A Dozen Roses
Timothy Paterson
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Timothy Paterson
Nikki sensed that something was wrong. Roger seemed distracted, as if his mind was elsewhere. She snuggled up close to her boyfriend. “Thanks again for the necklace, Roger,” she said. “I just love it.”
They sat there in silence for a while longer, before Nikki spoke again. “What’s wrong, Roger?” she asked. “You seem upset about something.”
“I wanted this to be the perfect Christmas,” replied
Roger.
“And, it has been,” said Nikki.
“You won’t think so, when I tell you the bad news,” said Roger. “I’ve been trying to think of a way to tell you this, but there is no way to say it without you getting upset, so here goes; “Remember, when I told you that TeleCom was expanding the company into Europe? Well, Mr. Bradley is sending me to London to help iron out some technical problems.”
“When do you have to, leave?” asked Nikki.
“I leave tomorrow,” said Roger, “and I won’t be back until the sixth of January.”
“So, you won’t be here for my birthday?” asked Nikki. She tried to say it casually, as if it did not really bother her, but Roger could tell that she was upset by the news.
“If there was any way for me to get out of this, you know I would,” said Roger, “but I have the chance to become the youngest vice president in the company’s history. Once I get that promotion, we can begin planning our future together.”
Nikki told Roger that she understood, but she was finding it hard to accept.
Roger and Nikki had known each other for five years. They met through mutual friends; Brent and Kennedy Moore. They met at UCLA during Roger’s senior year. Nikki was two years younger. Her roommate, Kennedy and Roger’s roommate, Brent had already been dating for a year, when they introduced Roger and Nikki to each other. Within six months, Roger and Nikki were dating. Two years later, Roger and Nikki stood up with their roommates, as Brent and Kennedy became husband and wife.
Now, three years later, Roger was working for TeleCom Corporation in the Research and Development department. He was a genius, when it came to telecommunications. Nikki was finishing her doctorate in Botany, at UCLA. Roger was twenty-seven and Nikki would turn twenty-five on January 1st.
Roger and Nikki talked for another few hours, before Roger announced that he had to get back to his apartment and finish packing for his trip. Nikki told him that she would drive him to the airport in the morning. Before Roger left, he and Nikki kissed, and held other for a long time, before Roger had to force himself to leave.
On the way home, Roger made one stop. He had to talk to Brent and Kennedy about some final arrangements. “I’m counting on both of you, to help make this Nikki’s best birthday ever,” he told them. “I’ve planned out everything carefully, but I need the two of you to help bring it all together.”
“Don’t worry” said Brent. “She’ll never know what hit her”
“Roger, you are the most romantic guy I know,” said Kennedy.
“Hey!” said Brent. “What about me- you do remember me, don’t you? Your husband.”
“Brent, darling,” said Kennedy, Roger has been planning this for over a year. I just think it is very romantic.”
Roger was up early the next morning, and he was ready to go, when Nikki arrived to take him to the airport. When they arrived at the terminal, Nikki accompanied Roger until they reached the security gates, and then, they kissed each other goodbye. Roger promised Nikki that they would celebrate her birthday when he returned.
After several more hugs and kisses, Roger finally passed through security, on his way to the boarding gate, while Nikki walked to the parking lot. She sat in her car for a while and watched Roger’s plane take off. Then, with tears running down her face, she began driving towards her apartment. On the way home, she decided that since she did not return to class for three weeks, that she would go visit her family for a while. When Nikki got home, she threw some clothes in a suitcase, and then called Kennedy to tell her that she was going to Santa Barbara to see her family for a few days. Nikki thought that she detected a little anxiety in Kennedy’s voice.
Kennedy finally admitted that Roger had made some plans for Nikki’s birthday a year earlier, and that since he would be in London, he insisted that Brent and Kennedy help Nikki celebrate her birthday. Kennedy made Nikki promise to be back in Los Angeles by noon on Thursday, December 30th.
Nikki was very curious, but she promised Kennedy that she would be home by noon on Thursday. Then she got into her car, and headed to her parent’s home in Santa Barbara.
When Nikki arrived at her childhood home, she instantly felt like a kid again. The instant she walked through the front door, she was transported back in time. The smells of fresh cut flowers, scented candles and fresh baked bread, wafted through the air, and she knew she was home.
Nikki and her mother spent the afternoon catching up on each other’s lives. Even though Nikki had not lived at home for over six years, it was as if she never left. Yet, somehow, it was different. She was no longer a little girl. She was an independent woman with a life of her own. In the six years since she left home, she and her mother had become closer. Her mother had become a close friend, whom she could confide in, about anything, without being criticized.
During their visit, Nikki told her mother that she had been hoping Roger was going to propose on Christmas Day, but the day came and went, without a proposal, without a ring, and without a more serious commitment.