He opened his eyes as he woke and instantly remembered what day it was. He only had a few days until the birthday of the woman he loved. He rolled over on his side and watched her sleeping. She looked like an angel. He could watch her sleep for hours. For now, though, he needed to get up and start the preparations. He kissed her arm softly, so he wouldn’t wake her. She looked so cute with her face half-buried in her pillow and arm. He gently moved a small lock of hair from her face and smiled. She’d given him so much. He knew that she deserved so much in return.
He slipped from bed carefully and reached for his clothes. All of the plans ran through his head as he dressed. He froze in place as she stirred. He didn’t want to wake her, so as he slipped his shoes on, he poofed to the living room. It was still in disarray from their days of...well, they couldn’t really call it lovemaking. Though there was a lot of love involved, it was anything but the gentle passion that came to mind at the term. They were always more of a storm together than a cool breeze.
He started using his fae magic to right the disaster of the house. The pillows were poofed back onto the couch, which was stood back up, the shattered glass reconstructed into the sliding door’s frame, the carpet with its burn holes from the candles disappeared and replaced with a new and bright designed one. The pictures and their frames were also fixed and placed back on the walls where they belonged.
Man, he thought, this was worse than that time in the garden.
Then he looked out to the pool and brought his hand to his face, dragging it slowly down his stubble-covered jaw. The water was completely gone. They’d caused it to evaporate in their first bout of sensual passion. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and barely caught himself before he swore aloud. It was broken, too. He turned on the computer. While he waited for it to boot, he poofed to the hallway outside of their housekeeper’s quarters and gently knocked. She answered quickly, almost startling him.
“Sorry to bother you, Janet. If you and Brad aren’t too busy, would you mind taking care of the pool?” he turned on a little extra charm and smiled. She looked back at Brad and shook her head with a giggle.
“You kids,” she laughed. “I’m glad you’re home safe and sound, Oren. I’m sure we can manage...” she looked back at Brad, who was looking out the window for the first time, assessing the damage.
“You two need to be more careful,” Brad said, not looking at him. “That pool might need a specialist...how soon would you like it repaired?” he finally turned to look at him.
“Well, Kelsey’s birthday is in three days. Can you manage to have it ready by then?” Oren was sure they would be able to find some way to manage it, and was reassured with a smile and a nod from the butler.
With that task taken care of, he poofed to the first of many stores. He ordered a few dozen tulip arrangements and signed the payment slip. He was grinning ear to ear when he poofed to his next destination. He looked around and was highly impressed with his surroundings. He looked to his left and was in awe of the skyline that included the Eiffel Tower. He made a mental note to be sure to visit with Kelsey sometime down the road. For now, he had work to do. He rang the doorbell and waited.
He lit up a cigarette as he heard the commotion inside. He hadn’t seen his cousin for decades. She emailed him occasionally to update her address and phone number whenever she moved, but they hadn’t actually had a chance to catch up in ages. He took another drag and almost coughed as he laughed at her yelling in French for someone to shut up. While he landed himself in the Ireland area when he was younger, she had come to France. Of course, Paris hadn’t been her original home. It was far too large and public. She wanted discrete and quiet to keep her father, his uncle from finding her.
He still didn’t understand the whole family tree and how she was related to him since he was part earth fae, and part fire fae, and she was completely shadow fae. That was a discussion for another time and place. He didn’t really want to get into the whole family discussion right now. Too many fresh scars there. His new family needed worrying about, not his old. Well, except for this dark gem in their dusty genealogical tree.
She opened the door and her eyes went wide. It was as if the whole moment happened in slow motion, even though it wasn’t. It took her a few moments to collect herself and finally the smile he loved so much spread over her entire face. She turned back toward the inside of the house and yelled some more French, telling the occupants to hold their horses.
“Oren! You dog! How dare you make me wait 37 years to hear from you!” she bellowed and wrapped her arms around him.
He followed suit, laughing heartily. She always made him smile with her old world personality. She never seemed to catch up to the modern times like the rest of their kind. She liked the way things used to be, and would never change. He liked that about her. He looked her over after their embrace ended and put his finger to his chin, pretending to think.
“Something about you has changed but I just can’t put my finger on it,” he teased. Of course very little had changed. Then he looked in her eyes again and that opinion changed. There was a maturity there, the kind that you only get from loving and losing someone extremely special. He didn’t push, and his face lost a little of its humor. “You still look as gorgeous as ever, Maurelle.”
She gestured for him to enter and he did. She closed the door behind them and led him through the quaint home. It wasn’t large or extravagant like so many fae chose these days. She didn’t like to flaunt the income she had made from all of her years singing in the spotlight. Of course, she only chose that lifestyle to make a living. She would have preferred to stay in the shadows, so to speak.
He touched her arm and she stopped and turned back to him. He gestured to the empty living room. “Can we talk alone? I wanted to ask a favor.”
She nodded. “I’ll just tell the nursemaid. Make yourself comfortable.”
She walked past the room, presumably to the kitchen. He could smell the scents of cooking food and his stomach reminded him that neither he nor Kelsey had eaten since before he called her. It might be a smart idea to take something home for her.
When Maurelle returned, she sat down on the couch next to him and turned toward him, crossing her legs in lady like way that he was shocked to see. She might be a bit different in minor ways, but she was never much of a lady when they were growing up.
“Relly,” he started, using his childhood nickname for her. “I have some good news to share. I’m engaged.” He steeled himself for her reaction, expecting an explosion of hugs and cheers. What he got instead was a somewhat somber smile.
“I’m happy for you, cousin. I apologize if I am not overjoyed, however. Life has been less than kind to me in regards to love,” she held up a hand to stop his questions before they reached his throat. She knew him well. “Might I ask why you tell me this when you said you had a favor to ask?”
She was still blunt and to the point. Some things never changed.
“I was hoping I would get you to sing at her birthday party this weekend. She has helped me in so many ways, Maurelle. I owe it to her to do something extravagant and spectacular to celebrate it. Also, I would like to ask you to sing at our wedding in the future. I know it would mean so much to me for you to not only be there, but for you to be a part of it as well.”
Maurelle took a deep breath and thought it over. She looked off at the fireplace that was cold and dark. She shivered and started running her hands over her bare arms. I tossed a small fireball at the charred wood and saw her smile as the room seemed to come to life. A small amount of the weariness left her face as well as she looked at me.
“I would be honored to sing at both occasions. Under two conditions. One, don’t ask about my love life, past, present or future. Two, you make me godmother to your first born.”
He smiled and nodded. “That is more than fair, and I am sure that Kelsey would approve of the latter.”
She smiled and stood up. “I must check on the food. Brigitte is quite busy with the little ones.” she laughed. “I apologize for my rudeness in cutting off the conversation so quickly.”
He shook his head and stood with her. “No need for apologies, Relly. You have to do what you have to do. I actually need to be going as well. Kelsey doesn’t know I’ve left. She’s probably awake by now and fuming that I left without word. Especially after being called to war made me leave in the exact same way.”
They embraced in a quick hug before he poofed to the store down the street to pick up lunch.
The next day started quite similarly. He snuck out of bed while she slept, having worn her out yet again. She was insatiable. This time, he poofed to Italy to order a pair of shoes he’d seen her eyeing in a catalogue, along with a couple of dresses that he thought she might like. Yellow always looked so warm and inviting on her, so he made sure that he picked out a scarf in just the right shade.
After poofing his order to a spare room in the guest wing that he was sure she would never venture to, he poofed to Switzerland. He met with a master chocolatier and made a specific request for him to have a hazelnut-chocolate cake ready within the next day. He offered the man quadruple what his normal price was. Seeing the large man’s face light up, he felt bad about asking anything more of the man. As he was about to leave, the man stopped him. He offered him a few dozen molded chocolates as well. Oren accepted, but left one hell of a hefty tip with his payment.
Before he went home the second day, he made a call to Ana and asked her if she could take Kelsey out for a lunch the next day while he set up. He didn’t tell her any of the details, just that he was throwing her a surprise party. When he hung up, he knew the whole Jackson family was finding out before he could even poof home.
***
While Ana had Kelsey out, he started setting up. Outside, there was a large tent set up, the fire pit was lit, the pool was repaired and refilled. The table had an array of snacks, the spectacular display of Swiss chocolates, champagne, beer...both foreign and domestic or many varieties, sparkling cider, a white chocolate fountain that the Swiss chocolatier threw in complimentary, a spread of cheeses and meats, and finally the fantastic five tier cake.
There were tulips arranged throughout the deck area in beautiful vases. Ribbons of gold and white held balloons of the same colors in place. There was glitter in the pool of gold and silver as well. Keeping the entire party dry and warm, and safe from wind was a dome spell with thanks to Lia.
I called up Charis before she made her way over and asked her for a huge favor. I told her to keep the entire thing a secret until the very last moment. If I knew one thing, I knew my girl loved surprises and fly by the seat of your pants type of decisions. This would blow her away. No one besides Charis and I knew completely what the secret of the day was, but everyone acted slightly suspicious of me when I avoided questions.
I made my apologies and snuck off to one last store for a final gift that I had ordered long ago. I’d paid extra for the items and made them sign an agreement to keep them until I picked them up, no matter what happened or how long it took.
With the two small boxes in my hand, I poofed back to party. I searched out Charis, who had finally arrived and handed her the boxes, giving her a knowing look. She laughed and winked at me, sharing in my deviousness.
I loved this family more than my own by far, save a few more distant relations. Speaking of...I looked around for Maurelle and groaned when I didn’t find her. I had forgotten to mention that the time and date were California time. I gave her a quick call and explained. She laughed and told me she would be over as soon as she could.
Now just to wait for the guest of honor to arrive. His palms were sweaty and heart was racing. He’d just been home a week and he knew without a doubt that he would never leave her again. Not for anything.
As soon as she and Ana arrived, a small ward went off that alerted him via text. Silent thank yous went out to Lia yet again for that little trick. He poofed to the front door and smiled at Ana.
“Ana, can you go to the back yard? I need to talk to Kelsey for a moment.” Ana didn’t give anything away. She smiled, nodded once and poofed away.
He grabbed Kelsey’s hand and smiled so big it almost hurt. This day was all about her, he’d made sure of that. He couldn’t get over how giddy and happy he was about his final present however.
“Happy birthday, my love.” he said before lowering his head to kiss her hand. “I know I have asked once before, but I have to make completely sure that you have absolutely no doubts.” His eyes met hers as he dropped to one knee. “Kelsey Rianne Alston, would you still be willing to do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Doyle?”
He knew her reaction would be completely and utterly positive, and that’s exactly what he got. She nodded and repeated her yeses over and over. He stood up, kissed her fully and spun her around. “Good. Now, for your surprise.”
He poofed her to the backyard just as Maurelle started singing.
After she had the chance to look over her gifts, cake and decorations, he left her to visit with her closest family and friends. When the sun just barely started to set over the beach and ocean in the distance, he nodded across the crowd to Charis and apologetically took the mic from Maurelle.
“Can I have everyone’s attention please.” he looked over the people that had become so important to both he and Kelsey over the last year and smiled. His pulse sped up as he looked upon Kelsey. She was gorgeous. “Before I brought Kelsey back here, I reaffirmed her desire to be my wife.” His smile widened as she blushed slightly in front of everyone. “I am very, very lucky indeed that she said yes once, but twice...I am the luckiest damn man in this realm and Faery. My love, would you join me up here?”
He held out his hand as she took the stage next to him. “Friends, family, loved ones...” he looked in her eyes as he continued. “I now hand the mic to Charis Melih.”
He handed the microphone to the angel and had to hold back tears. He just hoped that she wouldn’t be scared by his impromptu ceremony. He barely heard Charis as she spoke, but saw the emotions play across Kelsey’s face instead.
Their vows were shared, without rehearsal and full of heartfelt emotion and honesty. They shared their first kiss as man and wife as the sun disappeared over the horizon, just as they’d discussed long ago.
He slipped from bed carefully and reached for his clothes. All of the plans ran through his head as he dressed. He froze in place as she stirred. He didn’t want to wake her, so as he slipped his shoes on, he poofed to the living room. It was still in disarray from their days of...well, they couldn’t really call it lovemaking. Though there was a lot of love involved, it was anything but the gentle passion that came to mind at the term. They were always more of a storm together than a cool breeze.
He started using his fae magic to right the disaster of the house. The pillows were poofed back onto the couch, which was stood back up, the shattered glass reconstructed into the sliding door’s frame, the carpet with its burn holes from the candles disappeared and replaced with a new and bright designed one. The pictures and their frames were also fixed and placed back on the walls where they belonged.
Man, he thought, this was worse than that time in the garden.
Then he looked out to the pool and brought his hand to his face, dragging it slowly down his stubble-covered jaw. The water was completely gone. They’d caused it to evaporate in their first bout of sensual passion. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and barely caught himself before he swore aloud. It was broken, too. He turned on the computer. While he waited for it to boot, he poofed to the hallway outside of their housekeeper’s quarters and gently knocked. She answered quickly, almost startling him.
“Sorry to bother you, Janet. If you and Brad aren’t too busy, would you mind taking care of the pool?” he turned on a little extra charm and smiled. She looked back at Brad and shook her head with a giggle.
“You kids,” she laughed. “I’m glad you’re home safe and sound, Oren. I’m sure we can manage...” she looked back at Brad, who was looking out the window for the first time, assessing the damage.
“You two need to be more careful,” Brad said, not looking at him. “That pool might need a specialist...how soon would you like it repaired?” he finally turned to look at him.
“Well, Kelsey’s birthday is in three days. Can you manage to have it ready by then?” Oren was sure they would be able to find some way to manage it, and was reassured with a smile and a nod from the butler.
With that task taken care of, he poofed to the first of many stores. He ordered a few dozen tulip arrangements and signed the payment slip. He was grinning ear to ear when he poofed to his next destination. He looked around and was highly impressed with his surroundings. He looked to his left and was in awe of the skyline that included the Eiffel Tower. He made a mental note to be sure to visit with Kelsey sometime down the road. For now, he had work to do. He rang the doorbell and waited.
He lit up a cigarette as he heard the commotion inside. He hadn’t seen his cousin for decades. She emailed him occasionally to update her address and phone number whenever she moved, but they hadn’t actually had a chance to catch up in ages. He took another drag and almost coughed as he laughed at her yelling in French for someone to shut up. While he landed himself in the Ireland area when he was younger, she had come to France. Of course, Paris hadn’t been her original home. It was far too large and public. She wanted discrete and quiet to keep her father, his uncle from finding her.
He still didn’t understand the whole family tree and how she was related to him since he was part earth fae, and part fire fae, and she was completely shadow fae. That was a discussion for another time and place. He didn’t really want to get into the whole family discussion right now. Too many fresh scars there. His new family needed worrying about, not his old. Well, except for this dark gem in their dusty genealogical tree.
She opened the door and her eyes went wide. It was as if the whole moment happened in slow motion, even though it wasn’t. It took her a few moments to collect herself and finally the smile he loved so much spread over her entire face. She turned back toward the inside of the house and yelled some more French, telling the occupants to hold their horses.
“Oren! You dog! How dare you make me wait 37 years to hear from you!” she bellowed and wrapped her arms around him.
He followed suit, laughing heartily. She always made him smile with her old world personality. She never seemed to catch up to the modern times like the rest of their kind. She liked the way things used to be, and would never change. He liked that about her. He looked her over after their embrace ended and put his finger to his chin, pretending to think.
“Something about you has changed but I just can’t put my finger on it,” he teased. Of course very little had changed. Then he looked in her eyes again and that opinion changed. There was a maturity there, the kind that you only get from loving and losing someone extremely special. He didn’t push, and his face lost a little of its humor. “You still look as gorgeous as ever, Maurelle.”
She gestured for him to enter and he did. She closed the door behind them and led him through the quaint home. It wasn’t large or extravagant like so many fae chose these days. She didn’t like to flaunt the income she had made from all of her years singing in the spotlight. Of course, she only chose that lifestyle to make a living. She would have preferred to stay in the shadows, so to speak.
He touched her arm and she stopped and turned back to him. He gestured to the empty living room. “Can we talk alone? I wanted to ask a favor.”
She nodded. “I’ll just tell the nursemaid. Make yourself comfortable.”
She walked past the room, presumably to the kitchen. He could smell the scents of cooking food and his stomach reminded him that neither he nor Kelsey had eaten since before he called her. It might be a smart idea to take something home for her.
When Maurelle returned, she sat down on the couch next to him and turned toward him, crossing her legs in lady like way that he was shocked to see. She might be a bit different in minor ways, but she was never much of a lady when they were growing up.
“Relly,” he started, using his childhood nickname for her. “I have some good news to share. I’m engaged.” He steeled himself for her reaction, expecting an explosion of hugs and cheers. What he got instead was a somewhat somber smile.
“I’m happy for you, cousin. I apologize if I am not overjoyed, however. Life has been less than kind to me in regards to love,” she held up a hand to stop his questions before they reached his throat. She knew him well. “Might I ask why you tell me this when you said you had a favor to ask?”
She was still blunt and to the point. Some things never changed.
“I was hoping I would get you to sing at her birthday party this weekend. She has helped me in so many ways, Maurelle. I owe it to her to do something extravagant and spectacular to celebrate it. Also, I would like to ask you to sing at our wedding in the future. I know it would mean so much to me for you to not only be there, but for you to be a part of it as well.”
Maurelle took a deep breath and thought it over. She looked off at the fireplace that was cold and dark. She shivered and started running her hands over her bare arms. I tossed a small fireball at the charred wood and saw her smile as the room seemed to come to life. A small amount of the weariness left her face as well as she looked at me.
“I would be honored to sing at both occasions. Under two conditions. One, don’t ask about my love life, past, present or future. Two, you make me godmother to your first born.”
He smiled and nodded. “That is more than fair, and I am sure that Kelsey would approve of the latter.”
She smiled and stood up. “I must check on the food. Brigitte is quite busy with the little ones.” she laughed. “I apologize for my rudeness in cutting off the conversation so quickly.”
He shook his head and stood with her. “No need for apologies, Relly. You have to do what you have to do. I actually need to be going as well. Kelsey doesn’t know I’ve left. She’s probably awake by now and fuming that I left without word. Especially after being called to war made me leave in the exact same way.”
They embraced in a quick hug before he poofed to the store down the street to pick up lunch.
The next day started quite similarly. He snuck out of bed while she slept, having worn her out yet again. She was insatiable. This time, he poofed to Italy to order a pair of shoes he’d seen her eyeing in a catalogue, along with a couple of dresses that he thought she might like. Yellow always looked so warm and inviting on her, so he made sure that he picked out a scarf in just the right shade.
After poofing his order to a spare room in the guest wing that he was sure she would never venture to, he poofed to Switzerland. He met with a master chocolatier and made a specific request for him to have a hazelnut-chocolate cake ready within the next day. He offered the man quadruple what his normal price was. Seeing the large man’s face light up, he felt bad about asking anything more of the man. As he was about to leave, the man stopped him. He offered him a few dozen molded chocolates as well. Oren accepted, but left one hell of a hefty tip with his payment.
Before he went home the second day, he made a call to Ana and asked her if she could take Kelsey out for a lunch the next day while he set up. He didn’t tell her any of the details, just that he was throwing her a surprise party. When he hung up, he knew the whole Jackson family was finding out before he could even poof home.
***
While Ana had Kelsey out, he started setting up. Outside, there was a large tent set up, the fire pit was lit, the pool was repaired and refilled. The table had an array of snacks, the spectacular display of Swiss chocolates, champagne, beer...both foreign and domestic or many varieties, sparkling cider, a white chocolate fountain that the Swiss chocolatier threw in complimentary, a spread of cheeses and meats, and finally the fantastic five tier cake.
There were tulips arranged throughout the deck area in beautiful vases. Ribbons of gold and white held balloons of the same colors in place. There was glitter in the pool of gold and silver as well. Keeping the entire party dry and warm, and safe from wind was a dome spell with thanks to Lia.
I called up Charis before she made her way over and asked her for a huge favor. I told her to keep the entire thing a secret until the very last moment. If I knew one thing, I knew my girl loved surprises and fly by the seat of your pants type of decisions. This would blow her away. No one besides Charis and I knew completely what the secret of the day was, but everyone acted slightly suspicious of me when I avoided questions.
I made my apologies and snuck off to one last store for a final gift that I had ordered long ago. I’d paid extra for the items and made them sign an agreement to keep them until I picked them up, no matter what happened or how long it took.
With the two small boxes in my hand, I poofed back to party. I searched out Charis, who had finally arrived and handed her the boxes, giving her a knowing look. She laughed and winked at me, sharing in my deviousness.
I loved this family more than my own by far, save a few more distant relations. Speaking of...I looked around for Maurelle and groaned when I didn’t find her. I had forgotten to mention that the time and date were California time. I gave her a quick call and explained. She laughed and told me she would be over as soon as she could.
Now just to wait for the guest of honor to arrive. His palms were sweaty and heart was racing. He’d just been home a week and he knew without a doubt that he would never leave her again. Not for anything.
As soon as she and Ana arrived, a small ward went off that alerted him via text. Silent thank yous went out to Lia yet again for that little trick. He poofed to the front door and smiled at Ana.
“Ana, can you go to the back yard? I need to talk to Kelsey for a moment.” Ana didn’t give anything away. She smiled, nodded once and poofed away.
He grabbed Kelsey’s hand and smiled so big it almost hurt. This day was all about her, he’d made sure of that. He couldn’t get over how giddy and happy he was about his final present however.
“Happy birthday, my love.” he said before lowering his head to kiss her hand. “I know I have asked once before, but I have to make completely sure that you have absolutely no doubts.” His eyes met hers as he dropped to one knee. “Kelsey Rianne Alston, would you still be willing to do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Doyle?”
He knew her reaction would be completely and utterly positive, and that’s exactly what he got. She nodded and repeated her yeses over and over. He stood up, kissed her fully and spun her around. “Good. Now, for your surprise.”
He poofed her to the backyard just as Maurelle started singing.
After she had the chance to look over her gifts, cake and decorations, he left her to visit with her closest family and friends. When the sun just barely started to set over the beach and ocean in the distance, he nodded across the crowd to Charis and apologetically took the mic from Maurelle.
“Can I have everyone’s attention please.” he looked over the people that had become so important to both he and Kelsey over the last year and smiled. His pulse sped up as he looked upon Kelsey. She was gorgeous. “Before I brought Kelsey back here, I reaffirmed her desire to be my wife.” His smile widened as she blushed slightly in front of everyone. “I am very, very lucky indeed that she said yes once, but twice...I am the luckiest damn man in this realm and Faery. My love, would you join me up here?”
He held out his hand as she took the stage next to him. “Friends, family, loved ones...” he looked in her eyes as he continued. “I now hand the mic to Charis Melih.”
He handed the microphone to the angel and had to hold back tears. He just hoped that she wouldn’t be scared by his impromptu ceremony. He barely heard Charis as she spoke, but saw the emotions play across Kelsey’s face instead.
Their vows were shared, without rehearsal and full of heartfelt emotion and honesty. They shared their first kiss as man and wife as the sun disappeared over the horizon, just as they’d discussed long ago.