Chapter 37 Alexander
Alexander
We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to visit Sissinghurst Castle Gardens. The sky is a bright blue, and the warm sun is casting the gardens in the most beautiful light.
“I bet they have weddings here,” Ivy says as we walk into the rose garden.
“That's the second time you've talked about weddings on this trip. What is it about you and me and … weddings?”
With my arm around her, she gives me a playful shove with her shoulder and chuckles. “I was just saying that because it's beautiful and looks like a great place for someone to get married.”
“Mmm hmm …”
She rolls her eyes. She may not have been thinking about a wedding involving the two of us, but I’m happy to make that connection. I can’t help but dream.
I wonder if she’d like a fancy destination wedding. I want to ask, but I have to stop myself. She just now seems to be coming around to the idea of trying to make something real happen with me. I don’t want to scare her.
“Which color roses are your favorite?” I ask.
Ivy had been studying the red roses growing on the brick garden wall, but she stops at my question to let her eyes search for her favorite. “I think those deep pink ones might be my favorite. I’ve never been a big fan of roses but seeing them grow like this may change my mind.”
“What are your favorite flowers?”
“I like peonies. I like how they look ruffled and there are so many colors of them. I wish I could have peonies or an arrangement that included peonies in it at home all the time.”
“You don’t think you’d get tired of them?”
“I doubt it. I mean, the novelty might eventually wear off, but it would take a long time for that to happen, I think.”
Ivy leans down to smell one of the roses on the wall, and I take a photo. I look at it, and I can see it printed in black and white and hanging in my office. I’m not, however, seeing my rarely used office in Malibu. I’m seeing some unknown office in my future. Maybe in North Carolina.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, I retrieve it and find Grey has responded to a selfie I’d sent her of Ivy and me.
GREY
Look at her hair! She is so pretty! When do I get to meet her?? *big smile emoji*
A large crowd shows up in the garden, so I think it’s best if we move along. I pocket my phone. “Would you like to walk to the lake?”
She looks up at me, her freckles standing out against her pale skin in the sunshine. “I’d love to.”
We step out of the garden, then take a selfie of the two of us in front of the main building—which I instantly send to Mr. Crawley. I take Ivy’s hand as we walk through the beautiful grounds.
“Something about this place makes me want to take a picnic,” Ivy says as the lake comes into view.
“We’ll take a lakeside picnic one day. Although, I’m not sure fish and chips will be as good packed up and taken all the way to a lake.”
Ivy laughs softly. “You wanna know a secret?”
“Of course, I do.” I’ve never wanted to know a secret more.
“I think I’ve finally had enough of fish and chips. I mean, I’ll want them again someday, but I think I’ve overdone it.”
This makes me burst out laughing, startling a bird out of a nearby tree.
“It’s not that funny.” She smiles up at me, and I put my arm around her.
“Does this mean that I’m your favorite British thing now?” We come to a stop by the lake, and Ivy doesn’t answer right away. We stand quietly, watching the ripples on the water, until she turns and slides her hands along my neck and into my hair, then tugs me downwards.
“That depends.”
“I’m not going to want to say goodbye to you tonight,” I say, setting down my tea. We’re eating at the restaurant on-site. A young couple came to the table asking for a photo right after we sat down, but otherwise we’ve been left alone to enjoy our meal.
“Me neither, but I think it’s time for me to be with my family. All our stuff is booked. There isn’t space for another.”
“I could take care of all that; you know I could.”
“I … yes, I know.” Ivy sets down her fork.
“If it’s that you want to spend the time with just your family, you can say that. I would understand. You’ve been off with me for much longer than expected.” It would be discouraging, but understandable.
“It’s not that. I mean, it’s a bit about that. I want to make sure I’m considering their feelings.”
“Of course. Why don’t you spend the evening with them, and see how things are seeming? They may really just want to spend time with you, and I can certainly understand them wanting to have you to themselves.”
She snorts a laugh, and I grin. I love it when she does that.
“I could see it going either way. Val is a hopeless romantic, you know.”
“I do love that about her.”