Birthday Surprises

“A well laid plan can be the difference between success and failure, magic and disaster. Always think carefully before plunging in!”

I wrote this story in answer to the following prompts:
Sadje’s What do you see  — image above – Clay Banks @ Unsplash
Ragtag Daily Prompt — Bliss
Pensitivity’s Three Things Challenge — Airy – Tease – Drift
FOWC with Fandango  — Runaround

Birthday Surprises

“Good morning, Jordy. It’s your birthday!”

Jordy rolled over in bed, ‘Twenty-two, I don’t want to be twenty-two,’ he mumbled as the curtains were drawn open assaulting him with sunlight.

“Happy Birthday, to you. Happy birthday dear, Jordy, I brought bacon and eggs for you!”

Jordy smiled, he loved to hear Indy singing. “Good morning, sweetheart,” he said sitting up and stretching.

Indy was stood at the foot of their bed. She’d pulled on an airy cerise skater dress and put adorable bunches in her fox-brown hair; setting off her cute look.

“Thank you, so much. I didn’t expect you to fetch me breakfast this morning.” Jordy yawned as she placed his breakfast tray which included a mug of tea on his lap. She followed it with a warm kiss.

“Awe, it was my pleasure,” Indy reclined beside him to watch him enjoy his breakfast.

Jordy savoured every mouthful of his silky scrambled eggs and salty bacon. “Hmm, thank you, chef. That was delicious!”

Indy removed the tray to the bedside table. Returning her focus to Jordy, she straddled and barraged him with kisses. “So, what would you like for your birthday?”

“I don’t need any presents. I have all I need,” Jordy told her as the warmth of her hug and the scent of her perfume caused him to drift into raptures of euphoria.

“You must want something?”

“The best gift is you. So, long as I have you, Indy. I have all I ever need.” Jordy moved in for a kiss of his own. At the last moment, he twisted his body into hers, rolling her beneath him.

Indy squealed in surprise. Giggled as he began to tease and tickle her ribs. “Ahh, you’re such a naughty sweetie!”

Jordy laughed as he poured his love into her. “You see, you’re all I need to be happy.”

“Then, I’m the happiest girl in the world,” Indy smiled as they kissed again and stopped with their foreheads touching. “Have you planned to do anything today?”

“I thought we might go for a little drive. Maybe spend some time at the coast before we go to dinner with my parents. What do you think?”

“I think that’ll be wonderful.”

A short time later, Jordy was behind the wheel of his convertible Smart Car. It wasn’t big, or very sporty. However, it was eco-friendly and ideal for going to and from the office. The perfect car for a caring millennial couple.

“Shouldn’t we have gone right at the roundabout to head for the beach?” Indy asked fondling his knee.

“The roads closed according to the signs.” Jordy followed the road beneath the bridge. This section of road was sunken between two white painted walls that retained grass mounds.

Indy frowned; she’d seen no roadworks signs. “You giving me the run around mister?” she accused with cute suspicion on her soft features.

“No, we’ll go out this way, and take the next right to get back —”

The car bucked throwing the couple forward in their seatbelts.

“What was that?” Indy asked.

“I don’t know.” Jordy watched the lights go out on the dashboard as he coasted the car to a stop at the side of the road.

“Well, this is a fun place to break down,” Indy sighed as she gazed at the towering white walls on either side of the road. She grimaced, as a lorry thundering the other way; coming dangerously close to removing the wing mirror. As it passed, she caught sight of something.

“No kidding!” Jordy said now looking at the car’s instruction book.

“The best gift is you,” Indy said.

“Pardon?”

“Look,” Indy pointed to the white wall across the road.

A lady was passing by with her pushchair. The lower half of the wall was daubed in blue, yellow, green and pink, paint marks. Rising through them was a pair of line-drawn hands. The words ‘The best gift is you.’ were written in a starburst above them.

“Strange graffiti, isn’t it?” Jordy commented.

“No, that’s what you said this morning – ‘The best gift is you.’ remember?” Indy alighted from the car and crossed the road behind a Mini.

“Where are you going?” Jordy called. He waited for a van to pass before leaping out of the car to follow her.

“I don’t believe in déjà vu. This means something,”

Jordy pointed to the redline on the curb and the signs alongside. “Well, this means we’ll get a parking ticket if we stay here much longer.”

“Haha, I mean this —Oh my …” Indy slapped her hands to her face. She’d been drawn to what looked like a bracelet on the right wrist. Now, she was close, she could see it was a collection of words. ‘Look!” she gasped.

“What is it?” Jordy asked.

“It says, ‘Indy will you marry me?’ as the bracelet.”  Indy turned and burst into tears upon seeing Jordy down on one knee. In his left shaking hand was a small green jewellery box bearing a diamond ring.

“Indy, two years ago. Right here on this spot, I rescued you when that unmentionable slug tried to abduct you —”

“I remember,” Indy said shaking.

Jordy nodded and smiled. “The truth is you rescued me on that day too. When you took me to dinner to thank me, you reignited my reason to exist. The last two years have been the happiest I’ve ever lived —”

“Really?”

“Really. The best gift is you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Indy, will you marry me?”

“I —Ahh!”

A lorry thundered by hitting the couple with the wall of air.

“Wow! Err … So, long as you can restart the car and take us somewhere safer, I’d love to marry you,” Indy finished with a beaming smile.

“Thank you, Indy, my sweetheart!” Jordy leapt to his feet and hugged her for all he was worth. As he freed her, he slipped the ring on her finger with a passionate kiss, “Let’s go and celebrate!”

“Yes, let’s start with a coffee and explanations. You’ve clearly been planning this for a long time,” Indy replied once they were back in the car.

Jordy handed her his phone; images of the mural were on the screen. “When planning to spend the rest of your life with the lady of your dreams, a few months of scheming is well worth it.”

The End

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Exciting News!

I don’t quite believe I’m getting to announce this but it’s happening!

Holly Ward Investigates The Steam Train is coming on June 25th Pre-Order Here

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Thanks for reading my friends.

There’s more in the Poetry Corner, Poetry Nook, and the Short Story Collection

Have a great day!