become a great man. It is time, though. I want to retire."
"I think you should, Father. You could do so many things."
"Daniel, I have the paperwork drawn up, and all you have to do is sign it. December twentieth of this year, I'll officially retire, and the company will belong to you."
"I'm very honored, Father. Are you sure you want to give it to me?"
"Daniel, I planned on giving you the business all along. You're everything I've ever dreamed of in a son. Now we just need to find you a nice woman so you can have a family. A wife makes you very strong, balanced, and centered."
"Father, the woman I want is gone. I overreacted and I blew it. I don't know where she lives."
"What is her name, Son? I'm sure we can find her."
"Her name's Katherine O'Brian, not that that's going to help us. There are thousands of them, and I just don't know where to start. Besides, even if I did find her she wouldn't see me."
"I want you to return to the house for me. I have a couple of people I can call. You just answer some of their questions, and it shouldn't take them very long to locate her."
"Father, I don't know how to thank you for all you did for both myself and Rosie. You were completely amazing, and you came through. I want to ask you for your permission to move back home. I was serious about the penthouse and car. I don't want them. You can sell the furniture in it as well. Being around Rosie, I learned so much. The farm changed me."
"Daniel, this is how family treats one another. If I was in trouble I'm positive you would throw yourself into the situation and try and fix it. So there's no need to thank me. And I would love to have you back home. Move in as soon as possible, the quicker the better as far as I'm concerned, and regarding the penthouse and car, I'll take care of it. I must admit that I can see how Rosie would have a great impact on anyone."
"You know I'd do anything for you, Father. I have the upmost respect for you. I was just lost for a while."
"Daniel, I need to ask you something … " Francesco cleared his throat and stopped his son from walking.
"What is it?
"Do you think I'm too old to meet someone? I've been alone since your mother died, God rest her soul, but I don't want to live alone anymore. I think she would have wanted me to not be alone."
"I'm sorry that I never got the chance to know my mother. But I think you should find someone. Just be careful of who it is. You don't want to end up with someone who just wants your money. It doesn't feel very good."
"I don't think she wants my money. I think money scares her." Francesco looked at the ground and blushed.
"Father, who is this woman?"
"Well … I was thinking that … maybe … well … "
"Father, just tell me. It's okay with me and, as a matter of fact, I'd rather you be with someone than live alone."
"Rosie."
"Rosie? You like Rosie?!"
"I know I just met her, but, Daniel, I've stared at her picture. I love the sound of her voice too! She's so sweet and deserving of the finest things in life!"
Daniel started to laugh, then jumped in the air and yelled, "Wooo hooo!"
"Daniel, why are you yelling?"
"If I could pick out any woman that I'd want to look to as a mother, it would be Rosie. You just made my day!"
"Well, now we go inside and find yours, no? This Katherine must be one special lady."
One pissed off lady, thought Daniel as he walked back with his father.
Chapter 9
Katherine O'Brian woke up in her small bed and grabbed the covers she had kicked off during a fitful night of sleep. The tiny apartment was freezing. She couldn't afford to turn the heat up any more than sixty degrees if she was going to save enough money to see her uncle for Thanksgiving. She let her eyes wander around the small studio apartment until they ended up on the alarm clock. Shit! Jumping out of bed she grabbed an old pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, shoes, and jacket, and then headed out the door. She wouldn't even have time to grab a coffee. Shit, shit, shit! This would be the third day in a row that Katherine would miss her first class. I hate Economics! Now I'll be even farther behind. At least she wouldn't be missing her class in Fashion Design.
Stepping outside, the cold air blew right through her thin jacket. But buying new things for herself was completely out of the question.
"You look hurried," laughed Marty, her friend in design class.
"You have no idea. I haven't been sleeping during the night much. When I do, I have horrible dreams and end up sleeping through my alarm. I don't know what's wrong with me." Katherine let out a long sigh as she set down her backpack. She retrieved her latest sketches and a notebook as Marty leaned over to look at her drawings.
"Did you find a model yet?"
"Marty, I haven't even looked. I don't have any time, and I don't like meeting strange men."
"Well, I'd be glad to do it if we were allowed to use each other in the show. I'm having my sister be my model. I made the most adorable outfit for her."
"Maybe this is what's causing me such stress. The show is in four weeks and I haven't gotten past the sketch stage. I don't even have the material picked out yet. God, I'm such a failure."
"No, you just need a man. It works for me!"
Katherine started laughing with her dear friend but inside, she was a complete wreck. She had finally gotten around to calling her uncle. He wasn't happy about where she was living and that she was alone, but she didn't have a choice. Jacob had decided to head to Indiana, and she wanted to stay in Michigan to finish her education.
She couldn't afford to stay on campus, and she either walked or rode her bike to school. If the weather was bad, Katherine was forced to ride the bus. She was grateful that there was a bus stop close to her, but waiting for it to arrive could make her late, not to mention freezing to death while standing outside. Being able to get financial aid was a life saver and without it she couldn't afford to go to school, but the cost of living was eating her alive. Katherine ran karaoke at a local bar on the weekends, so that helped some. At least she had groceries, most of the time.
"Do you think I should put an ad up in the student center for a model?"
"Katherine, how much are you willing to pay them?"
"Not very much." Katherine couldn't afford to pay anyone.
"You can try putting up a few flyers. But don't give out your number. Make a separate email to list as your contact. There's a weirdo around every corner." Marty worried about Katherine when she walked to and from school. He felt she was safe on campus, but not in the rough neighborhood she lived in.
"Okay, I'll make the email after class and put the flyers up. Hopefully within a week I'll have my model. I just don't understand why I can't pick a female. I think it's ridiculous."
"Those are the rules. Guys have to have females and vice versa. It'll be more of a challenge, but I think it'll be good experience. I'm excited about the show!"
"If I was prepared, I'd be excited also. But seriously, I think I'll end up finishing at the last second."
Katherine headed over to the student center and, with her aged laptop, she made a new email. The sign was simple. "Need male model for fashion design and show!" Hopefully someone would respond soon.
Her luck improved later that afternoon when she received ten responses to the flyer. But after reading them, she decided she wouldn't pursue any of the applicants. Most of the emails were disgusting; one wanted to wear women's clothing, a couple more wanted to know what she looked like. Maybe I wasn't professional enough. Katherine decided that she'd place an ad in the paper, list her name, her temporary email address, and make it more professional. Her entire grade depended on this fashion show. It would just be the students in her class who participated, and it would take place on campus. These shows were always well attended and advertised. Some of the students ended up getting jobs in fashion.
I need a cute model who'll appreciate us poor folk.
The next day, Katherine placed her ad in the local newspaper. She took great care in writing the advertisement, asked for photos of the applicants, and gave her full name and email address. If no one responded, she would either be forced to use one of the creeps who applied, or kidnap someone. She didn't think that kidnapping would be very valuable on a resume.
That evening she received two responses. Both looked quite promising, and she decided to meet with them one at a time in a local coffee shop.
"Wait, you want me to pay you five hundred dollars for walking down a campus catwalk? Seriously, you're talking about a minute. Five hundred dollars a minute! You've got to be kidding me." Katherine got up and walked out. I even paid for that bastard's coffee!