She had a set of binoculars with her and took them out of the case and passed them to him. He scanned the area and sighed deeply. He looked at the view, then went back and did it again.
“This is just too much for words,” he exclaimed. “I did not know such wonderful country existed. Just think, I would never have seen all of this if we had not met at the fashion show. What a lucky day that was.”
“I agree,” she responded smiling. She moved her hand in a wide circle; “This is all my land.” They walked ahead a little farther and she pointed to the left and showed him her house down below. “It certainly looks grand sitting there, doesn't it? I chose the spot from here. I was trying to spot a place to build and came up here thinking about this at first, but for a number of reasons, chose the sight below. It looks so special in that spot and it gave me plenty of room for my plans for the house and garden.”
He marveled at such an incredible sight. “I know why you love this place so much. I have fallen in love with it also. Just as I have with you. You know that, don’t you? I loved you from the moment we met,” he told her, as he drew her near him, held her close, and gently kissed her mouth, her cheeks and her eyes. “You truly are lovely.”
“Yes, I know you love me and I am sure you know that I love you. I have from the start but could hardly believe it could happen that way, although I have heard others talk about it. The magical moment at the falls sealed it in my mind. I just felt that I never wanted to leave you ever again.”
They walked around the area a while; it was too early to eat lunch. They picked some berries that were growing there and ate them. Then they walked back to a small knoll where a gazebo stood which was large enough to have seats where they sat and looked out over the whole area. It was an excellent place for their picnic. There was a small table inside on which they could spread their lunch. She got the basket, lifted the lid, and took out the goodies. She removed a carafe of her favorite wine and two pretty glasses to use for it, some nice pastrami and provolone sandwiches with some pickles, and inside a special container was a fancy little dessert. Nancy also included a thermos of coffee. What a grand picnic this would be. How happy they were to be here on such a lovely day to enjoy all this.
Squirrels played about among the trees and birds came close to seek out any available crumbs. They tossed out some tidbits and laughed to see the squirrels scurry after them, then stop, sit up on their hind legs and hold the food in their front paws to eat it. What marvelous little creatures they were. Birds lighted on the railing of the gazebo waiting for their handouts. Off to the side they saw a mama raccoon and two babies nosing around because they smelled food. She loved her wildlife family.
After lunch they walked some more, then came back to the gazebo about two o’clock and decided it was time to go back to the house. They packed up everything and went to the car, got in and turned around to go back down the hill toward the house.
“This is almost like a fairy tale,” he exclaimed. “I will have to pinch myself to know I am not dreaming. The whole world should know of our great love.”
They soon reached the house, pulled up in front, stopped, and got out. He took the basket inside and they decided to go back out to walk through the garden again holding hands as they went.
“Tomorrow I will take you to the airport. We can spend as much time as possible together before we say goodbye. It will be so very difficult to see you go.”
“You're right. I will be able to finish packing tonight before going to bed. I do not want to lose a minute with you.”
They talked until it was time for dinner and then got up and walked slowly back to the house. Nancy saw them and asked where they planned to eat tonight.
“Let’s go up to the studio, it is such a lovely view and so peaceful and beautiful there,” he stated quickly.
After dinner they discussed the possibility of another trip. He looked at her and said, “Does your schedule hold any possible meeting opportunities? I have a meeting in Geneva in two weeks for some supplies and a brief showing. Can you come there and we can spend a few days together? It seems like such a long while now. How can we manage the wait?” he whispered sadly.
“Yes, I can do that. I do not have a show for a while because I still have some things to get together. I agree on the long time. How hard it will be! Oh, hold me now, I wish we never had to part.” Soon she said, “Let me know what I need to do once you make some arrangements.”
He kept his arms around her to comfort her.
“Can you show me some of your plans for your fashions? Do you have some ready?”
“Yes, I have some I can show you,” she brought out her pad with some sketches on it.
He saw her doodles on one page with his name all over it and looked at her and chuckled, “Looks like you had some distractions here.”
“Yes, I certainly was distracted. I had a hard time to get my mind back in gear when I returned home, though I knew I must.”
Soon he turned to look at her, held both her hands in his and said, “I must go back to the cottage and pack, though I am very reluctant to leave. When I am away from you I will remember you being here in this room, and see you sitting over there looking out the window thinking and dreaming.” They went to the window and stood there for a while looking out together and he had his arm around her waist.
“Can I help you in any way to get packed?” she asked him, wanting to be with him as much as possible.
“No, I have done some previously and have only a few last minute items I have saved out to wear around the last couple of days.” So they parted slowly and reluctantly, he held her close to him and they kissed tenderly, then he just stood there holding her for a while. They knew they would miss each other very much when they had parted for a while, but also knew they would soon be together again, though at this point it seemed like such a long time until then.
They walked downstairs and he went to the door. They stood there holding each other for a while but parted slowly and reluctantly. It would be very hard to be so far apart, even temporarily. They knew they would miss each other for a while, but they would soon be together again in Geneva.
As he left, she watched him go slowly down the path to the cottage and he turned to wave at her, then she went inside and up the stairs to her bedroom.
As they awoke the next day, they both felt very sad because they knew they would soon be parting again for a while. Each time seemed harder. It is amazing how situations allow us to do what we really do not want to do, to let us override our deep emotions, so much a part of our being, he thought. He came up to the house, joined her on the patio, and they had coffee while waiting for breakfast. They were silent because it was hard to talk about the inevitable. Nancy brought their breakfast and they ate slowly because they weren’t hungry.
“It is a nice day; we will have time to take a stroll through the garden before we have to leave,” she told him, breaking the silence.
“Yes, I would like that, it was about the first thing I did when I arrived so it seems only fitting to end my visit as it began.” He went around the table and helped her up and they walked around to the garden and out to the rose garden where they stood in the center of the space and looked around at all the gorgeous blooms. They were spectacular.
“You have a wonderful arrangement here,” he reminded her. “It is a good break to come out here in the middle of a project if you want to relax and clear your head. I am sure I will think of this spot many times in my absence, and I will see you here walking around and thinking of our time here together.”
“Yes, you are right, I do come here often. It is wonderful therapy and a great treasure. I will be reliving scenes like this many times when you are gone.”
They walked on and the swans were swimming around the pond, gliding smoothly and effortlessly. Sometimes they stopped when they were among the lilies and it was an awesome sight, as beautiful as any master painting. They always looked so regal, like someone always at att
ention, very particular about their posture. Such a magnificent bird.
“I am thinking about getting some peacocks,” she remarked. “First I must learn what conditions they need. They are beautiful birds, I guess they are quite large, especially when their tail is spread out. But they are so colorful and beautiful”
“Why don’t you wait before making any plans?” he suggested. “I have friends who have some. I can find out all the particulars and they may be able to let you have some of theirs. Small ones would be good and you could watch as they grow up to see the changes. I will let you know what I find out.”
She smiled at him and said, “That will be wonderful. I will appreciate your help and the firsthand knowledge from people who own them. We have plenty of time to do it and we can discuss it later.”
They sat on the bench a while and talked of their lovely days together.
“I am so looking forward to taking you to meet my family,” he told her. “I will think of how we can do it and we will work something out.”
She glanced at her watch and knew they must get ready to leave for the airport, though her heart felt very heavy and sad and she shed some tears. He gently wiped them away, held her and kissed her softly on her eyes, her cheeks, her lips. They stood there for a while just holding each other trying to fill up their senses with each other’s presence so it could slowly unfold over the time they would be apart.
They held each other’s hand and walked lingeringly back to the house. He took her car and drove back to the cottage to pick up his luggage, and she went inside to get her purse and a sweater. She was waiting outside when he returned and got into the car beside him letting him drive as she sat very close next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. They drove slowly trying to make the time last as long as they could by dragging it out. Of course this only slowed the process for time kept ticking on relentlessly, oblivious to lover’s feelings, tears, and partings. At last they did reach their destination and he drove up in front of the terminal, got out of the car and removed his luggage. A porter took it to the airline baggage pickup and he turned to her to say goodbye.
He held her, kissed her, and told her, “I will call with the arrangements for the upcoming trip. Hang in there, my precious princess, we will be together again soon. I have a short time to wait here and would like you to leave and go back home while I remember this last morning together when I am flying far away from you. You will be filling my heart and mind as I know I will be in yours the same way.”
“Oh, yes, my handsome prince,” she sighed. “You will never ever truly leave me again for you are a part of my very being,” Another kiss, and she turned to walk from the terminal, turned back, waved, and walked to her car. It was frightening, she wanted to run after him and beg him to take her with him, but she got into the car and prepared to drive home. She stopped a ways out of the terminal drive and watched his plane as it lifted off like a giant bird taking half of her with it as it disappeared into a clean, beautiful, sunlit sky.
How I will miss his presence! What will I do for two weeks? How will I ever concentrate on my work? But she knew she must and realized it would help pass the time faster until they could meet at Geneva again and be together for a while longer.
CHAPTER 4
As the plane went out of sight she started back to her home. She drove up front, got out, went right up to her studio and her special window to think for a while. She looked out over the garden and reflected on the time they were just there. He was so close, so warm, so wonderful and now so gone. How could he be gone from her? How could they be apart? They seemed like one. How could such things happen? She lingered there for the rest of the afternoon until Nancy called up to her and asked her about dinner.
“I will be down,” she replied, “to eat in the dining area of the kitchen.” It was the one place that did not hold memories of their being together and may help a little. She did not have much appetite and picked at her food trying to appreciate Nancy’s efforts. Nancy knew she was unhappy and uncomfortable and patted her on the shoulder, bent her head down and laid it on top of Triessa’s for a moment. Their love for each other was obvious.
As soon as she finished, she went up to her bedroom and sat and looked outside for a moment and saw places they had walked together and talked of their plans and their love. This just deepened the hurt but she could not avoid it; they had been together everywhere. After a while she took a shower, undressed, and lay down and looked up at the ceiling for some time in reverie and finally drifted off to sleep and dreamed of their meeting just a short time ago. Yet in a way it seemed so far away, like they had been together for a long time. How could two people survive such deep, lonely feelings?
His flight was pleasant and nonstop. He ate on the plane and arrived home late at night, went to the hotel where he decided to stay for the night and prepared for his drive home tomorrow. It was a ways out into the countryside and he loved to see it in the daytime. Now his thoughts went to the time he could take her there with him. Soon, very soon. He was so eager to show it all to her; how he wanted the time to fly. Would it ever pass?
When he got to his room, he showered and decided to go to bed so he could awake early and return to his home. He was looking forward to being back in familiar surroundings again. He wondered just where she was now and what she was doing, no doubt she was in bed by now. He knew that she, too, was reminiscing and missing him as he was missing her, longing to be together again as soon as was humanly possible. He must give her a call to tell her that he had arrived, to say goodnight to her and hear her voice again. She took the call in her bedroom and was so thrilled to hear his voice. It seemed to bring him back here beside her. She felt like her body was having many little electrical shocks taking place igniting her love even higher and stronger. How could this be possible? How could I love him more?
After a while he hung up and got ready for bed, holding her close in his mind and heart, always close, protecting her, loving her. What would it be like when they were married and truly together forever, never to part again? There, at last, he said it. I want to marry her; how and where shall I propose? How soon can we marry and always be together? I have a lot of serious thinking to do.
Tuesday dawned bright and clear and he rose and got ready to go to his home. He was eager, now that he was this close, to get back to familiar surroundings again. If he could not be with her, then home was the next best place, though it would never be the same again until he had her there with him. He knew it would be easier for him because he had no memories of her at his place as she did of him in her favorite spots. Yet nothing could take away this bitter, painful longing inside him. He had the memories of them together in the rose garden.
Triessa arose and asked Nancy to bring her breakfast to her studio in an hour. She showered and dressed in casual clothes for her work session and tried to think where to start. She had to get ready for her trip, for it was already planned except for the details. She must come up with a new wardrobe to have as she spent time with him, something she had made especially for him. This may be the one thing that could get her going on her work. She also must plan on what material she needed to look for and bring back from there once she arrived. Each area had its own unique items and specialties. She had not yet shopped there and was very excited as she thought about doing so. She longed to search for soft, filmy materials for summer fashions.
It was very difficult to concentrate on her work, not at all like before when she just came up and got into it. She hoped she could get back into the production mode again soon and wondered what he was doing and how he would manage to get things done. The distance and time factor was certainly going to be a difficult thing to handle. How would she ever manage? How could she get back to work, yet she must. Certainly something must be done to end this separation and pain. She wondered what he had in mind. We would see in a couple of weeks.
She tried to psyche herself up. Look, you have been doing this for years, just going on t
rips, getting back, planning and doing the styles and fashions. You can do it now, she scolded herself. But something inside her could not handle this talk and she began to cry. This was hard for her to believe, she could not remember the last time she cried. Things were so different and would never be back to what used to be normal for her. She knew she could not talk herself out of this. This was for keeps.
She got up and laid out her regular tools so she could get to work. These things really had to be ready by the time she went to meet Todd. She placed her sketch pad on the easel to sketch some ideas, and decided to begin with a few ties. Her hands flew for she thought of seeing them on him. After she had done a dozen designs, she began to try her hand at some men’s suits. She worked on a couple of ideas and then laid them aside for a while turning her mind to planning what clothes she would take along on her trip. Just what would he like on me? I need to think of his reactions to what I have worn. She would need at least three lovely evening gowns with capes or some sort of wrap. It was amazing how the situation brought different design styles to mind. After all, pleasing a man was different, and other ideas came to mind on how to style and make a dress. She envisioned a beautiful shade of blue for a gown with blue embroidered flowers all over it. What else? Certainly special gown and negligee, some leisure outfits, and some dresses for town. It was summer and was easier to plan a pretty feminine wardrobe to use. A couple pair of slacks, which would be good for walking and she had pretty jackets for evening in case it got cool. It would be good to plan for a number of possible changes from the norm. This was a totally different lineup of clothing from any she had done before because she would be doing many different things.
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