Finding Rory

Chapter 33: New Memories

Rory woke up as she felt Tristan get out of bed to take a shower the next morning. She smiled as she recalled the events of the previous evening - they had created new memories in the pool house together. That gave her an idea, and she sprung up out of bed to put her plan into action while Tristan was still getting ready for work.

Rory threw on some workout clothes and dashed out to the driveway to get the paper. She started the coffee brewing and put bacon in the oven to cook while she decided what she wanted to do. The eggs would only take a few minutes.

Rory found what she was looking for in the paper and carefully cut around the section. She grabbed a red pen and put the finishing touches on her idea and laid it next to Tristan's plate on the island. He walked out of the bedroom as she finished the bacon and eggs and put their food on their plates.

Tristan smiled as he saw Rory in the kitchen finishing their breakfast.

"Good morning, Mare," he said as he kissed her.

"Morning, Tris. I thought you might like breakfast," she replied as they both sat down.

"I'm starving - someone kept me up late last night," he smirked. Rory blushed and laughed.

"I didn't hear you complaining," she shot back.

"Damn right you didn't; there was nothing to complain about. What's this?" Tristan asked as he picked up the cutting from the newspaper that she'd set next to his plate.

"Well, we went through my ex boxes and all of those memories last night, and I decided that we needed to start making our own memories. When my mom and Luke first met, she did something similar for him, and he's kept it all this time," Rory explained. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous about this.

Tristan chuckled as he read the paper. His sign, Capricorn, was circled, and Rory had written over his horoscope.

"A crazy woman will cook you breakfast this morning. Love her and she'll be yours forever," he read aloud with a smile. "I love it, baby. We need to get a nice box to put all of our memories in - maybe a handcrafted wooden one."

"You really like it?" Rory asked uncertainly.

"I really, really like it. Come on, let's take a picture so we can print it and put it in the box to remember the day that we started collecting our memories," Tristan said as he took out his phone. He snapped a picture of the two of them looking at the camera and then one of them kissing. "These look great - I have a new phone wallpaper now."

"Ooh, you have to send them to me, too! I need a new wallpaper," Rory said excitedly. Tristan attached them to a text and then sent them her way.

"So, what are your plans today?" he asked Rory as he ate his breakfast.

"I thought I'd go to the gym as soon as you leave, and then I'm going to work on getting settled in here a bit more."

"I have somewhere I want to take you after work; it's a surprise. You could drop me off at work on the way to the gym and then pick me up at three o'clock, if that works for you," Tristan offered.

"Yeah, sure," Rory agreed.

"Just make sure you drive my Escalade when you pick me up; we'll need the space," Tristan replied quizzically.

"Umm...okay," Rory answered. "Why do I have a feeling you're up to something?"

"Because I am," Tristan smirked.

*                    *                    *

Tristan was sitting in his office looking over briefs when Colin walked in his door.