“Amanda doesn’t seem like she’s looking for a husband to take care of her,” Viktor stated, hoping for some insight from her mother.
Brenda chuckled. “No. Amanda is very independent. I’m afraid her father has a lot to do with that. I don’t know if she told you. He left when she was 10.”
“She hadn’t mentioned that.”
“She doesn’t like to talk about it. It was a very difficult time for us. He left us in a really tough spot financially. I was a stay-at-home mom. I didn’t really have work experience. Thankfully my parents were still alive so they helped us. But I ended up having to work 3 jobs just to keep the house and put food on the table. He owed us nearly 2 years of child support when he died. The court had just ruled to garnish his wages and then he died and left us penniless.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Well … you can see why she would be reluctant to become dependent on a man.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “It does clarify a few things.”
“I think she’ll come to trust you in time, though,” Brenda said reassuringly.
He smiled. “Hope so.”
“What about you?” she asked. “What was your family like?”
“My father provided very well for us. I … I took it for granted. That was probably my father’s greatest failing. Not forcing me to be responsible. He let me live off him and I was more than happy to do so. My mother, like you, was a stay-at-home mom. She never worked and her health was not good. So when my father died, it fell on me to take care of her. I had to grow up real fast. It was …. uhh … a difficult way to learn.”
“Is your mother still alive?”
“No. She died 5 years ago … Breast cancer.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“At least I was able to be a good son to her during her last few years. I only wish I had grown up a little sooner.”
Brenda squeezed his hand and offered an empathetic smile. “I’m sure she was proud of you.”
When everything had been cleaned up in the kitchen, Kim said her goodbyes and left. Amanda closed the door and leaned back against it.
“I think that went well,” she said to Viktor.
“I think it went very well,” he agreed. “I like your friends very much.”
“They like you too.”
He stepped close to her, took her hands and looked into her eyes. “I need to beg your forgiveness.”
“For what?” she asked, feeling slightly alarmed.
“I did something. In Scotland. After you left.”
Amanda couldn’t even imagine what he had done that he felt needed confessing. He didn’t seem like a deviant or the type to hire prostitutes. She feared for what deep dark secret he was about to reveal.
“It’s nothing like that,” he replied with a laugh as he saw the change in her demeanor and knew what was running through her head.
“You don’t even know what I’m thinking,” she declared.
“You’re easy to read,” he said, still grinning.
“What is it you want to tell me?” she asked.
He turned and picked up a brown paper bag that had been on the floor by the door. She had seen it earlier but hadn’t given it much thought with all the commotion of preparing and eating dinner. He opened the bag and pulled out a gift-wrapped box with a bow and card.
“I bought this for you after you left,” he explained.
“Oh,” she exhaled feeling relieved. “Should I open it now?"
"Please "
"Is it something I open in front of my mom?”
“Of course.”
They walked to the living room and Amanda sat on the couch next to her mom as she began to unwrap her gift. Viktor lowered himself into the armchair closest to Amanda. Under the paper was a jewelry box. Inside was the heathergem butterfly jewelry set she had admired in the gift shop the day she left Scotland.
Amanda gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh my god, you didn’t!”
“It’s beautiful,” her mother remarked.
“It’s too much,” Amanda declared in utter shock. She looked at him in dismay. “I can’t accept this.”
“Amanda,” he said calmly. “I’m not going to wear it. And it would cost more to return it. I bought it for you because I wanted you to have it. I know you’re uncomfortable with the price tag which is why I’m asking you to forgive me and to please accept it. I saw how much you liked it and I want you to have it.”
Amanda pressed her hand to her forehead. “I can’t believe you bought it.”
“I take it, it’s expensive,” Brenda surmised.
“350 pounds,” Amanda confirmed.
“Amanda, I wouldn’t have bought it, if I couldn’t afford it,” Viktor reasoned.
“I don’t know what to say,” Amanda replied.
“Thank you?” Viktor suggested.
Her eyes watered and she suddenly stood up and moved towards him. He stood and took her in his arms.
“Thank you, Viktor,” she said, still feeling overwhelmed by the gift.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” He squeezed her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “You going to read the card?”
“Yes.” She pulled away and picked up the card.
He stood behind her with his hands on her hips and looked over her shoulder as she opened the card and read it.
My Dearest Amanda,
Words cannot express how happy I am to have met you. You have brought me so much joy over these past few months knowing you. I hope that when you wear this jewelry, it will remind you of how happy you make me and how much you mean to me.
Yours Truly,
Viktor
The tears were flowing freely by the time she finished reading his card. She wiped them away and turned to hug him again.
“You make me very happy too, Viktor,” she said as she held him tight.
“So you forgive me?”
She laughed. “Yes, I forgive you.” She dried her eyes and smiled. “You’re silly.”
“So are you,” he teased as he wiped away a renegade tear that trickled down her cheek.
Chapter 18
The next day, they planned to visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History to see the “Glass
