He glanced down at the cupcake, she hadn’t tasted it. He took it from her hands and peeled down the paper. “Take a bite or your wish won’t come true.” He said as he held it up to her lips.
Her eyes bored into his and for a moment she considered his words. He grinned widely as her teeth sank into the tiny cake and took a bite, sealing her wish. He brought his fingertip to the corner of her mouth where a spot of chocolate was left. He wiped it with his finger and licked the remnants. She swallowed, as if her mouth was completely dry and it was hard to get the cake down. He smiled and took a bite of her cupcake.
He finished the cupcake in two bites and crumbled up the paper. He glanced around and saw a trash can on the edge of the aisle and walked over and dumped the garbage in. He strode back towards her wiping his hands on the backs of his jeans. “Are you finished with your visit?”
“Yes.” She pressed her lips to her fingertips and then ran them across her mother’s name. “Love you.” She whispered and then looked back at Jake. He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” He said as he laced their fingers together and helped her down the hill.
“Jake, where’s your car?” She said as she searched the cars that were lined along the road, none of them were his. He smiled at her and then she noticed a man step out of a black town car. He walked around to the back seat, doors and opened it. She looked back at him and he shrugged his shoulders. “You hired a car?”
“Didn’t feel like driving. Come on.” He said and pulled her towards the town car. “Thanks George.” He patted the chauffer’s shoulder and waited for Cara to climb in. She looked up at him as if he had lost his marbles, and he laughed before slapping her behind kiddingly. She climbed in and he followed suit. Once they were in the car, she turned to him.
“Okay, really, what’s with the car? Where are we going?” She asked inquisitively and Jake took her hands in his and pulled her closer to him.
“We’re going to Manhattan.” He said simply as his fingers played with the ends of her hair. They had been calling for his touch, he told himself.
“Manhattan.” She let it register and then looked down at her dirt stained pants and her mud covered boots. “Jake I look like I was playing in a mosh pit.”
“So? When we get there we’ll go shopping.” He looked at his jeans and casual thermal. That had been part of his plan anyway. “I need something to wear too.”
She smiled at him and grabbed his hand. “Come on. Tell me where we are going.”
He loved when she smiled and he knew he put that smile on those lips. “I just did.”
She rolled her eyes, and leaned her head against his shoulder. “You’re not going to get into specifics are you?”
“Nope.” He said and kissed the top of her head. “Just enjoy the ride. We’ll be there in a few hours.”
She looked up at him and he smiled at her easily. “What would I do without you?” She asked him so seriously. He wanted to take the negativity away from her life, he wanted her to be carefree and just enjoy herself, and here she was asking him a question with such fear in her eyes. He pressed his lips to the tip of her nose and tickled her sides, letting all the angst in her eyes free.
Her laughter engulfed the back seat of the sedan and her eyes were smiling up at him. Only then did he answer her, “You’ll never have to worry about that.” He promised so sincerely. She looked at him for a moment, letting his words sink in, and believe him, then she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Two and half hours later when the driver peered into the rearview mirror and announced they had arrived at their destination, Cara looked down at Jake. He had fallen asleep a half hour after they left the cemetery. To make him more comfortable, she had laid his head on her lap. She brushed her fingertips down the outline of his jaw. She was worried about him, and wondered if all this back and forth between them had anything to do with why he was so tired. Deciding that he had put a lot of heart and soul into making this day perfect for them, she would nag him about that another day. There was always tomorrow. “Jake, wake up. We’re here.” She said as she nudged him slightly.