“If Ollie doesn’t divulge surprises before the time is right, then… yes, yes I do.”
“You're no help.” I said.
He smiled proudly.
Even though I was acting annoyed, I was actually really touched that he had planned something special for us. I was practically bouncing in the seat by the time he pulled up to the airport. “What's going on here?” I asked. “Are we picking someone up?” My heart raced excitedly. Maybe Henrietta and Tyler were visiting?
He shook his head and held up his phone, swiping the screen to show two boarding passes. I tried to look closer and zoom in to see the city, but he pulled his phone away.
“The flights are for us,” he said.
My jaw dropped. “Where are we going?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out later.”
“But who’s watching Ralphie?” I asked. He wouldn’t be okay at home without someone to check on him and keep him company.
“Rory and Beckett are bird sitting,” he replied. I also learned that Cohen had somehow sneakily packed bags for us.
There were two suitcases about carry-on sized, so I knew it must not have been a long trip. My mind spun with possible destinations until we made our way through security and reached our gate and I stared up at the sign that said Dallas. “No way,” I squealed.
He nodded with a small smile. “I know you've been missing Henrietta.”
Completely shocked and more than excited, I shrieked and jumped into his arms, making more than a few people laugh and chuckle around us. “You are the best,” I said. “I thought we were just planning on having Christmas at home.”
He shook his head. “Home is where you are.”
I held his face in my hands and kissed him.“Have I mentioned you're the best?”
He chuckled. “Never hurts to hear… So you’re not mad about waiting for the surprise?”
“Not even a little.” I squeezed his hand. and then we started my next favorite activity, airport shopping.
I loved going through all of the little stores and seeing what trinkets and books they had inside. Even though I was born and raised in California, I found myself looking at a tumbler that had the state of California with the Santa hat on top. Cohen took it from my hands and said, “I'll get it for you.”
I pressed my hands over my heart, and said, “You're spoiling me. I'll go rotten if you keep this up.”
But he shook his head and said, “You know rotten fruit turns into wine.”
I chuckled at the joke. I certainly did not mind being indulged.
We went to a few more shops, grabbing a book for me to read on the plane and a magazine for him. Soon they were calling our flight to board. We got on board, sitting side by side. Before I even had to worry about it, Cohen flagged down a flight attendant and said, “Can we get a belt extender, please?”
It was easy, with no drama. No guilt or shame. I loved how good he was at taking care of me.
All buckled in, we sat back, talking about Cottonwood Falls and Henrietta and Tyler and the friends we couldn't wait to see. I'd been able to visit Henrietta in Texas a few times over the years, and each trip felt special. She had a really greatcommunity around her, and I loved seeing how happy she was to have such great friends and family around. Even if I did miss her more than a little.
I was almost halfway through my book when we landed in Dallas, but I knew we still had a two-hour drive to get to Cottonwood Falls. Cohen led us to the rental car counter, and he surprised me with a rental car that had a Rudolph nose on the front and horns in the windows.
I squealed. “My family always makes fun of me for liking these!”
He shook his head. “I love this about you. Remember, never dull your sparkle.”
I nodded in agreement. “I can't wait to pull up to Cottonwood Falls in this.”
“Me neither.” He said, “Let's go.”
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