The Magnetism Begins

Carla is still seeing the counselor to help her find out what caused the Panic Attack, there was a fire in the apartment complex which triggers Carla’s memory of the fire at her grandparents farm.  Her smile and cheerfulness was back.

Carla invited her friend Mary Kate to spend the weekend at Indiana Dunes.  They ran on the beach early in the morning watching boats heading out to fish..

Later at work an office outing at the Grill came up, Carla’s car was in the shop and Craig took her to the Grill, that’s when he remembered seeing her running on the beach and said “You made for some very interesting scenery”.

Attending the company functions Craig Jones is always asking her to dance, Carla loves to dance and Craig is like … Well let’s just say when they dance it’s like watching Dancing With The Stars, and the magnetism they have just shows through more and more.

One function Carla was with her neighbor Roger, Craig was drinking his Jack & Coke and Roger his Tequila, the green-eyed monster was enraged, and it wasn’t pretty, from then on Carla was careful where the date would be, never to mix the two again.

At the Grill one night Carla was in a conversation and felt Craig’s presents, “Don’t just stand there, what’s on your mind Craig”?    “How do you do that” Craig asked…. “Can we talk, I’m ashamed to admit I made a fool of myself,  forgive me please”!   “Dance with me Carla”.

That years Christmas party was at the Grill and Carla danced the night away with Craig, drinking way too much and Craig took her home.  After that night Carla’s nightmares stopped and dreams of Craig Jones started.

Carla Handles Another Awkward Moment

Have you ever had someone who is constantly watching your every move?

I can honestly say been there done that.  They’re always standing in the background watching you, casually touching you, gives me the willies.

Carla faced that issue with her co-worker Mark Smith.  Yes, he helped her when she had the panic attack, carrying her across the street and holding on to her arm.

There’s the time when that is enough and you need your personal space back.

Well Mark did this to Carla, a few weeks later after she’s back to work Mark asks her to meet him after work to talk.  Being polite Carla met him at the Grill. Doing her best to keep the conversation on a casual basis as he kept trying to sit closer to her.

In walked Craig and his friend Howard, taking a seat at the table with Carla and Mark, all three men are drinking. She now is the only women at the table, Carla’s seen the look Mark gives Craig before. Talk about an awkward moment!

Graciously Carla announces a previous engagement, pays her bill and left them sitting there. Can’t say I blame her I would be doing the same thing.

Introducing Carla and Craig

Let me introduce you to Carla Sharp and Craig Jones, the main characters of Hidden Treasures of Blackston Lake.

Carla Sharp: 26 years old, 5’4 and about 125 pounds She loves to run, swim and golf and has long honey blonde curly hair and sapphire blue eyes with an hour glass figure.

Craig Jones: 30 years old, 6’2 and about 190 pounds. Similar to Carla, Craig too likes golfing and running. He is a former Marine with muscular arms, brown hair and soft deep set hazel eyes.

Craig now has an office right next to Carla’s. The day she comes back to work from her illness, Craig popped in her office with a red rose to welcome her back. Sitting at her desk gazing at the rose she remembers their first meeting. She always did go for the tall, handsome type.

Caught daydreaming, Craig asks if she has any staples, bringing her back to reality. Carla replies with a smile and toss of her hair. Now Craig is the one day dreaming.

A Beautiful Day Turned Tragic

A beautiful January day on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. The conference that was suppose to be so enlightening suddenly turned into a shaking, whirling carousel for Carla Sharp. She walked out of the hotel, started across Michigan Avenue and was suddenly frozen, unable to move in the middle of Chicago’s busiest street. What is happening to me, I can’t walk, I feel like I am a statue, I have to get off this street but I can’t move! She felt a strong arm around her waist and another arm and hand on her right arm.

“Its ok, Carla its Mark let me help you cross the street”.

She whipped her head around and glanced up and saw her friend and co-worker Mark Smith, she went limp in his arms as he whisked her up. Carrying her across the street to a park bench at the corner, he gently patted her cheeks and she came to.

“What in the world just happened did we have an earthquake, I felt my whole body spin and shake, I couldn’t move”? Carla looked toward Mark dazed and said, “Oh thank you Mark, I could have been hit out there.”

Carla was shaking her head very fast as if she was trying to shake off a bug.

“Carla, are you all right, you just stopped in the middle of the intersection. You didn’t turn your head just starred straight ahead that is when I came running out and helped you. The color just drained out of you and you fainted. Do you feel ok? Should we get an ambulance? ”

Mark looked around for a place to get out of the cold.

“There’s a café right around the corner. Let’s go in there and get something warm to drink while you get your bearings back.”

Mark helped her up, holding her waist and arm, he was afraid she might fall. Inside the café, Mark ordered two coffees for them and when Carla started to shake, he sat next to her putting his arm around her.

“Carla we need to get you to a doctor, I don’t like the symptoms you’re having.”

“Mark, I don’t feel like myself at all. I don’t know what just happened to me out there in the street, but I will admit it’s got me scared. Here we are in a beautiful city and I feel like I am in a snow globe that someone keeps shaking!”

Mark motioned for the waiter and asked where the nearest hospital was; the waiter left for a moment, quickly returning.

“There is a cab pulling up out front for you, he will take you to the hospital it’s only a few blocks away.”

The Emergency Room was not busy when they arrived; several doctors checked Carla. After all the tests where done Mark called Craig about what had happened and why he wasn’t at the bar.

“Is she ok Mark” Craig asked.

“I think so, get us a table in the Bistro, I think we should be out of here in a few minutes, the Doctor is coming towards me now” Mark said as the Doctor told him he could go back and sit with her while they waited for the results.

“Mark, I want to thank you for your help, I am glad you were on the corner and so observant. You might just have saved my life today, thanks.” She offered her hand and Mark squeezed her hand as he smiled at her.

“You’re going to be ok Carla!”

When the doctors came back in Mark stood up, shook hands with him, and thanked him for his help.

“Miss Sharp, it appears from everything we have checked and tested for, you had a panic attack; and from what you have told us at a very inopportune place. Thankfully, Mark came along when he did. You where very lucky, I’m going to suggest that you go back to your hotel, take a long hot shower or bath and one of each of these pills that I am giving you. These are going to relax you and help you sleep. Tomorrow you should feel like your normal self.”

Hidden Treasures of Blackston Lake

An inopportune panic attack brings Carla Sharp into Craig Jones’ life. The two co-workers are only separated by a wall, growing into friends. But, that wall will not stop the magnetic attraction that is developing in their lives, entwining them in a passion like no other.

Working closely while remodeling Craig’s ancestral family home, their love grows while finding hidden treasures of his family, helping to give him his missing family history answers while strengthening the love they have found for each other.