Never Say Goodbye
***Beach House***
Jonathan let Jennifer fall asleep on him, and then eased out from under her embrace.
He took his phone and went outside and called Max.
"No, she didn't agree to come home yet. I will keep you posted".
He hung up and called his secretary.
"I am not coming in today. If ChemCal needs my options, they are on my desk".
He ordered breakfast from her favorite deli, and had it delivered. He kept it warm in the kitchen for her.
He put a note on the pillow next to her that said "Downstairs".
He was sitting downstairs on his laptop when she came down.
"Morning, darling." He kissed her cheek and then got up and got her plate.
She ate while he continued to work.
"What are you doing that has you typing so fast?"
"I am filing patents. I figure no deal is more important to me than you. If they want to continue to threaten your life, then I will walk away from the deal, but before I do, I am filing my patents just in case".
"How many do you have to file?"
"About 2500".
He grabbed his phone and called Stanley.
"You file K-Z. I am filing A-L. After we get them filed, then we agree to talk to ChemCal". He hung up and looked at her.
"I'm sorry, darling. I only have about 20 more, and then I am all yours".
"How long have you been doing this?"
"Since about 5 a.m. I decided to let you sleep, and came down and started working on it. Took a breakfast break, and then got back at it".
She leaned over and kissed him.
"I'm going to go sit on the terrace, while you work".
He protested, but she went anyways.
It was a good thing she didn't catch a glimpse of his computer screen, or else she would have seen him planning a surprise party for her next birthday.
She had taken her phone outside and was talking to someone. He moved closer to the door.
"I don't want a party for my birthday this year. I really don't. I just want time with Jonathan, him and me, no distractions. Maybe a long weekend at a spa. Nothing big. We have been through so much lately, just doesn't seem right to have a big celebration".
Back to the computer. He erased all the plans. He emailed Stanley and told him to file all the patents.
He started looking up spas, in Arizona, Nevada, and Northern California. He wanted her to feel like he had put a lot of time and effort into this, which he was doing. He didn't want to go to a spa right up the road. They did that once, and it wasn't a great experience. He flashed back to their big fight they had there. She wanted to leave and he didn't.
"Jonathan, they are killing people. Killing people!"
"I've noticed".
"So, lets go back into town, call the police and tell them what we know".
"it's not their jurisdiction."
"jonathan, I'm absolutely terrified".
"Ok, you go back into town, go to the police and tell them what you know".
"No, no no".
"You said you wanted to leave".
"I said I wanted us to leave. You want to get rid of me".
"I didn't say I wanted to get rid of you".
"I was standing right here when you said it"
"I'm married to you".
"And I'm married to you".
She glared at him, her eyes blazing. He had to use his best charms to calm her down and get her to stay. And they ended up leaving that night anyways.
He called up ChemCal, and told them he was backing out of the deal. He told them very explicitly that no deal was worth losing his wife.
Jennifer was heading back inside just in time to hear him say "When you want to drop the threats against my wife and do real business, call me".
She went right to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him passionately.
"Darling, can we go home now?"
"I am so glad to hear you say that".
He kissed her and then picked her up and held her.
"I love you so much, Jennifer".
"I love you too, Jonathan".
***A few weeks later***
Jonathan and Jennifer had gone home that day, and he had spent the whole day with her. They lounged by the pool, they laid on the couch, they watched a movie, and they ate dinner.
"Great to have you back, Mrs. H".
"Thanks, Max".
As the weeks went on, Jonathan was even more attentive.
And the week of her birthday, he booked them 4 days at a spa in New Mexico. They flew there, and got to stay there. They got couples massages, hot tub time, mud baths, facials, body wraps, acupuncture, she got a mani/pedi, he got a professional shave and hot towel. They ate luxurious food, and spent as much time together in bed as they could. She laid by the pool and soaked up the rays while he played Golf. It was a great vacation.
On the last day, they were at dinner, when the lights suddenly went out.
"What's happening?"
"Must have blown a fuse. It will come back on in just a second".
She held his hand and squeezed it tight. She liked knowing he was close to her.
They basically had the restaurant at the spa to themselves. He had booked it that way.
"I wonder what's keeping them from fixing the lights"
"I am sure it will be fixed any minute darling".
"Maybe we should go back to our room".
"How will we see to get there?"
All of a sudden, the lights go on, and 100's of people are singing Happy Birthday to her.
"Jonathan…what did you do?"
"I know you said you didn't want a surprise party. But I am not the only one who loves you, everyone you meet does. So, happy birthday darling, enjoy your party".
Waiters brought out mini ice cream sundaes with devil's food cake to everyone. Music started playing. Jonathan dragged Jennifer to the dance floor and they danced a few songs together.
"I love you. You always seem to surprise me".
He kissed her.
"I love you too, darling. I love to surprise you".
They danced so close and lost their focus on anything but each other.
Just as they were about to stop dancing, the perfect song for them came on. He held her tighter, and they danced closer.
"As I sit in this smokey room/ the night about to end
I pass my time with strangers/but this bottle's my only friend
Remember when we used to park/on Butler Street out in the dark
Remember when we lost the keys/and you lost more than that in my backseat, baby
Remember how we used to talk/about busting out, we'd break their hearts/Together-forever
Never say Goodbye, never say goodbye/You and me and my old friends
Hoping it would never end/ say goodbye, never say goodbye
Holdin' on, we gotta try/ holdin' on to never say goodbye
Remember Days of skipping school/racing cars and being cool
With a six-pack and the radio/We didn't need no place to go
Remember at the prom that night/You and me, we'd had a fight
But the band they played our favorite song/ and I held you in my arms so strong
We danced so close/we danced so slow
And I swore I'd never let you go
Together- forever
Never say Goodbye
-Bon Jovi
As their dance came to an end, Jonathan whispered in her ear.
"We will never say goodbye, darling".