Jonathan got out and then helped Jennifer out.
He grabbed her hand and they walked inside a building and made their way to the back to a secluded, quiet restaurant.
"Jonathan, where are we?"
"We are at a place known as 58 West. It's a new development that I'm considering investing in. Each floor has a theme. The ground floor has 4 very different, very unique restaurants. And the other floors have boutiques, salons, things like that. Top two floors are apartments".
"Sounds interesting".
"I reserved an entire restaurant for the two of us".
"How sweet".
They were immediately seated and Jennifer was very impressed. On the table was a bottle of her favorite wine just waiting to be opened, and a crystal vase with a dozen of the most beautiful white roses she had ever seen.
Jonathan pulled her chair out for her, and then sat next to her just as the waitress appeared to take their order.
"Hi, my name is Molly. I'll be serving you tonight. Can I get you something to drink in addition to your wine?"
"Sparkling water, please".
"Right away, Ma'am".
"Make it two, please".
"Yes sir. Here are your menus, and I'll be right back with your drinks. Michael will be right over to open the wine for you".
Jennifer realized that all of the items on the menu were things she had told Jonathan she liked from their trip to California.
"Jonathan…you didn't….have anything to do with this menu, did you?"
"Surprise #1 darling. I contacted all of the chef's, and asked them for the recipes to the dishes you said you loved and hired another chef to recreate them exactly".
"Well, I feel very special. This is exciting".
Michael came and popped the cork on their wine, and gave Jennifer a taste.
"Oh yes, it's perfect".
Molly came and took their orders and then left them alone so they could chat.
"So, you stated that you were able to work on your article. What article is that?"
"Do you remember the interview I told you about where I was going to interview Jared Watkins, in the prison?"
"Yes, I do".
"Well, when the paper shut down, I kept the credentials, and decided to do the article anyways. So, a few days ago I went up and met with him for the first time. Now I'm in the compiling of the research stage. I'll probably do one or two more interviews, depending on how forthcoming he is. And then I'll be finished".
"Are you writing for a paper?"
"No. I've gone 100% freelance".
"That's wonderful."
"Yeah, I enjoy it. I can set my own hours, pick my own topics, set my own prices".
"Being your own boss is hard, but rewarding".
"I agree".
He pulled a box out of his pocket.
"I brought something tonight that I wanted to give you. You can go ahead and open it if you want".
He slid it across to her and she hesitated, and then opened it.
It was her black onyx bracelet and earrings.
"Those are the same ones I gave you the night of the ball".
"How did you-"
"The bail bondsman called the house and gave us a 1-week warning. So, I found the check in the safe, and sent Max to pay the bill and pick them up".
"I completely forgot about these. That was such a crazy night".
"Darling, I want you to know, it means the world to me that you were willing to part with these just to get me out of jail. I promise, I will never put you or anyone in that position again. That was quick thinking on your part to secure a loan in case you didn't have enough".
"I just wanted you to come home so bad".
"I know, and I appreciate it".
She slipped the earrings on and let him help her with the bracelet and then leaned over and kissed him tenderly.
The waitress brought their first course, and refilled their wine glasses.
They had a lovely dinner, and talked about everything under the sun, just about. For the first time in months, they were getting along and were happy.
Jennifer looked over at Jonathan.
"How long did you rent this place for?"
"The entire night".
"I see".
Just then, some music began to play, and Jonathan held his hand out to Jennifer.
She took it and they went to the dance floor.
She was ecstatic when she realized the band was one of her favorite local bands, Broadway Pony.
"We had a bit of an unusual request from a Mr. Jonathan for a Miss Jennifer, to only play songs about people who like each other and are happy. We will do our best".
Jennifer was laughing and threw her head back, which always drove Jonathan crazy.
The first dance was a slow dance, and you couldn't fit 4 inches between them.
"Tell me the truth. During our month apart, did you miss me at all?"
She nodded.
"Yes, I did. I wanted to call you a hundred times".
"I would have talked to you. I honestly thought about giving up everything and just coming after you more times than I could count."
They danced to the music for at least an hour and never took their eyes off each other.
Jennifer played with his hair while they danced and rested her head against his.
He stole a kiss here and there and just held her.
Finally, around 11, they called it a night.
The chef gave each of them full to-go meals of each course and then they left, hand in hand.
He gave her his jacket while they waited for their ride.
"Are we waiting for the car service?"
"Yes, we are".
The car service arrived a few minutes later, and they happily climbed in.
"Darling, if you want to, we can go back to the Penthouse, and you can get the next two surprises. Or, we can save them for another night".
"Oh, that's not fair! I want them now".
"Ok, to the penthouse we shall go".
Jonathan's Penthouse
Jonathan and Jennifer came inside and put their to-go boxes in the fridge.
She took his jacket off and stepped out of her heels.
"Thank you for dinner and all of the surprises and for giving me your jacket".
He pulled her in close.
"Trust me, it looks better on you than it does on me".
They stood there in the kitchen, kissing and holding each other for a few minutes.
"Ok, time for the next surprise".
He took her hand and led her to the bedroom and handed her a wrapped box.
"Unwrap this, put it on, and then come meet me here in the bedroom. In the meantime, I'll get everything set up".
He kissed her and then disappeared.
She disappeared into the bathroom and unwrapped the box, to find a gorgeous bright blue lacy nightgown with spaghetti straps.
She slipped it on and then came out and found that Jonathan had gotten everything ready for him to give her a massage.
She happily laid down on the bed and let him massage all her stressed spots and rub out all her knots.
After her massage was over, he helped her slip the nightgown back on.
"You got any more massage oil?"
"No, no. Tonight is about you, not me. You are the one being pampered".
He gave her a few kisses.
"Feel better?"
"Yes. I am always amazed by the strength in your hands".
He leaned forward and gave her the most romantic kiss he had ever given anyone.
It was slow and tender, and had just the perfect amount of passion.
"Darling, what's my final surprise?"
"Breakfast in bed".
The Next Morning
Jennifer woke up and was amazed that she was still in Jonathan's arms.
They had climbed into bed together the night before, and he had just held her. He didn't push her for sex, and she didn't bring it up either. He felt like she would probably say they weren't ready for that, and he respected it. And the last thing he wanted to do was cause a fight.
"Good Morning".
He kissed the top of her head.
"Good Morning".
"How did you sleep?"
"With you in my arms, it was the best night's sleep I've had in weeks".
"Yeah, I know what you mean".
"Are you hungry? We can do breakfast whenever you want".
"Yes, please".
"Waffles or Pancakes?"
"Pancakes."
"Eggs and bacon?"
"Yes. And a fruit salad".
"Bagels or toast?"
"Bagels. Full schmear, extra cream cheese".
"You got it".
He picked up the phone and ordered them breakfast from the deli across the street, and then hung up.
They laid in bed and watched the news while they waited on their delivery.
"Darling, have you ever thought about running for office?"
"No. That's not really my scene. Plus, it would really get to me after a while if I couldn't run my company while in office."
He looked over at her.
"Would you run for office?"
"No, I'm too nice".
He wrapped his arms around her as she scooted back against him.
"You'd get my vote anytime".
She scratched his arm.
"I can't believe we managed to do it".
"Do what?"
"Get along for just over 12 hours in a row".
"Of course, we can. We just had to make up our minds to do it".
"Jonathan…I was thinking. Last night, and this morning, you focused on pampering me. So, let me return the favor. Let me cook dinner for us at my apartment tonight. How about..7?"
"I'm sorry, Jennifer. I can't do 7. I have…a prior commitment".
She looked at him, shocked.
"Do you have a date or something?"
"No, actually. When I called you from California at the paper and asked you to have dinner with me, you said something to me that really stuck with me. You told me if we couldn't get along, you and I would be through. And I promised you, that I would keep my temper in check. And I failed. So, when I went back to California, I enrolled in an anger management class. And when I came back here to New York, I found one here that was willing to let me jump in so I can complete the class. We meet once a week, at 7."
"You did that?"
"Yeah. I wanted to prove to you that I was serious. And then as the weeks went on, I realized it was something I really needed to do for myself as well".
"I love that you did that".
She leaned over and kissed him a few times.
They were interrupted by their breakfast delivery, so they climbed out of bed and went and got it.
Jonathan got out some silverware and two table trays and they took it all back to bed.
"Jonathan, can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything".
"Are you ok with the fact that we didn't make love last night?"
"I'm perfectly fine with it. I figure it will happen when we are both ready."
"Thank you".
They finished their breakfast, and then Jennifer slipped out of her nightgown and back into her clothes.
"Care to drive me home?"
"I would love to".
When they got to Jennifer's apartment, he walked her to the door and saw her inside.
"Thank you for a lovely evening and morning".
"I love you. You are more than deserving of anything I can give you".
He gave her a couple of kisses.
"I'll call you tonight".
"I can't wait".
She gave him a final kiss and then closed the door behind him, and headed to take a shower, thinking about him the whole time.
A week later
Jonathan and Jennifer had spent every day together since they reconnected. They were both committed to dealing with the issues they faced together with open communication and resolutions, instead of angry, intense arguments and fights. He had planned a few days that he knew she would love, and had taken her to museums and to the park to walk around and to her favorite restaurants. She had made dinner for them at her place, and at his, and had rented them movies she knew he would like. She was slowly letting go of all the hurt and anger she felt towards him.
She was driving to the prison today to meet with Jared Watkins again, and then she and Jonathan were supposed to have dinner when she returned.
He called her while she was getting dressed.
"Hello?"
"Good morning gorgeous".
"Hi. Good morning".
"I'm on my way to the office, but I just wanted to tell you I love you and I hope your interview goes well".
"Thank you. I love you too. Can you make us some reservations for dinner tonight? I don't care where, I just don't feel like cooking".
"Sure, I'll take care of it".
"Great. Well, I better get going. I love you, I'll see you tonight".
"I love you too. Be safe".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up and gathered her things and headed out.
She had an easy drive, and just listened to the radio as she drove along.
She was ushered inside the prison, and searched very thoroughly. As soon as she was taken into an interview room, another guard came in.
"Miss Edwards, there's a problem with your paperwork. Who do you work for?"
"Myself. I'm now freelance".
"So you are no longer writing for the Manhattan Daily News?"
"The Manhattan Daily News went out of business. I'm writing freelance now. Is that a problem?"
"Yes, because it was the Daily News that got you the pass to come here."
"I understand that. But this is probably my last interview. And if it's not, the next one will surely be the last one. I'm happy to fill out whatever you want me to".
"I tell you what. This is highly irregular, but…see the warden's secretary before you leave".
"Yes ma'am. I appreciate it".
Jared Watkins was shown in a few minutes later.
"Hi."
"Hi. Ok, let's get down to business. Tell me about your childhood".
After a very thorough interview where Jared told Jennifer every sordid detail of his childhood to the point Jennifer thought her stomach was going to turn, she ended the interview.
"Ok, what's next?"
"I'll put this all together, and then come here one final time to let you read it and approve it".
"And then I'll get out of here".
"Maybe….maybe not".
"What do you mean? Everything is riding on your article getting me out of here!"
"There were never any guarantees that my article would get you released, only that you would have a chance to tell your side of the story".
"I better get my parole!"
"Again, I have no control over that".
The guard took him away and then Jennifer was shown to the warden's office.
"Wait right here, he'll be back in a moment".
Jennifer sat and waited for about 30 minutes, and then grew restless. She got up and started walking around, looking at the pictures on the walls.
Suddenly, a hand appeared over her mouth.
"Don't move, don't make a sound. Lady, you're about to have a really bad day".
Jared Watkins was holding a makeshift knife to her throat.