What would have been our legacy to leave behind for our children.
I look at my wife’s grave.
Then I kiss the ring and drop it.
It clatters, landing on top of my son’s casket.
“I love you.”
I nod at Denver, and he turns and walks through the rain with me, the ominous gray clouds mirroring the storm inside my soul.
1
HALLIDAY
PRESENT DAY
“It’sa shame I won’t be here for long. I could get used to living in New York.” Excitement bubbles in my stomach as I walk through JFK airport alongside the other passengers who landed on the flight from London.
“You think he’s going to be easy to match?” my friend, Sophie, asks.
I readjust my bag on my shoulder and pull my suitcase, keeping the phone glued to my ear with my other hand.
“Totally. I’ve already been through his social media. He knows a lot of women. I might even find a good energy match with someone who’s already in his life.” I smile at a lady holding up a homemade ‘Welcome back’ sign as I walk past. “I’m telling you, one month and I’ll have found someone with a vibration that compliments his. In fact, make it three weeks. I’ll be home before you know it.”
“You’re—”
“Gifted?”
Sophie chuckles. “Sure. Gifted. Because whatever magic it is you possess, you know how to make people fall madly in love with one another. I’m sure Sterling Beaufort will be no different.”
My fingertips tingle with energy. “He won’t. Love’s coming his way, I can feel it.”
Sophie hums her agreement. We’ve been friends for years and couldn’t be more different. She’s a lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service in London and deals with facts and evidence all day long. And I’ve built a successful business, matching people on their vibrations and energies, finding them their spiritually aligned partners with whom love can flourish. I have a waiting list to work with me, and I love my job.
Adore it.
“I guess being a billionaire makes dating harder. Maybe he only meets women who are after his money.”
I snort. “If you’re a successful man, women line up to date you. If you’re a successful woman?—”
“Men are intimidated,” Sophie finishes.
“Exactly,” I huff.
I’m a shining contradiction of my recently exploding success. I find people love. Yet I’ve been single for years. And it’s gotten worse as my business has grown. On the measly dates I have been on, the men’s unease over my success vibrates off them with more buzz than a fully charged sex toy. I’ve given up waiting for that burst of energy when I meet someone. That bolt of divine intervention from the universe, telling me there’s something there. Something special.Something magical.
Voices echo on the other end of the line as someone speaks to Sophie.
“I’m sorry, I’ve got to go, my meeting’s about to start. Will you call me when you get to your apartment?”
“Sure will,” I promise before ending our call.
I toss my phone into my purse and walk outside.
“Hello New York,” I sing happily.
Autumnal coolness greets me as I scan the line of vehicles. Sterling’s daughter, Sinclair Beaufort, whom I’ve been liaising with, said she’d arrange a car to collect me, but I have no idea what to look for.
