ENDING OF PREVIOUS POST:

"It should take care of the security guards. It has a guest house and a foreman's house." Zachery tapped his fork. "Shana wouldn't have to share a room." He grinned.

Anderson gave him another warning glare.

"Let's load-up and take a look at those places." Michael stood.

Standing, Anderson held the chair for Shana as she said, "I think I'll stay here."

"Probably, a good idea." Anderson grinned and shook his head.


TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 24 part 1

Later that morning, Shana left her bedroom and found Susan snapping green beans on the back patio. "Can I help?"

"You don't need to. I enjoy sitting here, watching the birds while I do it." Susan snapped another couple beans and then pointed to the roof of a building. "That squirrel's trying to help himself to the bird feeder."

"Squirrels are fun creatures. I used to sit on the front porch and snap beans with my grandma. We had great talks. I loved listening to her stories. It's one of my favorite childhood memories."

"In that case." Susan put some beans in a bowl and handed them to her. "I'd like your company."

Shana broke the silence that had gone on for a while as her cheeks turned a deeper pink. "Anderson and I haven't shared a bedroom."

"I understand." Susan answered Shana's questioning look. "I know my son and he's too protective to allow anything to happen until you're ready."

A slow, deep breath slipped from Shana's lips. "What? I don't understand."

"Drew doesn't mince words. I'm sure he's mentioned how he feels." After Shana nodded, Susan continued, "I imagine he's also said you have to make the first move. What I don't understand is what the problem is. Drew's a great catch. Any woman would be lucky to have him. Is it that he has a child and is divorced?"

Shana shook her head. "I adore Emily. I think she likes me too."

"Then what is it?" Susan snapped beans while she waited for the answer.

"I think a lot of him too." Shana chewed on her lower lip. "I'm not in his social class."

"He doesn't care about things like that."

"It's because I'm Jewish and he's not."

"I see." Susan paused. "I didn't think those boundaries mattered anymore."

"Normally, I guess they wouldn't, but to my dad, they still do."

"Are you saying you'd be disowned?"

A tear welled in Shana's eye and trickled down her cheek as she nodded. "He's accepted my cousin's marriage to Paul, but I'm not sure he'd accept his daughter's."

Susan clasped both Shana's hands in hers. "I bet your father loves you enough to accept any decision you make." She handed her a tissue. "Now dry those tears. The men will be back shortly. I bet you don't want Drew to know we've had this conversation."

"We've already had the Jewish/Gentile talk." Shana dried her eyes.

"Did he say it shouldn't matter?" Susan raised an eyebrow.

"Pretty much. He said he'd wait until I realized it doesn't matter."

"Drew can be very patient."

Shana smiled. "I'm beginning to realize that." After she snapped a few more beans, she added, "I just don't want him to be disappointed."

"Hmm, tell me about your family."

"Dad's a civil engineer professor at Bradley University. Mom stays at home. I have an older brother, Aaron. He's doing his residency. Grandma lives with us. We're pretty normal, except we're Jewish."

"Your family sounds as if they're pretty close knit." After Shana agreed, Susan continued, "Michael works in the oil business, I stay at home, both boys went to college, Zack." She shook her head. "He hasn't settled down, yet, but I love him just the same. There are not a lot of differences. Both of you are grounded in rich family love and tradition."

"I never looked at it that way, but you're right."

Susan turned her head. "I think I heard the men drive up. I wonder if any decisions have been made."



Characters so far:

Shana Kohlberg -- a 25 year old high school English literature teacher -- she's trying to get her family's painting back

Anderson Sharp -- often called Drew -- 31 years old -- works part-time on Wall Street -- a billionaire from Texas oil wells

Dmitry Bezrukov -- one of three Russian men in black suits

Jeff Burk -- takes care of Anderson's cars and important security details.

Helen -- Anderson's cook

Jane -- Anderson's housekeeper

Philip -- Anderson's butler -- close friend and confident

Kyle -- Anderson's dog walker

Axel -- Anderson's lead German shepherd

Thor -- Anderson's second German shepherd

Romeo -- Anderson's third German shepherd

Aaron Kohlberg -- Shana's older brother

Ivan Kuznetsov -- formally Ivan Morozov, I accidently chose a real person, so I have changed it present day owner of the painting.

Patricia -- Anderson's ex-wife

Emily -- Anderson's five year old daughter

Isaiah Glassberg -- Anderson divorce/custody attorney.

Jeremy -- Jane's second-cousin twice removed, NYC undercover cop.

Hannah Jacobs -- Shana's cousin, the same age and best friend. Married within the past year and just had a baby, Sarah. Her husband, Paul. Sarah was just diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease.

Joshua Colton -- Art Museum's curator

Benjamin Kohlberg -- Shana's father

Eliana Kohlberg - - Shana's mother

Maxwell Gaines -- Lawyer hired to retrieve the painting

Erich Berger -- Manager of the Dorotheum art auction house in Austria

Mary Pritchard -- The lady Anderson hired to help Hannah while she's in Boston with Sarah.

Zachery Sharp -- Anderson's younger brother

Michael Sharp -- Anderson's father

Susan Sharp --Anderson's mother