Chapter 162

• "What's that all about?" I asked looking over towards the table, surprised to see one woman likewise writing something down and slipping her paper into the box too. I noticed Bella smile at that, almost wickedly.
• "It's the yearly tradition," she informed me, though I still had no clue as to "what" sort of tradition she was talking about. Bella turned towards me, a somewhat serious expression on her face. "Remember what I said to you upstairs?" She asked. I nodded my head. "Well... this is more of that David. This particular tradition. Every year... any man who wishes to participate, or have a chance... writes is name down on a slip of paper, and drops it into the box. A few women do as well, as you saw... more so every year it seems," she added, a small smile once again etched in her face. "Anyway... a few moments from now, one of those names will be drawn. And whoever that person is... will be invited back to spend the entire night with me... at the small little cottage. It is another way of my saying thank you to those who come here and work for me."
• I knew now what was about to happen. Once more reminded of Bella's character, personality... and indomitable spirit. The things about her I had come to love. But in doing so, in loving her the way that I knew I did... could I accept this going forward. Especially if one day she agreed to marry me. Could I accept the fact that nothing would change as far as any of this went? The bottom line was... could I live with that? Or live without Bella?