The Height Of Happiness

“Tell me about the champagne,” Serena told him. “What kind of grapes are these?”

It was familiar to them both to discuss the fruit of their work. They could find their rhythm there as they walked to the little cottage

Robin blue French doors were in the center of the cottage facade. Little windows flanked each side. The tall and colorful doors opened to a trellis-shaded and vine-enshrouded dining terrace where smooth stones acted as the floor for a white patio dining set with artistic iron craftsmanship that depicted flowers and vines in the metal of the seat and table.

 Inside, it was a spacious and eclectically furnished studio room. The bed was massive with a vintage metal headboard, but there was space for a couple of floral chairs and an antique coffee table. Looking down, Serena saw it had terra cotta tile floors, a huge fireplace made of ancient stones, and a wood-beamed ceiling that reminded her of home and Sonoma. It was rustic and warm, and the clawfoot tub in the bathroom was not too shabby either.

“I would live here,” Serena admitted looking around again.

“I see you had your bag brought here?” Edward said as he pointed to her duffle on the rosy loveseat. “I guess you’re already moving in.”

Throwing up her hands, she admitted, “I had no plans! I just came.”

He smiled, “And I am so glad you did.”

Clutching her stomach, Serena asked, “Do you know where to get a meal around here? I’ve only had a cookie on your plane today. I just noticed that I’m starving.”

“They’re about to start dinner service in the main house. We can go whenever you want.”

“Good,” Serena replied as an idea came to mind. “Let me just get changed first.”

*****

They sat in the formal library as the dinner for the night was brought to them. Serena chose the beef as her protein, and Edward did the same.

Serena had changed into a form-fitting dress that she brought just for a moment like this. The soft black jersey hugged her curves in all the right places, and hung low enough for her cleavage to be tastefully displayed. Still wearing her scarf on her head, Serena felt that she had no time to do something else with her hair. This dress deserved better.

“I wish I had put on makeup or something,” Serena commented as she looked at the elegant people around them.

Something about this place told her that it wasn’t a tourist trap. Everyone looked well off like Edward, and for the first time in her life Serena somehow felt poor. She knew she wasn’t, but the finery around her had a way of making one feel inadequate. When her eyes found Teddy’s once more, she knew that in his mind she was so far from inadequate. That was all she needed.

Edward was now in a crisp white suit shirt, and he drank the champagne that was soon to be his.

“So you’re buying this place?” Serena asked. “Has your offer on Belle and Beau been revoked.”

“For now, yes,” he said with a smile. “I wanted to focus on other things.”

“Like what?”

“You,” Edward said confidently. “I was getting tired of waiting to see if you wanted me.”

“Edward, I will always want you. If I say otherwise, I want to be clear that I’m lying.”

Picking up his fork, Edward told her, “That’s good to know.”

As they ate, they talked of how they would make their relationship work. They discussed calendars and important events, but slowly lost track of their conversation and talked about family. Serena talked about her grandfather’s cancer, and Edward was able to give her some consolation and wisdom on the subject. His uncle suffered from the same condition, and talking it out with Teddy assured her that her grandfather was going to be relatively fine.

It was another reason to love her Edward.

When dinner was done, they walked back hand in hand to the cottage. The waiter told them rain was expected, and they didn’t want to get trapped at the main house. As Edward fumbled with the brass key to their little house, Serena scratched her head and noticed something was missing. Stepping inside, she looked in the glass of the mirror on the wall and saw what had been lost.

“My scarf,” Serena realized the silk scarf around had fallen off somewhere as they ran to beat the rain.

“I’ll go find it!” Teddy called out as he rain back.

A second later, the rain started. Serena stood inside the door as she looked out into the showering rain. The piece of red silk acted like a beacon in the darkness, and Edward came running back breathless but dripping wet.