Jonathan and Jennifer arrived back in LA and used his car service to get home.
Jonathan unloaded their bags and brought them inside. Jennifer carried the bag with the presents.
She set the bag down and then opened the front door to go get the mail. She stopped dead in her tracks.
"Jonathan! Jonathan!"
He heard her and came running.
"What is it?"
She couldn't say anything, she just pointed.
On the front doorstep, were 6 bouquets of roses.
He leaned down and inspected them and then brought them inside.
"What are you doing?"
"They don't appear to be anything other than a dozen roses in each vase".
He pulled the cards off and handed them to her. She read them while he further inspected each bouquet.
"Can't wait to see you again".
"Do you miss me as much as I miss you?"
"Loved meeting you-can't wait to hear you speak again in the future".
"Can't wait till you write another book and I can stay up all night long with you, reading it".
"Watched you all week-hate that I can't watch you now".
"Have so many plans for us, can't wait till we can talk again".
Jonathan went to get the rest of the mail and the packages from the doorstep and came back to find her crying on the couch.
He came and sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her.
"Jonathan, this person was watching me. Watching me."
"Yes, because you ended up speaking at a conference."
"Jonathan-"
"Baby, I want you to listen to me, ok? Really listen to what I'm saying. I don't think this person has plans to hurt you. I think they are just trying to get under your skin. I think they are just trying to rattle you, and I really think this person is just a superfan".
"I can't believe they figured out our address".
"In your speech, did you mention my name at all?"
"No".
"Did you give anyone our address?"
"Macie, but that was only so she could book me for future conferences. I can't see her doing this, though. She didn't seem to be a fan of mine at all by the end of the conference".
"Well maybe she didn't. Maybe she inadvertently gave your address to someone else and they are the ones doing it".
"That seems highly unlikely".
"It's a longshot, yes. But it's possible".
"But why 6 bouquets? I mean, you are in love with me and want to marry me and you haven't ever sent me more than 1 bouquet in a day."
"Well, tomorrow we can call the florist and see if they can tell us if this person sent all the bouquets in one day or if they sent them over the course of more than one day".
"Darling, were you home on the 22nd?"
"Yes, I was. Max left on the 22nd, but I got home around 7 that night and then I flew out to meet you around 6 a.m. the next morning".
"Ok, so that means these flowers were either delivered the 23rd, or yesterday, the 24th. So, let's assume they sent ½ one day and ½ another, that's still 3 bouquets in a row. That's a lot. And I can't even begin to fathom how much these flowers cost".
"That's a valid point. Think back to the people you met at the conference who made you suspicious. Did any of them appear that they were rich? For example, did you see Coach bags, or Prada, or anything really expensive?"
"Macie was dressed professionally. I didn't see her in any other capacity. Maribeth and Anna-they were like students. It's possible they had money, but if so, they didn't obviously flaunt it".
He tried everything he could to make her feel better but nothing was working.
She snuggled up to him as tight as she could.
"Darling, do you want me to call and find us a hotel for tonight?"
She sighed.
"No, I still want to stay here with you. I just didn't want anyone else to know where that was".
"Jennifer, it's ok. We don't even know that the person will be coming back. We don't even know that they have come already. The florist could have delivered those flowers".
"They had to have our address, to deliver them, darling."
"Would it make you feel better if I walked through the rest of the house and made sure everything was locked up and there wasn't anything amiss?"
She nodded.
"Ok. I'll be right back."
He went from room to room, checking all the windows, checking all the doors.
He came back and held his hand out to her. She took it and stood up.
He led her to the bedroom.
"Everything is locked up as tight as can be, nothing is out of place, nothing is where it shouldn't be."
"Thank you, darling".
"How about a bubble bath?"
"That sounds heavenly".
She kissed him and went to start the water.
He went and grabbed a towel and wrapped it around a heating pad and then went and poured her a glass of wine.
He brought her the wine and put the towel and the heating pad on the counter.
He sat behind the tub and gave her a nice, long neck massage.
She seemed to relax a little.
"Are you hungry, darling?"
"No, I'm fine. I have a bit of a headache though".
He got up and went to get her some headache meds, and then came back.
She was climbing out of the tub and drying off.
He set her water and the headache medicine on her nightstand and then changed into his pajamas.
She came out of the bathroom and came over and hugged him.
"That was a wonderful suggestion you had about taking a bubble bath, darling. I feel 10 times better".
She leaned up and kissed him.
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Wonderful. What do you say to a movie in bed? I'll make us popcorn just the way you like it and we can turn the lights off and get all cozy".
"That sounds wonderful. I'm not in the mood for popcorn, but I'm definitely in the mood to snuggle with you".
She got the bed all ready while he made the popcorn.
She found them a movie on tv and as soon as he climbed into bed she snuggled up with him.
She tried her hardest to get into the movie, but her thoughts kept going back to the flowers. No matter what she told herself, she couldn't help but feel that a big shoe was about to drop and it was going to be ugly.
***Two days later***
Jennifer was at home, working on an article. She had decided to do a story about Sweetheart Swindlers and the victims they leave in their wake.
She was deep in thought, when the phone rang.
She absentmindedly reached over and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hi, I'm looking for a Jennifer Edwards."
"Hi, that's me. How can I help you?"
"Hi, this is Tatiana Foster, and Macie Jenkins gave me your name. We have called all over creation trying to get in contact with you. I'll cut to the chase. There is going to a be a writer's conference in Los Angeles next week, and we would love it if you would be the featured speaker. We were thinking a 2-hour window for you to give a speech and maybe do a q and a, and then a book signing or meet and greet session at the end, but we can obviously work out the details. And we will comp your hotel and dining charges for the whole week".
"Well, that's not necessary. I live in Los Angeles. I tell you what, can we meet and talk about the details in person, say over lunch one day? I'm free any day you pick".
"Certainly. I'll be in town this Thursday night, so how about this Friday?"
"Great. There's a quaint little restaurant downtown called Spicy Tomato. How about we meet there at 11?"
"Perfect, we will see you then."
She hung up and got back to work and worked till about 1, when Jonathan called.
"Hello?"
"Hi darling. You busy?"
"Yes, but I can take a break".
"Great, can you come meet me for lunch? How about The Bistro?"
"Sure. I'll be there in 20 minutes".
"See you then. I love you".
She hurried to freshen up her makeup. She heard the phone ring, and she heard Max get it.
"Bye Max, I'll be back later".
"Bye Miss Edwards".
As soon as she was out of earshot, he spoke into the phone again.
"Ok Mr. H. She just left".
Jonathan filled him in on what he had planned.
***The Bistro***
Jennifer pulled up and parked and headed inside. Jonathan pulled up about 5 minutes later.
He came inside while she was talking to the hostess.
"Hi darling".
"Hi honey". She leaned over and kissed him.
They were seated right away and Jonathan immediately ordered them cocktails.
"Drinking at lunch? Darling, that's not like you. What is it?"
He hesitated.
"I contacted the flower shop that delivered all of those flowers. They were paid for by one person. A female. The flower shop owner couldn't tell me her name, but she did tell me the circumstances surrounding the transactions".
"Which were?"
"She stated that the female called and placed the order, and then within an hour, a messenger arrived with an envelope containing just enough cash to pay for it. 3 bouquets a day, over two days. The only positive thing she could tell me was that she didn't think the person would be sending more flowers, only because during their last phone call, the person asked for the deliveries to the house to be a consistent thing and the shop owner told her she wasn't able to do that without a lump sum payment arrangement".
Jennifer had a very worried look on her face.
"So we have no clue where this person is, whether they are in Los Angeles or not".
"That's true".
"So, what do we do now?"
"Well, I was going to ask you-do you want me to hire a security firm to follow you all over town?"
"No".
"Do you want cameras at the house?"
"No, but what if we take the 'H' and the house numbers off the mailbox?"
"Done".
He took her hand in his.
"On the plus side, it's been a couple days since you got anything, so maybe this is already over and done with".
"Maybe. Or maybe it's about to start up all over again".
"Why do you think that?"
"Because, this morning, I got a phone call from a Tatiana Foster. Seems Macie has recommended me to speak at a writer's convention next week here in Los Angeles. I took the phone call this morning, before I spoke with you. I imagine there will be some publicity surrounding me speaking at the conference".
"Well, I tell you what. What if I hire you security just for the convention? You can use my car service to get there and back, and they will be by your side or close by, the whole time".
"I like that idea".
"So, while you and I have been here, I had someone go to the house and install motion-detector lights on all sides. I spoke to the HOA this a.m., about putting a gate across the bottom of the driveway. They said no. But, I can put one at the end of the front porch. That won't give us as much room as a gate at the end of the driveway, but it will give us at least 3 feet."
"Unless it's wired electronically, deliverymen won't be able to deliver, unless we leave it open all the time, which defeats the purpose".
"Good point."
"Darling, we have the new house. How soon can we move in there?"
"We can move in whenever you want. It's just a matter of whether or not you want to live there while they renovate".
"Let's go look at it tonight, and then decide".
"We can do that".
They ate a very quick lunch, and then he walked her to the car.
"I'll be home around 5:30 or 6. I love you".
She hugged him for several minutes.
"I love you too".
She gave him a few kisses and then climbed in the car.
She drove to the house and pulled up into the garage and went inside.
"Hey Miss Edwards".
"Hi Max".
Just then, the phone rang. Max picked it up.
"Hello? Sure, she's right here".
He handed the phone to her.
"Hello?"
"Hi darling. Just making sure you got home ok".
"Jonathan, I'm fine, honest. Is there something you aren't telling me?"
"No, there isn't. I was just making sure you got home ok. I'll see you tonight when I get home. I love you".
"I love you too".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up the phone and then sat down and got back to work on her story.
She worked steadily till he got home at 5:30.
"Hi baby".
"Hi darling, I didn't hear you come in".
She stood up and hugged him and kissed him.
"I just got home. You were so deep in thought when I walked in".
"I'm sorry. I was working on my bio for the program for the conference".
"Well, you keep working, I'm going to head outside and look at the new lights they put in."
"I want to come with you".
"Alright".
She took his hand and they walked outside together. Jonathan was pretty pleased with all the light placements and found nothing wrong with any of them.
"I had them wire the one on the front to come on 24 hours a day with any kind of motion. But the others are wired to only come on with motion at night".
"Do you want to go to the other house tonight?"
"Sure, we can do that".
They walked inside and found Max in the kitchen.
"Hey you two, dinner is almost ready."
"Wonderful. What are we having?"
"Lasagna. My mother's recipe".
"Smells great, Max".
Jennifer set the table while Jonathan got everyone beverages.
They had a nice, quiet dinner, and talked all about Jonathan's meetings and business dealings.
Jennifer did the dishes after they were finished eating, and then they got ready to head to the other house.
"Darling, I picked something up on the way home".
"Oh? What is it?"
"It's in the car. It's a book of all the paint swatches, so if we want to change the wall colors, we will easily be able to make the choice".
"Wonderful! Great idea".
She leaned up and kissed him.
They headed to the new house.
Jennifer loved the privacy aspects, plus the bridge and the pond out front.
"Honey, it's absolutely mesmerizing".
"Yeah, it most definitely is better in person versus the listing".
He unlocked the door and they walked in.
It was in great shape. On the counter in the kitchen, there was a packet from the previous owners detailing the recent improvements that had taken shape.
"Baby, it looks like they did almost everything that we said we wanted to do".
"Really?"
"Yeah, looks like all that's left is painting the house the colors we want".
"That's wonderful".
They walked through every room and decided on the colors for each room.
Jonathan read through the inspection report very closely, and then they walked outside and made some landscaping decisions.
Within an hour, Jennifer had pretty much decided what colors she wanted with 100% certainty. They took several pictures of Max's bedroom and bath so that he could decide what color he wanted for his room, and then headed home.
They changed into their pajamas as soon as they got home, and Jennifer climbed in bed next to Jonathan. He turned on the Lakers game and she curled up on his chest.
"Darling, do you think our married nights will be like this?"
"I sure hope so. I love relaxing nights with you".
About halfway through the game, the phone rang. She sat up so he could reach over and get it, and then moved behind him.
"Ok Stanley, we will talk about it tomorrow. Thank you for handling things".
He hung up the phone and she started kissing his shoulder blades. She gave him a long back scratch, which he loved.
"Jennifer, do you remember when we said we were going to discuss big purchases with each other?"
"Yes, I do".
"So, there's a big purchase I want to make".
He moved to lay beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
"What's this big purchase?"
"Well, when I was a little kid at the orphanage, we watched a lot of westerns and a lot of mystery movies. And there was one specific thing in the movies that stood out to me. And that was that every bad guy, always had a killer car. He always got the ladies because of his car. And the one car I swore I would own someday was a Bentley. And darling, I've looked and I've looked, and I've never been able to find one that had every feature that I wanted. But this afternoon, I found one. It's for sale, and I want to get it".
"So, get it. I'm ok with that, as long as we have somewhere to park it".
"We will. We have a 5-car carport at the other house, and if I need to, I'll build a stand-alone carport."
She rolled over and scooted back towards him. He wrapped an arm around her waist.
As soon as the game was over, he turned the tv off and she went and got them each a glass of water.
She climbed back in bed next to him and scooted over to the middle.
"Darling, I have an idea. I'm not sure you're going to like it, but hear me out".
"I'm listening".
"I want us to keep this house".