Draw Me A Picture by Meredith Greene Page A

“Goodnight,” he called after her. Michelle turned and gave him a little wave before disappearing through the doors.
    Settling back in the seat, William gave the driver directions to his building, unable to stop a slow smile from spreading over his face. His felt that his emotions and thoughts were slipping away from their logical rut at an alarming rate, but it didn’t bother him in the least. Sighing, William pondered the evening’s events, chuckling now and then at the amusing things Michelle had said and done. Her charming traits outweighed the insecure, awkward ones.
    “Lovely, shy … but cheeky minx,” he said, to himself. He simply couldn’t believe he’d found her after all these weeks. For the full ride home, William allowed himself the wispy daydream of blossoming apple trees and a pretty girl in pale pink.
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
     
    The next day dawned under a gray, rainy sky. Standing beneath her umbrella, Michelle hovered by the wall at her old corner... waiting for William. The excitement she felt seemed almost impossible to contain. The evening before seemed like a dream in the face of the rain pouring down… but nothing could dampen Michelle’s spirits. She fortified herself to see William’s face, feeling a bit like a teenage girl off on her first date.
    “It won’t do to seem too eager,” she thought. “No use scaring the man off with desperation.”  
    Michelle dressed with care for her lunch date; she still owned a nice 'everyday' outfit. Under her blue coat she wore warm, black tights, black ankle boots, a red plaid skirt and a crisp, white blouse. A thin, black ribbon choker necklace rounded out her ensemble, though she felt a bit schoolgirl-ish wearing it. It wasn’t a ‘business lunch’ or anything, she reasoned. Concluding that William liked her hairstyle yesterday, Michelle had taken the time to put a few curls on the ends of her hair. She valiantly fended the rain off with the large, white umbrella.
    Standing at the corner her smile shone out radiantly, her eyes lit up with anticipation, once agian searching the oncoming foot traffic for a glimpse of his face. 12:05. Michelle held her breath.
    “Oh, calm down!” she whispered. She could not stop smiling; she forced herself to look at her boots. She looked up into the umbrella. She tried counting raindrops, but gave up as the skies above let loose a cloudburst.
    “No hat today?” came a pleasant voice. Peeking out from under her umbrella, Michelle saw William standing next to her, armed with his own umbrella. She graced him with a brilliant smile. The sight of her happy expression chased  any weather-induced gloom away from William's thoughts. Walking towards Michelle’s old corner, he'd spied a blue-coated figure standing still, mostly hidden by a large white umbrella. It wasn’t until he’d drawn closer--and observed the silver buttons--that he’d let out a relieved breath.
    “Hello, William,” Michelle said, pleasantly; even her tone made William feel welcome. He pretended to tip a hat that wasn’t there.
    “Michelle,” he said. Still smiling, the young woman switched her umbrella to her other hand and took his offered arm.
    As they walked forward Michelle felt the ghostly presence of loneliness leave her. The corner no longer seemed to be a well of disappointed dreams, but a portal... opening to a realm of possibility. She glanced over at her companion as often as possible, trying to be discreet about it. William had such a noble profile; she liked how his dark blond hair picked up light in spite of the overcast sky.
    “See something you like?” William asked after a few moments. Michelle blushed and forced herself not to hide under her umbrella.
    “It’s just good to see you,” she stated. “You’re wearing gloves today.” William gave her a boyish grin. “Yes, well my hands were chilly last night," he said. He indicated a glossy set of double doors off to their right. A hanging, wooden