Cara woke up and stretched her limbs, feeling extremely lazy but a smile brightened up her face as memories of what they shared last night played across her mind. She turned her head to check upon Marcus but strangely, even at 5 o’clock, he wasn’t there. In his place, there was a single rose stem and a little note laid out on his pillow. Did he wake up already? What did the note contain? Did he leave for some reason? Did he forget that it was a special day for them today?
Curiously she picked up the note and opened it to check. There scribbled in his artistic handwriting was a sweet note.
Good morning my love! A thornless rose stem to prove my true love for you. It signifies love at first sight just like I felt for you. If you want to start our special day in a special way, just follow the instructions. Go to the en-suite to freshen up first!
Cara rolled her eyes but the smile didn’t leave her face. She picked up the fresh rose and kissed it with an excited smile on her face. Then placing the note and the flower at her bedside table, she walked over to the en-suite to freshen up. Her heart raced with excitement and she wondered what Marcus had in mind for them today. However the moment she opened the door, a subtle and sweet fragrance of roses hit her nostrils. She noted the bathtub filled with rose petals and aromatic oils, ready for her to soak into. Turning to the vanity to brush her teeth, she noticed a note stuck in the mirror in front of her. She smiled at Marcus’s innovative ideas.
Meet me at our special haven for a delicious treat! Your Marcus.
Her heart skipped a beat seeing the way he signed off. Your Marcus! It made her feel special already and she quickly took a soaking bath and emerged from the en-suite, feeling pampered and rejuvenated enough to start her day. Her glance fell upon a dress neatly folded on the bed. It wasn’t there when she went in!
Smiling, she picked up the dress and gasped with surprise. It was a pastel orange-colored, flare-knit midi dress with a V-neckline and spaghetti straps. Cara wore it eagerly, the flirty skirt and perfect bodycon fit accentuated her curves, making her smile at her reflection. She loved it immensely and glanced at the diamond danglers that Marcus had laid out for her on the bed. With her heartbeats rocketing sky high, she clipped them on and dried and set her hair into waves to frame her face. Spraying a whiff of her favorite perfume, she slipped her feet into a pair of matching jeweled encrusted slippers, placed on the floor for her.
Wondering if the special haven was the gallery at the backside of their bedroom, she opened the door but found no one there. Walking out, she was about to turn around and leave when her gaze fell upon a bouquet of red roses on the table outside. Smiling with disbelief, she went out to the deck and picked up the rose bouquet. There was a large tag attached to it with a message.
Walk down to the watering hole, the gazebo is the place to be.
Waiting for you, my love! Come and join me.
Cara frowned at the message, reading it again and again. Watering hole? Did he mean the fountain? Or was it the swimming pool? Ever since she had resumed working, she hardly found the time to go for a dip in the pool. Maybe he meant the swimming pool since she could already see the fountain from the deck where she stood but where was a gazebo? Last she remembered, her property didn’t have any gazebo built anywhere. Confused she walked towards the swimming pool in the backyard. As she approached the place, her eyes widened with shock. The whole place had been transformed and a beautiful gazebo had been built overlooking the huge swimming pool. When did he have this gazebo built? She had no idea!
However, she didn’t have much time to ponder over it though for there in the middle stood Marcus wearing a white dress shirt and well-tailored navy blue slacks, looking drop-dead gorgeous and swoon-worthy. He had a radiant smile on his face as he gazed back at her, slowly opening his arms out to her. Cara grinned and her heart somersaulted with happiness as she ran into them eagerly. He engulfed her in his arms and picked her up, twirling her around as if she weighed nothing. Cara squealed with happiness and tightened her hold around his neck.
“You’re looking so intoxicating!” he gasped, when he placed her down, at last, his eyes roaming all over her, taking in her look minutely.
“Thanks, so are you,” she blushed when his eyes fell to her juicy lips and he contemplated whether to snatch a quick kiss. However, Cara was oblivious to his line of thought and looked around the place in awe.
“Marcus, what is all this? When did you get this gazebo built? It’s so amazing!” she exclaimed excitedly.
“While you were at the studios every day,” said Adam, appearing from the backside of the gazebo. Even Vera and Liam appeared, grinning like Cheshire cats, making Cara’s eyes widen. So he involved the whole family while she was clueless about it! Even aunt Maggie, carrying Marianne and uncle Joe came out of the house followed by Mrs. Jenner and Mrs. Davis pushing two trolleys laden with delicious breakfast and crockery.
“Oh, why did you hide it from me?” asked a clueless Cara.
“Because Marcus wants to mmmmmm,” started Liam while Marcus covered his mouth and Vera jumped up and down excitedly. Adam too attacked Liam and covered his mouth above Marcus’s hands making Cara’s mouth hang open with astonishment. Aunt Maggie and Mrs. Jenner chuckled but uncle Joe tried hard to curb the grin that was trying to break free.
“What’s going on? Marcus, Adam leave him,” she scolded but they whispered in a huddle, making her all the more puzzled. Then they all straightened and grinned at her.
“Let’s eat, mia Cara,” said Marcus, drawing a chair out for her. Cara gave him a suspicious look and sat down to eat. He sat down beside her while the others seated themselves around the table. The food was delicious and they urged Mrs. Jenner and Mrs. Davis to join in as well. While Marianne sat in her stroller beside Cara, playing with her teething toys, they enjoyed the hearty breakfast. It was a very thoughtful and a special way to start a special day, amidst loved ones!
“I hope you’ve canceled all your plans for the day?” asked Marcus eagerly. Cara turned to give her a look of surprise.
“Oh, you didn’t ask me to. Do you have other things planned as well?” she asked curiously. Marcus scratched the back of his neck with nervousness, clearly in a dilemma about whether to tell her or not.
“Tell her, Marcus, or she will escape to her studio,” whispered Liam worriedly.
“Right! Well, you need to get ready. We’ll be going out for the day,” he said hesitantly.
“Oh! Where? Are we all going?” asked Cara looking at all of them. Adam slapped his forehead while Vera rolled her eyes and Liam facepalmed.
“No,” said Marcus.
“How can we all go with you?” asked Vera, looking at her older sister with disbelief. Cara opened her mouth but Marcus placed his hot hand on her thigh, making the heat penetrate through the thin material of her dress. She immediately shut up and looked up at him only to find him concentrating on the food as if nothing was happening between them. His fingers moved in circles on her thigh and she felt a surge of heat course up and down her body.
“Umm, why can’t you?” she asked, squirming a little to get free of his touch but he was a leech. He didn’t remove his hand at all.
“Marcus?” she, at last, brought him out of his dreamland, making his gaze leave his plate and land upon her for a change.
“Because it’s a date, silly,” said Liam, unable to see his sister get so worked up. Everyone groaned while uncle Joe laughed out loud at their antics.
“Liam,” scolded Adam and Vera, looking mad at him. “That was supposed to be a surprise!” said Adam, making Liam place his hands above his head with guilt.
“Oops, sorry,” he grinned. Marcus sighed melodramatically and looked at his upset student.
“That’s okay, junior. I’ll think of other surprises,” he said, leaning towards Liam. Cara picked up his hand from her thigh and threw it onto his own lap.
“I hate surprises okay?” she said concentrating on her food when his hand returned to where it belonged, on her thigh. She glared at him but he winked in return. After breakfast, everyone disappeared from the gazebo leaving just the two of them lazing around on the sit-out.
“So you didn’t tell me why you hid this from me?” she asked him with curiosity.
“To plan a few surprises here,” he answered, making her eyes widen.
“Oh, right, knowing that I hate surprises,” she said. He placed an arm around her shoulders and drew her closer.
“Did you hate everything I did for you today?” he asked, his eyes burning with an intensity as if her answer meant the world to him. Cara slowly shook her head. She didn’t hate anything he did so far. In fact, all his thoughtful gestures blew her mind away. She felt special and cherished and well-loved.
“No, I loved everything you did, Marcus. You made me feel special. Thank you so much for everything,” she whispered, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.
“So are you ready for the next surprise?” he asked, his eyes dancing with excitement.