(Hello Gentle Reader,
The ones who read this series and it's predecessor [Good Neighbors} know that this time of year is around the time my muse celebrates her birthday. This is the first of the chapters to do with this time for our protagonist as well. If it times correctly, by the time 161 drops, it will be close to her birthday. Please enjoy this way for me to help tell her Happy Birthday)
This is going to sound very familiar. Marcie is a difficult woman to surprise.
To those who have been with this storyline since the beginning, this is a familiar lament of mine. It doesn't matter if it is our anniversary, Christmas, her birthday or when I am feeling like a surprise. Shopping for Marcie is difficult.
The first obstacle has always been her desire not to spend money frivolously. I understand this so much. Her late husband and her were on a fixed income for a long time to pay off their house. They went without many luxuries, so it became a habit. It also plays with her desire to be an independent woman. These were all valid reasons. This was why when she surprised me with a trip along with a few new suits for work, it was a massive surprise to me.
Then there is the second obstacle. Marcie doesn't ever want anything. She's content with her clothes, the furniture, her car and everything else. It takes a bunch of effort to persuade her to put things on her wish list. And many of her wishes are simple ones. She doesn't like fancy jewelry, except her collar and the necklace that went with her engagement ring. She's into comfortable clothes with only a few dresses for going out. Like I said earlier, it is difficult to surprise her.
At least that is what she thought.
The start of my surprise for her birthday began at the office while she was on her yoga retreat. Matt's sister-in-law is a travel agent. We've dealt with her a few times during the last few years. It was during that week that Matt called me into his office. Matt is the CEO of our company while I am the CFO. Even though the titles sound different, we are equal partners in the company. So, when Matt called me to come up to his floor, I figured he was up to something.
"Leo, isn't your wonderful wife's birthday coming up?"
Uh-oh.
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"You're stumped again, aren't you?"
I nodded my head. He then handed me a printout of an email from his sister-in-law.
"Why don't you go back to your floor and check this out? Let's just say a little birdie told me it might be a great idea."
I looked at him and smiled before I started heading towards the elevator. With her birthday a month away, I was open to anything. I then went to my office and checked out the information. It was for a fancy hotel located South of us. The estimate in the email included two first-class seats both ways, a week at the hotel with many of the amenities covered including spa treatments as well as a rental car. The price for everything was reasonable. There was the stabbing thought in the back of my head though of the identity of the "little birdie".
My first instinct was to think about it. It was a little pricey to pay for it, especially since the only evidence that it would be favorable was the mention of the "little birdie". I had one thought of who would be a good person to check with.
*buzz*
"Aubrey, could you come here for a moment?"
Pause.
I have never paged Aubrey with our phone system. Most of the time, if I need her, I go out to her desk right outside my door. I figured a surprise was in order.
