New York - The Novel

said.
    “Really?”
    She looked so pleased.
    What had it cost her? He didn’t like to think. No doubt Betty Parsons would have given her terms, let her buy it over time. But Sarah, on her modest salary, would probably be paying for this drawing for months if not years.
    And she was prepared to do this for him? He was both astonished and moved.
    For days after that, he wondered what he could possibly give her in return. What would be appropriate? It had to be something that would give her pleasure. But more than that. An expensive coat or a piece of jewelry, something she couldn’t normally afford, might give her pleasure, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to find a present that showed he had gone to particular trouble. Something of significance. Something of emotional value. He racked his brains for what it could be.
    And then, at last, the idea came to him.
    It was a Sunday, on a clear, crisp day, just before noon, when he arrived at her apartment. She’d been out to see her parents in Brooklyn, but come back that morning to spend the day with him. He took the present carefully out of the taxi. It was awkward to carry, and he had to proceed slowly up the stairs to her door.
    Inside, he laid his parcel down on the floor of her living room.
    “For you,” he said with a smile. “From me.”
    “Whatever can this be?” The package was certainly strange, about four inches wide and six feet long. It took her a minute or two to get the wrapping off.
    “It’s a little awkward,” he said. But she was managing fine.
    “Oh, Charlie.” She was staring open-mouthed. “You can’t give me this.”
    “I can.”
    “But this is an heirloom, Charlie. You have to give this to Gorham, for your children’s children. It belongs in your family.”
    “He isn’t expecting it. He doesn’t even know about it. I think you’d appreciate it more than anyone I know. The framers did a good job, don’t you think?”
    They certainly had. The wampum belt had been laid flat and mounted on a long, thin, cloth-covered board with simple lip mounts, so that it could be easily removed. The board slid into a long white box with a glass front, and this display case could then be hung or fixed to a wall for display.
    “Nice piece of abstract art,” Charlie said with a grin. “I can’t believe you’re giving me this, Charlie,” she said. “Are you really sure?”
    “I thought about it a lot, Sarah. I know you’re the right person to have it.”
    “I’m touched, Charlie,” she said. “I’m really touched.”
    “In that case,” he said happily, “I guess it was a good present.”

    It was from that weekend that he began to wonder if they could be man and wife.
    He thought about it every day. Of course, you couldn’t deny the difficulties—there were plenty of those. But then again, what were they, if you really came to think about it?
    He was older, yes. But not so old as all that. He knew of other couples where a man had married a much younger woman, and they seemed to get along. He made her pretty happy, he was certain of that.
    What would they do about religion? he wondered. Her family would have wanted Sarah to marry the Jewish doctor no doubt. On the other hand, when all was said and done, marrying him would be quite a step up in the world for her. He wondered what sort of wedding ceremony they’d have. The simple Episcopalian ceremony was so close to the Jewish service anyway.
    And when they were married, she’d be under his protection. If his mother’s doorman dared even blink at his wife, he could say good-bye to his job. His friends would all welcome her—and if they didn’t, then they weren’t his friends. Were the old-money crowd so wonderful anyway? Did he really have that much in common with them? What if he just went his own way completely? He’d known other people, old-money people like his own family, who’d married appropriately the first time, been unhappy, married completely inappropriately the second time round, and been happy for the rest of their lives.
    There was the question of finances to be considered. Being young, Sarah would probably want a child or two. Could he afford a new household, private schools and all that? If he really put his mind to it, Charlie reckoned he could make a hell of a lot more money than he did now. Being married to Sarah would inspire him. The Keller show had been so successful, and the book contract might bring in quite a bit of money. He’d be passing some of