Unlikely Places (21 page)

October

My poking and prodding had come to fruition, I had subtly
asked enough questions over the last few weeks which brought me to my final
conclusion of what to do for Sam’s 25
^th
birthday. Most importantly I
had taken on board some of her throwaway statements, about missing some of her
friends and worrying she was losing touch with residents from the hostel. I
never thought planning a surprise party was going to be this difficult,
deciding who to invite how to get in touch with them was just the first hurdle
and time was not on my side due to my initial hesitation.

The day had finally arrived all I had to do was put the plan
into action. I nonchalantly eyed the clock over Sam’s shoulder. “Do you fancy
going for a run?”

“Are you serious after what we’ve just done?”

I gently stroked her shoulder, kissing the side of her
face.  “Yeah....It’ll give you more energy for later”. I knew if we left
in the next hour it would give everyone enough time to arrive and set up.

“I might even let you beat me as it’s your birthday”.

I felt her body jiggle alongside me, as she turned on her
side to face me. “Is that so....so that’s my present is it?”

“Maybe”. I said trying to sound nonchalant and mysterious at
the same time, not easy.

Her green eyes pleaded. “Come on.....how long do I have to
wait?”

It was my turn to laugh. “Well you’ve had a few to keep you
going but you’ll have to wait a little longer for the rest....Lucy wants to
come round and give you her present later”.  

The short silence was broken by a loud burp. “Oops...sorry
about that....orange juice makes me windy”.

I looked at her mouth agape. “Is that it now the illusions
over....no need to keep up the pretence anymore, now you’ve caught me....how
long have you been keeping that in?”

“Too long.....anyway at least I don’t fart in my sleep”.

“What?...neither do I”. I said shocked at her accusation.

“Uh...yes you do...but I don’t mind...I can see beyond it”.

“Well...I’m glad I’m not awake to share in my
embarrassment....I just hope I can remember back to the non-burping days if
someone should give me the eye when I’m out”. I said trying to feign innocence.

“Really like your girlfriend in the supermarket? I’ve seen
the way she looks at you...she doesn’t even notice me unless you’re there?”

Sniggering far too loudly, I tried to put her worries aside.
“Don’t worry I don’t have any plans on being big Bertha’s princess”.

Taking advantage of my distraction, she climbed on top of me
straddling my hips. “That’s good because she looks too big to beat in a fist
fight”.

I was in agreement with her there, the checkout lady was
robust in shape with a fierce buzz cut.  “She certainly does”.

“You’re much more my size”. She said giggling.

“Oh really?” I said gripping her hips and flipping her over,
giving me the high ground. I kissed the soft skin between her breasts as I
moved up her body, before capturing her giggling lips for several long slow
kisses.

Realising the time I jumped up heading for the shower,
hoping Sam wouldn’t think it was too weird as we were just about to go jogging,
well sort of if the plan worked. As much as I loved the smell of sex I didn’t
want to appear smelly at the surprise party, as if on cue Sam followed after
me.

As she tied up her laces, I ducked into the downstairs loo
pulled out my phone and sent a text to Nat informing her of our departure
giving her a hopeful thirty minutes to set up. Returning the phone to my pocket
I flushed and trotted back down the hall, pulled Sam to her feet and headed for
the door.

Driving in typical Sunday fashion I offered Sam several
present guesses to distract her from my leisurely driving. Parking up I pulled
out another conversation filler.

“Do you think it’s weird we drive here to go jogging when
logically we should just jog here?”

Tugging at my arm she pulled me back to face her. “Hang on
not only do you kick us out of bed to go jogging on my birthday....now you want
to jog down here....have you been taken by the pod people?.....Who are you and
what have you done with Alex Philips?” 

Laughing to hide any further suspicion I grabbed her hand
pulling her towards the Arboretum Park. “Come on the sooner we get started the
sooner we can get back”. I flicked my eyebrows for effect but I was starting to
feel bad, I just hoped I’d made the right decision.

As we entered the park I began stretching making an effort
to warm up, taking my time once again. I turned to see Sam glaring at me hands
on hips, feet rooted to the spot. 

“Not warming up.....that’s no way to win is it?”

After starting in good form, we chit chatted about our last
jogging outing when I accidentally clipped her at our designated finish line
allowing me to win unchallenged. As we reached our biggest hill I slowed down
to let her overtake and get ahead before pulling up sharply with a squeal. I
bent to rub the back of my left leg looking up I could see her concerned face
as she ran back towards me.

“What happened?....Are you okay?”

I felt her hand on my shoulder as she bent to touch my leg.
“Come on let’s get you sat down”.

Helping me stumble to the nearest bench, she knelt down in
front of me. “You didn’t hear a pop or feel a snap did you?”

I wanted to laugh but held my nerve. “No I don’t think so it
just went all tight.....is probably just a pulled muscle or something?”

She got up but continued to look concerned until she dropped
out. “Does this still mean I win then?”

Finally something to laugh about, and take the edge off the
morning. “Happy birthday!” I said between laughs.

I sat there rubbing my leg trying to drag it out as long as
I could, finally admitting we should go home. I limped with Sam’s support back
to the car.

“I think you should drive I’m not sure I can?” I handed her
the keys as she helped me in to the car.

“God this thing built like a tank”.

“You’ll be fine just take it slow”. I grinned out the side
window as she made her way around to the driver’s side, taking a sly look at my
phone before she got in, perfect timing.

She rushed around the car to help me out putting my arm
around her shoulder we struggled towards the house, just as we made it through
the front door she eyed me suspiciously.

“I thought it was your left leg that hurt?”

Busted, I looked at her sheepishly. “W..what it is I....”.
 

“Really?”

Before I had a chance to answer I was saved by the sounds of
poppers going off and shouts of ‘SURPRISE’ – praise the lord, as I wasn’t quite
sure how I was going to get out of this pickle.

I quickly recovered from my injury turning to see the
disbelief on Sam’s face as she looked down the hall to see various heads popping
out of doorways.

“Holy shit”. She blurted out before turning to me. “You’re
so devious”. Pulling me into her arms I was still unsure of her reaction.

“Is this okay?” I asked hopefully as we embraced.

“Of course it is....I love you”. She replied before placing
a kiss on my cheek.

As she released me I saw the smile on her face, the relief
washed through me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lucy coming towards us in
her ‘Tinkerbelle’ outfit complete with wand.   

Grabbing Sam’s hand she dragged her towards the back room, I
followed behind greeting people on my journey. Walking into the dining room I
could see the spread Nat had arranged, I made a mental note to thank her again.
Lucy’s cake was at one end, it was a beautiful chocolate frosting masterpiece
if a little lopsided. Decorated with multi-coloured hundreds and thousands, the
inevitable pink edible flowers and two numeric candles announcing Sam’s twenty
fifth birthday.   

Lucy was brimming with pride as she almost yelled. “I made
you a cake!”

“Wow....Lucy that’s amazing thank you”.

I saw the look of genuine excitement on Sam’s face as she
saw the cake, handing Lucy the oven clicker I nodded for her to light the
candles. As she did we all joined in singing happy birthday much to Sam’s
embarrassment. Still holding on to Lucy’s hand they began swinging their arms
backwards and forwards in time with our song. I caught sight of Sam’s red face
as she blew out the candles, she looked so cute.

She bent down to give Lucy a hug. “Thank you Lucy...now
then, shall we have a slice?”

“Yeah”. Lucy almost squealed already making a grab for a
plate.

As Lucy tucked into her cake with gusto, I took in her
outfit again. 

“Hey Luce I like your outfit are you umm...let me guess umm
‘Tinkerbelle’ maybe”.

She smiled with a very chocolaty grin.

“Thank you for making the cake I’m not sure I could have
made one that good”.

“It’s okay”. She managed to say between bites, which just
made me smile more.

I was suddenly grabbed by Sam pulling me to one side. “How
did you manage to contact all these people?...I don’t even know how to get hold
of some of them?”

I smiled at her. “Well it’s who you know not what you know
sometimes.....are you sure it’s okay?”

“A little embarrassing but I love it...thank you”.

“Now...go meet your guests while I rest my poorly leg”.

I caught her wink and wide smile as Jo pulled her away into
a hug, she was flanked on both sides with Josh and Mike. I waved to them as
they engulfed Sam in a birthday hug.

I wondered if Sam had noticed the absence of her mother as
she made her way around the room welcoming friends from University, the hostel
and work colleagues. I was disappointed I couldn’t be confident of inviting her
for fear she would turn up drunk or cause a scene. As I gravitated towards the
crisps and dip, I felt a presence to my left I looked up to see Mike.

I smiled as I crunched my first crisp. “Hey Mike thanks for
coming....how’s it going?”   

His eyes smiled along with the rest of his face which always
made me feel good. “Great actually........ thanks for inviting me”.

“You’re always welcome....I know how much Sam loves and
respects you we both do and...and besides we’d never have met if it wasn’t for
you”.

He laughed almost spraying the buffet. “Really...that’s
quite a cross to bear”.

I laughed along with him knowing her was faking indignation,
I knew from previous conversations he was happy Sam had someone to support her
and keep an eye on her.

“So...did Sam tell you we got the funding we applied for?”

“That’s great”. I said in between munching dip covered
crisps.  

“It’s going to make a real difference to the hostel...bit of
refurbishment work...get some more equipment”.

After many more hellos and explanations for our strange
entrance, I found Nat to thank her for her part in the party planning. To which
she responded there would be a price to pay, but was unwilling to reveal at
this point. 

Spying Sam alone by the buffet I sidled up to her.
“So?....Are you having a good time?”

She grinned turning to me. “I am...thank you....this is a
great present...I haven’t seen some of these people in ages”.

“Who said this was your present?” I asked with raised
eyebrows.

“What?....I don’t need anything else this was more than
enough”

“Really....should I take it back then?....I’ll have to make
a few calls but-”

She cut me off. “Whoa wait up....I wouldn’t want to put you
to any trouble”

“If you’re sure?” I held out my hand to her leading her
upstairs to the bedroom.

“Umm....I’m not sure we should be doing this with all these
people down stairs.

I gave her a wry smile as I took an A5 envelope from a draw
handing it to her. She looked at me with a frown before turning it over to open
it. I kept my eyes on her waiting for her reaction as she pulled out the
reservation and online check-in details.

“Oh my god are we going away?....Where?” She looked up at
me.

“Where does it say?” I asked as she looked down scanning the
paperwork.

“Paris?....Really we’re going to Paris?....But it says we’re
going tonight at six fifteen?”

“I know is that okay?....That’s why we had the party
early...that and Lucy’s cake”.

She pounced on my pulling me into a tight hug. “Oh my god
yes yes yes...I can’t wait....I’ve never been to Paris have you?”

I put my arms around her resting my chin on her shoulder.
“No I haven’t”.

She pulled back regarding me before kissing me softly. “This
is the best present ever...thank you I love you.....you’re very good to me”.

I smiled bathing in her excitement, I wanted to give her
everything and anything she wanted.

She looked at the paperwork again re-reading the time out
loud. “Hey...it says were coming back on Friday...what about work?”

“Don’t worry I’ve sorted it out with work, I spoke to your
boss before I booked it he said you hadn’t taken any leave yet so I asked for
the week...he said it was fine...I hope that’s okay?”.

“Yeah...oh my god you’re sneaky”.

“In a good way though right?”

She smiled. “A very good way...you’re always surprising
me....and that explains all the talk about passports and holidays the other
week”.

I smiled innocently. “Well I had to make sure you were
suitable for travel before I could book it”.  

She pulled me into another hug making both of us jump up and
down with excitement, before stopping suddenly almost shouting. “Shit we’ve got
to pack?” 

“Don’t worry we won’t need much”. I said flicking my
eyebrows.

“Really is that right?....But with your bad leg I don’t know
if that’s a good idea?”

I lifted my leg for her perusal. “Haven’t you noticed my
miraculous recovery?”

She rubbed it gently. “Umm I don’t know....I’ll probably
need to inspect it more closely later”.