🙂 New Year, New #Blogbattle

#BlogBattle is a weekly short story challenge using a single word for inspiration.  Hosted by the talented Rachael Ritchey. She has changed things up a little bit.  Now the word and the genre is provided.  This will definitely stretch my creative muscles as I attempt to write other types of stories.  Had to look up what fan fiction was.

Feel free to join in, or click here to read the current week’s stories and vote for your favorites.

This Week’s Word: Thorn

Genre: Fan Fiction – fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters or settings from, a particular TV series, movie, etc.

Happy Endings

The visit with Jason’s great aunt was very pleasant.  Nita had met Jason through his Grandmother, Sophia.  Nita was her hairstylist, and Sophia adored her.  Nita was surprised that this aunt was his grandmother’s sister.  Because for as much as Sophia was outspoken and charismatic, Aunt Lorraine was not.  Yet Nita enjoyed her company just as well.

The next part of their trip was a surprise.  Jason rented a car, and they were driving to their next destination.  It was a beautiful spring day, the warmth of the sun filled the car as the quiet music danced on the cool breeze. Every so often they would talk, share stories of trips they took as kids or just sit in companionable silence as the mile markers ticked by.  In those moments, Nita would catch a glimpse of Jason, and her heart would still skip a beat.  They say the best relationships are the ones you never saw coming.  She smiles to herself thinking how lucky she is to be his girl.

Their destination is not far from the exit.  It seems like somewhat of a small town, or maybe it’s because they have turned down Main Street and have passed a pizzeria and a bookstore cafe called Turn the Page.  When Nita sees it, she points it out and says, “Look a bookstore!!”

“Yes, I know, we’ll check it out tomorrow.” Jason replies knowingly.

They pull up to Inn Boonsboro.  Nita gets out and stretches her legs as Jason grabs their bags from the trunk.  She takes in the architecture of the Inn, it’s stone front, wooden doors, the gabled windows on the second floor resting just above a balcony that spans the width of the building.  “Oh Jason, it’s beautiful.” Nita exclaims.  He kisses her on the cheek, and takes hold of her hand and leads her inside.  “I knew you’d like it.”

They enter a cozy area with intimate seating in front of a fireplace, and a woman behind the desk greets them genuinely.  “Hello, Mr. Aldrich?”

“Yes, Hello. Call me Jason, this is my girlfriend Nita.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Hope Beaumont, we spoke on the phone.”  She extends her hand and warmly shakes each one.

“Your room is all ready for you.  You will be staying in the Elizabeth and Darcy Room.  Each of our rooms bear the names of literary lovers, those who found their happy endings.”

When Nita figures it out, she looks at Jason in surprise and says, “Pride and Prejudice, my favorite!!”

He returns the smile, and says, “I know.”

Hope hands them the key, “I will show you to your room, but first I’ll show you the common areas, and give you a little background of the hotel if you’d like.”

“Yes, please.” Nita replies.

“The Inn has been completely renovated keeping most of the original architecture, yet adding modern conveniences.  It is owned by the Montgomery family.  Justine Montgomery is responsible for choosing all the furnishings, and the details that went into each room.  Her three sons did all the work.  As they worked diligently on the renovation, they realized that the Inn had a resident ghost.”

“Are you kidding me?” Nita says without containing her excitement.

Hope lets out a small laugh, “No, I’m not.  But rest assured she is no longer here.  In your room you will find a booklet that tells her story, I think it’s one of the greatest love stories of all time.  Here we are, enjoy your stay, whatever you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

They enter the room and Nita takes in the beauty of it all.  As she exits the bathroom, Jason grabs her around her waist and holds her in his arms.  “Oh Jason, it’s gorgeous.  This is the perfect place, all the things I could possibly want.”

With a slow, deep kiss, he says, “Whatever baby wants, baby gets.  Why don’t you relax in that luxurious bathtub before it’s time to get ready for dinner.  He gives her a quick kiss, and reluctantly releases her, “I’ll be back shortly.”

Nita enjoys a long, leisurely bubble bath using the lavender scented bath amenities supplied.  Each room has its own signature scent.   Oh how Nita loves the smell of lavender.  She slips into the hotel bath robe just as she hears Jason return.

“You look well rested.” He says as he brushes her hair from her face.

“It was wonderful.” She says with a sigh.

“Let me jump in the shower, then we can go down to dinner when you’re ready.”

Jason enters the room wearing a black suit, accented with a turquoise colored shirt and tie.  Nita walks up to him smooths his lapels and says, “Even Mr. Darcy himself can’t hold a candle to you Jason, looking this good.”

“And you my dear Nita are beautiful.” He says with a caress to her cheek.

“Shall we.” Jason extends his arm to Nita as they head down to the dining room for dinner.

They are seated at a table in the corner near the fire place, the ambience is perfect. Jason pulls out the chair for Nita before she sits.  On her plate lies one single red rose. She picks it up, closes her eyes and inhales its fragrance, the smile on her face expresses her approval.  She opens her eyes and examines it further.  “Jason, there isn’t one thorn on the stem, it’s lovely.”

“There’s significance to that you know.  A thornless red rose signifies love at first sight.”

“I did not know that.” Nita replies curiously.

“Nita, when I first saw you, it was love at first sight for me.  It just took me a while to do something about it.  I’m a man of few words, so I brought you here, to a place that I knew would hold a special place in your heart.  Nita, you have bewitched me body and soul.  I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” With that he removes a velvet box from his pocket, gets down on one knee and continues.  “Nita, will you spend forever with me? Will you marry me?”

“Jason!!” Surprised, elated, and overjoyed, breathlessly she manages to answer, “Yes…yes, a thousand times yes!!”

He removes the antique diamond ring from the box and slips it on her finger, kissing her knuckles.  She holds her hand out to admire it, “Jason, it’s just perfect, I love it.”  She wraps her arms around his neck hugging him yet not taking her eyes off the ring.  He wraps his arms around her waist and lifts her from her chair embracing his future.  He sets her back down, as he sits down he explains, “It was my great grandmother’s ring, that was the reason for the visit to Aunt Lorraine, she had it all ready for me.  I knew you would like it and cherish the significance of it being an heirloom.”

Hope had been watching the scene play out from a distance, being that she helped orchestrate the evening.  When she felt it was safe to approach, she walked over and congratulated a beaming Nita with a hug.  “Jason, are you ready to order now?”

With a sigh of relief, and pure joy, he says, “Yes, my fiancée and I would like to order now.” Looking at Nita, knowing they found their happy ending.

© 2017 Carrie Ann

This was a bit of a double whammy, this story was set in the Inn Boonsboro from Nora Robert’s Trilogy

With a nod to Pride and Prejudice (book/movie)