Bikeriders Serenade

A Weekend For Two

Austin had been planning this surprise for weeks. With their anniversary approaching, he wanted to do something special for Lucy. Their favorite beach in Malibu seemed like the perfect place. He’d already arranged for a babysitter to watch over Lori and Timmy, ensuring they could have this time just for themselves.

**SThe Surprise**

Austin walked into the living room, where Lucy was curled up on the couch, reading a book. The soft glow of the late afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm light over the room. He could feel the excitement bubbling inside him, barely contained.

"Hey, Luce," he said, trying to keep his voice casual. "Do you have a minute?"

Lucy looked up, a smile spreading across her face. "Of course. What's up?"

"Well," he began, sitting down beside her and taking her hand. "I know our anniversary is coming up, and I wanted to do something special."

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh? What did you have in mind?"

Austin reached into his pocket and pulled out a small envelope. "I have something for you."

She took the envelope, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened it. Inside was a handwritten note:

*Lucy,*

*For our anniversary, I wanted to take you back to the place where some of our best memories were made. Pack your bags, because tomorrow we're heading to Malibu for a weekend getaway. Just the two of us. I've got everything arranged – the babysitter, the reservations – all you need to do is say yes.*

*I love you more than words can express, and I can't wait to spend this time with you.*

*Love, Austin.*

Lucy’s eyes widened as she read the note, her hand flying to her mouth. "Austin, this is incredible! I can't believe you did all this."

He smiled, pulling her into a hug. "You deserve it, Luce. I wanted to give us a chance to reconnect and enjoy some time together, just like we used to."

She pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. "Thank you. This means so much to me."

The next morning, they woke up early, the anticipation of their getaway making it impossible to sleep in. The kids were excited to have a special weekend with their babysitter, and Austin and Lucy were ready to relive their favorite memories and create new ones.

As they finished breakfast, the doorbell rang. Lori and Timmy rushed to the door, their laughter filling the house. Austin opened the door to reveal Sarah, their trusted babysitter, standing on the porch with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Sarah," Austin greeted her.

"Morning, Mr. Butler!" she replied cheerfully, stepping inside.

Lucy joined them, holding Timmy in her arms. "Hi, Sarah. Thanks so much for doing this. I’ve written down a few instructions for you."

She handed Sarah a neatly written list. "Lori loves her bedtime stories, and Timmy needs his nap around 2 PM. Their favorite snacks are in the pantry, and our contact numbers are on the fridge."

Sarah nodded, taking the list. "No problem, Mrs. Butler. We'll have a great time, won’t we, kids?"

Lori nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Can we play with my new dollhouse, Sarah?"

"Of course, we can," Sarah replied with a smile.

Austin watched Lucy give the final instructions to Sarah, feeling a swell of love and gratitude for her. She always took such good care of their family, and he knew this weekend would mean a lot to her.