Page 15 of Goodbye To Tomorrow

Chapter 4

Jiraiya

The journey

The trip to the John F. Kennedy International Airport the next day was fast and uneventful; my driver dropped us at the terminal after making a stop at Gracen's place to pick her up. The driver also helped with our luggage before he bid us goodbye.

After going through a series of routine checkpoints, we boarded my company’s private jet. During the early part of the flight, we were engrossed in a series of engaging, fun and speculative discussions when, finally, Gracen fell asleep on my left shoulder. The rest of the journey was silent.

Fond memories crossed my mind of all the good times we had spent together in just a few months. They were the best days of my life and I could only dream of waking up with Gracen by my side for the rest of my life.

I slowly turned my neck sideways, trying not to wake her, and took a short thoughtful gaze at the beauty that rested beside me. She was all I wanted and needed.

The sixteen-hour flight ended with our touch down at Bozeman Yellowstone international Airport at some minutes past one o’clock a.m. Gracen and I had slept and awakened more than twice on the plane. The announcement came on about the safe parking of the plane at its gate and the seat belt light turned green, signaling it was safe to move about the cabin. Gracen and I got up from our seats to find the exit, stretching our bodies a couple of times before touching ground.

We were exhausted and the only thing on our minds was to get a long-deserved sleep before starting our planned-out activities the next day. After getting our luggage, I brought out my phone and switched it on; it took a while for it to come up. When it finally did, I worked it to the roaming option. After a few taps and slides, I put my phone back in my pocket.

"Now, we just have to wait," I said sleepily." How are you feeling?" I added, giving Gracen a quick facial study.

"I am going to be okay after I've slept in an actual bed for at least ten hours, I didn’t know the trip would be this exhausting," she managed to say in between yawns. "How long do you think it's going to take the driver to get here?" She asked.

"Well, it shouldn't be too long now," I said, unsure.

We waited a few more minutes and soon were greeted by the sound of tires screeching as a vehicle made a slow stop in front of us. A young man exited from the driver's side. He was cloaked in a traditional chauffeur's attire.

"Good day Sir. I'm here from the Moonlight Basin Lodge for Mr. Sampson and party," he said politely.

"That would be us," I replied, reaching for our luggage at my feet.

The driver customarily and politely reached for the luggage and helped me with it.

"Let me put that in the trunk," he said, extending his hand.

In a few minutes, we were on our way to the hotel. Although the trip to the hotel was fast, Gracen struggled to stay awake the whole time, yawning and blinking her eyes intermittently. She would finally have her wish as the driver pulled over at the parking lot of the hotel we were staying.

"Thank God," she muttered as we got out of the vehicle.

The driver was of immense help with our luggage and after a few rounds of routine passes; we were checked into our room.

The clicking sound of the door as it closed was all she needed to hear after I had thanked and heavily tipped the elderly man who had helped with our luggage. Gracen, fully dressed, dove into the gigantic bed; both she and I could barely keep our eyes open. I joined her on the bed after helping her get her shoes off and switching off the lights.

"Good night, Babe," I whispered as I lay closely by her side.

Low grunting noise and sniffles was the only response I got. I smiled to myself as I closed my eyes in the dimmed atmosphere in the room.

*****

Our executive deluxe suite slowly brightened; the rays of the sun found their way into the colorful room through the partly open curtains.

Gracen was cuddled up tightly against my body; it didn't look like we were going to start our day anytime soon. A soft knock sounded on the wooden door—it only made her roll slightly on the gigantic bed. Then it sounded again, with her eyes still closed and doing some soft snorts, Gracen uttered incoherently in a sleepy voice.

"Honey, I think someone is at the door."

“Okay" I grumbled still lying there. There was silence; I could hear the deep breathing noise coming from her nostrils.

The soft knock sounded again.

Gracen managed to grumble again, "I think someone is at the door" she repeated with her face buried in the sheets. She shook me vigorously this time around, bringing me back to a semi-conscious state.

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