Metropolitan Music Lover

Phlebotomist Harriet Quimby and Professor Nathan Robinson had been dating for close to six months and were getting very serious.
To the untrained eye they seemed an odd couple, she a beautiful willowy health professional and him an unspectacular looking academic.
But it was also patently obvious that miss matched or not they were obviously in love.
When the relationship began Harriet stated
“I have only one rule and that is my no lies policy, Absolute honesty or nothing”
“I agree” Nathan said “Unreservedly”

Although they still had their own respective homes they were always together and generally always at his.
Apart from when Nathan was out of town lecturing.
It had been that way since the beginning.
When Harriet first agreed to go out with Nathan she didn’t have it in mind that it was a date as such.
In fact she didn’t, even now, understand how it happened.
She just agreed that if she went with him to a Jazz gig in return he would take her to the opera it seemed so simple and matter of fact.
But go out with him she did and now she could hardly remember the time before they met.
They did however still disagree musically but in all other matters they were simpatico.

Nathan was a jazz fan and when he wanted to relax he always listened to Beiderbecke, Goodman or Artie Shaw but of an evening he would always defer to Harriet’s favourite, Puccini.
Just to look at her lovely face as the wonderful melodies washed over her.
His one regret since they had been together was that their bargain that he should take her to see Madame Butterfly remained unfulfilled.
They couldn’t find a performance at the time and she had to settle for Tosca, which she did without complaint.
But a promise was a promise and his failure to keep it would have to be put right.

Nathan had been away for three days lecturing on the question of whether Jazz had an effect on speakeasies or vice versa and Harriet was missing him terribly.
She had been at his house all the time he had been away as she felt to lonely in her flat.

When Nathan drove onto his driveway he was delighted to see the lights were on, which meant Harry was home.
He opened the front door and was surprised to hear the sound of Bix Beiderbecke coming from his study.
“Hello!” he called as he closed the door.
“Nathan?” Harriet called back “is that you?”
She appeared from the lounge and rushed towards him
“You’re early” she said and kissed him.
“Yes we wrapped up earlier than I expected” He replied
“How come you’re listening to Bix Beiderbecke, you hate jazz?”
“It’s growing on me” Harriet replied
“Really?” he asked doubtfully
“Yes I’ve got to like it” she said
“Liar” Nathan said
“I’m not lying” she said innocently
As they walked to the lounge
“What happened to your no lies policy?” he asked
“I hate it when you remember what I say” she said grumpily “and then use my own words against me”
“So?”
“Ok” she confessed
“If I can hear your jazz playing in the study it’s like you’re only in the next room and not miles away and then I don’t miss you so much”

Later that evening after they had made love Nathan said
“Can you get some time off around your birthday?”
“Yes I think so” she replied “Why?”
“I thought we might get away on a mini break” he replied, “Hotel, opera, posh restaurant”
“Really?”
“Yes it’s your 30th after all” he replied
“That’s a big birthday”
He would have liked it to have been a surprise but he needed to tell her in order for her to book the time off.

Harriet booked the time off and he made all the arrangements and kept all the details secret until the day came for them to leave.
They were stood in the hallway with the bags packed when he said
“Have you got your passport?”
“You don’t need a passport for Covent Garden” she said and snorted
“No, that’s true” Nathan said “But you do for the Met”
“The Met?” she asked
“Yes” Nathan replied
“The Metropolitan Opera house?” she asked “in New York City?”
“Yes, but I can change it to Covent Garden though if you’d rather” he offered
“Don’t you dare” she said and kissed him
“I can’t believe you’re taking me to New York” she said and squealed
“Well it is your 30th” he explained
“Well if you’re taking me to New York for my 30th what will you do for my 40th
“Well that’s easy” he said
“What?”
“I’ll change you for two 20s”
“Bloody cheek” she said but kissed him anyway