He saw a girl begging on the sidewalk and somehow couldn’t get her face out of his mind. He had to know her story.
Wealthy businessman Roger Landers was often annoyed by the sight of the homeless begging on the street outside his office building. There seemed to be more and more of them each year, he reflected.
As he passed a young woman huddled against a wall, a kindly soul dropped a coin in her cup. The woman looked up and smiled at her benefactor and that smile pierced Roger to the heart. In one second, that huddled anonymous annoyance became a lovely radiant woman.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
Roger walked into the building and that moment when the girl’s face was transformed by her smile replayed over and over in his mind. He found himself wondering who she was, what had driven her to live in the pitiless streets of L.A.?
For the rest of the week, Roger found himself almost obsessed by the young homeless woman. He watched her surreptitiously, and once when he dropped a coin in her cup, watched that miraculous transformation at close quarters.
Love can sometimes lurk in the most unexpected places.
He found himself thinking about her, inventing stories about her, little fantasies in which he discovered she was really a reporter writing about homelessness at close hand, or a deeply committed actress preparing for a role…
Finally, on Friday afternoon, after he wrapped his work for the day and dismissed his employees, Roger did what he’d been longing to do all week. He walked up to the girl sitting on the sidewalk and talked to her.
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“Hi,” he said awkwardly. “Would it be okay if I bought you a cup of coffee? You look really cold.” The girl lifted up her face and smiled at him.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly. “I’d like that.” Roger was struck by her low educated voice and her grace as she got to her feet. She was tiny, he realized, a petite 5′ 3″ next to his towering 6′ 2″.
He walked her to a nearby coffee shop and ordered her hot food to go with her coffee. Once again Roger was surprised by her delicate gestures, her manners. This was an educated girl. How had she ended up on the streets?
When Roger saw color flood back into the girl’s face after she finished her hot soup, her grilled sandwich, and her coffee, he asked her exactly that. “How did this happen to you? Living on the streets?”
The girl looked him straight in the eye. A wry smile twisted her lips. “I was stupid, and trusting,” she said. “It’s not an original story. I was in love with this boy in my hometown — Idaho — if you can believe it.
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“My parents disapproved of him, which only made him even more romantic and attractive to me… To cut a long story short, he convinced me to withdraw my college funds and run away with him to L.A. He was going to be a movie star, and I’d be a screenwriter…”
Roger shook his head sadly. “A lot of people come out here every year, less than a handful make it!” he commented.
“Well, I’ll never know.” A tinge of bitterness colored the girl’s voice. “The first night in L.A., we booked into a motel. When I woke up in the morning Kevin was gone, so was my money and everything I had.”
Roger gasped. “Did you go to the police? Call your family?” The girl was shaking her head, tears in her eyes.
“I was too ashamed. I made a deal with the motel manager. She let me sleep in the storeroom and I cleaned the rooms. Some of the guests gave me tips, and I managed to eat. But then her husband started trying…” The girl shook her head. “You know how it is. I left the motel and ended up here, on the streets.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pixabay
“What’s your name?” Roger asked gently.
“Emma,” the girl said with one of those radiant smiles. “Emma Sinclair from Preston, Idaho!”
“Well, Emma Sinclair from Preston, Idaho,” Roger smiled back. “I’m Roger Landers from Los Angeles, California, and I’m sending you home.”
Roger took Emma into a nearby mall and he bought her several outfits and a suitcase. He waited at the food court while she changed and came out of the restroom transformed.
He drove her to the bus station and bought her a bus ticket home. He tucked a $100 bill in her hand. “Listen,” he said. “Don’t let any more charming rascals talk you into coming to L.A., OK?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
Emma was crying and smiling through her tears. She reached up and gave Roger a hug. “Thank you, thank you, and God bless you!”
Roger watched her board the bus with a sinking feeling in his heart. Why did he feel that this was a mistake? He wanted to run after that bus, beg Emma to stay… What was happening to him?
That night, Roger realized that the petite waif with the glowing smile had stolen his heart. “If I let her go, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life!” he told himself. “She’s special, and I love her.”
Two days later, Roger was driving into Preston, Idaho. He stopped at the police station and asked where he could find Emma Sinclair. “Emma?” asked one of the deputies suspiciously. “What do you want with Emma?”
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Roger blushed. “Well, you see, I met her in LA, and I wanted to see if she was alright…”
The deputy looked him up and down. “You can find Emma at her mom’s laundromat, two doors down. I’m coming with you. I don’t want any more trouble for Emma!”
Roger’s heart was beating fast as he walked into the laundromat and saw Emma. She looked up and her face lit up. At that moment, Roger knew she had been feeling the same way: they belonged together!
So just three weeks after she returned home, Emma headed back to LA once again, but this time she was with a man who loved and cherished her. By the end of the year, Roger and Emma were married, and she became involved in a program to help runaways find their way home.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
What can we learn from this story?
- Helping others can be a transformative experience. Roger helped Emma, and in the process, he found his own way to life-long happiness.
- Love can sometimes lurk in the most unexpected places. Roger found love with a homeless waif when everyone expected him to marry a socialite.
WHY IS WILLIAM & KATE’S CLOSE FRIEND, ROSE HANBURY, AT THE CENTER OF DISCUSSION, AND WHO IS SHE?
Rumors regarding Prince William’s alleged affair have proliferated online, with many speculating about Rose Hanbury’s involvement. Once considered a mere family friend, she is now the subject of suspicion as a potential homewrecker.
Amid Kate Middleton’s absence from public view due to her recovery from abdominal surgery, speculations about Prince William’s fidelity have surfaced. As these rumors circulate globally, royal enthusiasts are scrutinizing the persona of the purported mistress.
Known among aristocrats as Lady Rose Hanbury, she holds the title of Marchioness of Cholmondeley. Her longstanding ties to the British Royal Family stem from her affluent family’s esteemed position in British high society. Married to David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, the couple resides together and raises three children at their estate.
The friendship between Prince William’s and Rose Hanbury’s families has endured for years. However, recent scrutiny arose after the release of a photo featuring Prince William purportedly riding in a car with his wife, Kate Middleton. Despite this, royal enthusiasts cast doubt on the identity of the woman beside Prince William.
The woman’s head is turned away from the cameras in the photo, a behavior unlike that of Princess Catherine, who typically faces the cameras boldly. Moreover, she appears to be gazing at a brick wall, a detail that fans have contested.
Comments from users reflected skepticism about the woman’s identity, with some suggesting that the woman could be Rose Hanbury, Prince William’s alleged mistress, rather than Kate Middleton. Others questioned the authenticity of the photo, speculating that it might be a photoshopped composite of Kate Middleton from another image.
Although the agency that captured the photo, Goff Photos, affirmed its authenticity, stating that the images were cropped and lightened but not doctored, speculation about the alleged affair persisted. Even Stephen Colbert addressed the situation in a comedy sketch on national American television, highlighting the ongoing rumors.
For those unfamiliar with the Royal Family, Rose Hanbury may appear as a newcomer to the royal stage. However, she has been intertwined with the lives of Prince William and Kate for quite some time.
Their families’ close relationship was evident in their attendance at a gala dinner in June 2016 to support East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. Despite the apparent camaraderie captured in photos, certain images from the event sparked controversy among fans, fueling speculation about underlying tensions.
Their continued association was observed in 2020 when Rose Hanbury and her husband were invited to celebrate Kate’s 38th birthday at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, indicating the ongoing presence of their families in each other’s lives.
Rose Hanbury and her family are known to be close friends of the Prince and Princess of Wales, residing just three miles from Anmer Hall, the royal couple’s residence. Lady Rose Cholmondeley, along with her husband and children, lives at Houghton Hall in Norfolk, while the Prince and Princess of Wales reside at Anmer Hall.
The couple welcomed twin sons, Alexander Hugh George Cholmondeley and Lord Oliver Timothy George Cholmondeley, in October 2009. Later, in 2016, they had a daughter named Lady Iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley.
Currently, swirling rumors suggest Prince William may have had an affair, with Rose Hanbury at the center of speculation. Despite the rumors, Rose Hanbury continues to focus on her roles as a wife, mother, and prominent figure in aristocratic circles.
As speculation persists, any appearances by Rose Hanbury at royal events garner further attention. Prince William’s recent public appearances without his wedding ring have fueled the rumors.
In a notable incident on March 12, 2024, Prince William was photographed alongside his stepmother, Queen Camilla, at a royal event. However, observers quickly noticed that Prince William was not wearing his wedding ring. This observation sparked discussions and concerns among royal enthusiasts on social media platforms.
Similarly, in a recent family photo shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account, Princess Catherine was seen without her wedding ring. This absence prompted speculation and questions from followers about the state of the royal couple’s marriage.
Despite these observations, Prince William and Princess Catherine have made public appearances together, including being photographed in a car. These sightings have reignited speculation and scrutiny about their relationship status.
Fans of the royal family have closely analyzed every detail of their public outings, drawing comparisons to past royal dramas and expressing concern about the state of their marriage. The ongoing speculation reflects the enduring fascination with the British Royal Family and its members’ personal lives.
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