do. She still had a giant step to make, from the past to the present. But he understood that and he wasn't rushing her. He knew she needed time and he was willing to be patient. Especially now that she had agreed to marry him. With that promise made, he could wait for her, and help her to make the transition.
“I think we let go when we're ready to. Speaking of which, are you ready to go?”
“Yes, sir.” She was carrying a dark blue flannel blazer, and a few minutes later they were in his car, driving to what he described as a “secret destination.” “Does this mean I'm being abducted, Mr. Hirsch?” She was laughing, and she felt young as they drove along in the sunshine. It was a nice carefree feeling not having to worry about the children. It was different when she had to think of them, it made her feel more serious and less romantic. But now all she had to think about was enjoying Simon.
And he laughed at her suggestion. “Abducting you is the best idea I've had since we met. Come to think of it, I should have done it in Paris.” But he was willing to settle for Connecticut, as they drove along the Merritt Parkway. He was telling her about his business, and some of his thoughts about his fall collection. He loved talking to her, about anything and everything, and his hope that one day he would collect important paintings. He was particularly fond of the Impressionists, and Zoya told him of her parents’ collection in Russia.
“I'm not sure ‘things’ are that important to me anymore. It's funny, I think I used to take all of the beautiful things around me for granted. But having lost everything once, and then sold everything I had with Clayton, it just doesn't mean that much to me anymore.” She smiled slowly at him with loving eyes, “the people in my life are more important.” He quietly reached out and touched her fingers across the table as they ate lunch, and their hands met and held, and a little while later, they left and talked quietly as they continued their drive through the country. It was late afternoon by then, and Zoya was relaxed as she leaned against him.
“Tired?”
She stifled a yawn and then laughed as she shook her head. “No, just happy.”
“We'll go back in a while. There's a place I want to show you first.”
“Where?” She loved being with him. Everything about him made her feel safe and loved and happy.
“It's a secret.”
She giggled and half an hour later she was amazed when she saw it. It was a little English cottage on a back road Simon knew, with a picket fence around it, huge shade trees and a profusion of rose bushes that let off a heady fragrance as they got out of the car and looked around them.
“Whose house is this, Simon?”
“I wish I could say it was mine. It belongs to a wonderful English lady who made an inn of it, in order to support it. I found it years ago, and sometimes I just come here to unwind from all the craziness in New York. Come inside, I want you to meet her.” He didn't tell Zoya, but he had called Mrs. Whitman early that morning and warned her of their arrival. And when they stepped into the cozy living room, done in lovely English floral chintzes, there was a proper English tea waiting for them. Her silver teapot gleamed invitingly and there were plates filled with delicate sandwiches and little cakes, and what Mrs. Whitman referred to as “biscuits” She was a tall, thin, white-haired woman, with a clipped accent, laughing eyes, and long, graceful hands roughened by her work in the garden. And it was obvious that she had been expecting Simon and Zoya.
“How good to see you again, Mr. Hirsch.” She shook hands genially and looked appreciatively at Zoya, and she looked approving when Simon introduced her as his fiancoe. “What good news! Are you recently engaged then?”
“Very.” They answered in unison and then laughed, as Mrs. Whitman poured them each a cup of tea and invited them to sit down in her comfortable little parlor. There was a pretty fireplace, and handsome English antiques she had brought with her fifty years before. She had lived in London, and then New York, and when her husband died, she had retired to the country. She recognized Zoya's