Out of The Box Awakening Read Online Free Page A

Riding through the city, music on, sitting in a Range Rover with a really out-of-this-world handsome man. Do I miss my husband?
    Alan said Ash’s house is beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing my new home, even if it is only temporary. As we turn onto his street, I am amazed by the beautiful large homes. I see a beautiful two-story home of dark brick. It has gables and large architectural windows flanking the front and is sited at the end of the cul-de-sac. There are no houses on either side of Ash’s house. I wonder why.
    Ash points at the lots and says, “Anne and I bought the lots on either side of ours so no one would build close to us.
    “What a brilliant idea.”
    “We built the house in 1998. We built big, not remembering that the boys would leave and find their own lives. So now I have just me in a too-big house”
    It’s a lake-front home. I can only imagine what the back looks like.
    Ash is the perfect gentleman. He comes around to my door, opens it for me, and tells me to go inside. “I’ll bring everything in, Olivia. You just go in and make yourself at home. You must be exhausted!”
    Oh, you have no idea, I think to myself.
    As I enter, I am taken aback by the beautiful entryway. It is truly amazing, with warm, dark wood floors, high ceilings, and a very impressive winding staircase with intricate ironwork on the spindles. There is a large floral arrangement on an ornately carved wood table in the center of the entry. Under the staircase there are two parlor-style chairs with a small, round table—what a darling little vignette! On the table is a small brass bowl filled with cherries. Immediately, I am reminded of the old song, “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries.” The words of the song say how you can’t lose what you’ve never owned. I haven’t thought about that song in ages! My mother used to sing it to me when I was a child. What a profound statement that little bowl makes. I find myself wondering if there is a hidden message somewhere here? Karma? Hmmmmm.
    I walk back into the living room—the walls are a calming, creamy taupe color. There is a large floor-to-ceiling mirror that is to die for. Boy, Lainey would love this!
    The furniture is all off-white. Large, overstuffed sofas in a lovely seating area in front of a stone fireplace look out to the back, and to the lake. The dimensional wood moldings are incredible. The recessed lighting makes sure the room just takes you in. There is exceptional exterior lighting. There are twinkle lights in the trees around the patio and out by the lake, and around another larger patio area with several tables and chairs and chaise lounge chairs. I see a small dock out on the water, and I am so tempted to walk out there.
    After Ash has unloaded my luggage, he joins me in the living room.
    “Wow! What a beautiful home you have Ash—incredible!”
    “Why, thanks! It took a while to build and I really love it here. So… how about a glass of wine?”
    “Oh my God! That would be lovely!”
    “White or red?”
    “White—Chardonnay if you have it,” I say.
    “Chardonnay it is!”
    He returns from the wine cellar with what looks to be a very expensive bottle of chardonnay. He pours us each a glass and we go out onto the patio area.
    “This is breathtaking,” I exclaim.
    “Yes. This is my sanctuary. After building the house and Anne’s passing, I just couldn’t sell. I love it here. Most of my business is in the city, and I have a condo on Lake Shore Drive. I usually stay there during the week.”
    “What do you do now? I mean, Alan said you had retired as a pilot.”
    “I do security consulting. I have a small plane and still fly, but just as a hobby now. Tommy, my youngest son, is a musician.”
    “A musician? How interesting,” I say.
    “Yep. He and I are the musically inclined in the family. We both play guitar, piano, and drums. We get together when we can to play. It is my stress outlet; it’s his career. He has a band called Avenue,