Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories)
Authors: Johanna Jenkins
Escape to Paradise
Sweet Clean Romance
By: Johanna Jenkins
© Copyright 2016 by Johanna Jenkins
All rights reserved.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
From the Author:
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Chapter 1
Victoria Martin was deep in thought as she arranged a colorful array of assorted flowers into a tall cylinder glass vase. This beautiful bunch of fragrant floral stems had just been hand delivered by the local shop. There was a card attached to them with a hand written note inside saying,
Happy Anniversary, my sweetheart. I have booked dinner at Alberto’s Restaurant tonight. Be ready by eight.
Your ever-loving husband, Tom.
Victoria smiled, thinking back on her fifteen-year marriage. She and Tom had always been blissfully happy. They were the envy of all their friends, who teased them about having a marriage made in heaven, and who also wondered what their secret was.
“I think it’s because we were madly in love when we met, and we have worked hard at keeping the romance alive. I feel like we’re still dating,” Victoria had told their best friends, Dan and Natasha Kingsley at dinner one night. “And of course, we’ve been blessed with Katie.”
Katie was Tom and Victoria’s delightful eight-year-old daughter who was conceived after years of trying to start a family. Unfortunately, Victoria was told by her doctor that it was unlikely she would ever conceive again due to a condition called adenomyosis. And she never did manage to fall pregnant after Katie was born.
Today was their fifteenth wedding anniversary. Yet it felt like only yesterday that Victoria had walked down the aisle of that quaint, country church six kilometers out of their home town of Waycross, Georgia. The old Ruskin Church was built in 1895 in the Victorian style of architecture, complete with ornate and intricate details. The interior of the church had a curved ceiling giving it a sense of openness, and internal columns to help support the huge steeple and belfry.
Victoria remembered with nostalgia the cream lace dress she had worn that day with a long, netted veil, adorned with flower petals. How time had flown since then, and right now it was time to move on and shower and dress for the anniversary dinner. Katie was being picked up by the Kingsleys for a weekend sleepover at their house. Dan and Natasha Kingsley were lucky to have had four children, the youngest of who was Katie’s best friend, Miranda.
Tom arrive home at seven thirty leaving himself barely enough time to shower and dress into a freshly ironed blue and white checked shirt and stylish denim trousers. Although it was casual dress and dining at Alberto’s, Victoria had decided to wear a very well-fitting black dress with diamante studded straps over the shoulders, and silver sandals to complete the look. She swept her long, jet black hair up into a smart up-style fastened at the back with a silver studded black comb. Her slim figure was accentuated by the clingy dress, which was knee-length, allowing her to show off her toned calves and slim ankles.
“You look beautiful, Victoria,” Tom said, as they made their way to Tom’s sleek sports car parked out the front.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Tom,” Victoria replied as he placed a sweet and gentle kiss on her forehead. Tom had aged well, and at thirty-five looked almost as young as he did when he was twenty and getting married.
The restaurant was a twenty minute drove from their house and already at eight o’clock the parking lot was almost full. Alberto’s was always busy as it was considered to be one of the best Italian Restaurants in the area, famous for its homemade pastas and traditional, authentic sauces.
“Thank goodness you made a reservation, Tom. Otherwise we may not have been able to get a table.”
“You know I always think of everything, my love. Especially on a day as special as this one.”
Tom looked at her with adoration in his eyes. The minute he had laid eyes on her sixteen years ago, he’d never stopped loving her. Taking her hand tenderly in his, he led her inside to where the atmosphere was bustling with activity. People were chatting and eating and being attended by waiters in white shirts and black trousers and red cotton towels over their arm.
“Welcome to Alberto’s,” said Sammy, the owner. “So nice to have you visit us again, and so soon.”
“You know we love this place, Sammy,” Tom said shaking his hand vigorously.
“Right, come this way. I have reserved Table eight for you, right by the window.”
“Thank you,” said Tom. “Can we start with two mocktails and water? Oh, and some of that amazing garlic bread of yours.”
“Of course, pronto,” he said as he seated them and handed them the menu.
“We have a few specials tonight, such as Chicken Cacciatore and Braised Rabbit Parpadelle, and there are some new pasta dishes on the menu.”
“Thanks, Sammy, we’ll check that out,” said Tom, leaning more towards the rabbit than a pasta dish.
“I think I’ll be happy with a chicken cacciatore, and maybe followed by a chocolate, nougat and pistachio ice-cream after. No, hang on, I’ve just changed my mind. I just noticed a new dish here …a fig and prosciutto pizza. How amazing is that?”
“Women! You can never make up your mind, can you?” Tom said, laughing. “And, yes, that pizza does sound amazing. I’ll have to try a little bite of yours.”
“Only if I can try a little of your rabbit pappardelle, whatever that is,” Victoria responded. “And by the way, I don’t always change my mind. I married you, remember?”
“From memory, I don’t think there was much to choose from in those days. And besides I was the best-looking bloke around for miles!”
“And the most cocky!” Victoria teased.
“Yes, well confidence can be a blessing. And I believe that you’re not lacking in the confidence department either.”
It turned out to be an enjoyable night, complete with a serenade from the Italian trio of entertainers who sang The Anniversary Song, especially for them. But even the excellent food and the music could not surpass the surprise that Tom had planned for Victoria that night. As she finished off her last mouthful of dessert, Tom put his hands in his pocket and placed a gift wrapped box on the table.
“Fifteen years of marriage has only made me fall more and more in love with you Victoria. I saw this in Bensen’s Jewelry Store last week, and I just knew I had to give it to you.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears as she opened the gift so beautifully wrapped and tied with pink silk ribbons.
Inside was a twenty two carat gold chain holding a small gold cross embedded with tiny diamonds. Victoria immediately put it on.
“Oh, Tom,” she gasped. “It’s beautiful. I’ll never take this off, Tom, never,” she swore as they left the restaurant.
A light rain had started to fall as they drove out of the parking lot. The road home was full of traffic rushing to get home before a possible storm hit.
Suddenly there was a screeching of brakes. Tom tried to avoid an oncoming truck. What was it doing in their lane? The last thing Victoria remembered was the sound of her own screaming!
