American country used it as his residence. I wanted you to be the first to see it, before I helped the staff find other jobs and put it up for sale.”
Was she flashing her riches at me? That didn't fit the Ariel I thought I knew.
“Why me?”
“Because.”
“Because what?”
Ariel didn't answer. She went to a table and poured red wine from a carafe into two crystal goblets. She handed me one and raised hers. “This is to the future, for the good things that are about to happen.”
Ariel was clearly toying with me again. I felt sucked into her game, not knowing what would come next.
“I'll drink to that,” I said and sipped.
She came to me, took the glass from my hand, put it on the table, and kissed me. First lightly as if she were testing the waters, then passionately.
We moved to the sofa. “Hold me,” she whispered in my ear, “just hold me. I need to get used to you again. I saw you every night in my dreams, and now you're here.”
Ariel curled up in my arms. I looked at the fireplace, touched her soft hair, her face, her body, while the music conjured vistas of natural landscapes and a vast expanse of surging waves. Ariel closed her eyes. I bent to kiss her again, but she was already asleep.
“Nice beginning,” I said to myself.
