Page 14 of The Billionaire Alpha Surrogate

“Disappeared?”

“Yeah. The nuns never got a chance to thank the man or to pay him. They tried to find him but couldn’t. Some believe that it was St. Joseph who answered their prayers.”

“That’s pretty awesome,” Lucy said.

“But that’s not all. The staircase has two three hundred and sixty degrees turns. What baffles everyone is that there is no support for the staircase. On top of that, is that the carpenter didn’t use any nails.”

“No nails? What did he use?”

“Wooden pegs,” Michelle said.

“I would love to see it,” Lucy said. “It sounds breathtaking.”

“It is. It isn’t far. It’s in Santa Fe, which isn’t far from here.”

“I’ll definitely have to rent a car and go see it,” Lucy said.

“Depending on what’s going on, I might go with you. I’ve been at least twenty times, but I can never get enough. There is just something so spiritual about the place that I feel completely at peace and as though everything is right with the world.”

“I could use that,” Lucy said. “And I would love your company.”

She grinned.

“Micah said that you guys were the caretakers of his property, but he acted like you were close family.”

“That is how we feel about him. We couldn’t love him more if he was our natural-born son. Ronnie and I have worked for the family since Micah was a baby. When Micah built this place, we decided to move with him. His father, Gavin, is a… Well, he isn’t always a pleasant man.”

Lucy smiled and nodded. She understood what Michelle was trying to tell her without bashing Gavin.

“Micah’s mother, Rose, is a saint. Ronnie and I have talked about it, and neither of us can figure out how she has managed to stay with Gavin all these years. We figured that once the kids were grown, she’d leave, but she didn’t,” Michelle said. “If it was me, I would have poked him in the nose and walked out a long time ago.”

“I guess some people mean forever and, for better and for worse, when they say it,” Lucy said. “Although I firmly believe that there should be limitations to that particular contract.”

“You and me both,” Michelle agreed, enthusiastically. “Follow me. Micah said that you were writing a book. I think I know a spot you’ll love to write in.”

Lucy and Michelle walked through a colorful flower garden to a gazebo that sat next to a stream. The gazebo had flowering vines covering it. Several bird feeders hung in the trees. Hummingbirds buzzed around and there must have been a hundred butterflies settling on the bright petals.

“This is pure heaven,” Lucy said, looking around in wonder.

She stepped into the gazebo. The seats were fully cushioned and there was a tray that she could pull out and use as a table.

“You know where to find me,” Lucy said. “It’s inspirational and a great place to meditate.”

Michelle grinned widely. “I come here a lot to read or just to take a couple of minutes to relax. It’s my favorite place on the estate.”

“I can see why,” Lucy said.

“You can hang out here later. Come with me. You have to meet Vera.”

Lucy dutifully followed Michelle back into the house, looking over her shoulder at the gorgeous site behind her.

Vera was a very tall woman with bright red curly hair and sparkling green eyes that almost guaranteed that she was up to some kind of mischief.

She pulled Lucy into a hug as soon as she laid eyes on her. “I’m so excited that you’re here. I’m going to love having someone else to cook for. You’ll have to tell me all the dishes that you love. If I don’t know how to make them, I’ll find out.”

“If you can make Mexican tamales, banana nut bread, and pumpkin pie, I’ll be in heaven,” Lucy said.

“Heaven coming your way,” Vera said. “When you start having cravings, I’ll make sure and make those, too – within reason.”

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