She held out her hand, palm up, and waited.
He placed the purple velvet bag into her palm.
“What’s this?” she asked, feeling the soft drawstring bag with the necklace inside, her fingers caressing it.
He’d picked out velvet for the texture and enjoyed watching her face as she felt the bag. Her expression had moved to one of surprise, and now, of joy. That was the look he liked to see on her, and he was glad he’d helped to improve her mood.
Her index finger moved inside the bag, opening the drawstring, and she found the necklace, hooking the chain on her finger and drawing the delicate gold chain out.
Watching her, as always, was fascinating.
“Oh,” she said. “A necklace. What a nice surprise.”
“It is a necklace. The chain and the pendant are gold, and the pendant has a gold owl on it,” he said.
“Ooooh,” she said as she ran her fingers all over it.
“But it’s also a GPS,” he said. “San Diego is kind of bad in some areas, and it’s a big city. With you wearing GPS tracking, if for any reason we get separated, I can find you. I hope when you wear it, you’ll feel safer. All you have to do is press on the front of the pendant, and that will send a signal right to an app on my phone. Then I’ll see where you are and come find you.”
“Oh, how thoughtful,” she said. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” he said. “Let me put it on you.”
“Oh, yes,” she said. “I’d like that.”
He gently took the necklace from her and unfastened the clasp.
She leaned forward for him.
Then reaching both hands around the back of her neck, he found the clasp with the other side, and connected them. The pendant part of the necklace now lay nestled between her cleavage.
She placed her hand over it, flat against her chest and said, “I won’t take it off again until we’re back home. That way nothing can happen where I can’t let you know that I need you to come find me. It feels good.” She smiled. “Lightweight, but also it’s comforting, like you said.”
“Good,” he said, and he bent to kiss her forehead.
She gave a happy sigh, her smile deepening.
“Remember, if you need me for any reason, all you have to do is press once on the pendant,” he said.
“I will.” She placed her hand on his arm and looked up at him, joy written all over her face. “Thank you for such a thoughtful gift.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, enjoying seeing her happiness. “I want you to be able to relax and enjoy our trip. Now, I’ll load your bags, and you can make your way to my truck. And I’ll remember to ask you if you need my help, but you must also tell me when you want it or need it. Good communication must work both directions. Deal?”
“Yes.” She smiled and nodded up at him. “Deal.”
He watched her move her cane in front of her, and he backed away to pick up both her bags and carry them down the steps.
Once her bags were in his truck and she was to the bottom of the steps, he called, “Over here.”
She walked toward him, and he thought of how brave she was being, facing her fears by taking the leap to go on this journey with him. He would do anything he could to make sure it was an enjoyable experience.
He moved around to open the passenger door of the truck and said, “I’m going to open doors for you, and will help you into my truck and out of it, and I’m going to do that because that’s what a gentleman does. So, I hope you will allow me that pleasure.”
“Oh.” She stopped, close to him, a look of surprise on her face as if she hadn’t considered that. “Well, okay. Yes, that’s nice actually.”
He smiled to himself, knowing it was. He’d treat her like a lady, and he was glad he wouldn’t have to argue with her about it. Because it was about respect for her, not about whether she was independent or not. He was glad they’d be compatible on that note. Dating women who argued about that one was no fun for him and told him quickly whether they were compatible.
He’d been raised in a Chinese-American family, where respect and good manners were important, so his woman would need to be able to fit into that world as well, if they were to be a long-term couple. It was best to figure these things out early on, so neither of them wasted time with the wrong person.
