What's Left of Us
Page 53
Me: What are you up to?
He responds immediately.
Mr. Handsome: Wait until you see.
I shake my head. Parker loves surprises and he enjoys giving them to me any chance he can get.
It’s not long before the limo comes to a stop at . . . Max’s Bar?
“What the?” I mumble.
Craig opens my door and holds out his hand to help me out.
“What are we doing here?”
There’s a small crowd outside smoking and, from the wide eyes and confused looks I’m getting, I assume my entrance is a little extravagant for what’s going on inside.
“Mr. Jackson has asked that I escort you inside.”
Confused, I follow Craig into the bar. The place is pretty packed for an early weekday evening, and music is already blaring.
The hostess greets me.
I start to speak, but Craig says, “This is Mrs. Jackson.”
“Oh, Aundrea!” she says excitedly, bouncing on her heels as if she’s been expecting me all night.
“That’s me,” I reply, nonplussed. I glance around at the crowd, looking for Parker.
“Here, I’m supposed to give this to you.” She hands me a single long-stemmed yellow rose and a folded piece of paper.
I take them from her with a shaky hand. I’m not sure why, but this entire situation has me on edge.
Opening the note, I read:
Aundrea,
My life changed here. It was the night I met the love of my life. You. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully describe what you have done to me, but always know the beginning of us started here.
Parker
I look up to see the hostess smiling widely.
“Is he here?” I ask, scanning the crowd over her shoulder.
She shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry.”
“Mrs. Jackson, if you’ll come with me,” Craig says from behind me.
I follow him back out to the limo. I read the note over and over again as we drive. Soon we come to another stop, the door opens, and Craig holds his hand out for me again.
The building before us is all too familiar. I don’t wait for Craig to open the door; I just jog up the steps of our old apartment building. The night security guard, Neil, is standing there with a huge, happy grin.
“Evening, Mrs. Jackson.”
“Hi Neil.”
He hands me a single yellow rose and a note.
Aundrea,
When you walked out of my life, I was certain I’d never see you again. I can’t explain it, but you exerted this gravitational pull on me (and still do). I craved your attention, needed your touch, and wanted nothing more than to hear your voice again. There was something special about you that ignited a yearning within me. My prayers were answered that night at Jason’s house when we were brought face to face again.
Even though this building is part of our past, it will always be the start our future.
Parker
The butterflies in my stomach are fluttering so strongly I’m almost convinced they’re real.
“Are we going to see him soon?” I ask Craig.
“Soon. One more stop.” He closes the limo door behind me, leaving me to ponder.
After what feels like an eternity, we pull up to Graham Arena—the ice arena where we once went on a date. I don’t wait for Craig to open the door. I jump out of the limo and walk into the building, memories of us ice-skating coming back to me. I’m not sure where I’m going, but I check with the counter first.
“Hello, my name is Aundrea.” I pause, looking for Parker. “I’m looking—”
“For this?” The young man pulls out a note and another yellow rose.
“That.” I nod and take it from him.
Aundrea,
This is where I fell in love with you. I couldn’t take my eyes off you as you skated around the arena, laughing and smiling. I didn’t just see a woman on the ice, I saw the woman I was going to marry. I admire you, Aundrea. Each and every day, I admire the strength you have and your willingness to keep moving forward.
Parker
I’m sobbing before I even finish the note. I never knew the exact moment Parker fell in love with me. They say that when you know, you just know. It turns out Parker knew from the very beginning that we were meant to be together.
I have no idea what is going on. I don’t know why Parker felt the sudden need for these notes, or what he is up to, but I do know I have never felt so much emotion run through me as a result of so few words. I’m blown away by the affection, love, and admiration he feels for me.
Tears stream down my face and I clutch the note to my chest. I walk eagerly back to the limo, needing more than anything to see Parker.
The ride to our final destination is short. I don’t recognize anything as we pass buildings, landscapes, and houses. When we turn down a dark, secluded road, I go rigid.
Where in the world are we going?
Soon, twinkle lights come into view and, as we draw nearer, I see Parker standing alone in front of a gazebo. We’re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but green grass.
Seeing him standing there, I almost feel like I’m on an episode of The Bachelor, with the limo pulling up and the gorgeous man waiting for each woman to step out.
Craig helps me out and I practically run to Parker, smiling wider all the way.
“Hi,” I whisper, reaching him. My eyes are already misty and he hasn’t even spoken yet. Just looking at him sends my emotions all over the place. He’s wearing nice dress pants and a red button-down.
He responds immediately.
Mr. Handsome: Wait until you see.
I shake my head. Parker loves surprises and he enjoys giving them to me any chance he can get.
It’s not long before the limo comes to a stop at . . . Max’s Bar?
“What the?” I mumble.
Craig opens my door and holds out his hand to help me out.
“What are we doing here?”
There’s a small crowd outside smoking and, from the wide eyes and confused looks I’m getting, I assume my entrance is a little extravagant for what’s going on inside.
“Mr. Jackson has asked that I escort you inside.”
Confused, I follow Craig into the bar. The place is pretty packed for an early weekday evening, and music is already blaring.
The hostess greets me.
I start to speak, but Craig says, “This is Mrs. Jackson.”
“Oh, Aundrea!” she says excitedly, bouncing on her heels as if she’s been expecting me all night.
“That’s me,” I reply, nonplussed. I glance around at the crowd, looking for Parker.
“Here, I’m supposed to give this to you.” She hands me a single long-stemmed yellow rose and a folded piece of paper.
I take them from her with a shaky hand. I’m not sure why, but this entire situation has me on edge.
Opening the note, I read:
Aundrea,
My life changed here. It was the night I met the love of my life. You. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully describe what you have done to me, but always know the beginning of us started here.
Parker
I look up to see the hostess smiling widely.
“Is he here?” I ask, scanning the crowd over her shoulder.
She shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry.”
“Mrs. Jackson, if you’ll come with me,” Craig says from behind me.
I follow him back out to the limo. I read the note over and over again as we drive. Soon we come to another stop, the door opens, and Craig holds his hand out for me again.
The building before us is all too familiar. I don’t wait for Craig to open the door; I just jog up the steps of our old apartment building. The night security guard, Neil, is standing there with a huge, happy grin.
“Evening, Mrs. Jackson.”
“Hi Neil.”
He hands me a single yellow rose and a note.
Aundrea,
When you walked out of my life, I was certain I’d never see you again. I can’t explain it, but you exerted this gravitational pull on me (and still do). I craved your attention, needed your touch, and wanted nothing more than to hear your voice again. There was something special about you that ignited a yearning within me. My prayers were answered that night at Jason’s house when we were brought face to face again.
Even though this building is part of our past, it will always be the start our future.
Parker
The butterflies in my stomach are fluttering so strongly I’m almost convinced they’re real.
“Are we going to see him soon?” I ask Craig.
“Soon. One more stop.” He closes the limo door behind me, leaving me to ponder.
After what feels like an eternity, we pull up to Graham Arena—the ice arena where we once went on a date. I don’t wait for Craig to open the door. I jump out of the limo and walk into the building, memories of us ice-skating coming back to me. I’m not sure where I’m going, but I check with the counter first.
“Hello, my name is Aundrea.” I pause, looking for Parker. “I’m looking—”
“For this?” The young man pulls out a note and another yellow rose.
“That.” I nod and take it from him.
Aundrea,
This is where I fell in love with you. I couldn’t take my eyes off you as you skated around the arena, laughing and smiling. I didn’t just see a woman on the ice, I saw the woman I was going to marry. I admire you, Aundrea. Each and every day, I admire the strength you have and your willingness to keep moving forward.
Parker
I’m sobbing before I even finish the note. I never knew the exact moment Parker fell in love with me. They say that when you know, you just know. It turns out Parker knew from the very beginning that we were meant to be together.
I have no idea what is going on. I don’t know why Parker felt the sudden need for these notes, or what he is up to, but I do know I have never felt so much emotion run through me as a result of so few words. I’m blown away by the affection, love, and admiration he feels for me.
Tears stream down my face and I clutch the note to my chest. I walk eagerly back to the limo, needing more than anything to see Parker.
The ride to our final destination is short. I don’t recognize anything as we pass buildings, landscapes, and houses. When we turn down a dark, secluded road, I go rigid.
Where in the world are we going?
Soon, twinkle lights come into view and, as we draw nearer, I see Parker standing alone in front of a gazebo. We’re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but green grass.
Seeing him standing there, I almost feel like I’m on an episode of The Bachelor, with the limo pulling up and the gorgeous man waiting for each woman to step out.
Craig helps me out and I practically run to Parker, smiling wider all the way.
“Hi,” I whisper, reaching him. My eyes are already misty and he hasn’t even spoken yet. Just looking at him sends my emotions all over the place. He’s wearing nice dress pants and a red button-down.
