Surprise

Part 4

Hey guys, do either of you have any ideas of a place we can hold this little party besides our house? Any ideas are welcome. Please and thank you.

I waited patiently for a response. I started making a list of other things I needed. Decorations, gifts, cheesecakes. I sent a message to everyone I wanted to invite and asked them to keep Wednesday open with details to come.

Brad's response came first. 'I would avoid the house. He doesn't like clubs. He loves nature, but I think a hike would not be good for a birthday, but you should take him hiking that weekend. Nothing where the public can interfere. He'll want his time and energy to be focused on friends and family. You invited his parents, yes?'

I responded easily. 'I invited his parents and Esther. I can't rent out Eddie's, I already tried. I will think about hiking.'

'What about Endeavor. There is plenty of space. Not sure that I can keep a certain someone from crashing though.'

I made a face. Definitely in the running. Why is this so hard?

'Because you love him and he's a picky pain in the arse! It will all work out. Will Eddie's cater?'

Yes, Eddie's will cater. I just have to place the order within 24 hours of the event. Where can I get the best cheesecakes?

'Good question. I usually just get whatever the grocery store has. He doesn't seem to care. But Cheesecake Factory is a good place to order from.'

'New York Style is his favorite with chocolate syrup. Just in case you're wondering what he eats when we venture there.' Brad is just as much a brat as Avi can be.

'Noted. Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it.' I added a few more things to my list and felt very overwhelmed. I had four days without him to get as much done as possible. I called the Cheesecake Factory and placed the order for three cheesecakes. The New York-style with chocolate syrup, the strawberry swirl, and the triple chocolate fudge. I arranged to have them picked up on Wednesday morning around 10 am. I still needed to come up with a gift. I had planned to wrap myself up for him that night in satin and lace, but I needed an actual gift too. I took a wander through the music room. He had plenty of guitars. Was their an instrument or recording equipment he wanted or needed? Maybe something for the kitchen.

I sat down with Jon and talked for a little while then I grabbed my phone and dialed Lizzie's number at the first opportunity. I waited patiently for her to answer.

I heard my phone ringing from the living room. I ran to it and answered it slightly out of breath. "Hello?" I really needed to give him his own ring tone.

"Are you alright?"

I sat down on the couch. "Yeah. I was just away from my phone. How are you?" I was really happy to hear his voice.

"I'm good. Got things lined out and ready to go for tomorrow. Time to relax, eat dinner, and go to sleep. Did you have a good day?"

I nodded, sighed, and then remembered I was on the phone. "I did. It kind of slipped away from me actually. What are you having for dinner?" I had to get ahold of myself if I was going to surprise him.

"Undecided. I'm on my own. Seriously considering ordering a pizza and chilling in my room while I go over this sheet music. I think one of the choir directors wanted to do something, but I am for thinking that is not a good idea. Just a feeling."

Just listening to his voice helped to calm me. I settled into the couch. "I'll probably order Chinese, myself, but that sounds like a good plan for you." I couldn't remember his itinerary. "Clinic tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday, with a concert Saturday night?"

"Yup then fly home Sunday morning and get there in the afternoon." I put her on speaker and pulled up the website to order pizza. "Still seems crazy to me to have to do these things on my own when traveling. For a while there I honestly forgot how to do it myself. "There dinner ordered" I took her off speakerphone and put the phone back on my ear so I wouldn't be bothered as I walked to my room.

I giggled. "You are too cute. I am looking forward to Sunday. I miss you already. I know it's silly, but I do." I sighed again. "I think I found a way to stay busy though."

"Oh? Well, I miss you too, so I guess we are both silly then." I let myself in my room. "Imma put you on mute for a second. You can talk if you want to." I muted her and put her on speaker and went to the bathroom. "Okay, so, I should let you order your dinner?"

I hummed to myself, kind of surprised that he didn't ask what I was up to. "In a bit. I thought I would go through some of the boxes in the garage and do some more unpacking." My tummy growled loudly and I couldn't stop the laughter. "I probably should get dinner ordered."

"Yeah. That would be a good idea. If I am hungry you usually are too. I need to hop off here and call Esther really quick then dinner should be here and I can eat, practice and then sleep. I'll call again before I pass out, or I'll try. I hope I don't fall asleep with my guitar again." I laughed to myself. I was already thinking about just leaving right after the concert on Saturday and catching a red-eye home. It felt like a solid plan to me. She didn't need to know. I could surprise her. "I love you. Lock up. Set the alarm and stay safe."

"I love you too. I will, I promise." I hung up the phone and ordered dinner. I was going to actually have to go through some of the boxes in the garage.

I called several times over the next couple of days and text more than I ever had while we were apart. I was certain I was driving her crazy. I caught that red-eye flight home and arrived on my doorstep just after 2 am Sunday morning. I was happy to be home and thought to just strip and crawl in bed, then I figured I had better wake her first. So I started calling her name as I entered the door and reset the alarm.