Going Down

The first time they met, the timing had been wrong… Merci -I felt so much better about myself since my chance meeting with Ryan. I had done a few of the things he'd suggested. I'd waited until I left Paul first. Then I went and had a makeover done on myself. I'd had my hair cut and styled, and I'd had both a manicure and a pedicure. I had also purchased new clothes for myself and for my two sweet girls. I didn't look like the same old Merci that I had been, and the girls no longer looked like orphans either. I still couldn't stop thinking about the night Ryan, and I had spent together. The receptionist stuck her head inside the room. "Mark is ready for you now, Mrs. Crandall." "Look at me, Allie, how did you get chocolate all over your face. Didn't you share any with your tummy?" I went back into the room to wet a napkin. Maddie ran off and stopped in front of the desk, while I wiped off Allie's face with the wet wipe. Ryan - I waited for the elevator door to open, then walked inside. I was still contemplating everything that Mark had said to me. The small space was filled with people as I entered the crowded elevator. I turned around to push the button that would take me to the lobby. I happened to glance up just as the doors were closing to catch a glimpse of a beautiful woman bending over to pick up a small girl then lift her into her arms. She looked just like my Merci. The doors to the elevator closed in front of me. "Merci?" I reached out trying to find a stop button, and someone behind me said, 'Going down, Sir?'