“I understand your reasons, Amanda. I may not agree with them but I understand your view.”
“You didn’t answer the question. Do you resent it?” She half-turned so she could face him.
He took a deep breath and slowly released it. “A little.”
“You know this is how normal couples date? Well, minus the private jet. Usually they both have jobs to get back to.”
“I know. You’re right.”
She touched his face and brought his gaze to her. “Don’t think for one second that I don’t miss you or that I don’t think about you while I’m at work.”
He smiled softly and gently stroked her cheek.
“Some days you’re all I can think about and I can hardly work,” she continued. “My job doesn’t mean more to me than you.”
“I know that.”
She smiled. “Good.”
They heard voices and turned to see that the campground had sprung to life with guides moving about preparing coffee and starting breakfast while guests were making their way to the outhouses.
“Last day,” Viktor said.
Amanda kissed him. “It will be a good one.”
The rest of their time on the water was just as thrilling as the last 2 days. They arrived at their final destination, tired and weary, a little before 5:00 P.M. Just over an hour later they were back in their rental car and on their way to Bangor to fly back to Boston.
When they got on the highway, Viktor reached out and took Amanda’s hand, slipping his fingers between hers.
“Thank you for this, Amanda.”
She pressed her free hand on top of his. “It was my pleasure, Viktor. And technically it was you who paid for it.”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t matter to me. This gift was from you.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m really glad you liked it.”
“I loved it.”
“This will be hard to outdo,” she said.
He chuckled. “Why do you think you need to outdo it?”
“I don’t know. You keep surprising me. It’s harder for me to surprise you.”
“What have I done that surprised you?”
“Umm. Let’s see. Coming to Boston 3 weeks after Italy, the jewelry from Scotland, flying me to California, the crazy hotel rooms, the fancy restaurants, your vineyard …”
“Okay, okay.”
“Your jet.”
“Okay, enough. I get it.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You do not need to outdo me. It’s not a contest.”
“Mmm. Isn’t it?”
“Amanda, you amaze me in so many ways. I am so proud to call you my girlfriend. I’m so happy that you’re in my life. You don’t need to do anything to impress me or win me over. I’m already yours.”
Her lips broke into an enormous smile. “Likewise, Viktor.”
They ate dinner in Bangor before getting on the plane. They were both tired and ended up sleeping on the flight to Boston. When they arrived at the airstrip where Amanda had parked her car, Viktor insisted on escorting her home.
“This really isn’t necessary,” Amanda said as they approached her silver, well maintained, yet old, Subaru Impreza.
“I thought you said you would never doubt me again?” he reminded her as he put her bag in the trunk.
“Well .. that …”
Viktor just looked at her waiting for a response.
“I was kidding. You knew I was kidding,” she said, feeling flustered.
“Were you happy that I was with you and you weren’t alone?”
She took a deep breath, not wanting to answer. “My car is old … Don’t judge me,” she blurted and then got in the driver’s seat feeling trapped.
Viktor slid into the passenger’s seat and looked at her with the most curious of expressions.
“Don’t judge you?” he repeated.
Amanda just looked at the road as she put the car in drive.
“When have I ever judged you because of your income level?” Viktor asked. “In fact, why don’t I remind you of your reaction to learning that I had money…”
“Okay, I’m sorry. It’s fine. We don’t need to have this conversation,” she said feeling very uneasy about revisiting her breakdown in California.
“I think we do.”
“No. You’re right. You’ve never judged me because of that. I’m sorry. Forgive me for even saying it.” Her flippant and quick tone betrayed her words.
“Are you embarrassed that I’m in your car?”
“No ... I’m sure you’ve been in worse cars,” she replied and then muttered under her breath, “When you were visiting 3rd world countries.”
Viktor couldn’t help but laugh at her. “Amanda, do you remember what I said to you about your apartment?”
“Yes. But then you went and bought my apartment! And immediately started fixing it up.”
“I didn’t do that for me, Amanda. Is that what you think?”
“No,” she answered with a slight pout.
“Amanda, I did that for you ... So you could have a nice place to live. Not because I was embarrassed to walk in there. I come there to see you, not the carpet.”
Her facial expression softened. “Really?”
He chuckled and then reached out and took her hand. “Really.”
“Oh, Viktor. I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”
“At least you’re my mess.”
She grinned. “You might regret that someday.”
He laughed. “I doubt it.”
They were waiting at a red light just in front of the highway on ramp when Amanda’s car just shut off.
“Oh no,” she gasped.
“What happened?”
She tried the key but literally nothing happened. No lights, no sounds. “You’ve got to be kidding me! This is the same thing that happened before!"
“Can I just tow you a new one?” Viktor said, not entirely joking.
“Stop it!” She rested her forehead on the steering wheel and closed her eyes, feeling like she was in a nightmare. When she lifted her head again she saw Viktor was on his phone. “Who are you calling?”
“Tow truck.”
“Don’t. I have AAA for that.”
“Use it when I’m not around.” He then began speaking with a dispatcher and gave their location to be picked up. Afterwards, he placed a call to the local police to let them know their car was dead in the road with no lights.
They stood on the sidewalk until a cruiser pulled behind them and turned his lights on to keep other cars from crashing into Amanda’s large paper weight.
Viktor
