Chapter 98 - Surprise
"Maybe, do you think we met in our past life?" Dean asked. Of course, he knew when and where they had met. It was a dark cold night when his uncle had arranged an attack on life. Left for dead in a disgusting alleyway he saw his angel for the first time. They were walking and Aprils next words halted his steps and his heart.
"Maybe I saved your life from some hooligans… Or maybe we never crossed paths." April left her answer both truthful and ambiguous. There would be a time when she could openly reveal her past life and she wasn't sure it was now, it would be when it felt right.
Dean scratched the back of his neck, she had hit the nail on the head when she said that she had saved him but then she said maybe they never crossed paths. He was uneasy and decided to change the subject, his surprise was all set up and he wanted her to enjoy her day with him and he didn't want any heavy conversation.
Holding her hand tighter he responded, "Stop here and put this on."
April turned to see one of Deans black silk ties in his hand, she smiled and replied, "It's the middle of the day."
Dean laughed and turned her around, "What goes through your brain, I want to surprise you. It's a blindfold although if you want to use it again later in the bedroom I have no complaints."
April felt the soft silk cover her eyes and Deans gentle touch as he tied it. She wanted to roll her eyes but he wouldn't see it anyway, what was the bid deal she wasn't sure. Yes the building was beautiful and the artists were truly talented but what could he be showing her.
"Ready?" Dean asked.
His breath on her neck sent butterflies down her spine, "Just show me already." April laughed, he was like a kid at Christmas.
Dean guided her into the art gallery, Oliver had set everything up just as he had asked. He made a mental note to give him a raise. He stopped in front of the first painting and slowly removed her blindfold as he said "I hope you don't mind I borrowed them for the month."
April was smiling at his kid like behaviour but once the blindfold was lifted she saw her mother's painting. She was completely lost for words, she would have never expected this surprise. It was her and her mother shared dream for their art to be shown here. Dean had made her life's wish fulfilment happen. She felt hot tears of happiness fill her eyes.
She rubbed them away so as not to show Dean but he saw them and he rubbed her head, "Don't be sad silly."
April was lost in the moment could she tell him that his voice gives her butterflies, she gets lost in his eyes. A word from him can make her smile even if she is sad, his smile brightens her day and his touch makes all her worries instantly disappear. Instead, she simply said, "I'm not sad I'm happy dork. You mean the world to me thank you."
Dean hugged her close to his chest, "Don't go getting all sentimental on me now, it's supposed to be a happy moment for you."
"I know I know. I just, it's just that no one has ever done anything like this for me and I never thought I would live to see my mother's artwork displayed here. You have made me and my mother very happy." April let go of Dean and looked around the gallery, all her mother's paintings were displayed on the walls, she was very happy and proud of her mother and to be able to share her mothers work with others made her heart swell with pride and joy. She wanted her father to see this.
Dean beamed, "Brownie points with the in laws and you aren't what I am after but I will take it. I just wanted to make your smile a little bit bigger."
April turned and hugged Dean as tightly as she could trying to convey all her feelings in one embrace.
Dean smiled down at his angel and hugged her back, he didn't want her thanks he just wanted to show her something special and make her happy. He was glad he was able to do this for her, "Shall we take a look around?"
April nodded and separated from Dean, holding his hand as they toured around the gallery. They stopped at each painting and April explained the meaning behind each one to Dean. Dean patiently listened he loved listening to her, she was so full of life.
He was inspired just listening to her teach him about the art techniques her mother had used and the reason behind the colours and brush strokes she had used. He really didn't understand art but listening to her made him just as excited as she was.
"Im sorry im rambling on, your bored." April turned to Dean to apologise.
Dean pulled her closer and replied, "I'm not bored I am enjoying your teachings and company."
April raised her eyebrow questioning him "Really?"
Dean truthfully replied, "Really, now are you ready for the next surprise?"
"Sure, but I don't think you can beat this." April didn't know what he could honestly do to top this.
"Maybe not but I can only try. "Dean smiled and then led April to a set of double doors which lead to a garden. A glass bridge led them out into the garden and just below the glass bridge was a small lake.
April was excited to see the swans swimming around the lake and turtles that were sunbathing on some rocks nearby.
Dean waited as she watched the animals in the lake before guiding her to a gazebo that was surrounded by viburnum opulus trees. These white snowball like flowers fell with the breeze and danced in the wind around them.
In the gazebo was a dining table set up with drinks and food for the two of them. He once again made a mental note to give Oliver that raise, he had arranged everything just as he had asked him to. It wasn't easy to ship in these trees and build the gazebo in a few days but he did it.
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