No Letting Go

Chapter 76 But Not Quite

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FICTION.
Disclaimer: All and fully disclaimed.
For ADN 💚💚💚💚💚

*******ALDUBPARIN****************

Chapter 76: But Not Quite

"Now set the timer to 15 minutes." Ray read the instruction on the cookbook, one of three that was laid open across the kitchen counter, as he did what it asked. He popped the baking pan inside the oven. He caught a sight of his reflection on the oven's glass door and almost jumped back in fright. He was whiter than Casper. He grabbed the dishtowel and wiped his face. 'Finally, somebody I recognize,' he said to his reflection.

"Now, do I peel the onion skin or leave it on?" he asked himself as his fingers went down the instruction on the second cookbook.

Ray wiped his eyes on his sleeves as he sliced the onions. Twice in the same hour, he almost cut his finger in slicing. He was almost tempted to the buy the slicing machine that was being advertised on the home shopping network but he wanted to prepare everything by hand. She had always prepared his meals by hand.

He wanted to return the favor; more so on her birthday. It was actually by chance that he found out that it was her birthday this Valentine's. While waiting for her one night picking her up at the hospital, he happened to read the bulletin board. At first he didn't take notice of the red-numbered day because Valentine's had been nothing but an ordinary day for him for the past years but then he noticed her name was written right smack in the middle. He asked the nurse stationed at the counter and was informed that it was also Alexa's birthday. So there he was now, trying his hand at cooking.

"Damn it! Why didn't I take French for foreign language! What the hell does sauté means?" He exclaimed as he stomped off in the direction of his study to look for a dictionary.

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RJ let go of the railing and screamed. "Wooohooo!" Beside him, Maine held tighter and shut her eyes as the roller coaster went down and around the first loop. "Ahhhh!"

He surprised her twice when he returned to their hotel room, one floor higher from where the rest was billeted. The first was the bouquet of tulips. Second, were the two all access passes to Disneyland Tokyo. They quickly changed into jeans and sneakers. As they passed by the hotel gift shop, RJ decided to buy some sun visors. "So that we could blend in with the tourists." He explained as he paid for his purchases.

The first stop that they went to when they entered the park was Sleeping Beauty's castle. When they entered her chambers, RJ quickly lay down on the bed and pretended to be asleep. Maine laughed out loud at what he wanted her to do. "So I'm the prince charming this time?'" She asked RJ.

RJ peeked at her and quickly nodded. "I'm ready for my kiss my prince," he said, his voice a pitch higher than usual.

Maine asked to borrow the beagle of another tourist beside her and let it kiss RJ. It was only after a few seconds that RJ realized that it wasn't Maine that was kissing him. When he opened his eyes, all he saw was the enormous nose of the beagle. He quickly scramble up and tried to capture Maine. But Maine was quicker this time, able to evade him, almost throwing the poor beagle back to its good-humored owner.

RJ caught her just as she passed the gates of the castle. To get back at her, he slung her over his shoulder like a sack of rice and carried her that way over to their next ride, giving her at least two smacks on the rump as added punishment for making him chase her. After riding Cinderella's coach on the carousel, Maine dragged RJ to the ice cream vendor as the heat of the afternoon sun was getting to her.