Page 107 of Paradigm

“We could always take a shorter walk… later,” Arlowe suggested.

Eline chuckled against her skin and replied, “It’s such a nice day out, love. Let’s enjoy it. We can come back here after dinner, and I’ll take this shirt off you then.”

“I like it that you’re doing that again. I don’t think I’ve told you that.”

“Doing what?”

“You used to call me ‘babe’ but also ‘love’ or ‘my love,’ and when we started dating again, you stuck with the first one, but now that we’ve said, ‘I love you,’ you call me ‘love,’ and I really like it.”

“Me too, my love,” Eline said and kissed Arlowe’s neck again. “Now, if you’re ready, let’s go. We can get coffee at that place you like and walk around with it.”

“You spoil me.”

“I will tonight.”

Eline winked at her, causing Arlowe to laugh, and a few minutes later, they were outside the building, walking toward a café hand in hand. They tried to walk without a purpose at least a few times a week. It was good for them to stand up and move around, but the apartment was a bit small for both of them to work in, so getting outside and taking a break was also good for their relationship.

“I wanted to ask you something…” Eline said, holding Arlowe’s arm with her free hand and leaning against her as they walked.

“What?”

“Well, my parents are going to Paris for a couple of weeks for some seminar that they’re doing there, but when they get back, my mother wanted to see the apartment since she hasn’t yet. My father would come with her, obviously, so…”

“So, you still haven’t told them that I’m here.” Arlowe laughed a little. “Want me to hide my stuff? There’s not much room for it, but I think I–”

“What? No, Arlowe. I don’t want you to hide your stuff. I want them to meet you again.”

“You do?” she asked, looking from the canal on her left to the woman on her right, whom she couldn’t really see much of because Eline had put her head on her shoulder.

“Yes. I was thinking that I’d tell them about you before they come over and that we could all have dinner.”

“How do you think they’ll take it?”

“They liked you before. I don’t see why they wouldn’t like you now.”

“Oh, I don’t know… They might not like me because they’ll assume I’m trying to take you away from here.”

“But you’re not.”

“No, I am,” Arlowe replied, laughing again.

“Yes, you are, but I meant that that’s not the only reason I’m going back if my visa application gets approved.”

“Do you think they’ll believe you once they know we’re back together?”

“It doesn’t matter what they believe. I know what I said before about thinking that something kind of directed me to you when I saw that GoldStash job, but the reality was that I had no way of knowing that then. I applied and went through the process having no idea that you lived nearby.”

“Okay. Your point?”

“I went there for me, and I would have stayed there for me,” Eline replied. “Meeting you again was the best bonus, but I had no intention of moving back to Holland; at least, not unless I ended up not liking it there.” Eline lifted her head and looked around. “This is my home, and I love it, don’t get me wrong, but I’m also more than okay with moving back to the US, working there, and being with you. It’s what I want, and if they don’t believe that, I’m not sure that there’s much I can do to change their minds.”

“I guess that’s true,” Arlowe said and yawned.

“Tired?”

“Working weird hours isn’t as easy as it used to be. It’s taking a toll, but I’m all right.”

“Are you sure?” Eline asked.