Our time in Stowe was moving along too quickly. Soon it would be time for Samantha and I to part ways, and I dreaded seeing the form and shape of that final day.

On our second to last evening in Stowe, I found us a restaurant in the form of a beautiful European-styled Chalet. The "Trapp Family Lodge" is a place that was inspired by the "Sound of Music", and has been a destination place in Vermont for some time. As this was a special occasion of sorts, I planned to spare no expense. Samantha and I decided to order two entrees and each ask for an additional plate so that we could share each others vittles. She had the Corned Quebec Duck Breast and I the Grilled Local Wagyu Hanger Steak. Each of us would be delighted in our choice, and each others for that matter, and I was especially fond of the wine list that evening. As an aperitif, I selected the Anton Bauer, Wagram; from Austria. With dinner; as I and Samantha both prefer red wines, we had the Margaux Château Boyd-Cantenac, at a cost of one-hundred and sixteen beans, and finally as a dessert wine we chose the Trittenheimer Apotheke, Bollig-Lehnert, Riesling EiHalf Bottle; an expensive half-bottle at seventy-five dollars. All told, the bill was just shy of four-hundred dollars with tip, and I was close to being miserably broke. I resided to the fact that Lee would have to pay for gas and food on the way back to college; and then, I would owe him too.

I had especially wanted this night to be special, and it had...