Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Four

'Is your apartment finished?' Emily asked at breakfast.

'Yeah,' Esme nodded happily. 'The apartment has been properly furnished and equipped for next week.'

'Are you guys so excited or what?' Emily said. 'College is going to be the best four years of your life- I can guarantee you.'

'We're just happy to be finally leaving,' Ecie said. 'It's been a week since Verd left and about three since Joey, Sara and everybody else left. We just want to leave already.'

Emily laughed.

'How was mom's dinner the other night?' Ross asked.

'We totally knocked it out of the park,' Ecie grinned. 'Es did her makeup and hair and I picked out the outfit. She looked so cute.'

'Was it a special dinner?' Emily asked.

'It was her and Eric's first year anniversary,' Esme replied. 'She called at about one in the morning and was like "I won't be coming home for the week. I'm off to Australia.'

'That is so sweet,' Emily smiled. 'What did they do?'

'Eric closed one of his restaurants and made her dinner- himself,' Esme replied. 'He cooked it and everything.'

'That is so romantic,' Emily said. 'They are so good together. What did he get her?'

'He got her a book full of love poetry by e e Cummings,' Ecie replied. 'He read the "I like my body when it's next to your body" one and mom said she started crying because it was so sweet of him.'

'What did mom get him?'

'She wrote a dozen love letters,' Ecie replied. 'They were really kind of racy and kinky, but it was totally romantic.'

'She's also writing a story dedicated to him,' Esme continued. 'And you would never believe what she said to him.'

'What?' Emily asked eagerly.

'She told him that she loved him,' Esme grinned. 'It took a year, but at least she said it.'

'Does this mean that they'll get married?' Ross asked.

'You never know,' Ecie replied. 'She said that maybe on her deathbed.'

'So when do they get back?' Ross asked wiping his mouth with the edge of his napkin.

'The day before we leave,' Esme replied. 'I think they'll be happy to have the house to themselves.'

'Yeah,' Emily smiled. 'Why don't you ever do sweet stuff like that?' she rested her head on Ross' shoulder then kissed him on the lips. 'I want a book filled with love poetry.'

'I can get you that for your birthday,' Ross said rubbing his nose against hers. 'What do you say?'

'It won't be a surprise,' she said. 'I want you to think of cute things to do for me as a surprise.'

'I surprise you all the time,' Ross replied. 'Like when I bought you that shirt you'd wanted for months.'

'Oh yeah,' Emily kissed Ross. 'I liked that.'

'What did you guys do for your first anniversary?' Esme asked.

'Ross flew us out to Paris where we first met,' Emily replied. 'He set it up so that it was like we were meeting for the first time again. On the day of our anniversary, he wasn't in the hotel room but he'd left a note of where I should meet him. I went to the address and it was the gallery where we first saw each other. It was like an Easter egg hunt trying to find where in the gallery to meet him, but when I did find him, he was waiting with the largest bouquet of roses I had ever seen. Then we went to lunch in this café and we had dinner at the nicest restaurant ever.'

'I never had you down as a romantic,' Esme teased. 'But you really know what to do, don't you?'

'I thought she'd like it,' Ross shrugged. He kissed Emily on the lips and smiled at her. 'I thought it'd be a cool way to spend the day.'

'I'm really beginning to miss being in a relationship,' Ecie said slumping in her chair. 'You all get really cute romantic surprises. I have to send myself flowers.'

'At least that way you're never disappointed,' Esme laughed. 'You'll always get the really pretty ones.'

'What are you guys going to do now?' Ross asked with an arm around Emily.

'I'm going to meet Taylor,' Esme replied. 'I'll probably spend the rest of the day hanging out at his store.'

'I'm heading off to work,' Ecie said. 'Then I'm meeting Carole for a quick session. What about you guys?'

'I don't know,' Emily looked up at Ross. 'What are we going to do?'

'We might go shopping for some stuff for dad,' Ross replied looking back at Emily. 'Then we can head over to your place and hang out for a bit.'

'Cool,' Ecie nodded. 'Well we'll catch you guys later.'

'Bye,' Emily said hugging Esme and Ecie. 'We'll probably see you tomorrow night for dinner with Jonathon.'