words just tumbled out. I hate it when I say something without thinking. I am about to apologize again when he takes a deep breath.
“Of course, I did say to ask me any questions. Sarah was an amazing woman. She was kind to everyone and very smart. She was truly my best friend and had been since we were fifteen.” It is as if someone laid a veil over his face. I know that as he is speaking he isn’t really seeing me but another time and place.
“We were married when we were just eighteen. I have never been as happy as I was then. After being married for a few years we decided to have children. We tried for over a year with no luck. Sarah went to see a fertility doctor who did a bunch of tests. That was when they first found the cancer. It was already at a stage three and moved fast. By Christmas she couldn’t walk anymore. I carried her up and down the stairs in our home so she could still be part of the holiday. She kept saying she wasn’t going anywhere until after New Year’s. It had always been a special holiday for us. It was the anniversary of our first date and the night I asked her to marry me. She died two days after New Year’s. That was six years ago”
Two days after New Year’s. So that is why he was in the pub and why he was drinking so much. I really just want to climb in his lap and hold him. I resist the urge and instead take his hand this time. I gently squeeze his hand and he makes eye contact with me for the first time since mentioning his wife.
Before either of us can say anything more, the door to the dining room opens and very attractive man walks in. He is slightly shorter than Eric but seems to be equally built. He is wearing slacks with a dark blue sweater over a button up. His hair is short, light brown, and perfectly styled. He has light blue eyes that are sharp and alert. He walks confidently over to Eric.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Oh wow, he is clearly American with a slight southern accent. “Miranda is here. I had her set up in the large parlor.”
“Oh, thank you. Cora, allow me to introduce you to Dean Perry my assistant. Dean this is Miss Cora Allen,” Eric introduces us.
“Pleased to meet you Miss Allen,” Dean says bowing slightly in my direction.
“Thank you. It is always nice to meet another American,” I smile warmly at him.
“Dean, please tell Miranda we will be right in.” Eric scowls at me for a moment. Dean leaves the room without another word.
“So who is Miranda?” I ask with a slight trace of jealousy in my voice.
“She is an old friend. I have a surprise for you. Are you finished?” He says as he pushes back from the table.
“What kind of surprise?”
“A good one I hope.” He smiles and gives me a slight wink.
Chapter 7
Dean’s appearance seems to have swept away any sadness from our conversation. I follow Eric to the main door of the dining room.
“Well the last time a man ‘surprised’ me involving another woman I ended up in a hot tub with him and his girlfriend.” I can’t believe I just shared one of my most embarrassing moments with him. I feel way too at ease around Eric. I leave out the part about not knowing the guy had girlfriend until that moment and that I ran out of there so fast I think I broke the sound barrier.
“I will have to hear more about that later.” He raises his eyebrows at me as he opens a large door and gestures for me to enter the room first.
The room is a typical English parlor with dark wood panels on the walls. Large windows again add a fair amount of natural light. There is a large fireplace surrounded in marble on one wall. The furniture has been moved against the other walls with the exception of two light blue wingback chairs and a small table seated in the middle of the room.
There is a clothing rack set up at one end and a girl that looks about eighteen standing next to it inspecting the clothing. A very petite woman with long straight black hair and almond eyes is walking from the rack
“Of course, I did say to ask me any questions. Sarah was an amazing woman. She was kind to everyone and very smart. She was truly my best friend and had been since we were fifteen.” It is as if someone laid a veil over his face. I know that as he is speaking he isn’t really seeing me but another time and place.
“We were married when we were just eighteen. I have never been as happy as I was then. After being married for a few years we decided to have children. We tried for over a year with no luck. Sarah went to see a fertility doctor who did a bunch of tests. That was when they first found the cancer. It was already at a stage three and moved fast. By Christmas she couldn’t walk anymore. I carried her up and down the stairs in our home so she could still be part of the holiday. She kept saying she wasn’t going anywhere until after New Year’s. It had always been a special holiday for us. It was the anniversary of our first date and the night I asked her to marry me. She died two days after New Year’s. That was six years ago”
Two days after New Year’s. So that is why he was in the pub and why he was drinking so much. I really just want to climb in his lap and hold him. I resist the urge and instead take his hand this time. I gently squeeze his hand and he makes eye contact with me for the first time since mentioning his wife.
Before either of us can say anything more, the door to the dining room opens and very attractive man walks in. He is slightly shorter than Eric but seems to be equally built. He is wearing slacks with a dark blue sweater over a button up. His hair is short, light brown, and perfectly styled. He has light blue eyes that are sharp and alert. He walks confidently over to Eric.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Oh wow, he is clearly American with a slight southern accent. “Miranda is here. I had her set up in the large parlor.”
“Oh, thank you. Cora, allow me to introduce you to Dean Perry my assistant. Dean this is Miss Cora Allen,” Eric introduces us.
“Pleased to meet you Miss Allen,” Dean says bowing slightly in my direction.
“Thank you. It is always nice to meet another American,” I smile warmly at him.
“Dean, please tell Miranda we will be right in.” Eric scowls at me for a moment. Dean leaves the room without another word.
“So who is Miranda?” I ask with a slight trace of jealousy in my voice.
“She is an old friend. I have a surprise for you. Are you finished?” He says as he pushes back from the table.
“What kind of surprise?”
“A good one I hope.” He smiles and gives me a slight wink.
Chapter 7
Dean’s appearance seems to have swept away any sadness from our conversation. I follow Eric to the main door of the dining room.
“Well the last time a man ‘surprised’ me involving another woman I ended up in a hot tub with him and his girlfriend.” I can’t believe I just shared one of my most embarrassing moments with him. I feel way too at ease around Eric. I leave out the part about not knowing the guy had girlfriend until that moment and that I ran out of there so fast I think I broke the sound barrier.
“I will have to hear more about that later.” He raises his eyebrows at me as he opens a large door and gestures for me to enter the room first.
The room is a typical English parlor with dark wood panels on the walls. Large windows again add a fair amount of natural light. There is a large fireplace surrounded in marble on one wall. The furniture has been moved against the other walls with the exception of two light blue wingback chairs and a small table seated in the middle of the room.
There is a clothing rack set up at one end and a girl that looks about eighteen standing next to it inspecting the clothing. A very petite woman with long straight black hair and almond eyes is walking from the rack
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