Fire & Rain
Gracie was not impressed in the least. She had learned very quickly in life that there are a whole lot of people who like to pretend that they have knowledge and expertise, but who are ususally just faking it. These people often get pretty far in life by “faking it until they make it”. Gracie found the whole concept revolting. What better way to get yourself into a position where you are responsible for the wellbeing of others when you lack the actual skills and abilities to be a caretaker, or a leader, if you will. Gracie, could name no less than 20 people she had encountered in her professional life who were bonified fakers.
Still, something about this man held her attention in spite of her belief that he was probably just blowing smoke. He was a gentleman to be sure. Well spoken, charming and handsome. Dark and handsome. His eyes were an electrifying shade of blue and he was capable of holding her gaze and she didn’t want to look away. She could feel her cheeks burning and she scolded herself for being so affected by the superficial characteristics of a man. But his dark hair and sideways smile were doing a bang up job on her well constructed walls of protection.
She looked down to be sure he didn’t notice her current flustered state and then she noticed he had the most beautiful hands.....“that’s odd,” she thought, ” Now you are noticing a mans hands? Girl, you need a date”. But not with him, not with Devon Russell. She would not date a coworker and besides, she was not impressed. Or so she kept telling herself.
With that thought she realized that he had asked her a question and she had completely missed it. Jarred back to reality she said ” oh, I’m sorry, could you repeat that last part? I may have misunderstood?” The man replied with an assuring “of course” and continued his explanation and introduction to her new position as a researcher for local nonprofit. She had not met him until today, she had been interviewed by a board and this gentleman had been out of town the day of the interview.
In spite of his well presented introduction and explanation, Gracie was not convinced that he was as impressive as he thought he was, although her heart was beating faster than she could recall happening in quite some time....or well, ever for that matter. “He’s probably just another faker, Devon Russell is surely just another faker.” Maggie reasoned as she shook one of those beautiful hands and walked into her new, ergonomic little office to try to pull herself together before her morning meeting with the board to discuss her plans for the position.
She sat down at her well designed desk in her comfortable new office chair and breathed a sigh of contentment. Research had always been her true love. She could spend hours learning and discovering about almost any topic and get paid for it. She knew was a very lucky woman. She was admiring her office more, when she heard Vanessa, the office manager saying from the other room “the grocery store down the street is on fire” Vanessa was a calm, even keeled young woman, who seemed very level headed.. the urgency in her voice at this moment alarmed Gracie. “They are evacuating the entire block”, Vanessa stated emphatically.
Quickly walking out of her office Gracie ran right into Devon Russell before she could stop. “I am so sorry” she gasped as she walked quickly away but all she could think about was fire. She didn’t know if it was the fire on the street that burned brightest or the fire inside her at that moment. She was grateful for the rain that started to fall on her hot skin as she stepped out onto the sidewalk and saw the enormous blaze several doors down. And that is where Gracies journey began.
