He expects you to have an answer prepared for him.
You need to tell him what you have decided.
Except that her own mind drew up a blank when she thought of her decision, despite the many hours that she had spent thinking over it already.
She felt his gaze on her, and hesitantly turned in his direction. She could not avoid the conversation forever.
“Harriet?” Simon began, slowly. He seemed to be erring on the side of caution.
Did that mean that her decision meant something to him as well?That he was not doing it merely out of pity?
The thought alone made her heart jump, but she tried her hardest not to let it show on her face.
“Simon,” she responded in earnest, her teeth scraping down on the top of her lip. Baby Catherine cooed happily in her arms.
“I think you know what I wish to speak to you about,” Simon was watching her expression for any subtle changes like a hawk.
She felt herself grow nervous under his scrupulous gaze.
“Do I?” she feigned innocence, knowing fully well that her little act would not work on Simon.
He was too smart for this, after all.
Simon narrowed his eyes at her slightly but showed no signs of restiveness. His patience was truly exemplary.
“Is that the case?” he stepped forward, and Harriet suddenly found herself feeling grateful that they had baby Catherine between them so he could not close the distance fully.
Not that she would have minded that, either.
She chided herself quickly. Where had that thought come from?
Taking a few steps away from him, she deposited Catherine into her crib. “Are you referring to the… offer you made the other day?”
Of course, Harriet was being coy.Of course she knew what he was referring to.
Once again, Simon’s patience was commendable. An amused smile formed on his face.
“Yes, my offer. Have you put more thought into it?”
Harriet’s hands stilled as she adjusted Cathy’s blanket in the cot.
More thought? It is all that I have thought about.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him, her expression carefully composed. “I have,” she said softly.
Simon’s eyes searched hers. “And?”
Harriet hesitated, feeling the weight of her decision pressing down on her.
Truthfully, all her thinking had been in vain when it was in this moment that she finally decided what she wanted.
“I accept,” she declared, surprising both herself and Simon.
“You…you do?” Simon asked in disbelief but then quickly cleared his throat, “I mean, I am glad that you have accepted the offer.”
Offer. Agreement. Contract.Could they never really settle for better words than this? Words that did not connote such a blasé detachment.
“Yes,” Harriet nodded, “But there is just one thing….”
