The Enigma Stolen

As Quip reached her, he placed his hands on her shoulders, inhaled her fragrant hair, then lowered toward her neck and rumbled a bit in her ear. “Good evening, my darling.”

Her breath had caught, and her fair arms immediately dotted with goose bumps. “Stop that! I am expecting my man soon.” She turned slightly and said, “Ah, it is you. Thank goodness, I thought perhaps it was a local ruffian!”

Then she laughed as she asked, “How did you find me so easily and sneak up on me?”

“Sweetheart, your hair is your marker a mile away, even in dim lighting. It shimmers and sparkles like fire. What can I say, you are just one hot lady!”

EZ arched her eyebrow as she smiled and said, “Yes, and I’m all yours. This place is amazing. I have only been seated for like five minutes, and I was provided with a warm hand towel and glass of champagne. I asked them to keep yours cold, but here you are already.”

She smiled brilliantly at the waiter who rushed over with an additional glass for Quip. They thanked the waiter and then toasted each other.

“Please, honey, tell me about the place you found. You signed the papers, I hope. I wouldn’t want to lose the place you labeled as perfect after searching for so long.”

“Bowen helped me with the details of the signing. Quip, my darling, I think the first thing I need to do is start studying languages. Sadly, I cannot read the menu, so I need you to help either order for me or translate. By the way, how many languages do you speak? I noticed you and Petra were speaking in tongues at the wedding.”

Quip chuckled as he explained, “I am fluent in speaking only four languages with reading and writing in two. Petra and Jacob are actually far more accomplished, which serves them well with their work. I am happy to order for you. The food here is all delicious but there are limited choices. You will enjoy everything, especially the chocolate dessert I asked them to prepare for you when I made the reservation.”

Quip signaled the waiter and placed the order. The waiter refreshed their champagne, and after he left the table they continued their discussion about the flat. EZ described in detail the three huge bedrooms, two full bathrooms, expanded kitchen, and living room with a fireplace, almost big enough for her to fit inside. She had even captured a few pictures on her fruit phone. She beamed as she showed them to him.

“Honey, this is lovely. I knew that you would find the right place. I also agree that the six months lease is long enough to see if we really like it. If we do, then we can extend the lease.” He raised his glass again and he said, “Thank you, honey, for taking the initiative to locate a suitable home for us. When is our move- in date?”

She smiled as she replied, “We can move in a week from tomorrow. That is Saturday. Can you help? Maybe Petra and Jacob could help, and we could make a party out of it.”

Quip reflected on the activity planned as he responded, “Sweetheart, I will try to clear some items off the work schedule, but I know I can on Sunday. Bowen will be happy to help, and he can get a team of folks if needed. That gives you a week to pick out some furniture, either new or some of the antiques in the attic that Wolfgang suggested the other evening at his chateau. It is totally up to you. Petra and Jacob are out of town working on a special project with an unknown return date. We can do a party once they are back or just have a private one.”

EZ looked a bit sad but also unconvinced as she asked, “What is the special project they are working on? I thought once everyone returned here work would settle down until Julie has the babies. Why would they be traveling now? Why can’t they work remotely as they have done before? And Saturday is important to me. Can’t you take off one day? I mean, you aren’t running a country or anything.”

Quip was taken aback by the comment, and sadly it fit into the conversation he had planned anyway. He just didn’t want to fight about work really, now or ever. Maybe it was more difficult than he realized.

“Sweetheart, I know this is a totally different place than Georgia, but we have jobs and responsibilities which we put on hold to spend all that time in the states for the wedding. We have some projects and customers that need attention. You have seen firsthand some of our project work and the gravity some of them have. Your rescue being one of the most important.”

“Okay, then let me help. I am a good worker, and I learn quickly. I would love to know more about what you do, even see where you work. Heck, once we get settled into our new flat, I could bring you over lunch. I want to meet the others you work with like the ICABOD gentleman  you spoke to when you worked remotely from the bed and breakfast we were at in Texas. He must be important and reliable from the parts I heard. I could come to your office tomorrow morning.”