World Tour

Birthday

When Eddy got out of bed his knees were still a bit wobbly, and his whole body was relaxed. 
He walked over to Brett and enveloped him in a tight hug. 
¨Thank you, husband¨, he whispered in his ear. ¨That was an awesome birthday present.¨
He felt Brett's smile against his cheek.
¨Your real present is coming later!¨ Brett said. Eddy looked at him, his eyebrows knitting together, wondering what he could possibly have gotten him. 
¨Let's head to the venue soon?¨ he asked. 
Brett was silent for a second and moved to look him right in the eye. 
¨How about we don't?¨ he smiled. 
¨What?¨
¨How about I've arranged for Ibo to take over, and we get to go somewhere and enjoy your birthday until later this afternoon?¨
Eddy stared at him for a moment, eyes wide. 
¨For real?¨
Brett nodded. 
¨Wow¨, Eddy breathed. ¨You really know how to spoil a guy...¨
Brett laughed softly. ¨Reserve jugdement of that until later, 'kay?¨

They walked out of the hotel and headed north, until they came to a giant park. Eddy looked around him, amazed at how different from Australia nature was here, in a colder climate. The trees were all bare, because it was still wintery, but that only made it more enticing. It was quite a sunny day, and the diffuse winter light filtered through the bare branches, making the whole place almost ethereally beautiful. 
Some flowers were braving the cold and had stuck their heads out of the ground, carrying all the promise of a new spring in them. 
Eddy took Brett's hand and beamed at him.
¨It's gorgeous here¨, he said softly. 
¨Yeah!¨ Brett said, leaning his head on Eddy's shoulder. 
They stood for a while, just breathing in the fresh air and watching the beauty around them. 
Brett turned right then, and they walked a while until they suddenly came to a field full of totem poles. 
Eddy looked at Brett, amazed. 
¨How'd you know about this place?¨ he breathed. 
¨Google is my friend¨, Brett's deadpan voice came. But Eddy knew he was just as impressed. 
The poles were colourful and ornate, and the view of the snow capped Rockies in the background made them all the more impressive. They made Eddy think about all the indigenous art he'd seen in Australia, and he loved them. 
Eddy had a quick look around to check they were alone, before he threw his arms around Brett's neck and kissed him enthusiastically. 
¨Best birthday ever¨, he whispered. 
Brett just smiled, and something in that smile made Eddy think that he hadn't told him everything yet. He couldn't possibly have more up his sleeve, could he? This was already so awesome that he had no idea how he could ever live up to this, come Brett's birthday!

They walked on in the other direction, hand in hand, until they came to the coast. 
Eddy had to smile. It was their ocean, the Pacific. Okay, there was a big island in the way, but still. This was the ocean that they were used to seeing from Brisbane, just from the other side. 
The ocean they were about to cross again, to go home and live as husband and husband in his apartment. Their apartment, he corrected himself silently. 

It had been an awesome afternoon. 
They walked back to the centre of the city, their legs tired now, but their heads were clear and their hearts joyous. 

At the exit to the park Eddy turned to Brett and told him: 
¨You are awesome. This has really been the best day. Thank you.¨
Brett smiled, and said, simply:
¨It's been just as awesome for me as it's been for you. Come on, we need to head to the venue, and we need to find something to eat!¨

They quickly walked into the hotel to grab their violins and concert gear, and then they went out again: back to work!