|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
"She won't want another bottle until around nine. Then she'll probably get a little fussy, but if you sing to her, she'll calm down," Chris explained to Lucy as he placed another bottle into the diaper bag, "Natalie usually wakes up again around two for a diaper change."
"Chris," Lucy stopped him and smiled as she placed her hand on his forearm, "It's okay. You've already given me her schedule about ten times. I'm sure I can take care of her. And if she gets a little out of hand, I'll let Scott charm her. She seems to fall prey to just how sweet he can be."
"Or vice versa," Chris smiled as he looked to his daughter as she slept peacefully in her carrier. He leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead, "Now you be a good girl for Grand Dad and Lucy, okay?" He watched as Natalie continued to sleep, none the wiser to what her father was saying. He looked to Lucy, "If you have any problems, I'll have my cell phone with me."
"You just go have a good time, Chris. You two deserve it," Lucy smiled before she looked to her little bundle, "Come on, Natalie. We're going to go have some fun."
Chris watched as Lucy walked out of the apartment with his baby daughter. He took a moment to come to terms with the separation anxiety at watching his little girl leave without him. He walked to the bedroom and mentally went over the checklist he'd thought of earlier.
Tonight was going to be special. It had to be. It was the first anniversary of the day he married the woman of his dreams. He wanted to show his wife just how special she was to him and how much more he loved her today than he had on the day they'd taken their vows.
He removed an overnight bag from the closet before he decided to check with his partner in crime. He dialed the number and smiled when he heard her voice on the other end, "Is my wife thoroughly distracted?"
Eve grinned as she watched Karen, "For the moment. How long until you're ready?"
"Give me another hour. Then everything will be in place."
"She's going to love this, Chris."
"I know," He answered, "I'm going to make this a night for her to remember."
"Somehow I don't doubt that," Eve replied with a smile, "I've got to go. She's headed this way."
"Just keep her busy for an hour, Eve."
"Will do," She replied before hanging up the phone.
Chris smiled to himself as he went about his business, preparing for an eventful evening ahead.
"Okay, Eve, what do you think of this one?" Karen asked with a smile as she held up a tiny dress, "Don't you think Natalie will look adorable in this?"
"Of course she will," Eve smiled as she placed her cell phone into her purse. She adjusted the strap back onto her shoulder and smiled, "What exactly are you looking for?"
"Something cute for Natalie to wear to Joe and Gabi's engagement party," Karen said as she looked back to the clothing rack.
"You're going?" Eve asked with a curious eyebrow.
"Yes," Karen nodded, glancing back to her friend, "Why?"
"I just....well," Eve shrugged, "I know that you and Joe are still friendly, but to go to his engagement party?"
"Joe's been very supportive of my relationship with Chris. He understands that I'm happy and that I'm in love. Unlike his brother."
"Is Frank trying to cause trouble for you two again?"
"When did he ever stop?" Karen sighed, "He just won't give up trying to get under our skin."
"You think that man would get a clue eventually, wouldn't you?"
"Yeah well, I'm thinking that maybe that would be expecting too much of him."
"It would appear so."
"Since Courtney and Frank are seeing one another...out in the open now," Karen shrugged, "I think we're all going to have to watch our backs."
"I don't trust either one of them. Every time there's a family event with the Scanlons, Kevin and I both do our best to avoid Frank. And Joe..." Eve shook her head a bit, "I think every time Joe looks at Frank he sees someone he loves but knows that he can't trust him. I wonder every time they're together if there is going to be a fist fight."
"Is it still that bad?"
"Yes," Eve nodded, "They both kind of circle each other like sharks. It's especially tense when Courtney is around."
"I still can't believe that woman," Karen groaned, "I'm just glad that Joe found out the truth about her before he was married to her."
"Amen to that," Eve shuffled a few outfits in front of her before plucking a small blue sleeper from the lot and smiling, "Look at this."
Karen eyed the outfit for a moment before she raised an eyebrow, "Are you suggesting that I change color schemes?"
"No," Eve spoke as she looked to the outfit, "I'm just....well....I'm hoping that one day soon I'll be shopping for something like this."
"Eve.." Karen began, "Are you.."
"No," She replied, "At least not yet, but we're working on that. We want to have a baby."
"Well I wish you all the luck in the world," Karen smiled happily, "You and Kevin deserve to have a happy family. I know that any baby would be lucky to have you two for parents."
"Thank you, Karen. It means a lot to hear you say that," Eve smiled as she glanced to her watch, "What do you say we pack up this shopping trip and go get a cappacino before we head back to our husbands?"
Karen smiled, "I'd say you're on."
Karen paid for her selections before being escorted to yet another diversion.
Karen stepped inside the apartment and closed the door behind her. She shuffled the packages in her arms before she hurried over to the sofa and dropped them onto the cushions. She paused and glanced around, "Chris? Natalie? Where are you two?"
She slipped her purse from her arm and continued through the apartment. She stepped into the nursery and glanced around, "Chris? Are you at home?"
She slipped into the bedroom and spotted the large gift wrapped box upon the bed. She stepped through the bedroom and glanced into the bathroom, not seeing her husband or daughter anywhere. Giving up, she walked back into the bedroom and looked to the gift box.
She sighed as she spotted the small card tucked just beneath the large red bow. She pulled the card free and opened it.
Just Think....
One year ago, today, I spoke a
vow before witnesses that I would spend the rest of my life loving you.
Here we are, a year later, and I'm more in love with you today than I was
then. Open your surprise and then follow the instructions inside.
Your husband,
Chris
Karen smiled as she tugged the bow free and watched the ribbon unravel before her. She slipped the ribbons from the box before gently lifting the top of the box free. She lay the top aside before parting the pink tissue paper and spotting her surprise gift. She gasped softly as she looked over the beautiful soft pink dress before her. She touched the soft silk material and smiled. She lifted the dress before her and watched another note fall to the box.
Picking up the note, she read the instructions quickly. She looked around and smiled before changing clothes. She arranged her hair and took extra care to leave small curls around her face. She smiled into the mirror before picking up a small purse and adjusting her dress one last time. She made her way to the Port Charles hotel and stepped into the main dining room. She spotted her husband sipping a martini at the bar.
Karen slowly made her way to the bar and looked to the bartender, "Martini please."
"Yes ma'am," The bartender spoke before he served up the drink.
She lifted the drink to her lips and sipped it lightly. She swiveled the olive within the glass for a moment before she looked towards Chris. He looked over her form and a smile slowly crept over his features. He eased closer to her and took the seat beside her.
"Good evening," He spoke softly.
She watched him casually before turning her attention back to her drink, "Good evening."
"Do you come here often?"
"Not so very often," She replied.
"I see. What brings you here tonight?" He asked simply.
"I was suppose to meet my date here," She replied with a sigh, "But it looks like I've been stood up."
"What kind of man would stand you up?" Chris asked as he turned towards her, "If I were to have a woman as beautiful as you in my life, there's no way I would ever stand her up."
"I bet you say that to all the girls," Karen spoke as she leaned onto the bar, "I'm flattered."
"I don't say that to any girls," He paused as he raised his left hand, "I don't think my wife would approve."
"You're married? Must be a lucky lady, your wife I mean," She said softly.
"I'd like to think she is," He said softly, "She's the most beautiful woman that I've ever met."
"You must be very in love with her."
"More so every day that we're together."
"Sounds a bit like a fairy tale."
"Then I'm looking forward to happily ever after," Chris smiled as he lifted his martini, "Here's to happily ever after."
Karen lifted her martini glass and smiled, "To happily ever after."
They each sipped their drinks before a string quartet began to play a soft melody. Chris placed his glass upon the bar before he extended his hand to her, "Will you allow me the pleasure of this dance?"
Karen looked to his hand and raised an amused eyebrow, "Won't your wife be jealous?"
"I'm sure she would be....if she were here," He grinned as Karen took his hand.
"I won't have to worry about her chasing me down if she finds out, will I?" She teased as she followed him to the dance floor. She settled into the comfortable embrace of her husband's arms, "I'm not sure I want a jealous wife chasing me around."
"I won't tell if you won't," He teased before he led her in a slow dance around the floor.
"I'm sorry sir," The host spoke as he raised his hand, "The dining room is closed tonight for a private party."
"Really?" The man glanced towards the dining room. He caught a glimpse of Karen as she and Chris danced by. He tried to get a better view around the host before the man cleared his throat.
"I'm afraid you'll have to leave, sir."
"Karen..." He spoke as he recognized her. He took a step back and adjusted his jacket as he looked to the host, "That's okay. I'll make other plans," He spoke, catching one last glimpse of Karen dancing in the dining room.
Karen stared into Chris' eyes and smiled, "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"I wasn't aware that I had to try," He teased as he lowered his lips towards hers.
"I'm not that easy," She said softly as she looked into his eyes, "You'll have to do better than that, Dr. Ramsey."
Chris smiled coolly before he led her to the dinner table where soft candle light illuminated the immediate area. He sat across from her, "Are you impressed yet?"
"Hmm," She pondered slowly as she watched him pour a glass of champagne, "I'm not sure."
"Well," He paused as he placed the crystal flute before her, "Let's toast to impressive moments....in the hopes that we genuinely have one here," He winked at her as he finished pouring his own glass.
Karen's smile grew as she took the delicate crystal between her fingers and lifted it before her. She gasped as she saw a glimmer within the glass, "Chris..."
"Hmm? What? You don't like the champagne?" He asked casually.
Her jaw dropped as she placed the glass upon the table. She slipped her fingers into the sparkling liquid and withdrew a beautiful diamond and garnet ring. She studied the ring for a moment before she looked back to him.
Chris looked across the table and glanced to the ring, "Ah yes," He paused as he reached over and took the ring from her fingers. He leaned onto the table for a moment and looked to her, "A year ago, I proposed rather spontaneously. I didn't have a ring or even a plan. I just knew that I couldn't face one more moment without the promise of you in my life," He paused, "And then you gave me the most beautiful gift I could ever receive in our daughter," He paused with a smile, "So for the one year anniversary of our wedding, I wanted to make a statement. Since I didn't buy you a diamond engagement ring when I proposed, I thought now would be a good time to get that part done," He took her hand in his, "And this beautiful garnet is our little girl's birthstone," He slipped the ring upon her finger as he looked to her eyes, "I wanted you to know just how much I love you and our baby."
"Oh Chris," Karen burst into tears as she slipped around the table and fell into his lap, wrapping her arms around him and peppering him with kisses, "I love you so much."
Chris slowed her exuberance by capturing her mouth with a long sweet kiss. He held her firmly in his arms as their lips parted, "Happy anniversary, Mrs. Ramsey."
"Happy anniversary, husband of mine," She smiled brightly as she kissed him again.
"What are we doing?" Karen laughed softly as she leaned against her husband, walking down the hall to the elevator.
"We're going up to the bridal suite," Chris replied as he pressed the button and then looked back to his wife, "I figure we've earned it."
"Yes, I believe we have," She giggled softly before the doors to the elevator opened.
Chris swept Karen into his arms as she burst into laughter and held onto him. They boarded the elevator while the man from earlier stepped from around the corner, watching the doors of the elevator close behind the happy couple. He paused and shook his head, planning to get answers first thing tomorrow morning.