Serendipity by the Sea

Chapter Thirty-Three

The Museum walkway was lit with beautiful spotlights and Sarah instantly got butterflies in her stomach. She quickly checked her purse to make sure her speech was inside.  As she walked towards the front door, a man in a tuxedo opened it for her to let her in.  The Museum lobby was already packed and it was a great turn out.  The Museum had invited about 100 donors and she had received close to 90 RSVPs. As she searched the room for someone she knew, a waitress walked towards her with a tray of champagne.  Sarah slowly picked up a glass and felt a tap on her shoulder.

“You look great, Sarah.”  A tall man said as his eyes travelled up and down Sarah’s body.

“Thanks John. You look great too. I’m so glad you were able to make it.”  Sarah said to John, the Starbucks employee that she gave tickets to a few weeks ago.  “It should be an amazing night. Please enjoy yourself.”   Sarah grabbed his arm and squeezed it tight once, before walking away.

Sarah roamed the Museum lobby, looking for Danielle and finally saw her, clipboard in hand, near the entrance to the Monet exhibit door.

“Wow!”  Danielle’s mouth went wide, as Sarah walked up to her. “Sarah. I knew that dress was perfect.”

“Thank you. You look great too!”  Sarah glanced at Danielle’s dress, which she hadn’t seen before and liked how the black sheer material glistened in the lights of the Museum lobby.  “Are we ready to enter yet? I think every one is getting restless.”

“Yes, two minutes. I’m just letting servers get ready inside.”  Sarah peaked in through the glass doors and saw men and women scurrying around the room, with trays of champagne and glasses clinking.

“Ladies and Gentleman, on behalf of every one at the Museum of Art of Los Angeles, we would like to thank you all for coming to our Monet opening exhibit.”  Sarah said to distract the crowd and allow the servers a few extra minutes before every one crowded into the large gallery.  “We are really excited to share a passion of art with you all tonight and as you can tell, we’ve worked really hard with every one at this Museum to create an enlightening and beautifully artistic gallery.  Ladies and gentlemen, this is Claude Monet.”  

The large double glass doors opened behind Sarah and the crowd started to move inside the gallery.  Danielle and Sarah stepped back and allowed the large group of people walk inside. The girls smiled at each other as they heard gasps and whispers from their guests admiring the gallery and artwork set up as they walked through the doors.

Just when Sarah thought every one had entered the room, Danielle tugged on her arm and said, “There’s one more.”

As Sarah turned around to face the large Museum lobby, she saw Harry standing in an all black suit.  He was tall and skinny and he had a beautiful smile on his face. Sarah couldn’t help it but smile herself, as she walked over to Harry standing in the middle of the lobby.

“What are you doing here?”  Sarah asked softly as she reached where Harry was standing.

“You asked me to be your date.”  Harry answered and grabbed her hand. “You are glowing. That dress on you,” Harry stalled, “ is so sexy.”

Sarah blushed and squeezed Harry’s hand as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. “I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day. You’ve been stuck in my head and I just want to go back to the way it was. Is that ok?”

Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head to hers, as his lips brushed against her.  He pulled her to him and wouldn’t let go.  He felt a small moan in Sarah’s mouth, as he parted her lips with his tongue and slid it inside her mouth.  The two stood there alone, in the lobby of the Museum as the lights turned down and music started to play.

“We should go inside.”  Sarah said, as their lips parted for air.

“Wait,” Harry whispered, “let’s dance for a minute.”  The music played softly and Harry took her right hand and held it to his heart, while he placed his alternate hand around her waist.  Sarah reached her left arm above and across Harry’s shoulders, as the two started to sway to the music.

As the soft acoustic guitar started to play and a male’s voice started to sing, Harry leaned his head against Sarah’s and breathed in deep.  Harry led her through the dance and she could feel their hearts beating as one.  She was content, happy and safe in his arms. 

As the song came to an end and the next song began, Harry looked into Sarah’s eyes and said, “I want this to work.  I’ve never felt this way towards any one before and you make me a better person. I don’t want some tabloid to ruin what we might have,” Harry rested his head against hers and whispered into her ears,” I know it’s quick and I know you don’t know me. But, let me show you how much you mean to me.”

<< I imagine Sarah and Harry dancing to Joshua Radin's "One & Only." “I've been walking, hundreds of miles, still have so far to go, till I can make you show me, that I don't have to keep talking, I don't have to keep walking, just have to lay here with you, let me lay where I'm save, I don't want to run anymore, I don’t want be the secret you keep, I don't want to hide anymore, I want you, I choose you.” >>