“You
didn’t have to get me anything, but I’m glad you did.” Tara winked,
which put a fire in Sheldon’s loins that wouldn’t be fully extinguished
until Arbor Day. She opened the box and pulled out a stunning pair of
emerald-cut aquamarine earrings in an antique white gold setting.
Tara
held her hand over her mouth. She was either joyfully overwhelmed or
ready to cough up a fur ball.
“I
believe you mentioned you liked emerald-cut diamonds. I thought diamonds
were a bit presumptuous. Besides, the aquamarines match your eyes
better. The setting is taken from an Edwardian design.”
“Sheldon, these are stunning!” Tara was almost moved to tears. “I don’t
know what to say. I can’t accept these. These must have cost you a
fortune!”
“It’s
true, I’ve been eating cat food for the last month.” Sheldon waved it
off. “My dad’s in the jewelry business, yada yada yada.”
Tara
melted. “You can’t ‘yada’ your way out of this one! I know better.”
“Our
working relationship—” Sheldon cleared his throat. “Our friendship has
meant a lot to me. I would be honored if you would accept them.”
She was
moved by Sheldon’s sincerity as well as the resale value of the gift.
“How can I refuse?” Tara took off her earrings and put on the new pair.
If Tara looked any better, Cleopatra in comparison would have been given
a job as a ring announcer for midget wrestling.
“Oh, I
almost forgot, I have something for you!” Tara reached into her evening
purse and pulled out a small parcel wrapped in handmade parchment.
Sheldon graciously accepted it. “I hope you like it!” Tara bit her lip.
“I
already do,” Sheldon said suavely. The scotches were still working. He
opened the package. It was a small book, very old. His eyes went wide.
Sheldon perused it like a paleontologist who had just discovered the
mummified muscle tissue of Brachylophosaurus Canadensis. “This was
written by Yang Lu-chan, the founder of Yang Style Tai Chi!”
“It’s
one of his journals on how he developed the long form,” Tara confirmed.
Sheldon
was stupefied. “I’ve been searching for a copy of this for years. I
don’t know what to say. This must have cost you a fortune!”
“I know
a woman, who knows a woman, yada, yada, yada,” Tara jested.
“You
can’t ‘yada’ your way out of this one. The least I can do is buy you a
drink.”
“Already have one. But you can dance with me.” Tara was surprised by her
own boldness. The peppermint schnapps was working its mojo.
Sheldon
missed the chance to ask her to dance first and he knew it. Instead of
trying to cover up his mistake with a shallow excuse or cleaver quip, he
merely held out his arm for her to grab. Tara took his arm. Their eyes
met and for a long moment, they silently swore they knew each other from
a past life.