***Maldives***
Jonathan and Jennifer are on vacation in the Maldives, having the time of their lives. They have been here a week, and they are going to be here for 4 more days. They have enjoyed a few glass bottom boat rides, some beach days, and scuba diving. Today, they are going on an expedition to the archipelago, to see how the country was breeding more coral to add to the coral reef. Jennifer was so excited and was planning on taking tons of pictures.
They were still sleeping, and had asked for a wake-up call at 8. Jonathan woke up just before 8, and rolled over and wrapped his arms around her.
He moved her hair off her neck, and kissed her a few times.
"You better get up…we have a full day planned".
She smiled and nestled back into him.
A few minutes later, she rolled over and kissed him lightly, and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Good morning, sailor".
"Good morning, darling".
"Did you sleep well?"
"Like a baby. What about you?"
"Same".
They laid there and watched the fish for a little bit, and Jennifer got up and got her camera and took a few shots through the glass.
After she was done, she went and took a quick shower and got ready. He jumped in after her, and when they were both dressed, they headed upstairs for breakfast.
He rented them an SUV, and got directions from the front desk on how to get to archipelago museum.
Their tour took about 3 hours, and Jennifer took tons of pictures, and asked many questions. It was the reporter in her.
After their tour was finished, they held hands as they walked back to the car.
"Want to drive around the island for a bit?"
"Sure".
She settled into the passenger seat and put her sunglasses on.
Jonathan did the same in the driver's seat, and held her hand as they took off.
He opened the sunroof, and she turned the radio on, as they made their way around the island.
They found a lovely spot with lots of exotic flowers, and a splendid view of the ocean.
"Oh, Jonathan, can you pull over please? I want to take some pictures".
He pulled over and she got the camera ready. She got out and got some close-up photos of the flowers and some landscape and portrait shots of the ocean. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
After she was done taking the photos, she turned the camera on the two of them, and took a few 'selfie' shots. They decided to recreate one of their favorite pictures-one of them kissing. Jennifer loved how it turned out.
They went and got back in the car. Jonathan turned the key in the ignition, and nothing happened. The car was dead.
He tried several times, but got nowhere.
Finally, he popped the hatch, and they went and looked in the kit in the cargo area, for the owner's manual.
After an initial examination, they determined that it must be the battery, and that it was either dead or flooded. All they could do was wait for someone to pass them by and help them out.
They flipped over the cargo space, and found a bench seat. With the windows in the front rolled down, and the hatch opened, they were getting a nice breeze.
"Sure hope someone comes by soon".
"Yeah, me too. I wish I had brought some water with me, I am starting to get a headache".
"Well, darling, I had planned for us to stop and have a picnic….. so hang tight".
He got up and went to the backseat. Under a blanket, there was a cooler that he had gotten from the resort, with a lunch and some water bottles for the both of them.
"Oh, darling. You are the best".
She took a bottle of water from him, and chugged it almost. She dug in her purse for some aspirin, and took 2.
He leaned behind her on the bench seat and started to rub her shoulders.
"Oh, that feels wonderful".
She moved and sat in front of him so that he could reach her whole back.
After about 10 minutes, he leaned forward and kissed her earlobe.
"Is this helping?"
"Absolutely".
She turned and straddled him, and Kissed him passionately, and nibbled a little on his bottom lip, just like he loved.
Jennifer had worn some gray drawstring cotton yoga shorts, and a purple tank top with a built-in bra. Jonathan was in some red running shorts, and a white tee-shirt.
He broke their kiss and kissed her neck in that special spot she loved, and started moving his kisses lower.
She broke away from him, and leaned up and closed the hatch.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't want to put on a free show, darling".
He thought for a minute and then looked at her.
"Darling…climb into the back seat for just a second".
She climbed over the back seat, and looked at him.
"Now, move over, because I am going to climb over also".
She moved aside and helped him over.
He flipped the bench in the cargo area over, till it was flat again. He grabbed their blanket and put it in the cargo area. He crouched in the space between the front seat and the backseat, and flipped the backseat over till it was flat, and even with the cargo area. He reached over and cracked the window in the back seat just a few inches, and Jennifer did the same on her side.
He crawled towards the cargo area and stretched out on the blanket, and motioned for her to come join him.
They used their shirts as pillows, and she laid on top of him, and kissed him passionately.
"You are so gorgeous".
She smiled at him, and ran her fingers through his hair.
"How's your headache?"
"Almost gone".
"Perfect".
He rolled them so he was on top of her, and then started pushing her shorts off her, and she was pushing his shorts off of him.
He murmured against her neck. "I want you, Jennifer".
"I want you too…Jonathan".
Their bodies joined together and moved as one entity.
"Jonathan…now. Now, honey…"
"Ok darling…"
He filled her as she tightened around him, and they exploded together.
He let out a scream that was louder than she had ever heard from him, and then he laid on top of her, lightly kissing her neck.
There was a loud clap of thunder just then.
She looked at him. "See what you started?"
"I am good, darling, but I don't think I am that good".
"I beg to differ".
They laid there, kissing and cuddling for the next couple of hours, through the storm. It was one of the most romantic afternoons they had spent in a long time.
A couple hours later, they got dressed again, and went to sit in the front. Jonathan just happened to try the engine and it started just fine.
They held hands as they drove back to the resort.
As soon as they got back to the resort, they turned the car in, and Jonathan told them to have it checked out, and then headed to the 24-hour buffet.
After a nice meal, they headed back to their room.
"Surprise #2 of the day is happening soon".
Jennifer was excited. She stood watching the fish while Jonathan was on the phone with the front desk.
He hung up and came over and wrapped his arms around her.
"We have to be at the secret place in 30 minutes".
"The secret place?"
"Yes".
She kissed him.
"You are so good to me".
"Don't be silly, darling. We are good to each other".
"After 14 years, you still pull out all the stops".
"Anything for you, darling".
He returned her kisses and then they headed out.
They stepped off the elevator, and Jonathan took her hand and led her to where they were going.
She figured it out when they were about 100 yards from the place.
They were headed to the spa.
She was so excited. Her favorite things typically included spa days.
They signed in and chose their treatments.
She picked the ultimate escape package- a 2-hour deep tissue massage, a 30-minute body wrap, a 30-minute facial, and an aromatherapy bath.
Jonathan picked the same, but instead of the facial, he was going to get a hot towel and shave. He made arrangements for them to be in the same room.
They did the massage first, and then the body wraps. While they were wrapped and laying still on the table, they got their facial/hot towel and shave, and then they got to take their aromatherapy bath together.
After it was all over, Jennifer was as relaxed as she had ever been.
They walked hand in hand back to their room.
Jonathan called the front desk while she was in the bathroom, and they agreed to rent him something for his final surprise of the day.
He held the door shut, while they set it up.
"Jonathan! Let me out of here, what are you doing?"
"Hang on, I am setting something up for us".
"Jonathan…come on….let me out".
"Just a minute, babe."
They finished setting up the surprise, and then he tipped them and as they left he opened the door.
"Close your eyes".
"Jonathan, honestly".
"Just do it. I promise".
She obliged.
He held both of her hands and led her to the center of the room.
"Darling… now keep your eyes closed. Tell me, what's your favorite thing that we did on our other vacations?"
"Be more specific".
"What's your favorite thing to do at the cabin?"
"Relax in the hammock".
"And what's your favorite thing to do here?"
"Watch the ocean window in our room".
"Ok, so keep your eyes closed and let me pick you up".
He picked her up, and carried her across the room, and set her down.
"Now, I am going to pick you up again, and I want you to wrap your legs around my waist ok, and hold on to my neck".
"Ok".
He picked her up, they got situated, and then he sat down so that she was facing the window behind him.
"Ok, darling, open your eyes. Now you can do both, at once".
She did, and she squealed.
"How did you…?"
"I rented it from the resort. They were setting it up while you were in the bathroom".
She leaned forward and grabbed his face and kissed him.
"You…are…the…most…thoughtful…and….romantic….man….on…the….planet".
After she was done kissing him, she gave him a light peck and whispered, "I love you".
"I love you too, darling".
They repositioned themselves on the hammock so they were laying together, and watched the ocean window for the rest of the night. He fell asleep about an hour after they started laying there, and she crept over to the bed and got them a blanket and a pillow. After she got them covered and comfortable, she nestled into the crook of his arm, content and happy.
She looked over at him and lightly kissed his cheek. "I hope we stay like this forever".
***3 days later***
Jonathan and Jennifer were up early, since they had to catch an early flight to Singapore.
They were going to have a day in Singapore, and then they would fly home.
They were checked out of their hotel by 9, and headed to the airport by 10.
Jack met them at the plane.
"Mr. Hart, when we get to Singapore, I am going to stay behind because I have another job that I was hired to do. Wyatt and Mark will be your pilots from Singapore to LAX".
"Sounds great".
"It's about a 5-hour flight to Singapore, so sit back and relax, and we will be there before you know it".
"Thanks, Jack".
They got settled on the plane, and sat together on the loveseat bench, and reclined it. They buckled up and covered up with a blanket.
Jonathan found them a movie to watch, and they just focused on relaxing for the duration of the flight.
She pampered him some, and gave him a chest rub for a bit, and a light back scratch.
He turned to look at her.
"Darling, in case I never told you, or don't tell you enough, you make me the happiest man in the world just by being in my life".
He kissed her a few times.
"I'm the lucky one, darling, because I have you". She kissed him back.
They landed a short while later, and headed to get something to eat and check into their hotel.
They were going to be wheels up at 8 a.m. the next morning.
They checked into the RitZ Carlton Singapore, and went straight to bed.
Jennifer was excited to be getting home the next day.
***The next day***
Jonathan and Jennifer flew home after a very long flight. They left Singapore promptly at 8, and arrived back at LAX just before midnight.
They got home, and crawled into bed.
Jennifer snuggled into Jonathan's arms. "Darling…no alarm tomorrow morning, ok?"
"Fine with me, babe".
"Goodnight, I love you".
"Goodnight, I love you too".
She kissed him, and they fell asleep.
***The next morning***
They slept till almost noon, and then got out of bed and had a lazy rest of the day.
Jennifer did some laundry, and got them unpacked, while Jonathan went to the store and stocked them up on groceries.
Jennifer was dressed and going through the mail when he got home.
"Darling, do you have any plans this weekend?"
"No, why?"
"We got invited to a reception in Seattle. I was hoping we could go".
"I will make the arrangements".
He kissed her and they went to put away the groceries.
"We only have 4 days till we leave for Seattle. Is that enough turn- around time?"
"I think so. We are only going for the weekend, right? It's not like we will be gone forever".
"Good point".
"Are you going to the boutique this week?"
"Not sure. I thought I would call them tomorrow, and see how things have been going, and then if I need to, I can go Friday morning before our flight".
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I love the businesswoman side of you".
"Well thank you".
She kissed him.
"What night is the reception this weekend?"
"Saturday night".
"Perfect. Then, Friday night, I will take you out on the town, just you and me".
"It's a date".
***The next morning***
Jonathan got up and went to the office. He kissed Jennifer goodbye before he left, but let her sleep in. Around 10:30, he called her and told her that he had a late board meeting, and wouldn't be home till about 7 or so.
"I will keep dinner waiting for you".
"No, you don't have to do that. No sense being hungry. I can heat mine up when you get home".
"Ok, if you are sure".
"I'm sure. I love you, Red".
"I love you too, Jonathan Charles".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up the phone.
That afternoon, a storm blew in, almost out of nowhere. Jennifer was on the couch, with a cocktail, watching the news coverage of the storm. Thunder and lightning were all around, and the lights were flickering. She kept telling herself that it was ok, that it would be out of the area before Jonathan had to leave, but deep down, she knew he would be driving home in the rain.
"This just in….flash flooding is all around us. If you don't have to be out on the roads, don't be. Stay where you are. It's not safe to drive. And remember if you see a puddle of water, or a large body of water that is somewhere it shouldn't be, 'turn around-don't drown'. It's not worth it".
Jennifer had a knot in her stomach. She was so worried about him coming home.
***Jonathan***
Jonathan was in the Jaguar today. He had driven it in the rain before, but never in rain like this. He was having a hard time getting anywhere, as it seemed that all the roads were closed due to flooding and each detour took him back towards the office, instead of away from it.
He was on the road to Mulholland Canyon, when he saw the accident happen. It was up ahead a little bit. Two cars collided, and one of them rolled several times. By the way the cars had landed, the entire road in both directions was blocked.
He tried to use his car phone and call 911, but the service was out. Which meant he couldn't call Jennifer either. He got out of the car and ran in the rain to a house about 2 blocks away, and tried to get them to call the police.
"Phones are out, sir. We can't get a dial tone".
"Ok thank you".
He went back to his car to wait out the storm, and flagged down a police car on the way.
It took about an hour and a half for them to clear the scene enough for cars to get through.
He was finally headed home to Jennifer.
***Jennifer***
She was a nervous wreck. He should have been home hours ago. The storms were still raging, and they were still talking about the dangerous floods in the city and what roads were closed. She had tears streaming down her face, as she paced back and forth along the carpet.
The two of them had such a connection, that they physically didn't function as well if they were apart. They were their best selves when they were together. They were happiest when they were together.
"Jonathan….where are you?' She tried him on his car phone again, and found that their phones were out. She debated over whether or not to go look for him. She decided that he wouldn't want her out in the storm like this, so she decided to stay put.
"This just in….there has been an accident on Walker Avenue, the road that leads into Mulholland Canyon. 2 cars were involved, and they both flipped, and the entire road is blocked. Fatalities are being reported. Please, again, if you don't have to go out, stay home".
She sat down on the couch, and pulled her knees up to her chest.
'They didn't say what kind of car it was….just that it was two cars involved. It could be anyone…doesn't mean it's Jonathan'. She was repeating the same things in her head over and over as she rocked back and forth on the couch.
She did that for about 30 minutes, until she heard his key turn in the door.
She leapt off the couch and flew to him.
He took her in his arms and just held her.
"Where've you been? I've looked for you forever and a day, it seems".
He just held her as she cried.
"The news said there had been an accident… I thought it was you…. I was so scared…."
"It's ok, baby. I'm ok. I saw the accident but I wasn't in it".
"I tried to call you…but the phones aren't working".
"I know… I tried to call you too. Mine was out too".
They walked to the couch, still holding on to each other.
"Are you sure you're alright?" She was looking him over.
"I'm ok".
"I'm just not myself when you aren't here. I can't help it".
"Me either, darling. It's ok".
They snuggled a little more till she felt better, and then went and had dinner together.
