Beautiful Dreamer

(A Clean Inspirational Christmas Romance Novella for hearts of all ages) Julie, shy and plain, suffered the worst taunts and nicknames, during her high school years. Evan, with his quiet, calm expression, was one of the few who didn't ridicule her.She often wondered if he hadn't moved away, whether he'd have asked her out. Will her dearest dream come true when as a young woman living on her own, she spots Evan in the crowd on her way to work? Years ago, Julie had unscrewed the casing to her old music box and donated its insides to a church charity, but kept the genuine hardwood exterior. Now, twenty-five, living comfortably, if frugally, in her midtown apartment, she valued the box for its sentimental value and its rare, expensive mahogany wood. What better place to keep her memories. Along with family photos was a 5 x7 she particularly valued, taken during high school. An old girl friend was as in the photo, shouldering her. In the background was the schoolyard where, shy, plain, and totally behind the times, she had suffered the worst taunts and nicknames. In one corner of the photo, on a weathered bench, sat a boy, handsome even at his gangly age. He watched her, a quiet, calm expression on his face. Evan was one of the few boys who didn't whistle sarcastically or wink duplicitously on those few occasions that she forgot to keep her head bent to avoid unwelcome stares. She often wondered that if he hadn't moved away with his family from their small Massachusetts's town, to New York, whether he might eventually have asked her out on a date. The smile he sometimes favored her with, was sincere. It had never proved otherwise. Still on the shy and plain side, Julie regarded herself in the mirror above her dresser. A dab of powder and eyebrow pencil added a bit of sophistication to complement her denim blue jeans and loose light blue cotton top, and she was ready to join her friend, Abby, for a Labor Day outing -- Evan would have approved. Julie grimaced. She must not allow such thoughts, and forget that she ever believed she'd glimpsed him among the Broadway crowd as she rode the bus to work. All a trick of her imagination. It might be a good idea when she returned this evening to tear up that high school photo so it would never again bring back silly school girl memories. A knock at the door. It was Abby."Are you ready?" One last look in the mirror. Casual and comfortable. Good enough, she shrugged.It wasn't as though she were leaving to meet the love of her life.... Paula Freda's Beautiful Dreamer is available as a standard paperback. Large Text Print and ebook editions available. A sequel, the romance of Carol, the catty rival, is also now available (clean and wholesome, feisty, romantic comedy) Silvereye's Hummingbird (Carol's story) by Paula Freda.