Then And Now

Chapter 34- "A Night to Remember" Part- 1

Narrator-

Two weeks on, and the day of the gala arrived. Nathan woke up with an energetic sigh and an excited flutter in his abdomen. It was a new day for his company. A good day in fact. Brushing his teeth and splashing warm water on his face, the optimistic young entrepreneur made his way across the top floor of his home, towards the opposite end where his wife resided. Sending a light knock on the door, Nathan opened it to find Savannah's bed empty. 

Frowning softly, Nathan entered the space and closed the door behind him. Checking the closet, Nathan found it cold, dark, and empty with only it's usual cotton tenants occupying the space and shelves. Sighing, Nathan headed to the bathroom, but his business partner was nowhere to be found. There was a light trace of her Peony perfume in the air, but aside from that and a few auburn strands of hair hanging around the counter near her sink, Savannah was nowhere to be seen.  

Hurrying to the balcony, Nathan hoped to his wife out in the backyard getting in her morning steps, but her invisibility is all that met him. Checking his watch, the digital numbers read 5:45 AM. Where could Savannah had possible gone so early in the morning?

Running a hand through his hair, Nathan left Savannah's room and hurried downstairs. The kitchen was also empty. The blinds weren't opened as usual, and the front door was locked. Looking on the driveway camera, Savannah's wine beetle was missing. Not wasting any more time, Nathan retrieved his phone and dialed Savannah's number. 

She picked up on the fifth ring, and was slightly out of breath. 

"Hey." She said. 

"Hey? You're missing." Nathan pointed out. 

Savannah giggled across the line, "Yeah I figured my disappearance would give you a scare. I'm at the office." 

"So early? The sun's barely up." Nathan expressed. 

"I know, but today's the day of the gala. I had to meet with the event planner and the rest of the team to prepare." 

"Babe, you do realize we hired an event planner specifically so you wouldn't have to wake up so early and stress yourself out, right?" Nathan posed while rubbing his eyes and gathering the skin over the bridge of his nose.

He should've known Savannah wouldn't be able to sit still today. She was a worrisome perfectionist.  

"I know that too, but there's just some final details I'd like to look over, and I don't mind helping out and-" And there was her signature rant. 

"I'm coming to pick you up an hour," Nathan decided to put a cork over his wife's usual run-on, "We're going to have breakfast, then I'm sending you off with Natalie to get pampered for tonight."

Today was a very special day for himself and for Savannah as business partners, but also as a couple. Nathan wanted everything to be perfect as well. Just not the kind of perfect Savannah was currently concerned about. 

"But-"

"Which means whatever 'final details' you need to cover with the event planner, you have an hour to do it." Nathan's strict tone vibrated through the phone. 

"Nathan-"

"I'll see you in an hour." Nathan determined in finality, and with a mischievous smirk, he ended the call. 

Savannah huffed and placed her phone down with a stomp of her foot. Both Natalie and Nancy stared at Savannah with a knowing look. Both ladies, whose morning rests had been disturbed by a sleepless Savannah, who annoyingly encouraged them to meet her at the office that morning. 

"Let me guess, Big bro's not going to let you stay and help out." Natalie said knowingly. 

"He's a jerk. He wants to take me for breakfast and then he wants me to get 'pampered'," Savannah nagged with a pout, "I don't have time."