"I have a surprise for you!" he whispered into the phone.
"You do?" I whispered back. "You know how much I love surprises!"
"Meet me in the parking lot in 20 minutes!" he replied.
"OKAY!" I said with a smile on my face.
Max Westfield and I always talk in hushed tones, especially at work. After all, our relationship is forbidden. In the public eye, we simply work at the same place and exchange pleasantries. We interact on matters of business in a professional manner. Nobody could know the private relationship we share behind closed doors.
So I sit at my desk and anxiously watch the clock for 20 minutes to tick by. What kind of surprise could it be this time, I'm wondering. The last time he did this, it was spring time and he brought me a mason jar with a big yellow ribbon tied around it, with fresh lilac's stuffing the opening that he'd just snipped from the lilac tree. Now that its winter, I'm pretty sure he's not bringing me fresh meadow flowers or a homemade snowman or something.
It's been 15 minutes, I'm anxious and can't think of anything else so I grab my coat and head outside. I wear a smile from ear to ear, my mind racing trying to figure out what the surprise could be. I hurry over to his truck, knowing no matter how fast I get there, I still have to wait for him to arrive. Well, it seems he couldn't wait either because he was already on the far side of his truck waiting for me.
The moment I reach him, I wrap my arms around his neck and plant my lips on his! As eagerly as I kiss him, he replies with a matched enthusiasm. I love it when mornings start out this way. His arms are wrapped around me, holding me close and our kissing could so easily turn into something more. My pulse is racing as he kisses me through smiling lips.
"Now for that surprise!" he says. Honestly, I would have been content with the surprise he just gave me. Meeting in the parking lot like that for a special "good morning kiss" was rare but always welcomed and treasured. He opened the door to his truck and gave me a box. He told me to take the box to my car and said I wasn't allowed to open it until lunch time. If I peeked too soon, it would ruin the surprise. Not being one to ruin anything, I followed his directions. I walked to my car as he walked back in the building, giving us each an ample amount of time so we're not seen walking in together.
Now back at my desk, time crawls by. I'm able to accomplish a few things but my mind is never far from that box and what may be inside. I have to remind myself that staring at the clock will not make its hands move any faster. Anticipation is building! In order to get through the rest of the morning, I remind myself that it's just a plain brown box, and knowing Max it may contain the new release from my favorite author. He knows how reading my books helps me forget I'm lonely when we can't be together.
The clock strikes 11:00am. Only another hour and a half until lunch time and as much as I try to ignore it for the moment, my curiosity grows. I think this must be his intent, because I really can't figure out what kind of surprise would be ruined depending on the time of day the box was opened. Yet, at 11:15 he turns off the light in his office and I hear him say good bye to others as he walks for the exit.
"Have a good weekend, I'll see you Monday." He says as he walks down the hall. He never says good bye to me that way, lest it raises suspicion but he will pass my office and send me a quick wink and a smile as he heads out the door. Now I'm filled with disappointment. He didn't even tell me he was leaving early today. I miss him when he's not at work, even if we're both so busy I barely see him, because I know he's never very far away. At least when I know he's leaving early, I can prepare myself ahead of time.
It's now close to 12:30, the time I go for lunch. It's so close to the time where I open the box and find out what's inside, ending my frenzied thoughts. Over the past few hours, I've thought of many things it could be. Nothing was ever really viable nor expected, but when your mind is out of control, it thinks things it normally wouldn't think.
I don't usually take my lunch out to my car, but today is an exception. He must have some plan based on timing, else I would have been able to open the box sooner. Once I reach my car, I toss my sandwich on the dash and reach for the box, intent on discovering its contents. I took off the cover to the box and found another smaller box inside, but also was a note. The note was telling me to retrieve my things and shut down to prepare to leave for the day. He has already arranged my afternoon off but didn't say how. Once I was back in the car with all my things, I could open the next box.