See You Soon

The Surprise

Monday morning, Macy drove over to the base. She pulled up to the security guard. She had her credentials ready to go. He looked in the window at her credentials and said, “Have a nice day doc.”

She smiled and proceeded through. She headed towards the hospital employee parking lot. They had a reserved parking spot for her. It made her feel a little special seeing Macy Ferrari, Director of Nursing, on the sign. She went past the parking area Jax used. She saw his truck, and it made her feel a little warm.

She had a great first day at work. The staff all welcomed her. She was excited to work with all of them. She learned a lot about her responsibilities. She was introduced to her assistant, Amber. She was married to a Gunnery Sergeant. They had a lot in common, which she hoped would make their work relationship easier.

She had interviews scheduled for nurses in various departments. She was excited to see all their qualifications in the different areas of nursing. Her favorite was an OB nurse named Meghan. She was very into her work like Macy.

At the end of the day, Macy organized her desk for the next day. She wanted to be ready to start the day off right.

A couple of weeks had gone by. Her new job was amazing. Macy was getting ready for the final exam for her APRN license. She and Jax talked a lot on the phone. He was respectful of her time for studying. One evening, Jax sent her a quick text before bed. 'Been too long...need to see you.'

She typed, 'I feel the same way.'

He replied, 'Lunch Monday?'

'How about dinner at my place on Monday?'

'Love 2. Time?'

'I get home at 4, so you tell me.'

He laughed and typed, 'I am done at 1500, can I help you make it?'

Macy smiled, 'sure, then 4:15?'

'Perfect...c u then.'

Macy left work early Monday to handle her APRN license paperwork. Afterward, she got home and quickly cleaned up the kitchen. She didn't want Jax to think she was a lazy slob. She heard him knock at the door. He arrived right on time. She got the feeling he was very regimented with time.

She opened the door, “Hi, I'm glad you made it.”

“I wouldn't have missed it,” he said.

“Come on in.”

“Sure,” he said. Once inside, he pulled a small bouquet of flowers from behind his back. “For you.”

She was surprised and smiled. “Thank you.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“My pleasure.” Already his self-control was being tested. “So what are we making for dinner?”

“Um...honestly? I didn't have time to stop at the store on my way home and there's nothing in this place to eat. With all my studying, I forgot to shop.”

“Oh, well that's ok.”

“I couldn't stop because I had to get my APRN license processed.”

“You passed?” he asked with excitement.

She smiled, “I passed. I am an official APRN.”

Jax grabbed her and hugged her. “Congratulations! I think this calls for going out to eat. But I have to stop home real quick to change.”

“Oh, ok,” Macy said excitedly. “Let me change real quick.”

“No worries, I'll call and make reservations.”

Macy finished changing and went into the living room. Jax looked at her amorously. She was gorgeous. He was close to his limit of resisting seducing her. “Ok, I'm ready.”

“Great, let's go. When we get to my house it won't take me long to change.”

They got in his truck and drove away. Macy realized she was finally going to see Jax's house. She was excited. After about 20 minutes, they arrived at the driveway. Macy couldn't see a house. Jax pulled in, and a gate was opening ahead of them. She could feel her eyes bugging out of her head. After passing the gate she could see a huge, beautiful house. No, not a house, a mansion. She was stunned, speechless.

Jax parked out front. He got out and went to Macy's door. She had to jump to get out. “Sorry, we can take the car to dinner.”

She looked at the house and said, “Oh my God, this is your house? This place is incredible.”

“Come on, wait until you see the inside.” Jax opened the front door and turned the alarm off.

“Ok.” Macy cautiously went inside and started looking around. She had never been in a house like it. The entryway had marble tile flooring leading to a double staircase. She was in awe. A thousand thoughts were going through her head.

“So?”

“I don't know what to say,” she mumbled.

He smiled, “Would you like a tour?”

“Good lord, do we have time?”

He chuckled, “I can always cancel the reservation and order delivery if you'd like.”

“Um. Wow. Sure. I'd love to see what else this immense place has to offer.”

“Great. What would you like to eat?”

“I am fine with whatever you order.”

Jax grabbed the house phone and called Penny, the house manager. “Can you please, please, please come make something for two?”

“Certainly, just give me a minute.”

“I really appreciate it, Penny.”

“Absolutely. Are you entertaining a lady?”

“Yes Penny, I am,” Jax answered. “Stop it. I can tell you're smiling.” Penny chuckled. Jax went back over to Macy. “Shall we?”

He held his arm out for her. She took it and said, “By all means.”

He started upstairs so they didn't run into Penny. At the top of the stairs, he led her to his old bedroom. “This was my room when I was young.”

It still had remnants of his childhood. There were pictures on the dresser of Jax in his high school football uniform, and young Jax at the shooting range with his dad. The sweetest was baby Jax in his mother's arms coming home from the hospital.

“Oh my, is this you as a baby?”

“Yep.”

“Aww. Are you an only child?

“Yes, I guess after they had me they knew they had their hands full.”

She smiled. “I see you played football and were a gun enthusiast at a young age. Explains a little bit about your career path.”

“How so?”

“Team player, obvious love for guns.”

“Hmm yeah, guess I never looked at it that way. Come on, I'll show you the guest rooms in the west wing.”

“Wing?” she asked.

“Yeah, there are three wings to the house. We are in the east wing.”

“Oh my God, who are you?”

He laughed, “What do you mean?”

“You grew up here. What on earth did your parents do for a living?”

“Well, my grandmother was a Rockefeller,” he joked.

She hit his arm, “Seriously, this is a whole new side of you I am seeing.”

“Ok, seriously. My dad came from money...”

“So I see,” she interrupted.

“His family owned wineries in France, California, and upstate New York. Then he inherited them.”

“So who owns them now?”

“Well, I do. There are people who run them for me. I never had an interest in them, which I firmly believe is why my father didn't sell them and instead signed them over to me. One way or another, he was going to keep them in the family regardless of how I felt.”

“Oh my God,” she said with her hands over her mouth in disbelief.

He took her hand. “Macy, I'm just the soldier you met at the base. This doesn't define who I am. This is just a part of me. I am a Marine,” he stated. “This is all just stuff. I'm not like all this. Does it bother you?”

“No, more like intimidates me.”

“Please don't let it. You have nothing to be intimidated by. It's just a house with stuff.” His phone got a text. “Come on, dinner is here. Let's finish the tour later.”