“How did you meet Brent?” Logan asked.
Tippy grinned. “He made me spill my coffee all over myself while I was on my way to a job interview.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I was going for an interview at an advertising agency. I stopped for a coffee, and when I turned around to leave, I bumped right into Brent. Bang. All over my white shirt,” Tippy laughed. “I was furious at him. I think I called him every name in the book.”
“What did he say.”
"Well, he apologized over and over and said he would pay for the dry cleaning. I cleaned myself up the best I could in the washroom and went for my interview,” Tippy said. “I should have just turned around and gone home, but I really wanted this job, so I thought I would apologize for my appearance and hope they could overlook the large coffee stain on my shirt. When they called me for my interview, guess who was sitting on the other side of the desk?”
“Brent?”
“Yep, I almost died with embarrassment remembering all the names I called him.”
“I take it you got the job though?” Logan asked.
"I did, and the rest is history," Tippy said, smiling. “I’ve never been more thankful for spilled coffee in my life."
"There you are," Brent said, coming up behind his wife. “Are you ready to go?”
“Leaving already?” Logan said.
"We left the kids with my mother, and she can only handle them for one night. We have to drive back, unfortunately,” Brent said.
“It’s not because our kids misbehave,” Tippy added. “She just isn’t very well and gets tired these days.”
Logan laughed. "Well, if they are anything like Brent, you are in trouble. I remember he could talk a mile a minute.”
“Oh, he still does,” Tippy said, laughing.
"It was really nice seeing you again, Logan," Brent said, putting his arm around Tippy.
Logan nodded, pulling out one of his business cards and handing one to Brent. “Keep in touch. I’d love to get together again sometime.”
“I’d like that,” Brent said, shaking Logan’s hand.
“It was really nice meeting you,” Tippy said, looking at Logan and smiling.
“Yes, it was. Good luck with the new baby,” Logan said, waving goodbye as they walked away.
“Are they leaving?” Vanessa asked as she came back from the washroom.
“Yeah, they have to relieve their babysitter,” Logan said. “Let’s go back and sit at our table.”
For some strange reason, Logan didn’t feel like being alone with Vanessa and listening to her go on and on about weddings. All she wanted to talk about was what she would do differently at her wedding, how the bride had picked a dress that really didn’t suit her figure and how the flowers weren't the right flowers for the season. He was tired of listening to her. At least at the table, with other people around, the conversation could go in another direction.
Three hours later, they were back in their room, rolling around on the bed naked. Having sex with Vanessa was the only way he could get her to shut up about marriage and weddings. He didn’t want to argue with her because they were having a fun time together, but he had had enough.
Lying in bed when they had finished, Logan stared up at the ceiling. Why was he feeling so unhappy all of a sudden? Seeing Tippy again had brought back so many memories and the plans he had had for his future that hadn’t come true. He couldn’t help but wonder what his life would have been like had he and Tippy gotten married. Would he feel differently about life? She and Brent looked so happy together and so in love. He loved his job in real estate, and he loved the lifestyle that Darlington Realty provided; he just felt like something was missing, and lately, that feeling was getting stronger. He hoped that sooner or later, he would find out what it was.
He wanted to find that one woman who would complete him; he knew she was out there somewhere.
Chapter 5
On Monday morning, Logan walked into the office, stopping briefly to say hello to his assistant, Geordie. Geordie Lumen had started working for Logan at the tender age of eighteen. Although at first, Logan wasn't sure he would work out, he soon came to value Geordie more than he realized. Geordie always had Logan’s back and, even though there was a little bit of hesitation on Logan's part at the beginning, they became close friends with great respect for each other. What Logan didn’t know was that Geordie had a tremendous crush on Logan and sometimes wished that Logan wasn’t straight. Regardless, their working relationship flourished and worked for both of them.
“How was the wedding?” Geordie asked, smiling as he handed Logan his messages and files.
“It was a normal wedding, making the women go crazy and starry-eyed. But the Trellis sure is a great place,” Logan said, picking up the coffee that Geordie always had waiting for him.
“So I’ve heard. Trevor said that if we ever get married, he wants it to be there. I think it would be a bit pricey, but we’ll see,” Geordie giggled. “Anyways, the Fuller account is in the folder as well as another building, the Crossheart Manor. Jason wanted you to handle it.”
“Crossheart Manor? Is it up for sale?”
“They called Jason yesterday, but he just doesn’t have the time right now with the baby coming,” Geordie said. “He said that if there was a problem to just go see him.”
“Great. Thanks. Have you seen Lucas this morning?”
“Hmm, yeah. He’s in his office. He came in early, something about a play one of the girls is in at school that he needs to go to this afternoon,” Geordie said, shrugging.
Logan dropped his folder on his desk and headed down the hall to see his brother.
“Hey, have you got a minute?” Logan asked, popping his head in the doorway.
“Hey, you’re back,” Lucas said, throwing down his pen.
“Geordie said you had something to go to this afternoon?”
“Yeah. Sarah’s school is putting on a play," Lucas said, smiling. “She’s a tree.”
“Oh, I bet she’ll be the best tree ever,” Logan laughed. “Take some pictures for me.”
“Are you kidding? Sammy is having me film the whole thing. She’s worked on Sarah’s costume for hours, and you know Sammy. Detail is everything.”
Logan laughed, nodding his head. “I remember the forest cake she made for Sybil. Every detail was on there, including acorns on the trees.”
“So, what’s up?”
Logan laughed as he looked at his brother. “How did you know?”
“How did I know what?”
“How did you know that Sammy was the one for you?”
Lucas sat back in his chair. “Not sure. I just did. There was something about her that when I met her, I felt complete.”
“Are you happy?”
“More than you can imagine. My kids mean everything to me, and I can’t even imagine my life without Sammy in it,” Lucas answered. “Why do you ask? Oh, how was the wedding, by the way?
“It was your usual wedding. Vanessa is obsessed with weddings now and wants to talk marriage, or at least she’s hinting at it,” Logan said, sitting down. “I’m sure she’s expecting a proposal any day.”