Cassie waited worriedly as a rain-soaked Mr. Epson made his way across the street and into the safety and dryness of the dimly lit lobby of his building as the storm thundered around him. Her landlord was a tall, slim, proud man in his late sixties. Even in his current soggy and disheveled state, one could clearly see that in his youth, he was extraordinarily attractive. He sported a thick, full head of snow white hair, warm brown eyes and a youthful spring to his step. One would think a man such as himself would be a pompous, and arrogant; but he was a kind and honest man. The years had been kind to him, because he had been kind to all who had crossed his path. And true to his word, he had arrived on time to deliver the documents Cassie so desperately needed.
"Oh no, no! Get back inside, sweetheart."
Requested Mr. Epson as he motioned a 'back inside' signal to Cassie who attempted to open the door for him and possibly assist with the toolbox, file folders and grocery bag he carried. But he would have none of it.
"Don't you hear that thunder outside? And it's raining sideways!"
Cassie smiled warmly.
"And I know you hate getting those pretty hairdo's of yours all messed up." He added.
She always appreciated the way Mr. Epson spoke to her in a fatherly way.
Voluptuous and toned, she was quite an attractive woman and had known her fair share of lecherous elders- both male and female. But ever helpful and supportive, Mr. Epson had braved the year's worst storm yet knowing that Cassie desperately needed the certificate of occupancy and proof of residence documents as they were crucial in wining partial custody of her daughter; and he desperately needed her to assist him by doing a task, as he would explain. She thanked him sincerely as he handed her the slightly damp, plastic folder containing the items she had requested only yesterday afternoon.
"I hate that you rushed over like this, I told you I have two weeks to get them to the lawyer-"
"Hush, hush" interrupted Mr. Epson, dismissing Cassie's concern. "You need to get that little one ASAP. Daughters need their mothers." He smiled warmly. "Besides, I have a request. See the horns under my halo?"
Cassie chuckled as he pointed to this imaginary horns.
"Remember that new tenant I told you about?" Cassie nodded.
"Some bigwig, right? Doctor or something?"
"Psychiatrist. Yes."
"Uggh..." Cassie groaned in disapproval.
"Well in that case, you're going to love this part..."
"Go on." Said Cassie, apprehensively.
"I need you to show him into the building, set him up with his keys, help him settle in; yada yada."
Cassie rolled her eyes but smiled, defeated. There was no way she could refuse a rare request from Mr. Epson.
"So... you're so thrilled to have this shrink move in that you are pawning him off on me for the afternoon?" She teased.
"Free therapy?" Mr. Epson suggested and chuckled as he shrugged, knowing that the thought of someone trying to pick apart her head was the very reason she was apprehensive.
"I know I'm being a pain in the butt. But I wouldn't ask if I didn't need you sweetheart."
There was something in the way he said that last sentence that worried Cassie. He always took his duties as a landlord quite seriously, and the only reason he would ask her to take on his job was one she dreaded to ask about. Sensing her concern, he volunteered the information before she had to muster the courage to ask.
"They found another mass. I didn't want to tell anyone until we knew for sure; but..."
Cassie tried to hide her fear and hurt she felt for him, but it was evident.
"How does she feel? I mean, is she-"
"She's fine, she's fine. At least for the time being. You know my Angie is a fighter."
Mr. Epson's wife was indeed a fighter. Sweet but fierce, she was a firecracker of a lady. Even after losing both breasts to cancer, she glowed and reveled in her victory over the disease. But now it had returned.
Cassie cleared the lump in her throat.
"I'll do anything to help you both. You know that."
"I know, Sweets. And I appreciate it. I know they give you deadlines for those short story books you write..." He smiled knowingly.
He loved that he could so easily make her blush as a father would. He was also proud of her for using her craft to support herself. Normally he would have taken the time to exchange some light ribbing, but as he checked the time on his impressive watch, he realized that he really needed to go.
"I'm sorry Sweets, but I really-"
"I know, I know. You get her to that oncologist, and tell her I'll be crossing my fingers and keeping her in my thoughts." Mr. Epson handed Cassie the keys for the new tenant and the soggy grocery bag, said his goodbye and left hastily.
Cassie reached into the grocery bag and removed a fruit basket with a welcoming card attached.
"Great. I hope he doesn't think I had anything to do with this... like I don't have enough pervys sniffing around me."
Cassie had gone upstairs to grab her umbrella and was on her way back into the foyer when she noticed the taxi pulling up across the street. She braced herself for the egotistical windbag that would most likely step out. She had grabbed the umbrella only as a precaution. She had no intention of actually going out into the storm for this "Frasier".
"Well, let's see what the wind blows in."
She mumbled to herself as she watched the backdoor to the taxi open.
A rather large brown leather shoe covered foot stepped out of the taxi, followed by the longest legs she had seen in quite a while. He had yet to straighten out, as he still had a rather large duffel bag to retrieve from the backseat; but he already appeared to tower over the cab driver who grabbed his passenger's suitcase out of the trunk. The shrink was a long, thick, oak tree of a man. Sturdy and broad shouldered. Cassie studied him as he smoothed his shaggy, wet hair out of his face and slung his bag over his shoulder. Thoughts of battle worn vikings invaded her head as she realized he must have stood at about 6'4 and weighed at least two hundred pounds. She shook herself out of her daze and stepped out to open her umbrella.
"Alright big boy, you got my attention. Now let's see how old and or ugly you are."
She uttered as she made her way across the street to the bewildered giant.
"It's over here."
Cassie called out, pointing to the gray stone building behind her. He turned just as she stepped onto the sidewalk and they stood facing each other. As Cassie took in the tall man's distinct features- his sharp jawline coupled with his cleft chin, his even sharper, high cheekbones, his slightly pointed, strong-bridged nose and his piercing, sapphire eyes; she noticed something else.
"You're a blonde." She said, seemingly unimpressed.
"Oh... um... yes." He nervously uttered, a bit flustered by her assessment.
"Is that going to be a problem?" He asked shyly, but playfully. He smiled, treating Cassie to a view of his white, slightly imperfect teeth.
"And you're a vampire."
"Umm... n- no. It's... m-my permanent incisors grew in before my deciduous teeth fell out-"
"Relax. Fanged blondes are welcomed here. Swedes too." She placed her umbrella over the therapist as a friendly gesture. He smiled and crouched down, knowing their height difference would make it quite a task.
"Actually, I'm from Denmark." He politely corrected. He hadn't realized how close he had brought their faces as he stooped down to fit under the umbrella. He could feel her warm breath against his face, which made him blush. She was breathing quite fast for someone who had just strolled over.
'
She must be afraid of me.
' he thought to himself.
Before he could back up to allow her some personal space, she extended her hand.
"I'm Cassie. One of your neighbors. Mr. Epson couldn't be here so-"
"Hey, I love a good rainstorm and all; but I've got a job to do." The cab driver called out to him, waiting for his fare.
After the driver was paid, the soggy duo made their way across the street and into the warmth and dryness of the lobby.
"You sure you don't need any help with that?" Cassie asked, pointing to the suitcase.
"No. Thank you for offering, though." He said warmly.
"So, you've got yourself a third floor move, eh?" Asked Cassie as she rang for the elevator.
"It's on the third floor?"
"You don't know what floor you're moving to?"
"No." He chuckled embarrassingly. "My assistant picked out the apartment online."
"You must really trust your assistant."
"I've never met her, actually. She was just assigned to me by the university, but she seems quite pleasant over the phone."
There was a pause in the conversation as Cassie checked her phone for messages and he took the opportunity to study his new neighbor. She wasn't the friendliest woman, but she did have quite a sense of humor.
Her thick, brown wavy hair was pinned up into two fifties styled french buns, leaving a few coiled tendrils hanging against her deep brown skin. He couldn't quite describe her skin tone; a chocolaty-caramel with almost a hint of cinnamon. While she was distracted by her phone, he studied her face. She had large, full lips and dark, almond shaped eyes atop her high cheekbones. Her black cardigan had worked its way off of her shoulder revealing her gray cami top, enticing him to gaze further. From the side view he was afforded of her, he could tell that her breasts were rather large. In fact- all of her curves were. Her leggings displayed very well toned, athletic legs which led up to an almost impossibly large, round bottom. He realized he was gawking, so he shook his gaze off of her, only to be drawn once again to her buttocks.
"Are you a runner?" He asked, but before she could answer, the elevator door opened.
"It's an old elevator, it takes forever, but it's never broken down in the 4 years that I've lived here. Glad I never have to wait for it though."
They stepped inside.
"And no, Doc. I'm not a runner."
