"You got me, John. I do have something to tell you."
His heart sank and he had that sinking pit feeling in his gut. He hated for a woman to say that they had something to tell him. It had always been bad in the past. Nothing good has ever started with those six words. Nothing at all. "Shoot," he reluctantly said.
"I don't want you to be mad at me."
"You have to tell me what it is before I can be anything."
She squeezed his hands and smiled, looking into his eyes. She then dropped on hand down to her purse and withdrew a piece of paper.
She's leaving and she's written it out instead of telling me, he thought. The Dear John letter was on the way.
"Take a look at this," she said as she handed over the paper.
A waitress came over and took her empty glass and sat down a fresh one. John looked over the piece of paper that was some kind of legal document. "What is this?"
"Read the top," Tammy said.
"Deed of trust."
She nodded, smiling.
"Don't tell me."
She smiled and then broke into a laugh as she saw the expression on John's face go from question to understanding to happiness.
"This address. That's the building I'm in."
"That is it?"
"I don't believe this. You bought the entire building that my office is in?"
"You think the rent was high before. You just wait."
He dropped the piece of paper on the table and turned her drink up to his lips. "I'm shocked."
"I can see that."
"What are you up to, Tammy?"
"I'm helping you out."
"Why?"
"I don't want to see you give up your dream. Too many people do that these days." She continued to giggle as she waited for more of his questions to come.
"How did you do it?"
"I have some money put away and it didn't hurt that my grandfather is a good friend of the lawyer that owns the building. You know how it goes - friends in high places."
"I just can't believe this," John went on.
"Only one catch."
"Here it comes," he joked.
"You have to make me your partner."
"Done. But keeping the office open doesn't mean we'll generate business. It's dry spell city at times."