Roses and Sonatas [Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns]

Chapter 38

One evening, after spending the afternoon relaxing on the beach, we stopped at a raw bar for dinner, then strolled through the surf back towards my lodgings, holding hands and laughing as the foamy waves tickled our feet. After several minutes, I looked up at him and commented, "I've been here a week now. That means my vacation is half over."

He looked quickly at me, startled. "Really? Has it already been so long? It's amazing how a week without you can go so very slowly, yet a week with you passes in the blink of an eye. Still, if it's half over, that means that there's half remaining, as well. Shall we do something special tomorrow, to mark the beginning of the second half of your vacation?"

I turned to him and put my arms around his neck as I smiled up at him. "Well... I wondered if you'd like to come up to my room for a light supper? I mean, eating out is very nice, but after a while, all I want is a nice, home-cooked meal for a change. So I talked to Mrs. Simmons—my landlady—and she said I could borrow her kitchen to prepare a dinner for you, as long as I did it either before or after her own meal preparations."

"Surely that's not typical of such an establishment?" he asked with a smile, his eyes crinkling.

"No, not at all," I laughed. "But she seems to have taken a liking to me, so she's making an exception, I suppose."

Mikhail laughed and, placing his hands around my waist, he lifted me up and kissed me. "My beautiful, delightful, charming Alice," he murmured as he set me down again gently, then we resumed our walk. "What time shall I be there?"

"How about 9:00, if you don't mind a late supper? Just come on up to my room when you arrive. You remember which one it is, don't you?"

"Assuredly. I'll be there."

Early the next morning, even before breakfast, I hurried down to the waterfront, where I purchased some fresh scallops and hurried back. Stashing my purchases in the refrigerator, I quickly ate breakfast and went shopping for the rest of the ingredients I needed. I intended to make a light, summery meal of cucumber canapés, seared scallops, melon and cucumber salad, and a crusty loaf of bread, followed by strawberries and cream. I had also picked up a bottle of sauvignon blanc, and I planned to make coffee nudges to go with the berries.

I finished most of my preparations by 8:00, so I ran upstairs to shower and dress before completing the final touches. It was an unusually hot day, so I selected a ruffled, peach-colored cropped top, faded denim shorts trimmed with crocheted lace, and sandals for comfort.

I hurried back downstairs, finished putting everything together except for the coffee and dessert, then carried it up to my room. Stepping out onto the balcony outside my sitting area, I wiped down the little table and chairs set and placed a small vase with three red roses and a pair of candles in the middle. I had just brought up the chilled wines when Mikhail knocked on my door.

I let him in with a smile and a kiss, and he handed a bottle of chilled champagne to me. "So that we may toast the rest of your vacation properly," he said cheerfully as we walked back to the sitting area and on through to the balcony. "Very pretty," he remarked, brushing his fingertips over the crimson petals. Then he took a seat and proceeded to open the champagne while I brought out the appetizer.

We savored our meal on the balcony, enjoying each other's company as the sun slowly sank below the horizon in an riot of brilliant hues. By the time it had set, we had finished our meal except for the dessert and coffee. We moved back inside, leaving the French doors open to let the light breeze in, and headed down to the kitchen, taking our dishes with us. I started the coffee brewing, then I washed the dishes and whipped the cream. I poured the coffee and stirred in the Kahlua, crème de cacao, and brandy. Then I placed the coffee cups, the bowl of berries, and the whipped cream on a tray, and we returned upstairs to my sitting room. We sat down on the little sofa, and I topped the coffees with whipped cream and handed a mug to Mikhail. "Go ahead and help yourself to the berries," I said, leaning forward to select one myself. "They're perfectly ripe—juicy and sweet."