After they left her office, she took him to Berthillon to buy ice cream, and he agreed that it was the best ice cream he’d ever eaten. She liked walking down the street with him and feeling like a couple.

They had dinner at home that night, and on Saturday they made a reservation at an Italian restaurant she knew he’d like that served homemade pasta and delicious food prepared by the grandmother in the kitchen. It had a family atmosphere. And she was right, he loved it.

“You’re such a contradiction, Theo,” he said to her over dinner. “With everything you have, you could do whatever you want, and you never show off. The simplest things give you pleasure.”

“Like making love with you day and night,” she whispered and kissed him, and he grinned.

“You know what I mean. Will you miss having the château if you sell it?”

“Probably. A little. It was a wonderful place to spend time as a family. It was built as a magnificent showcase, but we didn’t use it that way,” which was her style. Her apartment was beautiful, but it was cozy and felt like a home at the same time. She created warmth and good feelings wherever she was. She was changing his life too. His apartment in New York seemed unbearable to him now. The bare walls and ugly furniture were so depressing. The only décor were his computers and his gym equipment. It was a little too basic, industrial, and masculine even for him. His apartment had no charm whatsoever. He couldn’t imagine her staying there if she came to see him. He had thought about it and decided they should go to a hotel where she’d at least be comfortable. His apartment was more like a bare-bones office with a bed in it. There was nothing homey about it. It had taken him ten years to notice. He hadn’t even unpacked his books and trophies from his old apartment. He knew where they were if he ever wanted to see the trophies or read a book. The contrast between their two homes was astounding. He was so comfortable in hers, he never wanted to leave it.

They spent a quiet Sunday at home, in and out of bed before he left again. She hated to see him go when he was dressing to leave, and he looked as sad as she did.

“Will you be okay?” he asked her. She had that air of an abandoned child as she watched him. It tugged at his heart.

“I will. What about you? Will you be okay? It’s weird not being able to talk about your work. I never know what you’re working on. Is everything going well for you?” she asked, and he smiled.