Saturday Airport 7:00
“Hi, I am Serena Jacobs. Did Darien Shields leave me a ticket?”
“Yes, miss, he is already on board.”
“Thank you.” Serena rushed through the terminal and quickly boarded the plan. She saw Darien sitting next to a window with an open seat next to him. “Sir is this seat taken?”
“Not anymore.” Darien said depressingly and didn’t even to look up to see whom he was talking to.
Serena took the seat next to him and whispered into his ear, “I did not rush all the way here just to receive the cold shoulder from you Dare!”
“Serena! I thought you would not come, Love!” Darien said while hugging her.
“You think I would miss one of out ‘classic secret’ trips? This is a secret trip, right?”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Then the plane started moving toward the runway.
“It’s only a two hour flight. Do you want something so you will fall asleep, and sleep through it?”
“Yes! I always forget how much I hate plane rides until it starts moving.” Darien handed Serena a pill and a bottle of water. “This work fast.” Soon Serena was fast asleep with her head on Darien’s shoulder.
“Sleep well my love, soon you will realize how much I still love you.” Darien said while looking at Serena, not he had his arm around her.
“Sir, would you and your wife like a blanket and a pillow?” The flight attendant asked.
“A blanket would be nice, thank you.” ‘Wife, that sounds nice and so perfect.’
Later~
Serena’s eyes shot open. She found herself snuggled into Darien’s side, while he had his arm wrapped around her and his head resting on top of hers. She smiled at how right she felt being so close to him. Then she felt why she woke up. There was turbulence and they were dropping.
“Darien wake-up!” Serena said in a soft fearful voice while clinging to Darien’s shirt.
"What’s wrong, Love?" Darien asked drogly.
“The turbulence...”
“Attention, this is your pilot speaking, we are currently experiencing turbulence as we are trying to land. Please stay seated and calm.”
“Darien, I’m scared.” Serena said into his shirt.
Darien wrapped his other arm around her and held her close. “It will be ok, Love. Well get through this landing. Shesh, please stop crying Sere I’m here with you.” Serena’s tears stopped but she didn’t loosen her grip on Darien. “See now we are safe on the ground again.”
At the hotel ~
"Dare it is beautiful!”
“Just wait until you see the rest.”
“Mr. Shields it is a pleasure to greet you. Welcome to Florida, my name is Jessica Wayne. If you will fallow me I will lead you to your suite.”
“Miss. Wayne this is my traveling partner Miss. Serena Jacobs. My sister did tell you I would need a two room suite?”
“Of course. Miss Jacobs it is also a pleasure to meet you. “
“Please call me Serena.”
By now they were in an elevator going up to their suite. “If you should need anything please call the front desk and ask for me. Here we are.” They got off on the twelfth and top floor. Jessica walked over to one of the doors and opened it with a key. They all walked into a huge living room type space. Two bellboys were waiting with navy blue and light blue luggage. “The light blue luggage goes in that bedroom and the navy blue goes into the other.” Jessica directed. They walked over to Serena’s bedroom. Jessica showed her the closets and bathroom.
”Sere why don’t you get settled in, I’ll come back over.”
“Ok Darien.”
“Mr. Shield’s this way to your bedroom.”
“Please call me Darien.” Then Jessica and Darien went over to his bedroom. “Did the safe arrive?” Darien asked.
“Yes, Miss Erica said her collection is in the violet velvet and yours is in the navy blue velvet.”
“Perfect!”
“Don’t forget how the balcony is private and can be reached by using any of the doors from any of the three rooms. And the annual season ball!”
“Thank you Miss Wayne.”
“Jessica, is fine.” Then she left the suite. Darien hung up his cloths then went over to get Serena.
“Love, can I come in?”
“Of course.” Darien walked in to see her sitting on her bed taking off her engagement ring. “I thought I should take it off since...”
“Of course that is reasonable. Now since you never called me, I couldn’t tell you about the ball tomorrow night.”
“I’m, sorry, it was a spur of the moment thing. What about the ball?”
“Well, you will need a dress. Brought my tuxedo so do you want to go out and find one?”
“Do I really have a choice in the matter? You know I can’t say no to a ball.” Darien smiled at her showing her that he remembered.
“When do we leave?” Serena asked getting excited.
“Right now if you aren’t tire.”
“Tired no! But I could eat something.”
Darien laughed at Serena and lead her out of their room.
Their first stop was a coffeehouse where they got doughnuts and coffee to eat and drink. Then they went to a dress shop. Serena picked out a few to try on. Darien waited patiently to see Serena in the dresses. She showed him each dress she tried on and he thought she looked great in all of them, but they weren’t quit right. Darien we looking a paper that he picked up at the coffeehouse and didn’t hear Serena come out again, until she cleared her throat. When he looked up, she was dressed in a very light blue dress, that had butterflies embroidered into it in a slightly darker blue all around. The dress was strapless with a full skirt. All in all Serena was breath taking!
“You like?” Sererena asked.
“Love, that’s the dress for you.”
“Good because I’m ready for a walk on the beach. I’ll be right out.”
They went back to the hotel so they wouldn’t have to carry around Serena’s new dress.
“Jessica would you please have someone bring my dress up to my room?” Serena asked politely.
“Yes of course, Miss Serena.”
“Jessica would you recommend any restaurants along the beach?”
“There’s a good one. Just walk towards the Pier. It is called the Seahorse. It has beautiful seating that looks out on to the beach.”
“Thank you, Jessica. We will be back later this afternoon.”
Serena and Darien walked right to the beach. They both took off their sandals and walked along the beach so the water would hit their feet.
“It’s beautiful here. I hope your sister gets the chance to come down here.”
“She will if we give a good review.”
They easily found the Seahorse, and they arrived right before the lunch crowd arrived. After they finished their meal Serena suggested they walk along the beach some more.
“What are we going to do tonight?”
“See what is happening at the hotel.”
“Remember Texas? The sunsets were absolutely magnificent, and riding the trials?”
“That was one of the best places we went.”
“What was your favorite place we have gone to on our secret get a ways’?” Serena asked.
“Colorado.” Darien said with out hesitating to think.
“That’s absurd. We got snowed in, you hit your head, and I spent all but the last night worrying about you. How can Colorado be your favorite?”
“If you don’t remember by tonight I’ll tell you.”
“Darien Shields, are absolutely impossible.”
“ And you Serena Jacobs know that you love me!”
That Evening ~
Serena and Darien’s suite had a personal hot tube that they both choused to enjoy.
“What’s on tomorrow’s agenda?”
“How would you like to be pampered and made-over? Not that you aren’t beautiful without all of that make-up.” Darien said to try and save himself, it worked.
“Where at?” Serena said with excitement.
“Right here in the hotel.”
“I always forget how rich you are, but that is a good thing. Darien, do not ever show off how much money you have.”
“You mean I shouldn’t tell you about the house in London, candoe in Ireland, and the beach house in Greece, or the...”
“Stop it Darien!” Serena said seriously even though Darien was just joking about all the houses. Serena got out of the hot tube, letting Darien see her in her purple bikini for only a second before she wrapped herself in her towel. Darien quickly followed her out.
“What did I say Sere?”
“Nothing!” Serena paused. They were now out on the balcony looking up at the full moon. “You took me all over, even to other continents, but I will never forget Texas. We were in a valley of wild flowers, laying there looking up at the bright full moon and the stars. You were holding me in your arms so close, I could fell and her your heart beating. Then you softly broke out content silence by saying, ‘I love you!’ .” She paused. “Those were the words I was longing to hear from you since the I met you.” Serena looked over at Darien. He could see the tears ready to spill from her eyes. “Now tell me how Colorado beats that?”
”I woke in the middle of the night and saw you asleep in a chair next to my bed. You were so beautiful, peaceful, angelic, all I wanted to do was go over and kiss you, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t believe how much you took care of me while I was in pain or unconscious. I mean you feed me, made sure I was covered in blankets and so much more. It was our first secret trip and there you were taking car eof me. I had so much planned; skiing, roasting marshmallows, drink hot chocolate by the fire place, even building a snowman and snow woman, but those plans were ruined. Yet the best thing that happened was on the last night, something I dreamed of but never planned on. We were sitting in front of the fireplace watching the fire, and that is where we shared our first kiss. And at that moment I knew that I had fallen love with you Serena.”
Serena was crying, she remembered that night, and loved Darien even more for remembering it. Darien wrapped his arms around Serena and held her close. She calmed down eventually, but it wasn’t until she slightly shivered that Darien realized how late it had gotten.
“Serena, go change and get to bed. You have a busy day tomorrow, Love.”
“Goodnight, Dare.” Serena gently kissed him on the cheek then went straight to her room.
Sunday Morning
‘I will call you on your cell phone later. If you need to reach me my cell phone will be on. Love, Sere’
That was all the note he found beside him said. Darien decided to get up and get cleaned up, then he called Serena.
“Serena Jacobs.”
“Good Morning, Love. You are still in Florida right?”
“Of course you think I would leave before a ball?”
“I was just worried by the note, that’s all.”
“Sorry I just didn’t have the heart to wake you. I have to go. I’ll still call you later. Bye Dar.”
“Bye Love.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*SERENA*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Serena was sitting on a bench looking out into the ocean when Darien called. In fact she had just turned on her cell phone figuring he would be waking up soon. She had left her cell phone off all yesterday because she was on vacation. But now Serena knew she had to talk to Raye.
“Hello, Raye Hino speaking!”
“Raye!”
“Serena, where are you? You know you left me with a hysterical Mina, a questioning Andrew, and not to mention the worrying you put me through?”
“I’m sorry Raye, but I decided to go on that vacation after all. Raye, I don’t know what to do.” Serena said desperately.
“What is wrong?”
“I’m marrying Timothy, but I am in love with Darien. I always have been , I thought I could move on, but now I know I can’t, I don’t want to.”
“Serena, Darien left you once. Before you do anything in the heat of the moment, you better think thing through and make sure he won’t leave you again.”
“Thanks Raye.”
“Are you coming home soon?”
“Yes, tomorrow, I’ll stop by to talk.”
“You better, see ya.”
“Bye Raye.”
Serena then got up and walked back to the hotel to get pampered. Around four o’clock she called Darien.
“Hello, Darien Shield’s here.”
“Bored without me?”
“Lonely without you, Love.”
“Good!” Serena said laughing at him. “Is it ok if I meet you in the lobby at six?”
“Why?” Darien asked alarmed.
“Because me and Jesdica have formed a conspiracy against you.”
“How so?”
“To make you wait the longest possible to see me all dressed up.”
“But I have something to give you.”
“Trust me Darien it can wait!”
Then she hanged up on him and turned her cell phone off!
Sunday 6 o’clock
“Jessica what is this conspiracy against me?” Darien asked as he saw Jessica at the front desk in the lobby.
“Darien it was all Serena’s idea, I just helped her, just like you asked me to.”
“It’s just like Serena to do something like this. She loves making me wait.”
Jessica just smiled at him since Darien had turned around and started walking over to the stairway. It was a grand stairway that only went up to the second floor, but it was still magnificent. Even more so with his beautiful love slowly walking down them. Once she reached the lower stairs Darien offered her his hand, which she gladly took. He brought her small hand to his lips, lightly kissing the delicate glove.
“My princess, may I have the honor of escorting you to the ball?”
“Yes, my prince, you may have that honor.”
“Come this way, I still have a gift for you.” Darien led her to a mirror. “Now close your eyes.” As soon as she did as he asked, he put a simple diamond necklaces on her neck and a matching bracelet on her right wrist. “Ok open your eyes1”
“WOW! They are from you collection.” Darien stood behind her, so they could see each other through the mirror. He smiled to answer her question. “You have never let me wear anything from your collection before, it was always Erica’s. I love them!”
“Earring for the princess.” Serena quickly put in the simple diamond earrings. The jewelry added to her already perfect beauty, so now she really looked like a princess.
“Shall we head in?”
“Yes we shall.”
Darien and Serena were the perfect, glamorous, beautiful couple at the ball. Their first dance together, everyone just watched them dance together, but the couple never noticed. It was a magical and wonderful night for Serena and Darien, as if it was the beginning of their life, together.
Unfortunately the weather was soon to change after they both went to bed with wonderful thoughts and new wonderful memories.