Start of a Lifetime

Graceona

The paper that lay on the dark oak desk below me, one would think that a paper such as signing someone's life would be a stressful thing to sign. However, this paper was four years overdue. This paper was Jarrod's fate. Being an undercover FBI agent working with a small band of rebels to catch a man that earned his spot at FBI's Most Wanted. This piece of paper was heaven on earth. This paper was marking the end of the torment that the Shepherd Family had to go through. Lives that were lost, lives that couldn't be brought back. However, I held their justice for the execution of Jarrod McGee and Natasha Lorenzo underneath my black ballpoint pen. I signed the last of it and submitted my report to my higher up. Now it was a waiting game, I suppose, Trent Valentine a man above me by one rank, however, wasn't a man that took cases lightly, a man that had a no nonsense attitude, I wager Trent reading over my report now, pinching the bridge of his nose, in detest at the events written in the pages that danced telling a story of scandalous lies, an affair that led a man to murderer, and a love child that was supposed to be dead, however, because of the bravery of a fearful woman, the child is not dead, but a live and well.

The sound of the office door opening brought me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Leonard enter with Riley. The child looked like her two brothers, same blond hair, same blue eyes. She looked like a miniature girl version of the two brothers. Thank God for that. Thankfully, she didn't get her looks from her father. "She's defiantly your sister. She looks just like you and Nicolae. That's good."

"Yeah, that's a plus."

I looked back down at my paperwork as Leonard walked behind me, rubbing my shoulders. I smiled, relaxing in his touch. "You should take a break. We've been here for a week, and you have locked yourself up in this office. Let's get out, spend some family time together. You could use some sun."

I looked at him. "Family time, I'm not family yet, dear."

Leonard interrupts me. "Oh, but you are family, love. Though the two of aren't married, we all consider you as family. It would be an insult if you didn't join us on a family outing. It's not about blood. It is about the love, and Grace, all of us love you."

I looked at them with a sigh. "Come on, Gracie. Come get ice cream with us." The child pleaded.

"Very well. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes. I need to fax this to Trent. I'll catch up with you two in a minute."

Leonard kisses my lips. "We'll be waiting in the sitting room."

I smiled, returning the kiss as Leonard and Riley left the room with a faint click of the door shutting gave me the permission to start my task at hand.

A couple minutes passed by as the three of us walked the streets of New York. Riley eating her ice cream as Leonard held her hand. Manhattan Fashions window display caused my stomach to cringe,

I stopped to look at the eyesore of a loose floral jumpsuit with a hot pink cardigan covered the slim, strawberry haired, pasty mannequin, the mannequin was beautiful, however the garb on it, didn't do it justice. I cringed as Leonard and Riley stopped as well. "I hate that outfit. Whoever thought that looked good has zero experience in the business." I folded my arms with a sigh. Leonard looked at a crimson red satin dress, next to the outfit in question.

"I disagree, that shade of red. It would look good on you, love, since when did you detest the color red on anything?"

"I was talking about this jumpsuit in this window, the floral one with the cardigan." I looked at him as he looked at the outfit in question. His face changed as that of disgust.

"You have a point. That is unique, I suppose."

I looked at him. "Unique is putting it in a polite word, the dress I love. I plan on getting it eventually, when I have time."

Leonard looked at me. "Why not today? This is what we're doing. A day of shopping and just having a fun time, let's go inside. Riley needs some clothes anyway." He walked towards the door with the child behind him. I looked at the dress, walking in with the brother and sister pair. Once inside, a young woman greeted us as the sounds of jazz music played in the large store.

"Welcome to Manhattan Fashion, I am Tonya. Let me know what I can do for you three." The young blond woman said from behind the glass counter. I looked at the dress, then at the sales assistant.

"Is this the original 2020 Spring collection from Rosalinda Edwards?"

The girl walked from behind the counter, walking over to us. "This is the one of a kind, imported from Italy, Spring Collection. However, the designer is a young newcomer. Nicolae Shepherd, he has sold the occasional fashions here and there. A gifted young man, his fashions are often sold out an hour after they arrive."

I looked at Leonard. "So this was the project he needed that address for. I have to say, he did exquisite work on this." I looked at Tonya. "I want this. Do you have the 2021 Spring Collection from Nicolae? I hear that was a career maker."

Tonya looked at me. "Yes, please follow me. It's in the back. We just got the shipment an hour ago.''

The two of us walked in the back. Once we arrived at our destination, I saw on the mannequin a leather black and white stripped blazer, with long sleeve, the pants were black leather. "Imported from France. This is the latest and last design we have from Nicolae. He has promised to work on a fashion line after he deals with some life issues."

I looked at the blazer, then at Tonya. "I'll take them both."

"Yes ma'am, let me go ring you up and then these lovely pieces will be yours."

I walked from the room to meet up with Leonard and Riley. The two of them were looking at the accessories. "Did you find anything you enjoyed, love?"

"I did. What about you two?"

"Not really, the fashions here are for adults. We'll have to go somewhere else to get clothes for Riley. She says she wants to go somewhere else to get her some clothes. We were just waiting for you to shop."

I looked at him as Tonya got back behind the counter; I walked over to her, getting my credit card. "That will $2,923."

I handed her my card as she rang it up. Once I accepted it, she handed me the large black and white bags. I retrieved my card and the three of us left the boutique. "Who would have thought Nicolae had an eye for fashion?"

Looking at Leonard. "He had asked me if I knew any tailors in Italy, now I know why he had asked. Charmaine told me it was something that he wanted to try, but I didn't think he would go through with it, much less being this good at it."

Leonard looked at me with a sigh. "The man can cook and design. He's leaving me in the dust."

"You have qualities as well, you have a good eye for stocks. And a good eye on real estate. I saw your mansion in Nantucket. I know a Leonard Shepherd design when I see it. From the inside and out it screamed Leonard Shepherd. You may not be much for clothes, but once it comes to architect and home design. That is art as well. All art is good art, I suppose." I looked at him. "Don't get too discouraged. You both have your mastered media. No one can be good at everything, stick with what you know and be grateful for that talent."