One Winter Weekend

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“ S hall we get started then? There’s something inside I want to show you,” Blake said as he stood up.

I followed him up the steps to the museum and threw away the last of my pretzel and empty cup into a nearby bin.

He led me inside the lobby, and there right in the middle of the huge open space was one of the quirkiest Christmas trees I had ever seen. It was full of paper ornaments. Origami ornaments.

“This is how we kick off the holiday season at the museum. It’s been going on for almost thirty years now. “

“It’s beautiful,” I said as I went in for a closer look. There were all sorts of animal decorations, from turtles to zebras … all made of the most delicate paper. Some were shiny and others were matte, but they were all expertly done.

“There must be hundreds,” I said in awe.

“About five hundred in all,” he said, and then added. “So you like it?”

“Like? I love it.”

“Good. Then I am off to a good start,” he grinned. “Next up my office,” he said as he walked off further into the museum.

“Office?”

“Yes, I work here.”

Now the messy mad scientist hair and wool pea coat made sense. He definitely looked the part. I scurried after him to catch up.

Soon we arrived at a door labeled ‘museum staff only.’ Blake used a key card to unlock the door and we stepped into a quiet long hallway.

“This way.”

“Where are you taking me?” I asked, a little unnerved and wondering if I really should be trusting this random New York stranger.

He laughed and said, “I swear, it’s just my office. I know it’s a bit creepy in this part of the building but trust me.”

Somehow I did trust him. I can’t explain it, but for some reason, it felt like we had known each other for a long time even though we had only just met.

We came to a vast staircase and climbed two or three flights before finally reaching a hallway with people moving in and out of offices.

Blake showed me into his, and as soon as I stepped in I immediately fell in love with it. The wood was dark and heavy and a massive bookcase filled with old books covered an entire wall.

There was a heavy oak desk in the middle that had piles of papers and specimens in glass jars. A proper mad scientist’s office.

He went over to the large windows. “Come and have a look.”

What other surprise could this intriguing stranger have in store for me? When I got to the window I looked down. From this point, you could see almost all of Central Park.

“This is your view? It’s amazing. You are so lucky.”

“I know. It’s good, right? Especially when it’s snowing.”

I looked at him. Who was this man? This was wonderful; more than I expected from anyone, let alone a stranger.

He must have seen the questioning look in my eyes because he caught my gaze and held it.

The chemistry between us was so thick it filled the room.

I barely knew this man, had only been in his company for thirty minutes at the most.

What was happening to me?