Chapter Fifteen
"Wherever you're taking me, there better be food. I'm starved." Gillian grumbled as Ryan led her blindfolded through a doorway. "It's not fair to do this to someone on their birthday. It's torture."
"Complain all you want, Princess. You'll be thanking me later, I promise."
"Are we there? Can I take this silly blindfold off now?"
Ryan unties the cloth and slips it off her face, while Gillian takes in their surroundings. They're standing in the living room of an unfamiliar two-story house, sparsely furnished, with high ceilings and cream colored carpeting underneath them. Behind them is a foyer and a spiral staircase leading to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a study.
"What a beautiful home. Who lives here, Ryan?"
"We do. It's yours. I bought it."
Gillian clasps her hand over her mouth. "Oh, you shouldn't have done this. I can't believe it. You really bought it? When? How?"
Ryan takes out a picnic basket and begins arranging its contents on a blanket spread over the floor. "I saw it last week, and I just knew I had to have it," he says, pulling her down to sit next to him.
"Umm, cheese and crackers," she says, as she reaches into the basket. "Peanut butter, oh darling, you remembered!"
"Of course I remembered, but, -- we're substituting fruit punch for champagne this time."
"Definitely."
Suddenly he jumps up, and pulls her into a slow dance. He clicks the remote to the stereo, and the room is filled with music.
"I'll be loving you always…"
"This is so nice. I've never had a birthday like this. When I was growing up, my father always threw lavish parties, and invited everyone we knew, and some people we didn't know. But it was…empty. Just another excuse to throw a party and impress your friends."
"…not for just a day, but always…"
"If I have a say in it, every birthday for the rest of your life is going to be better than the next. What better reason to celebrate, than the birth of my true love, my soul mate, the woman of my dreams…"
Gillian giggles. "Please, go on."
He kisses her, and she sighs.
"The best kisser, the best everything, that ever walked the earth."
"Ahhh, now you're just buttering me up."
"Is it working?"
"Quite well, actually."
They dance for a moment, just enjoying each other, and the music, until Gillian breaks the silence.
"Ryan?" She says, her face buried in his shoulder. "Did you bring spray cheese?"
"Of course I did, but dinner's going to have to wait. I have one more present for you."
"Another present? After this? You're going to spoil me."
"Exactly. Now come with me."
Gillian follows him up the staircase and down a hallway. He stops in front of a door, and gestures for her to open it. She does, and gasps immediately when she sees it, -- an antique bassinet, white as snow, and ruffled with lace.
"Oh, Ryan. I don't deserve all of this." She says, fingering the soft, cushioned borders.
"You're right, you deserve more. Gillian…you're giving me a child, a family. Something that I never thought I would have. I could give you the world and it still wouldn't be enough…" He says, as he wraps his arms around her. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try."
He takes her hands in his, and kisses them. "Happy birthday, baby."
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