The last leaves of autumn had begun to fall, and the lush trees that dotted the highway stood familiarly stoic. Sprawling green lawns and lakes were up ahead, and despite the early morning’s gray clouds and rain, the sky was bright blue.
I kept asking Ethan where we were going but he would only smile. I emphasized that I really hated surprises, that if he gave me a hint I would be much more relaxed, yet he simply ignored my requests and laughed.
After two hours of driving, the car came to a stop and I looked outside.
When did this get here?
Orange-leaved trees stood on opposite ends of a dark black pathway that was covered in red and yellow rose petals. My mom and I had gone on a long drive past this part of town a week ago and the pathway and petals weren’t there then.
“This looks pretty simple, right?” he helped me out of the car.
We walked hand in hand down the black and petaled path, past the orange leaved trees, past a picnic blanket and basket that was set for two.
“Isn’t that picnic for us?” I looked at him. “Don’t you think we should eat our dinner first?”
“You’re used to being in control all the time aren’t you?” he smirked.
YES!
“No…”
We continued to walk down the path until we reached a lake, where a small wooden dinghy was waiting in the water.
“Ladies first,” he reached for my hand and held the little boat steady with his foot.
He released the boat from its post and sat down across from me, smiling as he rowed the oars back and forth.
“I rowed for my college team,” I sighed. “I could’ve helped, you know? We could’ve gotten to wherever we’re going ten times faster.”
“Selena, you did not row in college.”
So he can see through me…
We stopped at another clearing, and after he tied the dinghy to a post, he took a black scarf from his back pocket.
“I need you to put this on,” he handed it to me.
“Why?”
“So you are this frustrating,” he laughed and tied the scarf around my eyes. “Can you see anything?”
“No…”
“Good,” he clasped my hand. “I’m glad you finally let me take you out today.”
“Is this the last time I’ll be seen alive?”
“Shhh,” he kissed my cheek.
We walked in silence for a long time. Occasionally he would tell me to watch my step or to stop, but he didn’t initiate any further conversation.
I tried to guess my surroundings by flailing my arms about from time to time, but after losing my balance and falling forward a couple times, I gave up trying to figure it out.
The smell was familiar—newly cut grass, wet leaves, and a freshwater lake—but there were too many parts of Arkansas that fit that description.
“Stop. We’re here,” he let my hand go and slowly moved the blindfold away from my eyes.
I blinked over and over to make sure that what I was looking at was real.
In front of me was a massive white-sanded beach, but we didn’t have white-sanded beaches in Arkansas—at least I’d never seen one. Especially one like this: The sand went on for miles and miles. There were tons of tropical palm trees—definitely not indigenous, an array of bright blue beach chairs near the “shoreline,” and a huge fire pit that was surrounded by large gray stones.
There was a white hammock swaying between two of the larger palm trees, and my name was etched in cursive on massive umbrellas that stood in the distance.
Where did the palm trees come from? We’re only a couple hours away from Fayetteville…We couldn’t have gotten to Florida that fast… And why is the sand white? This doesn’t make any sense…unless… Did he have this made? Like, did he PAY to have this done?
“Yes,” he said as if he’d heard my thoughts. “You mentioned your favorite place to be was the beach so I thought I’d bring you one since you can’t go out of town for a while…You won’t have to worry about any paparazzi while we’re here either.”
I can’t believe I’m not dreaming…This is incredible…What exactly does he do for a living again?
He wrapped his arms around my waist and looked into my eyes. “Say something.”
I was speechless. I wasn’t sure what to say. No one had ever done anything like this for me before.
“Is something wrong?” he pressed. “Are you okay?”
I’m more than okay…
“That picnic basket that was way back there really wasn’t for us?”
“No, it was a momentary distraction. Ours is over there,” he pointed to a large wicker basket that was sitting on a blanket near the “shore.”
I looked at the beach, at the basket, then back at him. Before I could say anything else, he bent down and kissed me, bringing me down to the sand with him.
“You don’t like it?” he whispered.
“I love it…I just wasn’t expecting—”
He kissed me again—making my entire body go numb, and laughed when I attempted to pull off his shirt.
He gently pinned my arms to the sand and smiled. “Slow, remember?”