Simon released her slowly, a model of self-control in not stealing another kiss. She almost relented to her own desire, but he stepped back, holding both of her hands.
“I have another idea,” he said.
And she was too worried to ask him about it, afraid he’d retract the proposal. She should have shown more enthusiasm. Something more romantic than discussing the ruination of his trousers.
“We don’t need to make a sudden change,” he proposed. “You can continue writing here in your tower, and I will teach four days a week at Winfield. Then we can spend most of our weekends together and our summer months and the holidays, of course. When we’re not traveling for our work.”
“And we could travel some together,” she suggested, embracing the idea.
He nodded. “To the grandest places, across all forty-eight states. I don’t want to swipe the rug out from under your lovely feet, Olivia. I want to offer you a magic carpet to ride.”
Graham had never referred to their relationship as an adventure, but marriage could be the grandest adventure of all. A trip into the unknown, filled with beauty and the best kind of magic.
“We will make it work together,” he said.
With those words, her worry tumbled off. Other couples kept tworesidences. Why couldn’t they? Simon with his comfortable house in Winfield, teaching at the college, and her writing from a quiet place shared with Hattie by Ashe Lake.
Even so, she didn’t want to burden him with travel for every visit.
“I’ll take the train to Winfield on some of those weekends.”
“Of course,” he said. “My family will adore you.”
“Your family...” She’d almost forgotten it was Christmas Eve. It must be close to the hour of seven now, and he was driving back to Ohio tonight to spend Christmas with his parents and sister. At this rate, it would be morning by the time he arrived.
She turned back toward the house. “You best be on your way.”
“Are you trying to rid yourself of me?”
“I want to make sure the man I’m going to marry arrives home safe.”
“The man you’re marrying?”
“I’m still thinking about it,” she teased. “I have to meet your parents and sister and... so many things.”
“In time.” He kissed her forehead. “They will adore you.”
“And Hattie—”
“Don’t you worry,” he said. “I’ll find a way to win her over.”
But he might be better off corralling a herd of wild horses.
It would be good for her and Hattie to open their nest a little wider and welcome in the Farrow family. Extended relations for both of them.
If only she could abandon all propriety for the night and join Simon on the journey back to Winfield. Visit the house he’d once shared with Ruthie. Then again, that might be too hard on her heart until after they married. Either way, she’d never leave her aunt alone for Christmas.
Perhaps she and Simon could purchase a new home together, when the time was right. One where they could live and love without so many memories of those who’d once held their hearts. Either way, they would spend next Christmas together.
He escorted her up the hill, twinkling lights radiating from theevergreen tree in her sitting room. As they rounded his car, she stared at the silver rim along his front wheel. “Your fender is crushed.”
“A minor incident involving a deer and a curb.”
“Were you injured?” she asked, alarmed that he’d hit an animal on his drive to Catawba.
“Not even a scrape,” he replied. “Thankfully both animal and driver escaped unharmed.”
The damage didn’t appear minor to her, but Simon, she had no doubt, would fix it soon.
