Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
Crescent Falls is an amazing city full of so much history and beauty.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Shiro is taking me to one of the city’s gems, The Butterfly Garden.
It’s a picturesque, indoor, dome-shaped glass structure that houses an array of butterflies, flowers, and plants.
Patrons are free to tour and explore the garden year-round, and during the winter months, it hosts Winter Night Lights. Tonight is the Night of Love show.
I’ve visited the garden but I’ve never been to the light show.
Although the back entrance of the garden has a stoned path that leads to the Bella House, a historical home converted to an event space and upscale restaurant, during the Night of Love, cozy food and drink stations will be throughout the garden and couples are encouraged to pack picnic baskets to enjoy in their private pods while watching the show.
Because my cooking skills, although improving, are limited, I picked up the food and snacks for our basket from The Marketplace, Seasonal Sweets, and Abuelito’s.
“Baby, the show is only two hours,” he says after leaning down and looking into our basket. His arms encase me from behind then he kisses the side of my neck. “How much did you get?”
“I got enough. It’s a variety but not too much; it just looks like it is.
We have mini pretzel bun sliders, turkey and ham, fruit and cheese, my favorite guacamole and chips, those grilled jalapenos you like, and chocolate covered strawberries.
Oh and these have bourbon and tequila in them,” I tell him while picking through the items. “I’m done and I’ll be ready in about thirty minutes. ”
“You good. It doesn’t start till eight. We got time.”
I close the basket then turn to face him. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” I say and he chuckles.
“It was happy when you woke me up this morning.” He smirks then kisses my lips so passionately. “Just so you know, you can do that shit every morning. Opening my eyes to you on top of me after feeling your warm pussy smothering my dick was spectacular.”
“It was a treat for me too,” I admit, then smile. “We’ll repeat it tonight after the light show. Let me get ready before something starts.”
“Shit,” he groans, then presses his body into mine. “We can start and finish right here, right now.”
“Later. I love you and I love fucking you but I’m not missing this light show.”
After patting his chest, I ease away from him and walk out of the kitchen.
I honestly can be ready in just a few minutes.
I moisturized my scalp and braids earlier and my face is done.
During the winter months, I keep it simple with just my favorite moisturizing toner and my signature lip combo of burgundy liner and gloss.
Once I put on my jeans, sweater, and boots, I’ll be ready.
The moment I’m in my closet, my cell rings so I grab my outfit and walk out. It’s a FaceTime from Reya. As soon as my face fills the screen, she fires off.
“You are not going to believe this!” she exclaims as she holds up a small teddy bear and mini balloon on a plastic stick.
“Aww. Quintus got you that? It’s cute,” I tease, then laugh because I know her husband didn’t just get her that for Valentine’s Day. That is not his style at all.
“Bitch, no. Please. Jordan got this?”
“Jordan? Jordan who? Why does that name sound familiar? He works at the courthouse?”
“Girl, no. He’s a child. Well, a disrespectful little boy,” she huffs.
“Is that the little boy next door?”
“No,” she responds and I give up. Luckily, she spares me from this guessing game. “Jordan from Niya’s pre-K class. Remember, when I had to do the muffins and mom day for the kindergarteners. He was the little rude ass boy I didn’t want to get a muffin for. I ended up getting him that—”
“Bitch,” I interrupt, remembering exactly who she’s talking about.
“Not the boy you bought that little ass muffin for.” I laugh, picturing the photos she sent in the group text.
“He brought her that teddy bear and balloon? Is he even in her class again?” I ask as I sit on my bed.
Shiro walks in right as I sit. He eyes me when he sees me on the phone instead of getting dressed.
“No. He’s not but he’s still at the school and apparently likes her now and gave her this for Valentine’s Day. She’s so happy and I’m rolling my damn eyes. A mother never forgets.”
“Aww. Don’t do that. He’s a baby and that’s cute. Her first little valentine. He probably liked her then.”
“Well, he can stop liking her,” she scoffs and I laugh.
“Give her back her gifts,” I tell her and she rolls her eyes. “She probably doesn’t even remember that. Give her stuff back and stop being mean. He’s sorry.”
“We’ll see. I haven’t shown her daddy yet.”
“Good luck with that,” I say, then smirk. “These Bako men are a trip. Mine is glaring at me right now. I’m supposed to be getting ready.”
“Oh that’s right. The Butterfly Garden. Have fun.”
“Thanks and enjoy your night too. Love you.”
“Love you too, girl,” she says, then ends the call.
I look up at my handsome man then say with an apologetic smile, “I’m getting up.”
“Nah. Somebody got Niya something?” he asks with a too serious look.
“Yeah. A little boy at her school got her a cute little teddy bear and balloon for Valentine’s Day.”
“And Sis gon’ give that shit back to him, right?”
Wholly amused at him, I laugh then say, “No. It’s harmless. They’re babies and it’s cute. He likes her.”
“That’s how shit starts. A little nigga does something cute. Y’all buy into it then he’s her lil friend. He gets to come around. Then around eleven he’s talking her into touching. Then at thirteen, they fucking,” he says and I can’t control my laughter.
“You just took that to whole-nother-level. It’s a little balloon and bear.”
“I’m a man. I used to be that lil nigga and so were my brothers. That’s exactly how that shit goes.” He steps over, then pecks my lips. “Trust me. This is why we’re having boys.”
“Yeah, ’cause that’s exactly how it works in your world. Just because you say something doesn’t make it gospel. I can’t with you. Let me get dressed.”
“Go do that and I’m 'bout to call my bruh.”
“Do not call Quintus,” I say as I stand.
He doesn’t call Quintus but he definitely starts texting.
That one finger is putting in work on the screen as he walks out.
I change into my clothes, zip up my knee boots that he loves on me, and check myself in the full-length mirror before misting perfume in the air and letting it fall on me.
When I make it downstairs, he’s in the kitchen grabbing the basket.
“You look good, baby.”
“Thank you. Just trying to match my sexy fiancé.”
“Your coat is in the truck. If you’re ready, we can roll,” he says and I just smile.
He always thinks of the little things, like grabbing my coat, starting his truck and warming the passenger seat for me, and listening, actually listening, to me.
I probably mentioned this light show over six months ago and he remembered and secured two of the limited seats.
I love Shiro, and for once, I know what it means when a man truly loves me back.
“I’m ready,” I admit.
Ready for everything we have planned for our life together.
We leave the house and head to the garden. When we arrive, there’s a short line for valet, but because we are the third vehicle, the wait isn’t long at all. We are out and walking to the entrance within fifteen minutes.
I love everything about the Butterfly Garden, especially the grand entrance.
There’s a huge iron butterfly, colored by beautiful flowers and wrought iron benches with butterfly shaped backs are stationed throughout the garden for patrons to sit and enjoy nature in its glorious state.
Even during the winter months, the garden is vibrant and full of color.
As soon as we enter, I walk him to the digital display board. I’m always curious to see which species currently inhabit the garden. There are four beauties on the large display screen: the Mourning Cloak, Gray Comma, Eastern Comma, and Milbert's Tortoiseshell.
“So all of these are in here?” he asks.
“Yes. In the bushes and plants along the walls and up there,” I say as I point to the top of the dome.
The dim lights flash and an announcement is made, “Show starts in thirty minutes.”
“Let’s find our seats and set up,” I say excitedly as I hook my arm into his.
“We’re pod eight,” he says.
Tonight’s intimate event is capped at fifty.
Twenty-five private pods in the shape of half spheres are lined up and numbered.
We find ours and it’s decorated. There’s a fixed table inside with a cushioned bench circling it.
Rose petals are scattered on the floor and on the table is a small bouquet of roses along with a red ice bucket keeping a bottle of wine chilled.
“Oh, I love this,” I gush as I slide onto the bench. He gets in beside me then places our basket to my left. Before unpacking, I inch closer to him and wrap my arms around his neck. “This is perfect already. I know this isn’t your thing but I appreciate you bringing me here.”
“If it’s your thing; it’s mine, baby.”
“I owe you a ride for sure after this.”
“Oh I know,” he says with a smirk before kissing me passionately. “Ending the night like we started this morning.”
“That too but I meant a ride on your motorcycle.” He smiles. “We can take a ride after the show,” I say since he drove it here for the weekend. “Then I’m definitely taking our favorite ride.”
The show is better than I could have ever imagined and so are both of my late-night rides.
After parking his truck at my house, we take the motorcycle up and through the mountain.
Right when we’re heading back to my place, it starts to snow hard so we detour to the cabin.
Since we have it all to ourselves, we enjoy the indoor heated pool before ending the night in bed pleasing one another.