“Elliott, they are exquisite. I don’t know what to say.” I had become so rattled about finances. We were living precariously it seemed.

“Now, my love, I expect to be thanked often and properly,” he smiled. He saw my frown.

“Please don’t fret. I bought and paid for them a long time ago. You were wearing that purple dress, and I thought it needed something.”

“If you’re sure.” I held them up against my bare skin.

“They’re almost as pretty as you are,” Elliott said as he kissed me.

I went to my bag to retrieve his gift. It was an antique shaving kit that I thought would be perfect in his bathroom. I loved that it was authentically English, like my Elliott.

He opened it. “Very nice.” I could tell he was underwhelmed, and it was clear that he was much more impressed with the check. Then a big smile crossed his face and he began delivering on the promise to thank me properly and often.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

After the holidays ended, the new stove was installed and the warranty papers were executed and mailed in, and the restaurant returned to normal. As did Elliott. He returned to the cooking virtuoso I remembered. Even his specials of the day were crisp and nuanced. We had some turnover, but all the new hires seemed even better, and our sous chef Rex had improved to the point that he was becoming an impressive backup to Elliott. My heart settled down. I tried to keep my worry at bay.

Elliott and I returned to our normal selves. Our better selves. He returned to being light and playful with me. Chasing away my cares, allowing laughter in like sunlight and catching me in a tight embrace to “squeeze out the fret,” as he put it. We even returned to going out occasionally, finding our names or our picture on Page Six. Sometimes I wore the sea pearl necklace, but I always wore my favorite piece of jewelry—the peridot and diamond earrings.

After years of being barren, my world was suddenly populated with women. Penny and I saw each other several times a week. Elliott had recently hired a new waitress named Leah who seemed to brighten the place up just with her smile. She proved to be a godsend.

I saw Elle and Reggie every Thursday night for our weekly dinner date, even though we technically still lived together. We spent so many nights with our boyfriends. Elle, Reggie, and I were in full-tilt wedding planning mode. I was even getting excited about the wedding, sharing my ideas with the girls as if I were a wedding planner. Elle seemed impressed with my ideas. My vision.

“I see the wedding planner I hired was a waste of money. Who knew I could just go with you, Bailey? I didn’t know how serious you would take my wedding,” Elle said.