(Timothy continued)
Andrew teases me, but he isn’t cruel. We’ve been friends too long for him to push. He recognizes that I am committed and has resigned himself to the change in my aspirations and ambitions. There is now the assurance of a wife in my plans, and the faint prospect that Penelope and I might be lucky enough to have children. Although that is not always assured, which is the one reason my lineage is dying out, it is a possibility, and if the normal method doesn’t work, there will be medical treatments which might aid in that endeavor.
Yes, my whole life has changed from Judy’s last effort at matchmaking, and I have already sent evidence of my deepest gratitude. I deposited a mighty sum into her bank account, not because it was owed to her for her deed, but because I am and will be forever indebted to her for bringing Penelope into my life.
Penelope:
If my friends had still been around to discuss this situation, they would probably be telling me to back away, to ponder the idiocy of such a complete and total falling into the love pot. It would have been good advice; except I had to admit that it was already too late.
The joining of hands, the sharing of art lore, the way we two had cliqued in every way: it had bonded us. I felt like I’d always known Timothy, like he’d been the missing part of me that had wandered off. Silly romantic drivel, but my soul recognized him. That was undisputable.
Even when we parted later, the link between us remained. It was the tether of a fishing boat, tied to land. (Or maybe in his case, a yacht tied to its dock, an analogy which sent chills down my spine because the fact that Timothy was not only gorgeous, but wealthy enough to buy a museum (even if the backers came up with a sizeable percent) was a gigantic no-no in our relationship.)
*****
All the dresses that Simone had pulled aside for me to try on were delivered the next day. I signed for them in a blank, mystified way, then I rang her up. “What’s going on?” I asked. “Why did you send over all these clothes? There are dresses, slacks, blouses, even shoes that I never saw. The delivery guy even brought boxes of jewelry.