HOME

28

The following morning in Spain... we went downstairs to work out in the fitness room. We ordered room service from the hallway phone by the  fitness room and made our way up back to our suite. We took a quick shower knowing  breakfast would arrive shortly. We had our matching adidas navy blue sweats with our adidas leather OG tennis shoes on. We bought the shoes and sweats on black Friday sale. Julia had shown it to me and liked it. I was gonna get mine in charcoal gray, but they ran out in my size.  Our breakfast arrived, and  I paid the man his tip. He leaves with the cart.

" Julia,  after we finish with our breakfast, let's go sightseeing. I would like to see some   churches that they have brochures downstairs.  The architecture in them is amazing. I think your sons would love it. They could probably have some replicate some of the images for a future build."

I  told her yes, and my sons were trying different things in home and business designs in their architecture drawing designs.   We took our time enjoying our breakfast.   We used the restroom before we left. We had hoods on our winter coats. It was sprinkling.  We each had brought umbrellas that were wide and strong to prevent the wind from making any side to fold up.
We entered up taking many photos of each church we went to. One of the churches was having a midmorning service.  We stayed and enjoyed the service. It was raining really badly at the last church.  We used our umbrellas and rain to the rental.  Alexa unlocked the doors before we got to it. We closed the umbrellas and shook the water off before we got in and tossed them on the back floor board.

" Alexa, while you are driving, I am going to download the photos to an email to them.  At the restaurant or later on, you can do yours."

I had to do several emails, which was okay. We finally arrived.  We got out and put our coat hoods on and our leather but very warm gloves.  We got out, and Alexa locked the vehicle with the fob.  I was already inside asking for a table for two. The man tells me it would be a twenty to thirty-five minute wait. We both went to use the restroom.  We returned and waited. Alexa is attaching her photos.  I am getting a response from Lance stating to thank Alexa.  He will print them out and show them to James tomorrow at work. He told me James should be back tomorrow morning from a business trip he had taken to Colorado. Rachelle referred him. I told him I would and Alexa had a lot she would be emailing them both.

" Babe after we eat lunch what do you want to do?"   "Hmmm, a gallery.  You said you and Cindy  want some new paintings for the downstairs lounge areas, since you all sold the others and painted the lounge and receptionist areas."   " Cindy and I don't want to pay a lot. We can see if their are local artists that have studios. Before we leave here,  we can Google and see if we find any that are opened today."

The man tells us our table is ready.  He has us follow us. He pulls out our chairs and pushes the chairs in. We thank him. He tells us today's lunch specials and tells us to enjoy our meal. We thank  him and he leaves. We review the menu.  A waitress comes and asks us if we are ready. We day yes and place our lunch order with two cups of hot tea with honey.  She leaves with our menus. She returns shortly with our hot tea with a glass jar of honey.  Julia asks her if there are any nearby open studios who sell paintings.  She tells us she will be leaving work soon to go to her studio. She works here part time. She gives Julia the address and name of the studio. She tells her we will be there.  She smiles and leaves.

" Alexa, I might find enough paintings and we won't have to look anymore. "  " I concur. We can have her ship them to each clinic and addressed them to the director.  You can  texted them and tell them to expect them."

We are done with our tea when Maria returns.  She asks us if we wouls like a refill of hot tea.  We tell her yes.  She leaves and comes back immediately to fill our cups.  I ask her for the bill.  She says she will go ring it up. I wanted to make sure she got the tip and no one else.  We are eating when she returns and places the plastic folder with the bill. I read it and get cash out to pay it and leave her a tip. She thanks me and tells us she will be waiting for us. She is finishing up one painting.  She leaves and we continue to eat and drink our hit tea. We leave about forty one minutes later to the restroom.    When we got outside,  it wasn't raining anymore.   We arrive at her studio thirteen minutes later. I park and we get out.  I hit the fob to lock the doors.  Julia pushes the intercom. A man answers it. Julia  tells him Maria is expecting us. He buzzes us in. We walk in so many various artists are painting.  We ask for him which one is Maria's area. He points to it and we tell him thank you. We make our way to her area and looking at others peoples work. She tells us she is glad we came. She tells us they are all students and rent this place. She stops painting. She asks us what we are wanting. Julia tells her really anything as long as it is appropriate for any age to see it. She says to us to please look around.  When we find the ones we want, to pull them and bring them to her. She will give us a a good deal.  She says to please look at others too. It took us over two hours to go through hers and a few others.  Julia purchases enough for the break rooms and upstairs hallways.  She paid them all. She provided the names.  We leave.  She texts each director and Cindy telling them she purchased paintings that will be delivered to be used in the lounge, receptionist areas, break rooms and upstairs hallways. She will email them the directors the bills so she can be reimbursed.The only one responded was Cindy and Nancy. She is talking to me while she is texting them telling them they are all college adult students that rent one huge building.  Cindy says cool. Nancy said she would be looking forward to them. They both told her to enjoy her vacation and for me too. We stopped to get a a very large hot cocoa with some mini marshmallows.  It was raining again.  We placed our order and took a sit. Alexa went to get them.

"Babe,  I am in no rush to get back in the rain nor deal with traffic.  Let's take our time.  I know you are my silent partner in my current accounting firm. My parents wanted me to open up another counting firm. My human resources director and a few colleagues are interviewing new employees. I already bought the building.  It's on the other side of town.  This will be smaller.''  "Are you ready for me to buy you out?"

She tooks sips of her cocoa. I hadn't told her that I be  removing my name from the deed. This was going to be her Valentine's Day gift from me.

" I am not sure. The money I am making is good. I use the proceeds from it to donate to Jake and Jaime's free clinic for shots and surgeries. An animal as we know is extremely expensive to own."

I  disliked lying to her. I could tell she was disappointed.  We finally left and she was asking me when she could buy me out as she drove us back to the funeral. I told her after the deadline for taxes. She was happy with that decision.  We get out and run inside. We got closure parking so we didn't bring the umbrellas inside. We both removed our coats when we got inside.  We made our way to the elevator and waited. Some kids were playing around us and their parents were yelling at them. We didn't say anything and got in went the elevator opened up. The parents said they would take the next one. We both smiled and were happy.  We didn't want to be around parents who were yelling at their children.  We exit the elevator and make our way inside to our room. I take Alexa's coat and place her and mine on the  back of chairs. Alexa secure the suite. We remove our shoes and bottom of our sweats. I go get us some towels to dry our legs and Alexa goes gets us our pajamas. We spray ourselves with lysol and the entire suite. We remove our adidas sweat zipped up top and our  hurley long sleeve thermal. We changed into our pajamas. Our cellphones are on the coffee table. Alexa takes all over dirty clothing to our bathroom. I turn on the fireplace and sit down on the couch with my legs on the couch.  Alexa jumps over the couch and I barely moved in time for her to lay behind me.

" One of these days you are not going to make it. If you do, you will hurt me. You  just have been lucky. Please stop taking chances."  " Okay, sorry!"

We decided to have some pizza, a salad and a local beer to be  delivered.  Alexa gives the person she is speaking with her credit card number,  experiation date and billing zip code. She ends the call and asks me to place it back on the coffee table.