Page 53 of Arranging Ayra
“Hey!”
I jumped with a start and turned to see Barn standing there with a boyish grin on his face. “You scared me half to death.” I looked down at the cup and saucer that I was returning to the kitchen after my morning tea. “And I almost dropped everything.”
He laughed, took the cup and saucer from my hand and brought it to the kitchen counter. “What are you up to this morning?”
“Not much. Just enjoying the day off.”
“Yeah,” he said looking around at the kitchen and adjacent dining room. “I’m feeling a little claustrophobic in this place. How about we hit the town and... I don’t know... do a little shopping maybe.”
“Claustrophobic? In this huge place?” I said with a laugh. “Okay. Whatever. Sure. Going into town sounds fun.”
“Well then, hurry off to get dressed in something pretty and meet me out by my car,” he ordered. “The Aston Martin,” he specified.
After changing into a backless foam green dress with a flared skirt, I met him at his car.
The drive out to London was pleasant, with good old music from the British Invasion era blasting our ears. We reached the city, and I marveled at the beauty of the high-end stores that beckoned us. Shopping. I had a feeling this was going to be a unique shopping experience.
“Ever been to Harrods?” Barn said.
“Heavens, no,” I said with a laugh. “I doubt I’m even worthy enough to stand before their store window.”
His amused chuckle filled my ears, and I longed to make him laugh again.
“Come on,” he said as he parked the car. “This is going to be quite the treat.”
What an understatement, I thought as we entered the store that seemed to glisten from floor to ceiling. It was all so fabulously expensive and luxurious. I suspected that buying anything was beyond my means, but simply walking through the famed store was a dream.
“I was thinking of buying my parents a special bottle of wine for their upcoming wedding anniversary,” Barn said as he guided me to a section filled with expensive looking champagne and wine bottles.
“That’s so sweet of you,” I said. I glanced at some of the prices on the bottles. £2,000. £5,000. £7,500. £25,000. My goodness.
“Oh,” he said finding what he wanted. “This is perfect. The year my parents were married. And it’s only £3,500.” He looked at the clerk and slipped him a business card. “I would like to have this delivered to this address, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
We strolled through the perfume section, flipped through a few books in the book corner, and filled our nostrils with the aromatic scents of the food section. It was all so intoxicating.
“How about a Gucci bag?” Barn said.
I giggled as I shook my head. It was far too decadent. Everything was.
“You have pens here that sell for hundreds of dollars.”
“Pounds,” Barn corrected.
“Right. I don’t know how many dollars that works out to, but I’m certain it’s a lot.”
“Come on,” he said as he guided me to the elevator. “Let’s take the lift up.”
We browsed a bit on various levels, enjoying the sights and smell of it all.
“Oh,” I let out as we reached the gift shop. “Look at the teddy bears.”
“Harrods famed bears.”
“Aren’t they adorable.”
“Which do you prefer?” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “The one dressed in green, in blue or in red?”
