by Chad Josey
His gifts to Mary enticed Joe. Impatience grew. After tonight, they are one step closer to Salvation.
Given his fresh outlook on what was to come after his talk with Father Alvaro, a sense of peace had come upon Joe. Something missing since Colorado.
As in years’ past, each had only one gift to give to the other. This tradition started out of necessity with their lack of finances.
Crackling pops accompanied by a faint, smoky scent drifted from the living room fireplace. The twinkling lights from the Christmas tree danced around Joe as he sat beside the fire. Mary sat in a matching chair beside him. Between them, a small, round wooden table supported two small gift-wrapped boxes. Both gifts were the same size.
“Okay, who goes first?” Mary said; her eyes reflecting the twinkling red and green lights from the tree.
“Uh—”
Mary interrupted Joe as she grabbed his present from her holding it to his face. “Here, you first.”
Joe ripped the paper like a small child full of excitement. Blue paper with small, white snowflakes ripped apart revealing a black, velvet box.
“Oh, wow.”
With the paper crumpled in his lap, the box rested in his left palm as he opened the top. The contents inside hidden from Mary’s view.
Joe reached into the opened box and pulled out a glimmering, stainless-steel watch. Without hesitation, he placed it onto his right wrist.
“Awe, thank you, Sweetie. I love it.”
“You like it? Great. It’s one of those that never needs a battery.”
Joe admired his new watch. “Oh, cool.”
“Did you read the inscription on the back?”
He slipped the watch off his wrist exposing the underside. “I will love you to the end of time.” A deep breath exhaled from his lungs making his smile grow even wider. “That’s so sweet, Mary.”
Joe stood bending over to kiss her. His kiss lasted longer than his usual quick peck on the lips.
“I would’ve gotten you a watch sooner if I’d known I’d get a kiss like that,” she said. Blood rushed to her cheeks.
“Okay, my turn. I know we only give each other one gift on Christmas, but here.” Joe paused before reaching under his seat cushion.
Earlier, he had hidden this present to surprise her. “And, before you open it, just to let you know, we still are giving each other only one gift. Technically, this one is from the Eden Foundation to us, both.”
She took the red envelope from his hand. “The Eden Foundation… the company funding your research?”
“They gave us this gift to prepare me for my work with them.”
“Well, that’s nice… what is it?”
“Open it.”
She placed her index finger under the inside flap of the envelope. In one quick motion, she ripped open the back.
Pictures of sand against the backdrop of crystal-clear, turquoise water showed themselves to Mary. A bewildered look came upon her face. On the next picture, water was in the foreground. Tropical palm trees framed the outstretched golden sandy beach. A single, tall lush mountain stood in the background.
“Uh… what the heck…” Mary deflected her attention to Joe then back to the pictures.
Anticipation consumed Joe as she flipped through the two pictures. He restrained himself from bursting out everything to her. Gabriel’s voice reminded him to tell her only about the vacation. The rest will come in Mauritius.
She flipped over the second picture, which hid a folded note. After she had sat the pictures on the table, she unfolded the mysterious paper. A shrill of excitement came from her.
“We’re going on a vacation!”
“Yes!” Joe matched her excitement.
“Where… Mauritius… it looks so beautiful… where is Mauritius?”
“I knew you would ask… I asked the same thing,” he said as he pointed out the location on a map with his phone.
“Wow, that’s far.”
“Exactly, they want us to go far away.”
“It says we leave January 29th… that’s not that long.”
“The best part it’s summer there since it’s winter here.”
“And, we don’t have to pay for this?”
“No, in fact, remember the limo that picked me up?”
“Yeah.”
“And, the private jet that flew me to Denver?”
“Yeah,” which was the most excited yeah anyone had ever said.
“Well, that’s how we’re traveling. It’s a private resort owned by Eden on the island.”
“Oh, my God. This sounds too good to be true.”
If you only knew.
“And, we’re there… two weeks?”
“Yep. Two weeks of relaxing under the sun.”
The building excitement was too much. Mary jumped from her chair falling into his lap kissing him in repeated fashion across his lips.
“We’ve never gone on any real vacations, and when we do, we’re going to a place like this.”
Mary’s smile brightened the room over the twinkling lights. “I’m so glad you like it.”
“Why would you think I’d not be happy about something like this?”
“I don’t know. This is the most spontaneous thing we’ve ever done.”
“Well, Mr.… you should have gotten your research funded like this sooner.” Mary followed with a deep kiss, which outmatched Joe’s from earlier.
Joe caught his breath from her kiss. “I should guess so. Wow.”
With Mary sitting on his lap, she realized Joe enjoyed her kiss. He reached across her grabbing the other gift-wrapped box on the table.
“Now, this gift is from me.”
Mary took the wrapped box from his hand, shifting her weight on his lap. She felt him underneath her as she moved.
“How the hell are you going to top that one?” she asked in a playful manner, sneaking a quick kiss on his lips.
Mary ravaged the gift apart. A black, velvet box emerged from the torn wrapping paper, which fell on the floor between the chairs.
She squirmed on his lap with excitement, making the pressure under her thighs grow even more. Mary opened the box.
Joe stopped her. “Now, before you see what’s inside, it’s something I’ve wanted to get you for a long time. You’ve put up with my late-nights. I wanted you to know how thankful I am for you.”
His anticipation for her reaction ached him. Joe released her hand; Mary opened the box.
His free hand stopped her again before she saw inside. “I know, it’s too much, but you deserve it.”
He removed his hand allowing her to open it. Her bottom jaw dropped open, her eyes widened. Silence. The Christmas lights twinkled against the blue and white diamonds of the pendant Mary held inside the box.
Words escaped her slowly. “It… is… so beautiful.”
A single tear fell across her face down the tip of her nose. Joe lifted the pendant admiring it in the shimmering lights. Her hand reached for the back of the necklace preventing it from spinning.
“This small notch on the side… press it,” Joe said.
Mary followed his instruction. Inside, Joe had placed their picture; hers on the left and his on the right. “It’s… it’s… I love it.”
“Here, let’s put it on you.”
She lifted her auburn hair. Her exposed, naked skin enticed Joe as he kissed the nape of her neck before clasping the chain.
“There,” he said kissing her again.
Mary released her hair as it flirted against her shoulders. The pendant rested on the bottom of her neck. She looked down, then back to Joe. More tears plummeted from her eyes.
Joe closed the pendant on her chest forming the diamond-shaped heart. Mary attempted to say something, to say anything. Her emotions masked her voice. Instead, Joe saw Mary mouth the words I love you before she leaned over to kiss him.
The passionate kiss was one they had not experienced in many months, if not years. The pressure from their lips eru
pted. Her hands caressed the back of his head as their kiss grew more intimate.
The kissing continued. The sensation beneath her thighs raged. The only breaks from the kissing came as they took turns catching their breath, fast escaping their mouths.
A thud came as the empty, black velvet box fell from her lap to the floor. Joe grabbed her back holding her tight against his body. He lifted her off the chair lowering her to the floor before the fireplace.
The kissing continued. Each caressed the other; his hand slipping inside her pajama pants. After a few passionate moments, Joe lifted himself as if he was performing a push-up from the floor.
Her necklace shimmered in the lights from the flickering fireplace. She released a loud moan as he pressed himself into her.
Several moments had passed. Lights danced on the ceiling above them. Mary curled up beside him, her head on his naked chest. His heart pounded against her ear, his glistening skin heaved as his lungs gasped for air.
Mary kissed the side of Joe’s face, then whispered into his ear, “I will love you to the end of time.”
22-Holiday
PRESENT - Stony Brook, New York
1,687 Days Prior to Impact
“HONEY, HAVE YOU SEEN my passport?” Mary said as she hurried around the bedroom opening and closing various dresser drawers with a manic rhythm.
Joe stood in the bedroom doorway. "I’ve got it right here.”
“Ugh, I swear. I’m losing my mind.”
“That’s okay. It’s such an exciting day. You must have forgotten you had asked me to hold on to it a few weeks ago.”
“Honestly, between figuring out what clothes to take and not feeling too well the past couple of days… I’ll be happy to be on the plane.”
“Everything, okay?”
“Aunt Flo and cramps, if you must know… what time will the limo be here?”
“Uh… 9:30 is what the information says.”
“Okay, I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Joe kissed her before going downstairs to wait. Usually, he was the one running late. But, with his building excitement, he was extra-early today.
Two pieces of luggage sat by the front door. Packing for a summer trip versus one in winter requires no big, bulky sweaters or jackets. The iPad Gabriel had given him with his instructions accompanied their travel documents inside his backpack on the floor next to the luggage.
Joe started his usual ritual he does every time he leaves for a trip checking his wallet. I’ve got a thousand in cash and the two credit cards… ha… I guess I won’t need these insurance cards anymore?
Before closing his wallet, he flipped over a small photograph. It was of Mary, his grandma, and himself from their last visit home to Houston before she had died.
Joe sat at his desk of the home office. After he had turned on the lamp, he slipped the cardboard backing out of the small picture frame before him. He held his graduation picture and the folded, thin paper with its mysterious letters and numbers.
I should take these.
“The limo is here,” Mary said as she shouted from the upstairs bedroom. “I’m coming down in a minute.”
Joe folded the picture with the paper together before turning off the desk lamp. As he opened the front door, he slipped the folded items into the top, zipper pocket of his backpack.
The doorbell rang throughout the house as Joe opened the door. He saw a familiar face.
“Hello… hey, Thomas I didn’t know you were picking us up.”
“Good morning, Dr. Bishop. Yes, that’s correct, Sir. I will drive you and your wife to the airport.”
“Here I am.” Mary came downstairs. Her face red from running around putting the last items together in her bags.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bishop. My name is Thomas.”
“Good morning, Thomas. Wow, I’ve never been in a limo,” Mary said stepping out on the front porch.
“Are these your bags, Dr. Bishop?”
“Yes, these two here. I’ll carry this one,” Joe said as he lifted his backpack on his shoulders. They followed Thomas to the waiting limo.
“Uh… Honey?”
“Yes?” Joe said.
“Did you go around the house to make sure everything is unplugged or locked? I know how paranoid you are when we go somewhere.”
“Oh… yeah, thanks. I’ll be right back.”
The picture had distracted Joe from finishing his routine. To keep up his normal appearance, he investigated each room of the house making sure the windows were locked. Mary waited on the front porch watching Thomas place the luggage in the trunk.
This is weird…. I couldn’t care less if anyone comes into our place… it’s not like we’re ever coming back.
Joe stopped in the living room for a moment to admire a picture hanging on the wall. Since they had married in a courthouse, they did not have a formal wedding. As a surprise for Valentine’s Day in 2004, Joe had arranged a session with a photographer. He in a rented tux; Mary in a shimmering white dress. This picture had become their wedding portrait.
I forgot this one.
He snapped a picture of the portrait with his phone.
I have to remember to tell Gabriel I want this digital picture sent with us.
His natural instincts took over. Joe checked the back door in the kitchen. The door handle was secure. To his satisfaction, it was closed and locked.
Joe turned to walk out but stopped short of leaving the kitchen. With a wicked grin, he returned to the door.
Screw it. He unlocked the door. Who cares anymore?
“Okay, Mary. Everything’s good,” Joe said as he walked out the front door pretending to lock it behind him.
“Mrs. Bishop, this way, please,” Thomas said as he held open the driver’s side, rear door.
They entered the back-seat as Thomas closed the door behind them. Mary distracted her nerves with small talk with Thomas as they left their driveway. Joe gazed out the tinted windows at the familiar, passing scenery of his neighborhood.
We’ll never see this place, again.
A quick sense of déjà vu overcame Joe flashing back to the summer after high school graduation. He remembered his grandma growing smaller in his rearview mirror as she stood in their driveway waving, as Mary leaned against him on their way to New York. But, this time was different… very different.
Thomas continued on the Long Island Parkway toward JFK. The reality of what was about to happen was becoming too surreal for Joe.
It’s finally happening…
“Mary, how are you doing?” Joe asked as he attempted to distract his thoughts.
“Better now, thanks. I am still nervous because I’ve not flown since our Paris trip.”
You have butterflies now… just wait. “Oh, it’ll be okay. I still get a little nervous when I fly, but if it’s the same private jet I took last time… you will love it.”
Over the next thirty minutes, Joe sat in silence. The neighborhoods, which had become familiar to him passed by out of sight. Even though he grew up in southeast Houston, Long Island had become home.
I should have spent this week doing a final tour of my favorite places to eat.
Joe sat alone with his thoughts. Mary released her nervous energy by talking with Thomas. Her latest question was if he had ever driven any famous people.
Joe overheard the conversation. Huh, all that fame… fortune… in a few years, they’ll all wish they were at Salvation.
As they arrived at the airport, traffic grew chaotic. Thomas drove them by the departures terminal to the section reserved for private flights. The snow banks on either side of the entrance ushered the limo into the parking lot of a dark-gray building.
Two heartbeats thumped in the silent backseat from excitement and nervousness. Thomas opened the rear door where Mary sat.
“Mrs. Bishop, we are here. I will get your bags and meet you inside the doors, there.” Thomas pointed to the front of the building.
Joe was impatient ge
tting out on his side joining Mary in front of the car. They walked up the steps to the building. Two, large glass doors automatically slid open as they approached. Once through, the glass doors slid closed, only to open again with Thomas walking through with their luggage rolling behind him.
“Dr. and Mrs. Bishop, please this way,” Thomas said.
Thomas led them to the counter. A security guard dressed in black with a red, lapel pin sat behind a computer terminal greeting them.
“I have Dr. and Mrs. Bishop for their flight.”
The guard confirmed their faces matched against pictures appearing on his computer screen. “Okay, your plane is waiting. Go through this area here and out the doors in the back,” the guard said.
Without acknowledging the guard, Thomas followed the instructions with Joe and Mary behind him.
“Thank you,” Mary said to the guard as they passed. “Wow, no one needs to see any identification?” she asked Joe.
“Yeah, I wondered that too my first time through last year. We now see how the other half lives with their private jets,” Joe said.
As the glass doors in the back of the building slid open, they walked onto the tarmac to the waiting, private jet. The door already open welcomed the passengers. A small stairway led up from the tarmac.
“Please follow me,” Thomas said as he started up the stairway carrying both pieces of luggage.
They entered as the captain and co-pilot greeted them. Thomas placed their luggage into a cabinet in the rear of the plane.
“Hi, folks. We’ll get you in the air in a few minutes and on our way to Mauritius,” the captain said. “Take a seat. We’ll be back with you in a moment.”
“Wow,” Mary said as she looked through the cabin.
She strolled down the aisle, her hand reaching out to touch the softness of the white leather seats. Golden accents complemented the wood-grain walls.
“Yeah, it’s something all right,” Joe said.
“Is anyone else coming with us?” Mary asked.
“Mrs. Bishop, the jet is yours for the entire flight,” Thomas said as he returned from putting away their luggage. “Dr. and Mrs. Bishop, if there’s not anything else I can help you with, I want to wish you safe travels on your trip.”