"Sam wake up."
The distant female voice rang in Sam's head causing her to stir. Brow furrowed she attempted to evade the annoyance by shifting towards Jason.
"Samantha wake up!" aggravated Noel tugged at her arm. "Get up."
Eyes opening Sam groaned at the sight of her best friend in workout clothes. "You have got to be kidding me." yawning Sam rolled onto her back. "What time is it?"
"Time to get up." grabbing her hand she tugged. "I need to go run and want you to come with me." head cocked to one side Noel went in for the kill "Please."
Snickering Sam shook her head "wow, this must be a special day, you saying please. "Fine I will meet you downstairs."
"Thank you love."
Watching Noel bounce away Sam turned her attention to the sleeping man at her side. Slumbering peacefully she knew that Jason felt safe in this place, with Noel entering the room Jason never once moved, he felt secure enough to actually fall into a deep, restoring sleep. Before slipping out of bed Sam stroked the side of his head then brushed a soft kiss to his temple. She loved watching him sleep, when he was totally relaxed and all the worries, the peaceful expression on his face always made her smile.
"What's going on Noel." Looking at her best friend Sam knew the wheels in her mind were turning. During their run Noel said little, she looked anxious and looked a little green. Sam knew something was going on with her girl. "Answer me."
"I don't think I can marry Darius."
"Mmm, ok, where is this coming from?"
Pacing Noel began to ring her hands. "I don't trust it. What happens if one day I roll over look at him and want to run screaming in the opposite direction?"
After listening to her ramble for another minute Sam reached for Noel, grabbing her hand she pulled the nervous girl to her side. "I never thought you would have pre-wedding jitters. Darius adores you and you him, that's all you need. Anything that will be thrown at you it will be faced together, you are not alone any longer."
Smiling Noel grabbed Sam's hand. "Thank you for being here. I wouldn't have been able to get married without you." tears gathering in the corner of her eye "You're my family Sam." Chuckling Sam hugged her tightly. "I love you to."
"What about Jason and you, see any wedding bells in the near future?"
Shrugging Sam murmured "Don't see that happening."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because the fairy tale that I created in my mind, being a mother, wife, little house with the white picket fence, was not meant to be."
Watching her friend closely Noel felt sorrow radiating from Sam. "You can still be a wife and with the house, heck I bet if you wanted to adopt Jason would happily agree."
"Who is going to give Jason and I a baby? I can picture the interview now "Mr. Morgan you claim to be a coffee importer yet you have been arrested over two dozen times." Plus I'm not sure I will ever trust Jason the way I use to."
"I thought you guys got past all that?"
Tugging on her fingers Sam shook her head "We did, Jason has been more then wonderful, attentive, and honest, partners in everything, the problem is not with Jason, it's me." Getting to her feet Sam walked towards a window "Noel I don't believe my heart will ever be the same, Jason's betrayal cut that deep. Logically I understand why he felt he had to keep that secret from me, Liz is Jake's mother and the end he would agree to her wishes, but I've not been able to wrap my head around the fact that he didn't trust me, his doubt still stings."
"Have you shared this with Jason?"
"We don't talk about the past. He has tried on a few occasions to engage me in conversation, but I quickly change the subject. My heart might be damaged beyond repair."
"He healed your heart once, you should give him the opportunity to repair the damage he inflicted. Pain isn't always a bad thing Sam sometimes we need to hurt in order to grow and learn."
"All the pain and heartache I had experienced before Jason, was that not enough?" Spinning around "I'm done hurting, finished aching for something that clearly was not suppose to be mine." Wiping tears from her eyes she extend her arm towards Noel. "No more talk of Jason and I, we need to get your ready for your husband."
Taking her hand Noel smiled "My husband." taking a deep breath she squeezed Sam's hand. "Ready or not here I come Darius."
The Falla's had spared no expense for Noel and Darius's wedding. An illuminated path lead guests to a huge tent where the ceremony and reception took place. White, red, and silver toling was wrapped and draped on everything, from the tables to chairs, ceiling to floor. Tiny silver candles flickered and danced as northern winds lead them in an eternal dance.
The bride and groom made a handsome couple, Noel in her all white wedding gown, Darius in a black tux, his long goatee braided with silver, white, and red ribbons. The ceremony had been short in length, ten minutes tops, but the vows they wrote for each other were moving, no one could deny the love these two people had for each other.
Seated next to Dena and Josh, Sam couldn't help but notice they tried really hard not to like each other. Leaning into Jason she whispered "I think that Dena and Josh like each other."
Smirking Jason cast a quick glance at them. "I don't know looks like they hate each other."
"Of course they do. Remember when you were a little boy." pausing Sam smiled then patted Jason's cheek "let me rephrase that when kids are little you always pick on the one you like. Little boys will push the girl they like, little girls hate the boys they like."
Kissing her cheek "Whatever you say." Standing he pulled Sam's chair out "care to dance?"
Smiling brightly she quickly got to her feet allowing him to lead her to the dance floor. Stepping into his open embrace she sighed happily when his strong arms enveloped her body. Head rested on his chest she was in heaven. "Don't tell Noel but you are the most beautiful women at this wedding." Snickering she closed her eyes swaying slowly to the music.
"Everything is in place Mistress. Plane is fueled waiting at the airport and the contact players have been informed the game is to begin tonight."
"Thank you Grace. Please send in Noel, Dena, and Sam."
"Yes Mistress."
Reading over the instructions one last time Sonya was ready to put her plan into action. Ten days from now she would have a new female trio to employ and Jokkum a new brother to train. As Sonya gave instructions to the females Jokkum would be informing the men.
Watching them enter the room Sonya knew Noel was a little ticked off, the expression on her face was priceless.
"Stop pouting Noel this will only take a minute or two."
"I'm not pouting."
Looking over at Dena, Sam started to laugh. "Yes you are."
"Bite me Sam."
Cackling louder their eyes began to water just as Noel started to come towards them.
"Ladies if you are finished." Like three children being scolded Dena, Sam, and Noel got quiet and waited for Sonya to address them.
"The reason why I called you here is to bestow on Noel a wedding gift." Nodding to Grace, the little house manager passed out the envelopes. "Each letter says the same thing so I will read aloud."
A marvelous gift awaits you at the end of this search. One will learn the definition of true love, one will find a new path stretched before her, and one will be able to let go of her past and finally move forward. In order to achieve this gifts you must work together as a team, depending upon each other for guidance, companionship, learning to trust each other.
Exchanging looks the trio were utterly confused. Noel was the first to address the gift. "Ok." Looking at Sam once more she continued "Thank you?"
Smiling Sonya "You would like to know what you will be searching for?"
"That might help."
"You three ladies will be playing a world wide scavenger hunt, five countries, 10 days. The team that reaches the finish line first wins. Noel if memory serves your favorite German wine is Donnhoff, your first clue is located at the wine making families estate."
Laughing Dena shook her head. "Sonya are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious, trust me at the end of this adventure you will be thanking me."
"Uh huh. Ok well who are we playing against?"
"Us." In the doorway stood Darius, Jason, and Joshua. "You will going up against us, you know the better team."
Rolling her eyes Noel stared at Darius "Are you kidding me, better then me? Sweetheart I thought we already established that I wear the pants in our relationship because I am the best." Smiling sweetly Noel taunted her husband. "And you know it." Arching one brow Darius took one step towards his new bride.
"Enough. Our private jet is ready at the airport. Once you arrive in Germany will need to split up to discover additional clues to find your next location. Good luck to all of you, have fun, and be safe. We will see you at the finish location in ten days."
