Page 35 of Persuading Penny
Everyone was kind, always eager to leave me a seat, and always polite. Increasingly, however, instead of talking about the movie, the weather, sports or any other possible issue, their main topic of conversation was the romance between Bridget and Cliff, a romance that was now hard to ignore.
“They are together constantly,” one said.
“It’s no wonder,” another said. “If I were him, I’d want to be with her all the time as well.”
“Speak for yourself, Kyle” a young woman countered. “If I were her, I would never want to leave his side.”
“Admit it, Linda, all you’d want is his money,” he told her.
“And all you’d want of her is...”
“Enough,” an older woman cut in. “We all know what one wants of the other. It’s not a competition.”
“Don’t be such a prude, Paula,” Kyle said.
“It’s not prudish to want proper subject matters spoken at the table,” she retorted.
“But if they are having a romance,” Linda said, “why are they so determined to keep it secret?”
“Have you ever heard of a little thing called a tabloid?”Kyle shot back.
“I don’t think that’s the reason,” Paula countered. “I mean, romances like this only heighten interest in a movie. If the tabloids get a hold of this, everyone will be talking about this movie.”
“I bet he’s waiting until we wrap to propose,” Linda said, a dreamy look in her eyes. “Oh, that would be so lovely. I’m sure he’s the type to get on bended knee and offer her...”
“One hell of a rock,” Kyle finished for her.
I could barely swallow my bite of salad as I listened to them go on and on. Would Cliff really propose to that girl? An actress? She was British and he was American. If we weren’t able to make our long-distance relationship work so long ago, why would theirs work?
Maybe because Bridget doesn’t have a meddling father. Maybe because now, Cliff is free to travel as he wishes. Maybe because he would move heaven and earth to be with his new love.
Maybe, maybe, maybe...
I had to face the facts. Of course he would propose. Why not? They worked in the same field. Surely, they have so much in common. Why should they not marry?
After a few more difficult bites of my lunch, I quietly excused myself – so quietly that no one noticed my departure – and headed back home.
The boldness I’d acquired in Southampton, especially after my encounter with that handsome stranger, seemed to fade, and I was once again aching for Cliff. As I drove away from the film’s location, I turned toward Bath instead of home.
I parked my car by the curb and walked up Pultney Street. I had no goal, and nothing in particular I wanted to see. But it was pleasant just walking among the residents and tourists simply enjoying the afternoon. So many happy people...so many happy couples, holding hands, smiling, sharing.
Oh, damn.
As I wandered about, I found myself nearing my favorite bakery, right next to my favorite bookstore. Considering how loudly my stomach growled, I walked into the bakery to pick up a little something savory – a sausage picnic pie – with a bigger something sweet – a Chelsea bun.
And a good strong coffee to wash it all down with.
Reluctant to waste the beautiful afternoon inside, I brought my lunch out to the terrace and found a quiet little table away from the passers-by on the sidewalk.
My savory sausage picnic pie went down easily now that my throat was no longer constricted by so many useless emotions. But as I prepared to take my first bite of my Chelsea bun, a shadow suddenly blocked out my sun.
“Pardon me,” I called up, “but you are blocking my sun.”
When he didn’t move, I looked up in annoyance, ready to give the blocker a few more choice words, but then I saw his smile, as radiant as it’d been a week before.
“It’s you,” I said, sounding so silly.
“Yes,” he said. “It is, indeed, me. I didn’t realize you’d gain exclusivity of the sun.”
