Character Interview with Samantha Stone

Argh! I’m so frustrated I could scream! Oh, hello there. Sorry for my bad manners. How about I introduce myself first; I’m Samantha, art gallery owner extraordinaire. I’ve got this great little SOHO gallery filled with some amazing modern art, although if you ask my brother, Gideon, he’ll probably say it’s garish and ugly.

Ugh, I’m jumping ahead again. Okay, let me take a deep breath and slow down.

Although we look nothing alike (I’m dark-haired and pixie-ish and he’s all deep blond and golden lion-like) I’m Gideon’s little sister, a fact he takes great pleasure in reminding me of whenever he thinks I should be doing something his way, which is pretty much always. If you have a big brother, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

Well, anyway, he’s not all that bad; actually, he’s a pretty great guy. He’s extremely loyal, the first one to help out, he plays basketball and mentors kids at the local youth center.  He can be tough to get to know, though, especially since he built this almost impenetrable wall around himself after his car accident put him in a wheelchair three years ago, and he’s very careful who he lets in, especially if that “who” is a woman.

But, I have a plan. Now, if Gideon actually heard me say I have a plan, he’d yell at me, in that deep-voiced boom he has. Luckily, he’s not around (picture me sticking out my tongue here). I’m going to set him up with my new best friend, Lily. Lily is a widow who moved here from Philadelphia and lives in the apartment across the hall from mine. She’s pretty and graceful and smart and just as wary of men as Gideon is of women.  And the kicker? She has the cutest six-year-old daughter you’d ever want to meet. Claire is adorable! And Gideon is a sucker for kids. He’ll make the best dad someday.

The only problem I have is that I can’t make the setup obvious to either of them. Anytime I’ve suggested to Lily that I set her up with one of my guy friends (and I have a lot), she’s always brushed it aside, saying she’s too busy with her PR clients or with taking care of Claire. I admire her for her ability to juggle motherhood and a career. She’s an amazing mom and is always finding fun things to do in the city with Claire on weekends.  But she seriously needs some time for herself and a man in her life.

I just have to figure out the best way to have them meet each other. As I said, it can’t be too obvious. Because, despite the fact that he used to pull my pigtails when I was little (there’s a reason why my hair is short and spiky, and it’s not just fashion!), I would never want to hurt him. And of course, after the fiasco with his last girlfriend, whose name I won’t even mention because she was a viper from...anyway, she was horrible and the mere mention of dipping a toe into the dating pool makes Gideon’s face turn all dark and foreboding and even I’m a little afraid to continue. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t think he should take a chance with Lily.

Hmm, food...they both like chocolate (or I should say love, in Lily’s case); kids...Gideon loves kids, but I wouldn’t want to freak Lily out (she’s very protective of Claire). Oh I know! My gallery is having another opening next week. I’ll invite them both to it and see if I can’t arrange for them to bump into each other. It’s always crowded and that will probably let me control things without making it seem like I’m in control. Don’t you think?

For more info on Samantha, Gideon, Lily and their book, A Heart of Little Faith, please check out www.whiskeycreekpress.com