Chapter 11
Sara went to bed that night feeling happy, finally at ease regarding her feelings for Neal. She had a month to decide what to do and he had assured he would wait for her to decide. Her birthday was coming up in a few hours and it was starting pretty good already.
November 11th, 6 am and someone was ringing Sara's doorbell "What the hell?" she said rubbing her eyes. With her recently acquired vigorexia, she normally got up even earlier to go for a run but thanks to Neal she had slept like a baby so the sound startled her. She put on a robe and got up to open the door.
"Good morning ma'am. These are for you" said a smiling boy carrying a huge bouquet of purple tulips
Sara gasped and motioned him to place them on the dinner table happily "Thank you!"
She looked closely to them and they were exquisite and so many of them! She looked for the bottom and saw a small envelope with her name, in the inside it read:
Birthday girl,
Wanna go out with me and celebrate tonight? 8 pm – Kensington gardens. Bring your phone.
And before you even think of going to work, I called in for you and nobody is expecting you to go so just go back to sleep until your next present arrives at around 9 am or unless you get hungry of course, let me know if that happens so I can take care of it as well, wouldn't want you to burn another tea pot.
This day is meant for you to be treated like a princess.
Love,
Neal
Sara smiled like an idiot and obediently went back to bed and texted Neal "Just got my first present! Going to sleep now as instructed J"
In another time, she would've been offended for having him deciding for her but not today and not with Neal. He had gotten deep into her –no pun intended-, and he had earned the right to take the lead.
Neal just smiled and answered "Sleep tight. Happy birthday, princess" – He went to bed hoping everything he had planned for Sara went according to plan.
3 hours later – 9 am in London:
Doorbell again… Sara groaned and yawned getting up. She put on her robe again and went to open the door to see the 9 am surprise. She discovered a freckled woman dressed in chef's attire with a thick Irish accent "Miss Ellis, this is for you, right from Chef's Alexander Rushkind's kitchen. May I?" she asked and Sara just motioned her to come in. The freckled lady went to the table and set up a very nice and fancy breakfast consisting on a fancy-looking omelet, toast, fresh strawberries, Chai tea with milk and another flower. Once she was done setting everything up the lady just nodded politely "Enjoy" and left.
Sara went closer to the table and gasped at the sight. It looked delicious! There was another card, it read:
Chef Alexander Rushkind happens to be a friend of mine. He cooks for the Royal family and he does a pretty fine job at it. Enjoy!
I'm probably asleep right now, dreaming of you. So enjoy your breakfast and get ready for your next present at around noon. Dress comfortably, no high heels please, don't want you to trip and fall over, could be painful and… wet.
Neal
Sara was grinning like a fool and she dug in. Damn, it was good! She took a picture of herself being goofy and biting without elegance at her toast and sent it to Neal saying "2nd present: Yummy"
Around noon, Sara was ready, dressed in jeans and a cashmere orange sweater wearing a nice silk scarf and no high heels. She was getting restless waiting for the noon surprise. She wondered if there was gonna be another person at the door?
Noon sharp, she heard a car honking and peeked at her window seeing a black Mercedes and a smiling man with grey hair waving at her. She took her purse and coat and went down happily.
"Hello ma'am. My name is Alfred Carrington, I'll be your driver. Please" said the man politely opening the back door for her and handing her another envelope which she opened eagerly. It read:
I know, a Mercedes ain't no Cinderella carriage but Alfred is a nice man, just don't leave your purse within his hand's reach. He will take you to run an errand for me, please?
Still sleeping…
Neal
Sara chuckled and seated comfortably at the back of the car enjoying the quiet ride until they arrived at the London Millenium Footbridge located at the Bankside district right on the shore of the River Thames. Alfred parked the car giving Sara a golden lock and another envelope. She took it frowning "Please walk to the middle of the bridge, miss" he said.
She did as she was told and saw that there were many other locks there. She opened the envelope and read:
Stop frowning, hear me out… The tradition is far older than one might think: it originated in Serbia during World War II, when couples from the town of Vrnjacka Banja symbolically sealed their love before the men went off to fight… Now I know I'm not going to war (although dealing with the FBI and Mozzie at the same time every day resembles being in the line of fire) and I know I'm far from earning the title of being "your man" but this is wishful thinking for a future chance of going with you to Paris and do it together at the Pont de l'Archeveche, where the tradition is most popular. This will have to do for now. If you want to, please lock it there for the both of us. It would mean the world to me as a sign of gratitude, for everything you've done for me. You and the Burke's are the main reasons I don't want to run anymore so this is the only time you'll hear (read) me saying this voluntarily: Lock me up please?
I hope you're not hungry yet. Alfred will take you to your 4th present.
Neal
Sara stood there and she read the card again and again. She sighed inhaling the chilly air in her lungs and without further thinking, she locked it and snapped a picture and attached it to an email which read "3rd present: Locked. Sweet dreams, Caffrey. I'm not sleeping but dreaming nonetheless thanks to you" – she hesitated before hitting the Send button. Was it too corny? Nah… she sent it, what the hell!
She remained at the bridge for a couple more minutes and she saw that another couple arrived there to do the same she had done and kissed sweetly sealing their pact. She smiled and couldn't help but wish Neal was here. It just felt incomplete without him. She felt incomplete… she closed her eyes and went back to Alfred "ready to go Miss Ellis?" he asked opening the door again.
Alfred took her to an old-looking building downtown, where a nice Indian woman was waiting for her at the door "Miss Ellis, please come with me" she said leading Sara to a beautiful zen garden full with scents and flowers and a massage table in the middle surrounded by candles and relaxing music. Sara pulled her phone out "4th present received: OMG, a massage! I think I love you. You better be awake when I'm done here. Tired of text-monologues. Mind you, off to heaven now…"
And after 2 hours of massage and all kinds of beauty treatments, Sara was in heaven indeed and Neal started to wake up… he grabbed his phone and with each picture and each text message, he kept smiling to the point of almost dislocating his jaw. He replied "Hello beautiful! Still in heaven? I'm awake now" he texted her and went to get a shower happy as a hippo.
8:00 am at the NY FBI office…
"Morning boss. Coffee and an envelope from DC" said Diana entering Peter's office Monday morning
"Why thanks!" said Peter smiling and opening the envelope "Oh this is Sara's sister's file"
"Come again?" asked Diana curious as to why Sara's sister would be in the FBI records
"She disappeared long time ago and the FBI never found her. It's a shame" said Peter
"Oh… Was it too long ago? Because I could move some of my contacts in DC, see what can be found?" offered Diana
"Thanks, Di. It was a long time ago but I guess it wouldn't hurt double-checking. Would you mind putting a copy of this file into delivery for Sara's office in London?" said Peter
"No problem, Peter" said Diana exiting Peter's office and bumping into Neal "morning Neal, you look awfully happy today"
Neal just smiled even further "It's a good day!" he said and noticed the envelope in her hands "Is that from Sara's sister?"
Diana frowned "How do you know?"
"Peter told me. Can I see it please? I bet he made you mail it to her, didn't he? That is such a probie's job, isn't it? Let me do it for you" said Neal charmingly
Diana chuckled "Caffrey, your deceiving techniques are getting very lame but what the hell. Take it. I'm sure you'll want to send a perfumed picture of yourself along with it" teased Diana
"Oh! Nice idea!" said Neal mocking her and taking the file
He sat at his desk, opened the file, read the first line and… "Shit!"
So, what else could Neal do for Sara's 5th, 6th, 7th presents? :)
Some notes:
- Apologies in advance for any inaccuracy of London stuff, I've never been there although I'm planning to go there SOON.
- Cheff's name is a fake but I just figured Neal would have such friends all over the world. The Lover's lock tradition however, is real.
Clarice's life is about to change in more ways than one... Stay tunned and Please review!