When grandeur plans fall..

It had been 360 days..
Actually, three hundred and sixty one days..
From the first day..
When we'd first become.. official
She figured I'd forgotten..
But that was always the plan..
To surprise her..

I read the online reviews..
The hotel had a four-star rating..
But the customers rated it a five..
A five minute walk to the beach..

Buffet breakfast included..

English speaking staff..
I booked it..

Bought the plane tickets..
British Airways..
Departure time.. Friday, 1920 hrs..
To return sometime on Thursday..

I emailed the hotel..
Added on a few extras..
They confirmed..
There'd be, champers on ice...
A dozen red roses waiting, when we arrived...

I packed her stuff..
Shoes..

Bikini..
Clothes..

Lingerie..

Make up...
Travel documents..

Then I packed mine..

Showed up at her office..
Just before she closed..
Approximately 40 minutes, before..

"Roc?" She said, as she walked into the reception..
"What are you doing here?" she asked, quizzical look on her face..
"Do you reckon you can leave now?" I asked..
Her brow furrowed, "Probably.. I'll just need to shut down my computer, but.."
"Go on then.." I replied, easing into a seat, "..quick as you can"

Twenty five minutes later..
Sitting on the Heathrow Express, from Paddington station..
She battered me with questions..
"So where are you going?"
"How come you never mentioned it before?"
"Is this work-related?"
"How long will you be gone for?"

And to every question..
She got the same answer..
"You'll find out, when we get there"

We alighted at the airport..
Walked into the terminal..
Her eyes widened, as we joined the queue..
"You're going to.. Nice? South of France?"

The queue shuffled forward..
"We.. Not I.. We.." I responded
"You know I can't do that, Roc.. Work and all.." she cantered..

"We'll just have to think of something to tell them then, won't we..?"

The trip was.. exotic..

Six days of pure bliss..

She looked amazing in her orange and white polka dot bikini..

The sight of the beach at night.. words cannot describe..

We shopped and window shopped at Lafayette and Monoprix..

And strolled past glitzy casinos where millions were wasted..

Watched the sun rise every morning & set every evening, sand in our feet..

We marveled at the glorious sight of yatches banked on the Riviera..

And giggled at the rubbish Chinese vermicelli that made us fart all night..

It was fun.. it was beautiful.. it was heaven..

The days flew by..

And all too soon, it was time to go..

Sitting on the plane together..

I fell asleep with a smile on my face..

Not long after...

I woke to the sound of her sniffles..

Her face was turned away..

Looking out the window..

Sniffling..

I whispered her name..

Tears rolled down her face as she turned to face me...

"Roc.. I've been.. I been meaning to tell you.. but.."

I cupped her face in my hands..

Whispering sweet nothings..

She sobbed a bit more..

"I can't.. I couldn't.. It's so hard to say this but..I don't think..."

Watching as the tears dropped off her face..

I thought to myself..

"Is this what happens, when grandeur plans fall... flat?!"