When I look over at the clock I see that it's 5am. I smile to myself. Perfect timing. I lean over and kiss Donna's forehead gently. It is a little risk, but one I am willing to take. she almost never wakes up from the first good morning kiss.
I silently put on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. I have things to accomplish. Once I'm in the guest room, I pull my box of ammo from the closet. I've been collecting items for two weeks. Keeping something from Donna requires stealth and long range planning.
Adorable teddy bear, check.
Heart shaped box of chocolates, check.
Nice piece of jewelry, check.
Mushy card, check.
Funny card, check. I'm planning on giving her both I just haven't decide which one to do first, guess it depends on her mood when she wakes up. She is still not a morning person, although she is getting better.
2 Boxes of conversations hearts, one normal, one x-rated, check.
Packages of Valentine's decorations, check.
This is the first time we are celebrating Valentines Day since acknowleging our love for each other and I plan to do it right. Operation hearts and flowers is underway.
I tape a strand of red paper hearts to the fire place. I tape a paper silloutte of cupid to the refrigerator. I tape a "Be Mine" sign to our bathroom mirror. Where should I put this poster that instructs her to "Kiss Me?" Ah! Back of the front door. It can be the last thing she sees before we go to work. Just in case she forgot.
At 5:30, open the front door and greet the agents.
"Good morning, no florist yet?"
"No, sir."
"Okay, just knock lightly when they arrive. I don't want to wake up Donna."
As I stand by the front door and wait for the light knock, I look around the room. It sort of looks like the Holiday aisle of a drug store. Hopefully it's not too tacky. The flowers should help. A minute later I hear the quiet knock. Good. I was very specific when I ordered the flowers. They needed to be delivered at 5:30 a.m. And they had to be delivered quietly.
I open the door. The delivery kid is looking a bit annoyed. What a way to start his day, early delivery that included getting frisked. Oh well. I'll give him a nice tip. He brings in a box.
"Is this everything?"
"No. I have to make another trip."
As he leaves I start pulling things out of the first box, smiling to myself. There are a dozen small vases with red and pink roses. None of them is the same. Some just have a single flower, some have three, some are tall, some are short. I start placing them randomly throughout the apartment. I want her to see flowers no matter where she's standing. Yeah, the paper decorations don't look so cheesy now.
The delivery kid comes back with two large bouquets. One is a huge bunch of daisies. I hope she never has to do the 'loves me, loves me not' thing. I plan to make it very clear for the rest of our life. The other is a dozen red roses. I have never given her red roses before. It was a line that couldn't be crossed. I tried once but they ended up on a floor in Germany and she never knew about them. I don't want to think about it. These should do to replace that memory.
I leave the daisies on the dinning room table and take the roses with me back to the bedroom. Once I am there I place it on the dresser so it can be the first thing she sees. I take my sweats off and put on red silk boxers. Then I pull a single rose out of the vase. Time to wake up Donna.