Part 13

I hadn’t noticed how far we had walked until I looked up and saw my house just a few steps away. My heart took a leap into misery when I realized that I would have to say good bye to this man, if even for a night.

“Listen I know that you are late for dinner and I don’t want to be the origin of discord with your family. I will let you sleep on the possibility of going into a business venture with me and return in the morning to present my plan.”

I know I should have been much more subdued and professional in my response to this. I should  have said  something like  “I will be pleased to spend the day with you tomorrow. Is there any specific time you had in mind for our meeting?”

However, I did not have one ounce of restraint left in me. I threw my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “I miss you already.”

His arms immediately embraced me and a slight groan escaped through his sensuous lips.

“My sweet Mary, from the moment I first saw you, you had my heart.”

Oh my goodness, this man is in love with me.  I had hoped and dreamed that this was the case but I had never imagined that it could actually be real.

I felt as if I would explode with joy. I had never considered the possibility of love, certainly not to a man who was as dashing and successful as this.

All my life my Mama had told me what I should do to become a good Jewish wife. I was never of the opinion that I had actually passed the mark to qualify in that race. She always kept setting the bar higher, just beyond my reach.

But alas, I must stop myself in this madness. He has not asked me to become his wife. He has merely stated that I had his heart and he had a business venture.

He in no way said, “Will you become my wife, Mary?”

I quickly ate dinner and then slipped into my room. I slid my palette out and started sketching our wedding.

It was ironic that he left me that evening so that I could get some sleep. I didn’t catch a wink but by the time sun was rising I had designed my wedding dress, completely figured out how I wanted our house to look and had named all of our children. I finally stopped at six children.

As I put on my sandals a strange thought occurred to me.

“If a person can dream could they also be a visionary in a business venture?”

I felt the bridge already forming between my love and I.