Rose, Jack, Jason and Sarah Jane spent the rest of the afternoon riding rides, watching a parade, and meeting characters. As dinner time approached, Rose seemed distracted while scrutinizing the map and menu offerings of various fast-service meal providers in the theme park. Jason even noticed Rose peaking into her wallet on more than one occasion, clearly taking a mental inventory of her available cash resources. Jason wondered how he might be able to offer to treat their new friends to dinner, when Sarah Jane came to the rescue.
"Daddy, is tonight the night when we have dinner with Rickey and Romana Rodent back at our hotel?" Sarah Jane asked.
"Yes, it is," Jason replied.
"You mean you have to leave?" Jack asked. "But you haven't even seen the fireworks show yet!"
"We can see the fireworks from our hotel room. Wait, I know!" Sarah Jane announced excitedly. "You and your mum can come to dinner with us and then watch the fireworks from our hotel room!"
Rose was quick to interrupt this conversation. "That's very sweet to offer, Sarah Jane, but we are going to stay here and eat something. Besides, we don't have a reservation and I'm sure your dad is ready to have you all to himself again."
"On the contrary," Jason spoke up. "I'm sure we could add two people to our reservation. Sarah Jane and I would love the company. Let me phone the restaurant and make sure they can add two chairs to our table." Jason quickly turned and walked away with his phone in hand, hoping to cut off any further refusal from Rose.
Rose huffed in frustration. She had counted up the cash she had left and at this rate, she'd not be able to eat anything on their last day. When Jason got back, she'd just have to be a bit more firm in her refusal. As much as she wanted to spend more time with their new friends, she simply couldn't afford a meal like this.
Jason returned a few minutes later, grinning widely. But before he could share his good news, Rose spoke up. "I'm very sorry, but Jack and I simply cannot join you for dinner tonight. I appreciate the extra effort you are taking on our behalf, but we really can't manage dinner with Rickey and Romana tonight."
"You don't want to spend any more time with us?" Sarah Jane asked sadly. Rose's resolve softened at the child's disappointment.
"Oh, Sarah Jane, it's not that we don't want to spend any more time with you. We've so enjoyed this afternoon with you both, and I hate to say goodbye just now, it's just that…" Rose paused, wondering how to explain personal finances to a child who probably never had to worry about such things. She was about to continue when a Wonder World staff person walked up to Jack.
"Excuse me. Are you Jack Tyler?" the staff person asked.
"Yeah…" Jack replied.
"Well, congratulations, Jack. You and your mom have been randomly selected for two free meals with Rickey and Romana Rodent at the Royal Grand Resort this evening. You don't have to bring anything special. Your names are already on the dining reservation list. And if you are hoping to dine with your friends here, just let the hostess know and she'll seat your parties together." The staff person smiled broadly and walked away with a bounce in his step.
"Well, how about that?!" Jason announced loudly. "Sounds like our problem has been solved and you can come to dinner with us now after all," Jason winked surreptitiously at Jack.
Rose eyed the situation suspiciously, but knew that she couldn't argue now. "Well, Sarah Jane," Rose said, looking the little girl in her bright and hopeful eyes. "Looks like you get your wish and we'll join you for dinner after all."
Jack and Sarah Jane jumped up and down enthusiastically yelling "Yay!" They turned and quickly headed to the Rickey Railway that would take the party of four to dinner. Jack and Sarah Jane held the now-empty Rickey Rodent popcorn bucket together, swinging it between them, while Jason watched the scene smugly. Frankly, he wasn't ready to say goodbye to Rose yet either and if he had his way, somewhere in their future, they might never have to say goodbye.
Dinner with Rickey and Romana was more fun than Rose had had in a long time. The kids loved meeting some of their favorite characters. The buffet was delicious; Rose ate more than she had at one time in months. But the best part of all was the time spent with Jason. Sure, he was much older than Rose (by at least ten years, she guessed), but he was kind and funny and the way he cared for Sarah Jane was the most attractive feature about him. Maybe his facial features were a bit rough – big ears and a nose worthy of a Roman statue – but he was tall and fit. And the way his bum looked in his dark denims was awakening an appetite in Rose that no Wonder World buffet could satisfy. Rose shook her head, admonishing herself for going down that road with someone she had only met a few hours before.
As the kids finished their desserts, Sarah Jane checked her watch and reminded the group that the fireworks would start in ten minutes. Jason disappeared from the table to pay the bill for the party of four (having planned to do so all along; the free meal for Jack and Rose was just a ploy to get them to have dinner together. The tip he'd given that Wonder World employee with the made up story about free dinner was worth it.). They then headed to the elevator and up to the 14th floor where Jason and Sarah Jane's suite was. Rose noticed that Jason had to swipe his Wonder Bracelet to gain access to the exclusive floor.
When they walked into the hotel room, it was nothing like Rose had expected. Instead of a single room with two beds and a bathroom, Rose walked into a living area and small kitchen of a luxury suite. The décor was modern yet elegant, with clean lines and reflective surfaces. The color palette was earthy neutrals with pops of bright yellow and green accents. Jack ran to the opposite side of the room to look out the floor to ceiling windows, his mouth agape with the word "Wow!" Sarah Jane followed him as Jason headed into the kitchen.
"Sarah Jane," Jason called out, "Why don't you and Jack go out to the balcony and set up the chairs for optimal firework viewing?"
"Okay, Daddy," Sarah Jane replied.
"I'm going to make a cuppa; would you like one?" Jason asked Rose.
Rose suddenly realized that she hadn't moved an inch since stepping inside the hotel suite. She shook off her shock and replied "Yes, please." Rose moved to lean on the bar of the kitchen. After a few moments of silence, Rose spoke up. "Thanks for dinner tonight," she said a bit sheepishly.
"I don't know wh…" Jason began, but Rose stopped him with a hand up.
"It's okay. I know that our dinner tonight was your doing," Rose explained. "Seeing Jack with some of his favorite characters are priceless memories for us; it's something I could have never afforded on my own," Rose admitted.
Jason stood in front of Rose, with only the narrow kitchen bar between them. He looked into her eyes and responded. "I figured as much. Please don't be offended; didn't do it out of charity, me. I've enjoyed getting to know you both today and I just wanted to see Jack's face light up one more time before the day ends. And, it's always better with two more people to share a meal with. Especially two people like you and Jack."
Rose blushed a little at Jason's admission. Just then, the kettle began to whistle and Jason moved to prepare the two cups of tea. As they walked out to the balcony, they found that Sarah Jane and Jack had set up four chaise lounge chairs in a row facing the princess castle where the fireworks would be fired off from. Jack and Sarah Jane had already claimed the two on the left, each one cuddling one of Sarah Jane's Rickey and Romana dolls. Rose and Jason moved to sit in the other two. Rose didn't miss how Jason surreptitiously moved his chaise closer to Rose's.
Just then, the music from Wonder World grew louder and laser lights filled the sky. The fireworks show was about to begin. The show lasted nearly 30 minutes and at some point during it, Rose and Jason's hands had found each other and their fingers were intertwined as they watched the twinkling lights pop and glow above them. Anyone watching the couple would have wondered if the pink tint of their skin was from blushing or the glowing embers overhead.
As the finale of the show came to an end and the smoke floated away, Rose and Jason released their hands and looked over at their children. Both were fast asleep with sweet smiles on their faces.
"I can't believe they fell asleep," Rose whispered.
"I know; it would be a shame to move them," Jason replied.
Rose glanced at him and then looked down at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing around. She didn't want to say goodbye yet and Jason was clearly offering her an alternative, but logic won out and she decided it was best to call it a night and return to their hotel before she let things go too far too fast. She moved to wake up Jack when Jason stopped her.
"Wait," he said. "Let me call down to the front desk and ask them to arrange a van to take you back to your hotel." Rose cringed at the thought of what that might cost. Sensing her stress, Jason quickly continued. "We're on the concierge level of this hotel. They'll do anything I ask just because of where my room happens to be." Rose nodded her head and Jason went back inside the suite to phone downstairs. Rose walked over to the railing and gazed out at Wonder World lit up with colorful twinkling lights. The Rickey Railway passed almost noiselessly in the distance.
A few minutes later, Jason returned and joined Rose at the railing. "The van will be ready in 20 minutes," he told her. They stood there in silence for a bit, watching the night sky continue to darken and a few bright stars overpowered the light pollution of Wonder World. Neither Jason nor Rose wanted the night to end and wished they could stop time just to stay like this a bit longer. Eventually, Jason's internal clock told them that 20 minutes had passed and it was time to say goodnight to their new friends. Rose sensed it too and moved to pick up sleeping Jack from his chaise.
As she approached the door to leave the suite carrying Jack in her arms, she turned back to Jason to utter her thanks one more time. Jason knew he wanted to see them again tomorrow and asked as much.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I think we'll go to Studio World and ride the Battle Star ride. Jack loves those movies and he's been talking about that ride. May see a few shows too while we're there," Rose paused, waiting to see if Jason would ask to come along. When he didn't, Rose offered, "Would you like to join us? Today was a lot of fun for the kids and it would be nice to have the company again…"
"Yes!" Jason replied, cringing internally at his exaggerated enthusiasm. He tried to tone it down a bit and continued "We'd love to join you at Studio World. Sarah Jane has challenged me on the Toy Tale game and it's time to prove my skills in battle." Jason smiled widely and Rose wondered if he was just a 5-year-old in a grown-up's body.
"Great! See you when it opens at 9?"
"Yep!" Jason's grin morphed into something akin to deep affection as he opened the suite door and Rose stepped out into the hallway.
"Good night, Jason," Rose smiled gently.
"Good night, Rose." Jason watched Rose carry Jack down the hall and step into a waiting elevator. He returned to the balcony just in time to see Rose load Jack into the Wonder World van and watch it drive away from the front of the hotel. He picked up Sarah Jane and tucked her into bed, pausing only to remove her socks and shoes before wrapping the duvet around her.
That night, Jason fell asleep with thoughts of Rose and how quickly she was finding a way into his heart.
