It was six o’clock when she woke up the next morning. She stood up and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and have her bath.
Minutes later, she was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, a wool sweater she had inherited from her mother, and a form fitted jeans.
She went into the living room, where she had left Brad last night, but he wasn’t there anymore.
She checked the kitchen, back room, and the storage room, but he wasn’t there. She went outside to check the surrounding, but he still wasn’t there.
Sidney began to wonder if he had left. She didn't know if that was possible but she knew that anything could happen. What was to be expected from someone she knew nothing about anyway?
Why would he leave just like that?
Maybe he wasn’t who he claimed to be, and he slipped away in the night before she could find out.
Maybe he was a thief, and he had stolen something from her. Was that even possible? People lie about who they are all the time.
She ran back into the cabin to check if something was missing, but everything was in its place.
She had been wrong! She had been wrong about him then. He was nothing she thought that he was.
Everything was there, normal, and untouched.
Where could he be then?
Bradley Humphrey, if that was even his name, was just a stranger she had helped out of sympathy and a ‘no other choice', and he had been a good company last night, but that doesn’t mean he was who he claimed to be.
Sidney looked outside her porch again and noticed that the bear wasn’t there anymore. The man was missing, and the bear was also missing.
Could he have gone into the woods, perhaps to dispose of the bear, or he had gone to his car?
What was going on?
She glanced at her wristwatch, it was seven thirty, which meant that he was missing for one and half hours.
Her brain told her it wasn’t time for her to panic. No doubt there would be a perfect explanation for his disappearance.
She continued to walk around, wondering how long a person had to be missing before she could call the cops.
Probably two hours, which meant that there was nothing else she could do but wait, although, she hated to wait.Sidney sure wouldn’t just wait around doing nothing so she continued searching. She walked to the east side of the cabin, and in a far distance, she could see Bradley coming towards the cabin. “Brad.” She called out.
Sidney looked beyond him as he stepped out of the woods.He was holding a small duffel bag and a laptop in one hand, and her father's tool box in the other.
“Good morning,” Brad began when they walked back to the front porch. “I used your phone this morning to call a mechanic company, and informed them of the problem. They said they couldn’t get here until tomorrow for some reasons, so I decided to get it out of the mess myself.” He sat on one of the chairs on the front porch. “I couldn’t fix it, so I’m stuck here.” He said.
Sidney smiled!
To think she had thought he was some thief, or that he was in danger was a shame. She was glad he wasn’t.
“Aw, damn.” She propped her hand on her hip and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Brad. You don’t deserve that.”
She didn’t know him enough to know if he deserved it or not but nobody should be put in that situation.
She went inside, and Brad stood up to follow. He made a helpless gesture with his hands. “Well, I hate to impose, but…I have to be here for another day.”
Even as she backed him, she could hear the discomfort in his voice. His embarrassed gaze shield away from her as she turned to him. “It’s alright, Brad. I need the company, anyway."
After breakfast, they talked about everything they could. He decided to tell her about his childhood, how he went to high school in London, Manchester, and other places due to his father’s moving before he started his own company.
“What did you participate in, in high school? What house were you in college?” she asked as she wondered who he was when he was in school.
A quarterback, maybe.
“None. I wasn’t really social back in high school, and I never went in for that much fraternity stuff.”
She grinned.
“So you just went to school normally?” she asked.
“And what do you consider normal?” he asked back. “ I went to school at seven, go for a basketball game at five in the evening, our driver picks me up at seven, and I have dinner at seven thirty. Then, I do my homework till bedtime. That’s what I consider normal.”
Sidney widened her eyes in surprise. “Wow. So you never had time for parties?” she asked.
“Nope,” he said simply. "Not at all."
They shared a laugh and both of them leaned back in their chair, with the serenity of the moment making them glad.
It had been a long time since he was this relaxed. Being here with her made him so relaxed.
It was as if they had known each other for the whole of their lives. Being here together, even though they were complete strangers had helped in one way or the other. Venting to a complete stranger about your childhood and life is another level of fun and peace.
The phone rang and interrupted the moment. Sidney was reluctant to pick up the phone, but she did when it rang the second time.
“Good morning, Sidney Morgan. How are you doing?” her mother, Claire Morgan Parker voice shouted into her ears.
Her mother was known to be a drama queen when it comes to her kids, but screaming her name into her ears was extreme even for her.
They weren’t as close as they were before she remarried, because they always had to argue about something. If it wasn’t about how she handled her grief, it would be the reason she needed a sibling or two, but she had accepted it when her sense finally dawn. She needed a sibling, she just couldn’t be the only kid, she needed a sister or brother, whether half or not.
Her mother remarried a year after her father died and she was happy for her.
Because of the time difference, she said.“Good evening, mother.” She replied with an eye roll.
She heard her mother sigh and mutter into the phone.
“Mother?” she stood up and went into the kitchen, avoiding Brad listening in on their conversation. “What’s wrong?” she asked with concern.
“Why should there be something wrong? I just called to check on my daughter.”
“For the first time in two years? You never even reply to any of my mail.” She half shouted.
“I’m sorry, Sidney. I’ve been so busy lately, and your brother has been a handful. He is just as stubborn as you are.”
Sidney didn’t reply. She wasn’t sure if she should be angry or glad that her mother had called.
She was not even sure she could say that Adam was her brother by all standards. They only met once, and that was on his fifth birthday.
“Okay, mother.” She managed to say.
“Sidney, I wanted to tell you that…I moved to Paris this summer.”
Paris, really?
When did she move to Canada? A year ago? Two years? And now she was in Paris?
That was what her mother liked best though. Touring around the world with the pretense of not 'liking it here' speech.
“How nice for you.” She said, hiding the sarcasm in her tone as hard as she could, and her mother didn’t notice.
“When are you going back to Queensbury?”
“Monday, at the latest.” She replied. At least, now she knew her mother always got her email, she just wouldn’t reply
“Okay, darling. When you arrive there, just call me.”
“Alright, mother.”
“Bye, bye.”
“Yeah, bye mother.” She said and dropped the call. She placed the phone on the kitchen counter.
She realized that she hadn’t been exactly quiet with the call with her mother.
She slammed her feet against the cabinet drawer in frustration. Why would her mother even call her here? She had always told her never to call her when she was in Bradford, but she never listen to anyone. She hated the fact that her calls might taint her image of the cabin.
She couldn’t think of her mother married to another man when she was in her father’s cabin.
It was her father’s haven and taking her mother’s calls there felt like it was some kind of betrayal. She didnt really like to do that here.
Back in the sitting room, Brad noticed that Sidney wasn’t really pleased with her mother’s call, or was that his imagination? He heard the end of their conversation and the way she had said her goodbye. Most people he knew always end a call with their mother with some “take care of yourself.” And, “I love you.”
As he shook off the thought, he heard the kitchen door slam, and she came into view a few seconds later.
“That was my mother.” She offered with a sigh as she sat down next to him.
The leather of the couch she sat on embraced, molded to her body as if it understood her need for comfort.
Brad knew she wasn’t ready to get into details of their conversation, but he could also see that she was disturbed about the call, so he said. “I will fix dinner.” hoping that would make her smile.
“Really?” she asked, her chin drawing together in a smile.
He was right, that had made her smile. “Really.” He replied, stood, and walked towards the kitchen.
Sidney laughed when she saw that he was serious, and contemplated on whether to follow him or not, but the latter won, so she sat back down.By the time Brad set the table, Sidney was holding a Nora Roberts' book.
Dinner was Salisbury steak, a big chunk of meatloaf, and taco salad.
Dinner passed on silently.
When they were done, Brad cleared the table and cleaned it after.
He met Sidney on the front porch half an hour later.
“Thank you.” That was the first thing she said to him.
“What for?” he asked.
“Dinner, of course. It was delicious. I couldn’t have tell, that you can cook like that.”
He smiled. “It’s fine. It was just a trick to make you smile.”
“And why would you need a trick to make me smile?” she asked curiously.
Brad thought of how best to tell her without her thinking that he was eavesdropping. “Actually, you weren’t exactly quiet with your call, so I heard your side of the conversation.”
“Oh, that.” She said. It wasn’t an easy subject for her to discuss, so she chose to remain silent. Brad understood that as well, so he respected it.
They talked for so long after that, until the moon shone brightly in the sky and decided it was time to sleep.
They departed.
Sidney couldn’t find sleep. All her thoughts were centered on Brad. He was caring, friendly, all the things the tabloids painted him not to be.
Yes, she googled him.
After the disappearance incidence, she had googled him, and from what she read, she had remembered reading about him on her best friend’s iPad a long time ago when she kept raving about him, and she read about how cold and difficult it was to work with him, but all that wasn’t what she saw. She was beginning to feel something for him, but what, she couldn’t tell exactly.
Tomorrow will be the last day she would see him. Maybe she could return with him to Queensbury or call her best friend Valerie, to come to drive her back home but she knew she wanted none of that.
With a frustrated growl, she held the pillow to her chest, lying on her side she rested her cheek on her right palm and she sighed.
The thought of how they met made her smile, but the thought of sleeping scared her because of the nightmares she had sometimes. She wished she could predict when the nightmare would come.
Her thought wandered back to the man outside her room, and she smiled a little.
Maybe tonight, she could look forward to her dreams.
“Good Morning, sleepy head.” Brad voice interrupted her lovely sweet dream. “Breakfast is ready.” He said.Sidney moaned and rolled over, facing him. The top she wore rode up her belly, and her creamy skin was on display.She looked so different while sleeping, and it made her look so innocent. She moved, and her hand moved from her chest. He could see her nipple through her top, and her thighs were on display.Brad gritted his teeth against the impulses traveling up his body. He would like nothing better than to stretch beside her, and pull her into his arms, and make love to her.He wished he was her man, he would love to be the man of this sweet, delicate, and strong woman. He could ask her if she had a boyfriend.“No.” he muttered, and shook his head.He gently nudged her shoulder and prayed that she woke up, because seeing her like this made him as hard as rock.“Sidney?&rdquo
Sidney called her mother as soon as she got back to Queensbury, and she heard the message she left for her in the machine.Her mother had left her a message that she wanted her to take over her step-father’s boutique that was in Queensbury.Who left that kind of message on a voice mail? Why would she even think she would be interested in taking over his business?When her mother picked up, she refused the offer outright. Her pride and thoughts of her father wouldn’t even allow her to consider the option.Claire on the other hand knew that she would turn down the offer because she knew the kind of strong-headed woman her daughter was. Apart from that fact, she knew she would feel guilty, but what Sidney didn’t know was that her father wouldn’t have minded at all, in fact, would be proud of her.Claire had helped her gotten her job where she worked now with so much pestering before she accepted.Her words were tha
When her office intercom buzzed, it yanked her away from her thoughts.She picked up the phone on her desk, and her boss's voice bumped into her ear so loud that she pulled the phone from her ears for a second.“Sidney, can you please come into my office.” He said.“Okay, sir.” She said and dropped the receiver.She crossed the room to pick up her jacket and went out of her office. When she got to her boss’ office, she met the person she least expected. Brad.What had gone wrong? She wondered.She had wondered why Brad was in their company, and why she was summoned when he was there.“Um… there you are Sidney, meet Mr. Humphrey, and Bradley this is Sidney Morgan.” Williams introduced.The innocent look on Brad’s face made her smile. She understood Brad didn’t want her boss to know that they knew each other, and she was so grateful.“Brad’s father is
As soon as Sidney opened her office door on Tuesday morning, Brad’s voice interrupted her legs from entering inside.“Good morning, Sidney, how was your night?” he asked, smiling.“Good morning, my night was splendid,” she replied. "I hope you had a great one too?"He nodded, yes.Sidney wasn’t sure if she had a splendid or a disturbing night because she couldn’t sleep. She was thinking about how she would cope with the countless time she would be spending alone with him.Brad was a good guy, she thought. He was a nice person, so she could relax. Coupled with the fact that he was also the sexiest man she’d met in… well, ever.She’d thought she preferred dark men until Brad. Now a tall, broad-chested, muscled up man with golden blonde hair was her idea of perfect.Forget the suits and ties he wore now; give her a guy in a t-shirt and a faded almost white jeans, with a r
Sidney wondered why her mother had hanged up the phone. Could it be that she knew the Humphreys? If the answer was yes, then what could she be hiding? The phone on her desk rang. When she picked the receiver, her mother's voice prank into rushed words. “Sidney, I’m sorry I hanged up on you, I was in the meeting when you called. I will talk to you later today, maybe tonight. Bye, darling.” She said and hanged up. This time, Sidney's mind was at rest that at least she would hear something from my mother later. When her mother called that night she told her that the Humphrey she knew was her father's business partner. So when Sidney had slept with the impression that night and woke up the following day had forgotten all a suspicion. Eyes still closed to prolong the dream, Bradley pulled the pillow closer. His creative mind had turned the pillow to the woman he had come to love so much.
The rest of the evening was uneventful to Sidney because this wasn’t really her thing. Parties like this, with men talking business and the women gossiping about each other or the latest trend in fashion wasn’t what she was used to.Brad introduced Sidney to his father and mother and then his sister so she wouldn’t have to be bored.Brad knew there was a lot about each other they had to learn, but he could tell she wasn’t really enjoying herself, and he wasn’t exactly available to keep her company.The truth was, he really liked her and he would appreciate it if he didn’t blow it before he got a chance with her. Valerie wasn’t exactly good company at the moment as she couldn’t handle the alcohol she had been downing since she arrived and his sister had to take her to the guest room to lay down for a while before they can call her a taxi.Finally, when the party was already slowing down a notc
Sidney pushed the elevator button as she typed a message on her phone for her mother. She had been trying to call her for a few days now but it kept going to the voice mail so she decided to text her.She was already two minutes late for the meeting she was schedule d to have this morning at the office. She also had a meeting scheduled for the afternoon to meet a client for lunch.She jabbed the button on the panel for the floor number, as she was already getting irritated by the elevator that decided to crawl today of all days. She muttered under her breath and promised to take the stairs the next time she was late. It seemed to be a better option than taking a crawling elevator, even though she knew that was nearly an impossible task with her heels and her dress.She breathed out a sigh of relief when the car of the elevator finally pinged and opened on her floor. She stepped out of the elevator."You'
Bradley took her to a rooftop restaurant with the second best view in town. The best view was Sidney. She was wearing a short fitted blue dress that exposed her back. It stopped at her knee and had only one sleeve. The color brought out her eyes and made them pop, and filled out her brown colored hair. She was a light skin woman with caramel soft, almost milk white skin.The dress molded to her body, showing off all those curves she loved to hide.Bradley had been checking her out from the moment he arrived at her apartment to pick her up for their dinner. His jaw had dropped to the floor and he was unable to pick it up for a moment. Sidney was a very beautiful woman that made his heart beat faster than normal any time they were in close proximity. It was as if it recognized her and always had to acknowledge her presence.It was difficult for him to control himself of his stares at her across the table. He couldn't even focus on t