The next week Candy was treading on air. The work that she loved so much, but which demanded a lot of moral courage, faded into insignificance – the girl was always waiting for the evening.
During her lunchtime, she received sweet notes, where Neil called her the most tender nicknames and wrote that he was looking forward to the moment to meet again.
They saw each other every day – they went to restaurants a couple of times, danced, watched a movie in the cinema, and it was Candy's first time there. In a nutshell, they had a nice time.
Neil was absolutely different from what he had been before – he was gallant, polite… in fact, it was for the first time that he was acting like a gentleman with Candy.
Daniel was being too polite, actually, the girl thought, too delicate – he tried not to touch her for no reason and never kissed her again, as if he were afraid of something.
Miss White caught herself feeling sad, when in the evenings, after standing for a long time at her door, holding hands, Daniel would just loose his fingers, say good-bye and go away, without even trying to hug or kiss her.
Candy now wanted to hug Neil herself every time they met or parted, but she wasn't bold enough to be so pushy, because a lady shouldn't behave like that with a man.
But anyway, those days were very romantic.
Mister Albert's letter never got a response. Late at night, Candy didn't have any more strength or thoughts so write it, in the morning there was work, and in the evening – a date. "I'll write it tomorrow!" she kept promising to herself, but the more she put it away, the less she wanted to do it… Her conscience was uneasy, but it couldn't break through the mist of reverie and excitement that surrounded the girl.
Candy's flat was chock-a-block with mind-boggling bouquets, emitting various and sometimes incompatible odors, and the sofa was occupied by a giant teddy-bear.
The other presents were too expensive to be accepted.
Apparently, Neil was following the principle "the more the better", and Candy actually started to like it. Doesn't she like these roses? Or these lilies? These tuberoses? These marzipan candies (delicious, by the way)? These poems, although not so very smooth?
And the bear was also very nice.
In turn, the girl gave Daniel her smile and her good mood, which he had hardly ever gotten from her. As every other selfless soul, Candy liked more to give rather than to get presents, and although her courtesies were way cheaper and simpler, they still brought a lot of joy to the addressee.
She spent the rest of her salary on cufflinks, but how happy Neil was! And Candy was always so curious watching his face every time he unwrapped the parcel!
Candy borrowed some money to buy another pair of ties and neckerchiefs. Neil put them on right away, and it was another reason for Candy to be proud of herself.
Miss White borrowed even more money and bought a book with car illustrations. Yep, this book was totally worth saving money on her lunches for the next weeks!
Anyway, those days, and especially evenings, were very romantic!
The pair did not see anything around them, completely absorbed by each other. They did not understand that their behavior started to be quite obvious.
Everyone noticed that they were in love… And that they had abandoned everything that could anyhow distract them from each other.
Not everyone was fine about that…