39. Mia
Chapter 39
Mia
U sually, I’m a morning person, but yesterday and last night were such an emotional roller coaster, that I was looking forward to sleeping in today. Recuperating, of sorts. Definitely processing. Especially, since everything is closed, being a national holiday and all.
But Mr. Gallo has other plans and once I’m fully awake, I’m going to let him know that one way for a man to stay alive is to not mess with a woman’s sleep, and he should note that for future use.
I drag myself out of bed and into the shower. That helps wake me up a bit, but it’s also when I realized it’s still dark outside. What the hell kind of surprise happens before daybreak?
Once I’m dressed, I go in search of Ian to read him the riot act, but I can’t seem to find him. That’s when I see the sticky note on the French door out to the patio.
Meet me on the beach.
Okay. I peal the note off the door as I make my way past the patio and pool, and down the walkway. The water on the ocean is so still that it looks like glass. I don’t see Ian until I turn to my left, and then my heart stops. My hands cover my mouth as I lose my breath.
Ian has a table and two chairs set for breakfast. The table has a white tablecloth and there are those silver dome thingies. I don’t know what they’re called, covering the plates.
He approaches me with a handful of hibiscus flowers. “Surprise.”
Taking the flowers, I cannot help but smile. “This is so sweet. Thank you.”
“I give you breakfast with breathing room.” He leads me through the loose sand over to the table. “I thought we could watch the sunrise while eating breakfast.”
“What an amazing idea. I love it.” His comment about breathing room doesn’t escape me. He heard me last night and I cannot appreciate him more than I do right now.
“And I love you.” He kisses the side of my head again, a move I’m quickly falling in love with because it makes me feel so cherished, and then he pulls the domes up to reveal pancakes and syrup.
“Did you make this?” Because my first bite is delicious.
“Thankfully, no. Paula did.”
“You need to give that woman a raise.”
“I know I do. She tolerates me.”
Sitting back in my chair after finishing my breakfast, I sip my coffee and look over the water. “Look!” I point at the horizon as the sun just starts to peek over it.
“That never gets old.”
Not looking at him because I’m watching the sun rapidly come over the horizon. “I’ve never seen it before.”
“You’ve never seen the sunrise?”
“Not over the ocean like this. Not many oceans in Tennessee.”
He ignores my jab. “If you want, we can make this a daily thing.”
I look over at him, “You are not making Paula get up every morning to make a sunrise breakfast for us. Absolutely not. A woman needs her sleep.”
Understanding where I was going with it, “But this was worth getting up for, right?”
I hear the hesitation in his voice. “No, Ian, but you’re worth getting up for. This,” I wave at the horizon and the breakfast table, “this is a perk, but not the reason I got up this morning. You are.”
He caresses my cheek, and I lean into his touch. It’s quickly becoming addicting, and I briefly wonder how on earth I've made it this far in my life without his touch.
Once the sun has completely risen above the horizon and the heat and humidity of the morning creeps up, Ian stands and takes my hand.
“Time to go.”
“Go where?” My confusion is clear on my face and in my voice.
“This is only the beginning of your surprise.” His smile makes him look like a little boy, and I can’t help but smile along with him.
“Okay, Mr. Gallo. Lead on.”
After cleaning up our breakfast mess, we spend a few hours driving north. He refuses to tell me where we’re going, only that it’s part of my surprise. The entire ride, we hold hands like teenagers, and I love every second.
As we drive, taking back roads to our unknown destination, I watch the landscape change as the miles pass by. It’s the first time I’ve been able to see any other part of my new state other than Hibiscus Harbor and the highway I took moving here. I’m really enjoying myself. Florida is beautiful; even when you’re not on the beach.
“Okay, I can’t keep the surprise a secret much longer because we’re almost there.”
“Where? Are we going to Disney World?”
He shakes his head as he steers around a corner and pulls into a parking lot. “No, but I plan to take you there, too. Just not in July. Too hot.” He pulls into a parking spot. “No, we’re at Bok Tower Gardens.”
I look around us and see nothing but beautiful foliage and large trees with leaves and branches shading the area below them. “Where are we? I mean, I know you’ve taken me to Bok Tower, but where are we?”
“The middle of the state. Between Daytona Beach and Tampa. Lake Wales, to be specific.”
“It’s beautiful here, Ian.”
“Wait until you hear the carillon.”
“The what?” I ask as he leads me through the entrance and into the beautiful gardens.
“The carillon. It’s the tower that plays music.” He points up and to my right.
Standing there, at least two hundred feet in the air, is a concrete-looking tower reminiscent of a massive castle spire. “I’ve never heard of it, but it’s beautiful.”
“I thought we could tour the gardens and listen to the carillon for a while. It plays every hour. And there’s a cafe on the premises where we can have lunch if you get hungry.” He holds out both his arms wide. “And all the breathing room you could ask for.”
“This is so thoughtful, Ian. I love it.” I reach up on my tippy toes to kiss him. “Let’s go explore.”
We walk hand in hand through all the pathways looking at the ponds, flowers, and trees. There were a few squirrels that ran up to us hoping to snag some snacks, but we had nothing for them, and they all quickly moved on.
Wandering the gardens and then sharing a fruit bowl at the café gave me time to let all that has happened in the last few weeks work itself out in the back of my mind. Smelling the flowers along the pathway and hearing the beautiful carillon music, I could feel myself take a cleansing deep breath for the first time in a long time. This place is so special, and I hope to visit it again soon.
“Ready to go?” He asks me as we approach the exit.
“Thank you for today. This has been very special.”
“Oh, you think we’re done?” he laughs. “I still have more up my sleeve, Miss McIntosh.”
“You do? What more can you do?”
He has an evil smile. “Oh, I am a man of many talents, I assure you.”
Shaking my head, “I’m aware, Mr. Gallo. I’m aware.”
We head west, and again, Ian refuses to tell me where we are going. Instead of badgering him, I decide to enjoy the adventure. We pass through a few small towns and then come across one called Bartow. There is a Fourth of July parade happening and we decide to stay and watch it. I can’t remember the last time I watched a parade that wasn’t on television.
Seeing all the little kids both in the parade looking for their parents so they can wave at them and the kids on the side of the street watching the parade pass by is the best feeling. There are some homemade floats with streamers in red, white, and blue go by as the people on the float wave and throw candy. The fire trucks and police officers on motorbikes drive by waving at the parade watchers. It all feels like what you would see in a Hallmark channel movie. Sweet and special.
As the end of the parade goes past us, we get back in the car and continue our journey to destinations unknown, but it doesn’t matter. Today’s been the best day ever and it’s not even over.
About an hour later, we’re in a more metropolitan area when Ian turns to me, “I’m going to take you to a Florida must-see attraction. Very famous. You’re not afraid of heights, are you?”
“No, why?” I answer hesitantly. What is he getting us into?
“Good, then just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
I watch ahead of us as I try to figure out where he’s taking me, but I see nothing labeled famous… until I see the sign for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
“Is this that huge bridge with the tension wires?”
“Yep. It’s high enough that cruise ships can sail underneath it. It’s massive.” The little boy in Ian says excitedly.
“Wow. We’re so far up.” I watch as the water beneath us passes us by. There are ships and boats of all sizes down below in the water and the view is just breathtaking.
“It’s cool, right?”
“It is.” I watch as we go mile by mile across this massive bridge. “How long is this bridge?"
"About four miles. We’re almost over it. Why? Are you scared?”
“No, I’ve just never been on a bridge like this before.”
As we exit the bridge, we pass by a small college and then turn west. I’m not sure how much farther west we can go.
“We’re almost there. You don’t get seasick, do you?”
I laugh, “No, but what if I did?”
“Then I’d change our plans.” He smirks as he pulls into a parking lot for Loggerhead Marina. “We’re here.”
“Great. Where’s here?”
“My boat.”
“Your boat? You have a boat on the other side of the state from where you live?” This sounds ridiculous to me.
“Yes, well, sort of. I have my yacht docked at Hibiscus Island Marina, but I have put my boat here up for sale. I thought we could use it.”
I shake my head even before he finishes his sentence. “Why are you shaking your head?”
“You have a boat and a yacht. Must be nice.”
He leans over and kisses me. “We’ve already established that. Let’s go. We’re running out of time.”
“Out of time for what?”
“You’ll see.”
We take Ian’s boat out of the marina and out towards the Gulf of Mexico. He’s a very skilled boat captain and insisted that I wear a life preserver if I plan to hang out on the deck while he’s driving, even though I’ve insisted I’m an accomplished swimmer.
This is my first time out on the water like this, so I put the stupid thing on and watched the water from the front of the deck as we sliced through it. I’m not missing this opportunity to do the whole Titanic pose, either. After about a half hour, he ends up beaching the boat on a small, and what looks to be deserted, island.
“Is this safe?” I ask because I’m not sure how we’ll get the boat out of here.
“Yes, it’s safe.” He insists.
“Are you sure? Most people try not to beach their boat.”
He pulls the life preserver off me as he laughs. “I’m sure.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so. Come on and take your shoes off. They’re going to get wet here.”
I toe off my sneakers as Ian jumps from the back of the boat into the water. It’s only up to his ankles, and now I’m convinced we’re not getting this boat out of here. There’s just no way.
Following Ian, I jump from the boat into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. “Where are we?” In the distance, I can see civilization, so we’re not too far away, but I’m completely lost.
“Shell Key. An island nature preserves in the Gulf just outside of Tampa Bay.” He helps me make it to shore. “Now, watch your step. This side of the state gets really great shells, hence the name Shell Key, but they hurt like hell if you step on them.”
I look down to make sure I’m not stepping on any of them, but also because I want to collect them. No seashells in Knoxville.
“Although this place is beautiful, what are we doing here?”
“Well, I thought that we could have dinner and watch the sunset.” He points behind me and there’s another table with more silver domes.
“Are you kidding me? You did this all for me?”
“I did.” He holds out his arms again. “More breathing room.”
I stare at the table overlooking the setting sun. “More breathing room.” I whisper.
He takes my hand. “Let’s eat.”