For the first time since Madeira had introduced herself Alex smiled broadly, as if something had struck him as funny.
"What are you smiling at," she asked, smiling back, it was infectious.
"It sounds like you are inviting up to your room to show me your etchings, do you have some other motive?" Then seeing her smile back he walked with her and for some reason continued to hold her hand. She either hadn't noticed or she didn't mind. It seemed so corny and old fashioned, and yet to Alex comforting.
After a few minutes they were far from the house and apparently off the beaten track as they could hardly hear the party now, and there was no one near. As if they were one person they both stopped in front of a small Victorian gazebo in a grove of Sycamores, and it obviously signified the end of the path.
"I like these trees, the bark is interesting," she said softly.
Without looking around at her he commented, "yes Platanus Occidentalis, they shed their bark." She looked at him and he added, "one of my other interests." Then looking around he wondered aloud, "must cost them a fortune for electricity they even have some lighting here in this corner of their acerage."
"Yes just enough to see by, " she said.
"What are you smiling at," she asked, smiling back, it was infectious.
"It sounds like you are inviting up to your room to show me your etchings, do you have some other motive?" Then seeing her smile back he walked with her and for some reason continued to hold her hand. She either hadn't noticed or she didn't mind. It seemed so corny and old fashioned, and yet to Alex comforting.
After a few minutes they were far from the house and apparently off the beaten track as they could hardly hear the party now, and there was no one near. As if they were one person they both stopped in front of a small Victorian gazebo in a grove of Sycamores, and it obviously signified the end of the path.
"I like these trees, the bark is interesting," she said softly.
Without looking around at her he commented, "yes Platanus Occidentalis, they shed their bark." She looked at him and he added, "one of my other interests." Then looking around he wondered aloud, "must cost them a fortune for electricity they even have some lighting here in this corner of their acerage."
"Yes just enough to see by, " she said.