Prologue: Surprise

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[skip if needed. Summary is at the bottom to get the jist of the back story before getting into the juiciness 🙌]

"Do you need any help with your bags?"

John slings a military duffel bag over his shoulder and grabs a small suitcase. "No, I think this old man can carry his weight around here." He smiles at me.

Behind John, my fiance's father, is Charlene with two big suit cases on either side of her. The handles are extended and they reach to her mid-waist. She is a short stachered women, about in her 70's. Her hair is a pure white color from her roots, but at the ends it's a honey-brown. Gorgeous for her age, her skin is barely wrinkled except for the smile lines around her mouth and eyes. She is always smiling. "I could probably use the help." She admits. Charlene is my fiance's Grandmother and john's mother.

John is a tall, hefty man with a smooth, bald head and scruffy face, with white and grey facial hair. I always thought he was way too young to have any grey hairs yet, being in his late 40's and all. A gold chain around his neck is also his signature piece of jewelry, as he wore today.

I grab a suitcase from Charlene- she smiles and thanks me - and we make our way up the drive way.

I have been organizing this birthday surprise for my Fiancé, James, for the last couple of months. His birthday is only two days from now and I have been trying to hold back all the excitement I've been feeling about this gift as too not give anything away.

James hasn't seen his father or grandmother in Six years since he moved from Chicago, Illinois where they resigned. I managed to make arrangements where they could come down to surprise him for his twenty-fifth birthday. It took months of planning but finally it was all coming together. It wasn't originally suppose to be a birthday surprise, but the timing was just right.

"James is going to freak when he sees you guys!"

Picking John and Charlene up from the airport was an emotional rollercoaster. They traveled so far and were so excited to be here. I have seen them occasionally on their facetimes with James, including many photos they have sent of their adventures they've taken around their city. But to be in person with them is surreal. As they exited baggage claim, We hugged, Charlene and I cried, and David broke the ice with a joke about the "sizeable rock" on my finger. I've never felt more welcomed.

"If he cries, he isn't a son of mine." John says with a straight face. I smile. He is a soft-hearted man with a mean, military scarred face. I know he is just as excited to see his son again.

"You mean 'is', dear John." Charlene corrects him. He clears his throat to dismiss her and she chuckles.

At the front door, I drop the luggage to my feet and begin fiddling with my keys. The sun has already set, leaving us in the dark. Usually, James leaves the porch light on for me. It was a little jester of love from him, to help me out after a long shift at work. After I would tell him I was working late, I would come home to the porch light on, making me a path of light all the way up to the house. It was an unspoken routine of ours.

Today I used my "working late" excuse to buy me some time to pick up his family at the airport. But tonight, I came home earlier than I usually do on the late nights. The lights are off and we are surrounded by the night.

I finally find my house key and push it into the lock, opening the door quietly. The lights in the house are turned off and there is no sight of James.

I stick my index finger up to my lips and quietly shush my guests as we enter the living room and set their bags down. As they make themselves comfortable, I make my way down the hall to find James. Excitement ran all through my body.

James and I have been together Five years. We got engaged just this past spring. James is perfect; Tall, slender, but toned. His hair is a dirty blonde and eyes are a dark, deep brown. They are pools of melted chocolate, so sweet and filling. He looks much like his grandmother with sweet, defined features, like his sharp jaw that rounds out to his chin and his duplicate warming smile.

I never got to meet his family until today, but he'd always talk about them and how much he wanted us too meet one day. I know all this planning will be worth it to see his excited smile. 

I round the final corner. As I begin to twist the door handle and push the door open, I hear a softly spoken feminine voice, giggle and say, "James." But it is already too late, the is door wide open.

-

I make my way down the driveway, tears filling my eyes and keys in hand. Its dark, and I stumble over the chunks of gravel in my path, fortunately making it to my car without tripping. I hold back the silence-breaking sobs clawing at my throat as I, once again, struggle with flipping through my keys. Taking notice, once again, that the porch light wasn't lit. And now, understanding why.

"Annabell!" I hear James shout from inside the house. In my escape I left the front door wide open, leaving his family in the living room with curious and concerned faces. They attempted to stop me, to ask what has me so upset no doubt. But I held my head down and pushed my way to the front door.

I hear James yell my name again and then he is silent. I guess he made his way to the living room finally, pants halfway around his ankles, where his birthday surprise was waiting. This was not how I had imagined the night would go.

I get into my car just as my shirtless finace reaches the front door. His eyes are wide and his hair is tossed around like a hand had been tussling it- a freshly manicured hand, attached to a women with blonde hair and a beautiful body. A body I momentarily saw as he was guiding his hands down her petite waist, head nestled into her chest as she rested her hands on top of his head, giggling.

I back out of the driveway as he stares at my car, longingly and full of... Regret? Or maybe it was just guilt.

His family joins him at the doorway by either side. His dad rests a hand on his shoulder. I can see him saying something but I am too far away to see the movements of his mouth. It is too late anyway, I am already making my way down the street.

And the tears haven't stopped.

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Word count: 1200

Summary: Anna brings her financé's (James) family into town for a Birthday surprise and she finds him with another women!

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