16

With everything there was in the closet, Harmony had no idea what to wear. She had never been to a formal restaurant before. The emerald dress was way too much and she wanted to save that for the museum event. There was a light blue knee length sundress made out of silk. It would have to do she decided. A white shawl and white heels completed the outfit. She made her way into the bathroom and attempted to fix her hair. She pulled half of it back in a hair clip and took the curling iron to the rest of it. Once she had enough curls she hit it with the hair spray and looked herself over.

Harmony decided that she didn't look half bad. She smiled at herself and then went to open her door. James was just about to knock as he blushed and handed her a small box.

"You look great." He said.

"So do you." She admitted.

James was dressed in a black suit with a light blue shirt and a black and blue stripped tie. His hair was pulled back tightly behind his head showing the shaved parts underneath that hinted at his natural hair color.

"What's this?" she asked as she opened the box.

"It belonged to my mother. I thought you should have it." He replied.

Inside the box was a beautiful black diamond and pearl necklace. The diamonds were in the shape of a budding rose. James lifted the necklace out of the box and placed it around Harmony's neck.

"Thank you, it's wonderful." She said and kissed his cheek.

"You're welcome." He blushed. "Shall we go?" he held out his arm.

"Yes, thank you." She smiled, took his arm and walked with him down the stairs.

James held open the car door for Harmony before slipping into the driver's seat. After he pulled out of the garage he put the top up on the convertible before he pulled out of the drive way. She leaned back and enjoyed the view from the passenger seat as they made their way into downtown.

James pulled up in front of the restaurant. The valet opened the door for Harmony and then took the keys from James. He took the car to be parked as they made their way inside. Harmony felt as if her heart stopped. She looked around at the hordes of people dressed in their finest and shivered feeling instantly out of place.

James wrapped his arm around Harmony's waist. He escorted her through the crowd and straight up to the podium where the maître d stood looking over his list. As she stared at the plush red velvet curtains and candles in the dining area, he spoke in a way that commanded respect.

"Two please," James spoke causing the man to look up from what he had been reading.

"Monsieur Prichard!" the man exclaimed dropping the menu and gripping James shoulders.

"Who is this lovely mademoiselle with you?" he asked in his thick French-American accent as he planted kisses on James cheeks.

"Miss Harmony Pond, meet Jean-Paul." James said for introduction.

"Oui, oui!" Jean-Paul exclaimed. "You are the new Madam Prichard oui? I read of you. Please come have a seat." He escorted them into the dining room.

Jean-Paul held the chair out for Harmony. As she took a seat he gently pushed it in and kissed her hand. Then in the blink of an eye he was upright snapping his fingers and barking orders to the frail looking waiter.

"I will leave you two to your supper." Jean-Paul smiled and slipped back through the crowd.

"That was awkward." Harmony admitted. "I don't speak a word of French you know."

"He told the waiter to fetch the finest bottle of wine, on the house." He said as the waiter returned with the bottle.

The waiter poured a sample for James to taste. Upon his approval the waiter poured both their glasses and set the bottle down. He then ordered their meals, without looking at the menu, in French. The waiter bowed and left them to place the order.

"You didn't just order me fish eggs did you?" she chuckled and sipped the wine.

"I thought you said you didn't speak French." He winked.

"Oh gross." She winced.

"Seriously though Harm." He said as he took her hands from across the table.

"I wanted to bring you some place nice to tell you something." He said.

"You didn't have to go through the trouble James. You can talk to me about anything it doesn't matter where." She smiled and squeezed his hand.

"You are so special Harmony." He smiled and took a deep breath.

"I wanted you to know glad I am that I met you."

"Me too James, honestly I don't know what I would have done these past few days without you." She replied.

"Even though I have to leave in the morning all I can think about is rushing back to be with you." He blushed.

"You can visit me whenever you want James. You know you'll always be welcome. It's your home. I'm just borrowing it."

"Nonsense," he replied. "It's your home and I'm honored to be welcome in it."

The waiter came back and placed a basket of breadsticks on the table. The conversation was over. James and Harmony could only marvel over the food and drink the fine wine. When the meal was gone, and she could hardly stand from one too many drinks, James had the car returned and took her home. She hugged him good night and soon found herself fast asleep.

Sleep didn't stay for long. Harmony found herself wide awake at three am. She climbed out of bed after fighting to go back to sleep. She was plagued with strange images of John. All she could do to end the feeling that he was trying to warn her of something was try to find a distraction. She took the keys off her dresser and tip toed down the stairs and into the den.

The desk drawer had been locked for reasons unknown. But, now that Harmony had the keys, that secret was about to be revealed. Her hands shook but she managed to find the key and turn it in the lock. Inside she found several folders filled with papers. When she lifted them out she could see a black box in the bottom of the drawer.

Harmony lifted the box out of the drawer. When she opened it she nearly dripped it, instantly wishing she hadn't touched it. She despised guns. What was John doing with one in a drawer? Even if it was locked she still didn't approve. She put it back in the drawer and turned her attention back to the papers.

What Harmony found were bank statements. John had funded a private account that took monthly deposits and had sat collecting interest for as far as she could gather to be the last eight years. When she located the most recent statement she couldn't help but curse aloud. John had amassed far more than the four million she had been told about. This account held another thirty two million dollars.

Harmony felt faint. She couldn't process this new information. She put the files away, locked the drawer and slipped into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. It was done just in time for James to walk in.

"You're up early." He said as he took a seat at the bar.

"Yeah, it's really hard to sleep. You get so used to having someone there, and when they're not, it doesn't feel right." She admitted as she poured them coffee.

"What are you doing up so early?" she asked taking a seat next to him.

"The car will be taking me to the airport in an hour." He replied with a sigh.

"The world doesn't stop for people like us." She smiled. "Even I have to suck it up and return to work today."

"You'll be alright." He smiled. "I'm really going to miss you though." He admitted.

"You'll be so busy with the groupies you won't even notice I'm not there," she joked.

He cringed, "Those chicks are evil."

She laughed so hard that she spilled her coffee. "I give up."

He snagged a towel and cleaned up the mess. "Hang in there Harm, things will look up eventually."

"I know," she replied sadly. "I guess I'd better get changed. I can't go to work in coffee stained PJ's."

Before James could reply, Harmony scampered away. He sighed then made his way upstairs to pack up his bags. By the time she came out of her room the car was outside waiting. He dropped his bags on the floor in the foyer and hugged her tight.

"Take care of yourself Harmony." He said.

"You too James." She replied.

James nodded, picked up his bags, and then he was gone. Harmony was alone again. She shivered with sadness and made her way back into the den. She leafed through the pile of mail that had gathered over the week and found what she was hoping to see. The checks to her account had finally made their way to the estate. She smiled, put a check book in her purse and slipped out quietly to her car. It was time for a change. Today was to be the first day of the rest of her life.