The Space Between Our Seasons

@miss_mrj: Beyond proud of you baby, I love you so much!❤️️

@camila_mila: I am so proud of you nephew! ❤️️❤️️❤️️

@astoldbysagee: Drew I can't believe you are heading off to college 🥹

@willow_xoxo: Proud big sister moment! I love you DJ!

@harpernobazaar: Congrats again brother! You did so good on your speech! I love you so so much! It's only the beginning!!!

@valentinawilliams_: You did it little drew baby! I am so proud!!

@miss_mrj: Happy Birthday baby boy! I love you so much! ❤️️

@astoldbysagee: Happy Birthday Drew! I hope you had a great day kid!

@willow_xoxo: Happy Birthday big head! ily!

@astoldbysagee: handsome guy ❤️️

@harpernobazaar: I hope you have fun little bro!

@willow_xoxo: ❤️️❤️️❤️️

Harper stared at Michael from across the dining table, he cleared out a portion of the restaurant they were in so that they could have a private dinner together. Since returning back from Paris they had only been able to snatch a few moments here and there but she understood why. Michael was a very busy man, something she actually liked about him unlike her mother she liked having a hardworking man on her arm. He kept her spoiled and happy, what more could she want? “So,” she said hesitatingly, “next month I am going on a family vacation to the Bahamas with my mother and siblings. I won’t be here for our first Valentine’s Day together. But to make it up to you I want us to do something before I leave” she said smiling at him lovingly as she picked up her wine glass and took a sip. 

Michael placed the wine glass down on the table. The waitress brought him and Harper menus. He flipped through the pages despite already knowing what he was going to order. He looked up, cradling the menu in his hand, “Is that so?” he said, going back to the menu. “I’ll have the lamb chops and the lady will have the veal.” Michael closed the menu and handed it back to the waitress before holding his hand out for Harper’s menu. “I have to say, I’m disappointed.” He tsked, shaking his head. “What am I going to do without you?”  

Harper tucked her lips in as Michael ordered for the both of them, she did not want the veal in fact she didn’t really care for it but she knew Michael always knew what was best for her. So she didn’t kick up a fuss about his dinner option. She picked her menu up and handed it over to the older man. “Thanks baby, the veal is just what I wanted” she lied happily. “Oh, don’t be,” she said to him quickly “I promise my plans will make up for it” she told him again. “Aw” she said, poking her bottom lip out sadly “I wish you could come with me but I know how busy you are and…” she paused, she didn’t have to give him the same excuse about being nervous to take him home she felt he got the picture. On top of that he never really spoke about wanting to meet her family either, it was like they were in their own little world together. She enjoyed that. 

Michael casually plucked the menu from Harper, handing it back over this shoulder to the waitress. He smirked, “I thought you would like it.” She was such a beautiful kitten. Exotic with just the right amount of broken. Oh, how he enjoyed her. “Now, Kitten.” He almost purred, the deep rumble of his voice vibrating in his chest. “You know I hate surprises. What do you have planned?” he shrugged his broad shoulders. “Maybe next time.” He said, his phone vibrating in his pocket. “I have so much going on anyway. I doubt I would have had much time around Valentine's. You know how my schedule is.” He pulled out his phone, glancing at the screen, ‘When will you be home?’ he read before he typed out a quick message, ‘Late. Don’t wait up.’ before putting his phone away. “Sorry.  Now, where were we?” 

Harper tucked some hair behind her ear as she tilted her head, she didn’t want to upset him at all. “Well” she said “I planned for us to have a nice little picnic in Centennial Park. I have an amazing coordinator and she is going to make sure everything is picture perfect for you baby” she beamed happily. It was the kind of thing she would love for a man to plan for her, so she decided to do it for him. For no other reason than the fact that she loved him that much. “I know you are going to love it!” she said, taking another sip of wine from her glass. Sitting her glass back down she licked her lips as he answered his phone, nodding her head slowly she zoned out for a moment. As he spoke again she said “oh nothing” feeling as if there was no point in her repeating what she said to him. “I hope you haven’t been working too hard though, I haven’t seen you much since Paris” she breathed. 

“Hmmm.” Michael pursed his lips, unsure if he liked what Harper had planned out for them. It almost seems juvenile. “A picnic?” he licked his lips and sighed dramatically. “That sounds like such a… cute idea.” After finishing the text, he waved off her words. “No, you were saying something about a picnic in the park. Did you consult the weather? It will still be pretty cold outside” he reminded her. “I know you never think things all the way through.” Once again, opening his phone he began to scroll through the weather app. “What is the name of the coordinator you picked? I should check their credentials as well. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of you.”  

Harper nodded her head at him, when he said it sounded cute her smile widened. “The weather?” she said thinking to herself and she sighed “oh no baby, I didn’t even think about that” she said as he acknowledged that she in fact had not thought of the weather. “I will think of something else” she said to him. “I promise it will be just as good,” she said, going through her mind thinking of things she could do for him instead. “Oh, it's a pal of mine from work. This is something she kind of does on the side for extra income. She’s really good at setting up romantic scenes for people around town. I can show you her Instagram!” she said as she moved to grab her phone out of her purse. “Maybe we could do a nice romantic dinner at a hotel, oh, maybe the Gaylord” she said knowing the hotel was expensive and something he’d prefer. 

Michael sighed dramatically, “It’s fine. That is why you are with me. So you never have to worry your pretty little head about these details. We can come up with something together,” he corrected, a small smile on his lips. “A friend from work?” Well, that was a good sign; it was no one who knew him, at least. He had utilized many of the city's coordinators, but he didn’t want to run the risk of meeting someone with whom he was acquainted. He shrugged, “The Gaylord sounds nice, actually. I’ll book the suite now. You and your little friend can handle the rest, right?” He sent a text to his assistant, satisfied that they would be properly sequestered on the date of his choosing. “Is the 11th alright with you?”

“That is so true” Harper nodded her head again at him, she loved the fact that he took the lead all she had to do was get all dolled up and show up most of the time. “Great!” she said pleased that he approved of the Gaylord “yes I have everything else covered don’t worry” she reassured. “Uh” she said thinking to herself “sure the 11th is fine, I won’t be leaving until the 13th. I think I will be fine to get everything done in time” she nodded “and pack and stuff” she told him. “I am so excited!” she squealed lovingly to him. 

“I am not worried, I assure you, Sweety.” Reaching to take her hand, he ran his thumb across her knuckles. “Anything to make you smile.” He told her, eyeing her hungrily. “You look ravishing tonight. The outfits we picked in Paris suit you well. Didn’t I tell you to trust me? I know exactly what looks good on you.” Michael smiled. She looked the part now. Classy with a broad stroke of sexy. She covered up far too much for his liking. He was working to change that about her.

He grabbed her hand and she melted into a puddle leaning in closer to him, she had to fight back another smile. “Thank you, you are so good to me baby. I don’t deserve you at all” Harper told him honestly. “Thank you” she said looking down at herself, the dress was a bit revealing in her opinion but he loved it so she loved it as well. “And you look very handsome tonight” she said in return. “You did tell me to trust you” she said sheepishly. “You picked out some amazing pieces, thank you” she told him. “You spoil me, you know that?” she asked him. “I never dreamed of falling in love with a man as amazing as you are!” she told him. 

“Just know, I am the one person who wants the best for you and trust me. That’s all the thanks I need.” Michael kissed the back of Harper’s hand, then pulled her over to him, kissing her firmly on the lips. “I love you too, sweety.”  He said, pulling away from her and sitting up. “So, a family vacation. Disney? A beach? Did you need me to pull some strings for you?” 

Harper smiled fondly at Michael, he had such a way with words. Sometimes she wondered why the people around her she cared about the most didn’t offer her the same kind of reassurance and love. She leaned into his kiss, savoring the feel of his lips against her. She squeezed his hands gently between both of hers and said “oh the Bahamas!” she shook her head “I forgot that detail sorry baby, I know how you hate when I don’t tell you everything. My entire family is going. It should be fun!” she said happily. “They went to New York without me so this trip we will make up for time lost” she added “oh no” she told him confidently. “My daddy will make sure we are covered, I know!” 

Michael squinted. Harper had never mentioned anything to him about a New York trip. “Oh, that was horrible. Did you miss the New York trip because of work?” he could always take her with him to New York on his next business trip. He smirked at the idea. It was nice to come home to something warm in his hotel room. “I see. Don’t be modest. If you need anything Harper just say the word. I’m sure your dad will certainly try. But the offer stands.”  He said, squeezing her hand.    

“Oh no, my family went to New York City for New Years, when we were in Europe don’t you remember? My mom apologized but I was still a little hurt that they did something like that without me. But I’m over it now, I loved bringing in the New Year with you in Paris anyway” Harper told him softly. “Well if you put it that way, I would love to go shopping for the trip, I need some new swim suits for the beach” she told him.