For some reason, he started laughing. “I never know what to expect from you, my darling. But that was surely a first. I think from the expression on your face that I’ve just been rejected. No matter. I will win you over.”
Before I could respond to that, he’d shut the door, and I could hear him running down the stairs, completely ignoring a perfectly good elevator.
*****
Timothy
Andrew was definitely not correct about my losing interest in Penelope. Of course, when he said that, he hadn’t met her. He had only heard about her from the ravings of a love-sick man, one completely infatuated and bent on wooing a bride.
I could already tell that this was going to be a slow process. Penelope was skittish. She took one step forward and one step back with regularity. Yet, I think she was softening towards me. Her lips told me so, and I could read it in her eyes. She was already teetering on the brink of trust.
No pressure, a slowly progressing friendship, that was the route to success. No matter what Andrew said about telling her the truth from the start. I couldn’t do that. She was still uncertain of me. Just a hint about my wealth, and she scurried away. I found that amazingly odd. Riches usually attracted women, yet it frightened Penelope.
Penelope
Saturday was a beautiful day weather wise, at least in San Jose, but one never knew about San Francisco. It could be foggy and damp or windy with an ocean breeze that sent chills through every sweater, jacket, or vest. Unpredictable is how I’d classify the city. I remembered one time the three of us ladies had visited SF in late August. We’d ended up buying sweatshirts and Mexican wool ponchos and still felt chilled by the icy breeze.
I hoped the weather would be mild at the zoo. I wondered if I should have warned Timothy about the changeability of my favorite city’s weather.
The next morning, he buzzed me earlier than I expected. I hadn’t even finished my mug of coffee. But that didn’t matter. We had a long drive ahead. I grabbed my jacket and joined him at the doorway. He kissed my cheek, then turned to go.
“Are you a morning person?” he asked as he swung his arm around my shoulders.