“As often as I could. It was hard going to school full-time and working in between, but I managed to sit by the ocean in the morning while drinking coffee before doing my morning yoga routine. I feel connected to the water.”
I kissed the top of her head and chuckled, “Maybe we could live on a houseboat or a sailboat someday.”
We got up after a while and made our way to a playground, where we took advantage of some empty swings. I felt a bit foolish for getting on one as an adult, but being around Crystal brought out my inner child.
Crystal looked so carefree as she pumped her legs back and forth. “I can’t remember the last time I was on a swing!”
“We should do it more often,” I said while pumping away on mine.
As it grew closer to noon, I decided it was time to head over to another park that I figured she’d enjoy.
The driver looked at me in the rearview mirror. “Where to, Mr. Tillery?”
“Dendrarium Park, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
Crystal seemed giddy about going to another outside space. “Tell me about this one.”
“This park isn’t quite as rough and rugged as Parcul Rascani. It has paved trails and bike paths, not to mention some cafes and picnic areas. I thought we could get a quick bite to eat while walking around.”
The driver met my eyes again in the rearview mirror. “Dendrarium Park has excellent food. That’s where my wife takes our granddaughter. They also have delicious coffee, and there are plenty of places to just sit and enjoy the fresh air.”
We pulled up to the park a short while later, and Crystal’s eyes lit up as soon as we got out. There were rows upon rows of gorgeous flower boxes, and both of us took our time studying all of the plants. We even spoke with a few locals about them, and I thought about adding one or two of those varieties to my garden in River Valley.
Later, we found a small cafe in the park that made those Moldovan pies that Richard had recommended. We shared one made of cheese, and both of us agreed that it was terrific. Crystal even said that she’d like to get the recipe so that she could fix it when we returned home.
“Maybe we could have the Truman’s over for Moldovan cuisine,” I suggested.
“That’s a great idea.”
“I know that Richard loves their pies, but has Annie ever had Moldovan food?”
Crystal shrugged her shoulders. “Annie will try just about anything. Have you seen her with her pregnancy cravings? I’ve never seen her eat so much, and she’s still so slender… for someone who is pregnant!”
I nodded. “And I’ve never seen Richard happier.”
There were times when I wanted to take our relationship to the next level, but I sensed hesitation on Annie’s part, and I hoped it was only due to her mother’s passing and the stress that came with her inheritance. The last thing I wanted to do was scare away the best thing that had ever happened to me, or add to her stress.
A short while later, we headed over to Valea Trandafirilor.
At first, we decided to hit up the smaller amusement park inside the larger area. Most of the rides seemed to be for young kids, but there were a few that we enjoyed.
Crystal giggled when the Farris wheel stopped with us at the tip-top. The view of the city was breathtaking, but I hardly noticed as I pulled Crystal in for a deep kiss. A part of me reminded my brain that I couldn’t wait to make passionate love to my fake wife at the first opportunity,
When the Farris wheel started moving again, Crystal raised her hands up in the air. “Whoa, it’s tickling my stomach.”
It reminded me of the first night that I drove her home after the Truman baby shower. She had looked so carefree sitting next to me, and I had a feeling she’d be a part of my life for the long-term, even then.
After the ride, we hit up a concession stand for some cotton candy and lemonade, played a few games, and then headed to a beach that was located right by the lake. We sat on the sand in silence, and I had never felt closer to her than at that moment as we held hands and enjoyed the breeze wafting in our faces.
As dinnertime drew near, I told her that I had one more surprise in store for us.
“Since you and I love Italian food so much, there’s an excellent restaurant called Mezz 12 that I read about before we left home. I made dinner reservations for us. Come on, let’s go.”
The driver took us to the restaurant, and again, he raved about our choice. “Granted, I have never been to Italy or even America, but Mezz 12 has some of the best Italian food that my wife and I have ever had. Their tomato sauce is out of this world, Mr. Tillery, and you absolutely must try their tiramisu.”
Crystal and I laughed, and I decided to tell the driver why. “That just happens to be our favorite dessert.”
