Only The Beginning

Chapter Eleven

A/N This is an aerial picture of the Public Gardens in Halifax NS, take in early spring. The red dot in the middle is the band stand. The Lord Nelson Hotel is the brick building at the upper right corner overlooking the park.

She hoped the adventure he promised would lead back to his hotel room and that wonderfully huge bed. The anticipation sent a series of vibrations down every nerve ending. Melissa had a distinct image of the two of them entwined for the rest of the night, exploring all the further ways to find pleasure in each other. The mere thought of his chin tracing a line down her body to the place she wanted him to kiss most of all, left her slightly dizzy on the sidewalk as he waited for her answer.

"Of course," she replied. "I'm always up for an adventure." All her stress with Brooke and the looming perfume ad instantly disappeared. She also dreamed of a shower and perhaps an outfit that didn't make her look like a sleepover reject.

"Good." He smiled. "Does Pizza Nook still exist?"

"Pizza Nook? Yes, I guess, I haven't been there lately."

With images of a warm bed disappearing from her mind, they made their way down Spring Garden Road, passing the window displays of the various fashionable stores and ended up at a pizza place on the corner of Grafton and Blowers Street. After Craig paid for the food, he took her along the bottom of Citadel Hill, marveling at the construction overtaking the downtown area.

"I can't believe there are enough people to warrant all these condos," he said, squinting at the night skyline dotted with massive cranes.

Despite feeling like a stuffed purple velour sausage, Melissa smiled at the admiration in his voice. Being from a small town herself, she always thought Halifax was an overwhelming, bustling metropolis. She stopped and looked behind them at the new World Trade Center, still a year away from completion. Its curved glass design and top floor angling out toward the harbor, always made her dizzy.

"When you said 'adventure' I didn't think you meant donairs," Melissa said, nodding to the paper bag. She pulled on the shoulder strap of the leather satchel; her purse was tucked under her arm.

They paused at the corner, looking up at the intricate iron archway marking the entrance to the Public Gardens. Craig gave her an impish smile as he led her into the park and along the darkened winding path. "A night time picnic can be an adventure," he said. "Besides, adventures are all about surprises, right?" He held the sealed brown paper bag in one hand. Splotches of grease had begun to bleed through the bottom.

He paused at a fork in the trimmed gravel path, then turned left. Old fashioned street lamps illuminated the ground with evenly spaced circles of light.

Wearing only flip flops, a handful of tiny stones had worked their way under Melissa's feet. With each step she could feel their sharp edges. The thrill at seeing Craig again, especially in that leather jacket, quickly faded with the realization that she was dressed in a track suit that hugged her butt too tightly and was two inches too short in the legs.

She followed him through the nearly abandoned park. In the swirling mounds of flower beds, the daffodils and crocuses were folded up against the cooler temperature. Most of the stately trees had only begun to show their first buds, the branches soaring into the air looked like exaggerated witches' fingers reaching toward the late spring moon.

Hardly romantic, she thought. All the wonderful sexy times had vanished from her imagination, leaving a spiteful outlook. She tugged on the strap of the satchel again, letting out a huff. "Are we there yet?" she asked.

He stopped in front of the only tree with some foliage. The long tendrils of the massive weeping willow dripped to the ground in front of them. "We're here," he said carefully. Then he slipped his hand into the curtain of leaves and pushed them to the side, creating an opening for her to walk through.