Waltz of Her Life

When they stepped out of the restaurant into the cool, early evening air, Linda said "So what do you want to do now?"

Unexpectedly, Seth edged closer to her and took her face into his hands delicately and tenderly. "I want to show you how much I love you."

He had never said anything like that before. It caught her off guard. "Love?" she repeated. "Seth, I know I'm not the only one."

For a moment he lost his composure and allowed his eyes to roll in their sockets, while he tilted his head away in exasperation. "You're special!" he said. "How else can I say it? He tenderly stroked the hair that framed the side of her face.

She glanced at the traffic passing and people stepping around them to get to the door.

"Now is not the time or place to discuss it." Reaching for his hand, she tugged him toward the curb so they could cross the street. When they reached Seth's new car and he jumped in and flicked the starter, she assumed they would go back to his apartment. She hated it there; it was all paneling and rough edges, a couch with grease spots and a huge expensive stereo blaring music. Instead, Seth turned left, toward the riverfront. "Where are we going?"

Seth grinned mischievously. "I have something special planned." Moments later he pulled into the parking garage for One Skyline Place, one of the newest and most pricey condominium complexes in town.

A couple of levels down into the garage, he parked his Nissan sports car next to Mercedes and Cadillacs. "Are we going to visit someone here?"

He shook his head. "No, we're going to have the place completely to ourselves."

Linda's mouth dropped open. "You didn't move here, did you?" One hundred thousand dollars only went so far.

He strode toward the elevators with the confident ease of someone who knew the territory. Looking down at her, he shook his head, speaking with the appeasing quality he did when he was exaggerating patience with her. "No, you just have to know the right people." He shepherded her into the elevator car. "Wait until you see it!" Seth pushed the button for the twenty-first floor.

When they arrived at the door of the condo, he used a plastic card that looked like a credit card instead of a key. The door latch clicked open and he pushed down on the handle and guided her in. Linda was first struck by the lush, cream colored carpet that softened their steps as they walked slowly in and explored. Leather couches with chrome accents awaited them along with a smoked glass top coffee table and original art on the wall, with brush strokes.