“Does it still scare you?” he asked.
“Not really. Like you said, wasn’t a very good idea. I’m not going there in the dark and by myself again.”
“Do you think you could recognize the truck if you saw it again?”
She shook her head. “Maybe the sound, but then, Diesel trucks always sound the same. It had a deep, heavy idle.”
“Did you see the grill? Could you tell if it was a Chevy or Ford? Or was it something like this?”
“Not a Hummer. I would have recognized the shape. Even the pickups are different. No, it was a big heavy-duty truck with big tires. And I think it was a four-door model. But that’s it.”
Marco turned down one of the avenues to Beach Trail Drive.
“Where are you going? Are we…?”
“Yup. Going to the lot.”
“For dinner?”
“I hope so. I paid a boatload for it. We’ll see.”
Beach Trail ended, and then a dirt road wound around the sand dunes, at last coming through the green foliage to the flat graded plateau prepared for their new home on the five private acres.
Marco scanned the horizon, now turning purple and orange with golden clouds crossing the horizon and slowly changing shape. In the center of the leveled pad was a table and two benches. The table had a white tablecloth on it, adorned with a bouquet of red roses and a silver champagne bucket with a bottle chilling inside. Surrounding the table was a circle of hurricane lamps, lighted, which showed them the way. He was pleased to notice the red cube food transport box, keeping his special order both warm and chilled.
“This is just beautiful,” Shannon gasped as he turned off the engine and they looked at the display in front of them. “How did you do this?”
“Well, obviously, I didn’t do this. I hire someone else to do it, because I was with you, right?”
“Oh, Marco, you amaze me how you think of these things.”
“Good. Mission accomplished then. Let’s get out before it gets cold.”
One thing that he loved about the Gulf area was that, even near sunset, the air was still warm, and even if there was a breeze, it was a warm one. Waves crashing in the background infused excitement and unpredictability.
He opened the door for Shannon and led her to the table. Then he went back and brought the blankets and the tube, placing them beside the table. Shannon stood facing the dying sun, her hair blowing in ringlets behind her. She turned.
“I don’t think I’ll ever tire of this view. I love it from my little place, but from here, with all the privacy around us, it’s spectacular.”
Marco uncorked the champagne and brought her a glass. They touched, kissed, then sipped the light pink liquid.
“To happily ever afters. To new beginnings. To imagining and then creating miracles. That’s our life now, Shannon. This is what every day will be like from now on.”
Her face was lined with tears. She sipped her champagne and leaned into him. “I think this is going to be my best day. We used to play that game when I was little.”
“I remember Em telling me that.”
“Best company. Best sunset. Best dream come true. Best everything.”
“Yes. I’m marrying the girls of my dreams. I will forever be grateful for Em bringing us together. I hope that’s something you can embrace.”
“I’m getting there,” she said.
He pulled his arm around her waist. “Are you hungry?”
“Starved.”
He led the way back to the table in the middle of the circle of fire. Pulling out the red insulated box, he unzipped the top layer and placed a chilled platter with a dozen oysters swimming in lemon slices. He handed one shell to her and took one for himself.
“Lemon?” he asked as he held a slice over her oyster.
“Of course.”
Having properly garnished the half shells, they both slurped them down. Shannon took another sip of champagne and then reached for another.
The tabletop was still lighted with the lamps all around them. Next on the menu was lobster bisque. The main course was a perfectly poached salmon, still warm, with fresh buttered green beans, and a long grain rice pilaf with pine nuts. Two delicate green salads with a lemony dressing were individually chilled and wrapped as an accompaniment.
For dessert, they had chocolate mousse garnished with golden raspberries.
Marco was pleased with the presentation and made a note to ask the team to use this caterer again for any of their special events coming up.
He picked up a hurricane lamp and one of the blankets and the tube. “Shall we sit in the living room?”
“Where is it?”
“Here, see for yourself. See if you can tell me where it is.” He held the tube to her, and she outstretched the house plans in front of him. With the aid of the lamp, she walked several paces and then pointed to an area. Marco spread the blanket there and invited her to sit down.
“You approve? You like the living room here?”
“I’d like to study the plans better, but yes, it matches what we talked about. I wanted the living room to be open to the coastline, to watch the sunsets. This is perfect!”
They sat side by side, arms wrapped around each other, continuing to watch the sky turn darker and darker, and then the stars began to come out. Remnants of huge puffy clouds still glowed pink in the afterglow of the sunset against the new night sky.
“Ready for more?”
“Absolutely.”
He stood, helped her up, then took the lamp and pointed to the plans. “How about the master bedroom now? We’ll have to pretend we’re on the second floor.”
“So it’s back here, because there’s a deck off the master suite, which is over the living room. I think the bedroom would start here.” She pointed back about twenty feet.
“And where would be the bed?” he asked.
“I’d say against the back wall, so it would have a perfect view of the ocean in the morning and the sunset at night.”
“Where?” he asked again.
“Right here.” She pointed to one spot, and Marco lay the blanket down then placed two hurricane lamps on either side. He added another blanket to the corner and then invited her to sit.
“How’s the bed?” he asked.
“A little firm, but nice.” She linked fingers with his and leaned into him, placing a kiss on his mouth that lingered. “I can still taste the oysters and the lemon.”
“And I think I tasted a little bit of mousse as well.”
“Yes.”
“Shall we try out the bed?” he asked.
“You mean?”
“Of course. I want to remember this evening for the rest of my life.”
“So do I. I see you’ve brought another blanket.”
“So when you’re naked you won’t be cold. I want to see you naked on my new bed, Shannon. I want to make love to you in our new bedroom. I want to start the memories before the house is built. What do you think of my plan?”
“I think,”—she crawled over Marco’s lap and began pulling her dress over the top of her head—“if you don’t get me out of these clothes, I’m going to burn up.”
Marco knew he’d never forget this night nor the way she needed him under the twinkling stars, and as she shattered beneath him, he whispered, “I love you more every day, Shannon. You bring the magic. You’re the talisman. You’re the one who’s saved me—you’ve saved us both.”