Chapter 9

The streets in Toronto are lined with buildings that provide evidence of Canada’s architectural heritage that Jon was completely impressed by. Between Union Station and the Eaton Centre are treasured landmarks, innovative skyscrapers, and fine examples of modern architecture. All of this impresses Jon and Richie alike. Ava is even interested because she loves to people watch. Danielle no longer has Jon’s hand she is taking pictures and so is he. However, every time they stop for a bit he has his arm around her or he takes her hand again. Danielle tryed to show them things that actually interested them. She had them head to Old City Hall, the fact that it no longer fit the area around it made it an interesting enough building. She even told them what she learned about the building. “This center of municipal government was opened in 1899 in a ceremony, after taking ten years to build and going more than ten times over the original budget. It was built in textured two-toned sandstone. The interior now serves as law courts. It almost got demolished when they built Eaton Center but public protests saved it.”

She pointed out Nathan Phillips Square, the plaza fronting City Hall, and even walked up onto the overpass walk to get out of the way of other tourists. Ava is watching them fill the square for the ice rink that will soon be there.

“Jon this is probably a good place to do the interview you’re kind of away from people so the cell phone won’t bother them.” Danielle pointed out. Jon had completely forgot he was supposed to do a call in.

”OH good call I’ll try to make it quick.”

After Jon completed his interview he walked back to the rest of his party, “Ok work is over.”

”Good because we have more to see.” Danielle held her hand out to Jon and he smiled taking it. They all started walking, she would show them the Rogers Center, the Canadian Walk of Fame and finally end at the CN Tower.

“Hey I’ve seen lots of pictures of this thing.” Richie tells her.

“And it's even more amazing to go into. NO one is scared of heights are they.” Danielle asks.

“No.” Ava answers excitedly.

“Great lets go. The CN Tower is Canada's most recognizable landmarks and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It's only been here since 76 and it was built to symbolize the strength of Canadian industry and is the tallest tower in the world.” Danielle told them reading from a brochure, after Jon bought her ticket again refusing to let her pay for herself. “Although the tower inspires a sense of pride and inspiration for Canadians, its origins are rooted in practicality, as people living in the Toronto area now enjoy the clearest reception in North America from its microwave receptors. The view from each of the 4 lookout levels gets more amazing the higher you go.”

After their visit to the CN tower, they get back on the subway and head back to the hotel. Stopping at one of the restaurants inside for dinner. Finally after dinner they head to their rooms. Richie and Ava thank Danielle for the tour and Jon accompanies Danielle to her room.

“I like you.”

“I like you too Jon.”

“No seriously. I like you. I don’t wanna…Oh damn this is going to come out really really bizarre, please don’t laugh
at me.”

She noticed that Jon for the first time ever that she's seen, didn't look 100% confident. “Ok.”

”This isn’t the actual question I just wanna feel you out on something?”

“Feel me out or feel me up?” Danielle smiled trying to lessen his stress.

“Feel you up later.” He’d take a deep breath. “What would you do if I asked you to the marry me?”

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Chapter 8

They would get off the subway and walk up to street level and Danielle would instantly start walking in the direction of Casa Loma.

“How do you remember this?” Jon would ask her.

“Because this was one of my favorite things I saw here. Besides you can’t really miss it.” She pointed to a huge Castle.

“Daddy can we live in a Castle like that?” Ava smiled.

“Sure baby, on the 2nd Tuesday of next week.”

”Cool.” She smiled not getting it.
Danielle led them to the entrance and Jon paid for her to get in.

“Thank you.”

”No thank you for bringing us here, this looks amazing.”

“Well Casa Loma is amazing. It was the residence of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt in the early 1900's. Pellatt was a military officer knighted by King Edward VII and who made it to the Queens Own Rifles. He was also an industrialist and financier. There is a audio tour which we should get one of it’ll tell us more about each room.”

Richie walked over and got the audio equipment and they started to walk around. Jon never let go of Danielle’s hand. “This castle sits on 5 acres of land and there are amazing gardens outside, that unfortunately are closed now. But there are stables on the grounds that are connected by underground tunnels and a tower that has a amazing view of the skyline.”

”Lets go daddy.” Ava smirked and pulled Richie down a hallway.

Danielle smirked at Jon and told him there is a Harry Potter stairway in this castle.

“A what?”

“You can’t tell me with 4 kids you don’t know what Harry Potter is?”

”Oh I do but I don’t know what you mean by the stairway.”

”Well in Hogwarts they have stairs that change positions remember?”

”OH yeah, I thought they were cool. The stairs move here?”

“No but if you come this way.” Danielle walked up the stairs and looked left then right trying to find the area again. “Well I thought it was this way. There’s this area where like 4 or 5 stairways converge it's a riot.” Finally after roaming through the castle for 30 min they come across what she has deemed the Harry Potter Stairs and Jon takes a picture knowing his kids would approve. The 4 of them spent a good 2 hrs in the castle, everyone even heads up to the towers, down through the tunnels into the stables and finally back to the subway into downtown. They got off the subway and started walking.

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Chapter 7

“I look at my life now and wonder why? Is this where I’m supposed to be? Why did I go to school so long? Why did I pass up love to go to school and be successful. But that song made me realize I am exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m supposed to be right here, right now.”

”Exactly.” Jon smiled at her. “I know just how you feel.”

"Yeah right you’re married.”

”No I’m not.”

”What?”

”I came home from writing Lost Highway – well you know how the story was that Whole Lot of Leaving was about Richie and David?”

”yes.”

”Well when I came home I had a dear Jon letter on the table. She basically told me she couldn’t be ‘not quite enough’ for me anymore. As much as I hate her for breaking my heart I can’t fault her because I did this to myself. You said why didn’t you bother I say why did I bother? I look at my life and here I am at 45 I’m broken and beaten and alone in so many ways. I surround myself with people but I'm still alone. I’m not capable of believing in anyone when they say I love you. How do I get in another relationship and believe a woman? The woman I thought would be my everything for the rest of my life broke my heart into a million pieces.”

“The reason you can believe is because you learned something?” Danielle offered.

“Learned what? Don’t take her for granted, make sure she understands how important she is?”
He asked remotely.

“How long ago was the divorce?”

“7mo.”

“Have you dated since then?” She questioned.

”Here and there, nothing serious. When she wanted to walk out I didn’t stop her. One thing I have to say is I refuse to fight for someone who doesn’t want to be with me. My kids know it has nothing to do with them, and we still get along pretty well.” His thoughts weren't exactly focused right now, something about this woman told him it was ok to talk. Danielle didn't say anything else she smiled and walked over to David making plans for tomorrow.


The following day, as David planned, Danielle lead Jon, Richie and Ava through a tour of Toronto. “OK what do you guys want to see? Architecture, landmarks, tourist traps?”

“Architecture interests me.” Jon told her actually shocked that she would ask him and not just assume to know what he likes.

“I love the skyline and landmarks.” Richie smirks and Ava just smiles. “Whatever, as long as I don’t freeze.”

Danielle directed them all to the entrance to the subway system and smile. “We’ll go to Casa Loma first, it's the farthest away then focus on downtown.” She’d then get her wallet out and Jon stopped her.

”I’ve got it.” He told her.

“Seriously Jon it's ok.”

“Will you just allow me to be chivalrous?” He asked half laughing and half serious.
Once everyone has a subway pass they walked down to the trains and Richie picks Ava up to protect her and Jon grabbed Danielle’s hand which of course she doesn’t mind.

“It's not scary guys. Really.”

”We’ve heard of subways.” Richie tells Danielle.

“Yes but I’ve ridden them here. It's great.” Danielle directed them to the right train after having checked her map again. When they walk on the train Jon pulled Danielle down next to him while Richie and Ava sit across from them.

“Jon can you silence your cell phone?” Danielle asked.

“Yes I can. I have to call a radio station at some point today for an interview though.”

”I understand that but what I want you to notice, is here they don’t talk on their cell phones
all the time, that’s a purely American thing to do.”

Jon and Richie looked around and sure enough just as Danielle said not one person is on their phone.

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