A Victorian New York Romance Read Free Page B

surprise is where all the fun
lies. Or so I think. I wondered what he had in store for me.

CHAPTER FOUR

 
    We strolled through the park arm and
arm, but did not talk of the marriage or pregnancy. Bailey told me about how he
got into science and how he got a job at the museum. He didn’t brag about it,
but I knew it was one of the most prestigious museums in the world. I was
impressed, by his passion for his work.
    Finally we emerged onto Fifth Avenue,
the Christmas shopping mecca of the world. I immediately felt excitement when I
realized where we were.  
    “Come on, this way,” he said leading me
down the street.
    Bailey was careful to guide me when
crossing the street and he always walked on the outside of the sidewalk. He had
manners and that was a fact. I was not used to being treated like this. I
wondered about his mother, she must have taught him how to be a gentleman, or
maybe he was a copy of his father. Whatever the reason, it was ingrained in
him.
    We finally arrived at a massive building
and we slowed our pace when arriving to the front of it. Then, I saw where he
was taking me, Bergdorf Goodman.   He
was taking me on a tour of New York’s iconic Christmas windows. I squealed with
delight at the sight and ran toward the glass.   The window displays were beyond words.
It was an outdoor Victorian White Christmas scene. The setting was a winter
forest, to be exact.   The mannequins
wore sequined long Victorian gowns. They were draped in white fur capes that
trailed several feet behind them. The background was full of Christmas trees
and various branches and shrubs all decorated with artificial snow, which also
covered the ground. Everything was white and the light reflecting off the scene
made the entire window glow. Even the accessories were white, including the
glittering diamond bracelets and necklaces worn by the mannequins.   There were small white reindeer and one
of the mannequins was reaching down toward it. It was a magical scene and I
could scarcely stand the intensity it had on me. So much so, that I forgot I
wasn’t alone.
    “Do you like it?” Bailey asked.
    “I love it! It’s everything I could have
hoped for. This is what I longed to see with my own eyes. Really experience it.
Such an old tradition to decorate these window displays,” I rambled on.
    Bailey laughed at my enthusiasm and
said, “I’m so glad. I rush by here everyday and never really stopped to take a
closer look.   I guess because in the
back of my mind I knew I only wanted to stop here if I could share it with
someone.”
    I looked up at him. Every second I was
falling for this man, and it was scaring me. I watched him look at the window,
smiling. I could stare at him forever.
    “There’s another one just down the
street, if you want to keep going?” He asked.
    My eyes widened, “Macy’s?” I said in
barely a whisper.
    Bailey laughed so loud the other
onlookers all turned to look. He was so amused by my enthusiasm. “Yes, Macy’s.
You are too cute,” he said.   Then he
looped my arm in his and led me down the busy street.
    We stopped at a street vendor along the
way.
    “We can’t see the Macy’s display with
out hot chocolate,” he said.  
    “But I’ve already had one today,” I
said.
    “Oh, do you have a chocolate limit? You
need hot chocolate for two now,” He joked. “It’s the holidays! Enjoy yourself.
One more hot chocolate is a necessity.”
    “Well, I am a bit cold, and having a hot
cup of chocolate while enjoying the Macy’s window sounds like it should be a
Christmas tradition.   I like taking
part in traditions.” I said.
    Then, under his breath right before he
ordered, I swear I heard him say, “Our tradition.” I can’t be sure though.   He said it so fast and as though he
didn’t want me to hear. Honestly it would be a little fast that he’s already
thinking of us in the future tense, but as I already know, he says what comes
to mind. I was reeling. I stared at him expecting