Secret Garden

Life settled back into the rhythm of before, not before Paris, before Steven swept Sam’s legs out from beneath her. Before they started chatting. Every interaction was professional and nothing more. At first Steven thought this was a great idea. They wouldn’t have to endure awkward conversations that clearly neither one of them were eager to have, but even if they weren’t going to be friends, he wanted to thank her for the impact she’s had in his life since the day she had the courage to tell him the truth. It’s rare finding people that will tell him the truth since he’s become a CEO. People are so eager to please, they tell him what they think he wants to hear, which sucks. Some people probably think that is the best gig ever, no one to contradict you. You are always right. It can, and does inflate the ego, Steven has met quite a few C suite executives that need their own self-importance popped. Innovation is what keeps a company thriving. Working with amazing teams that bounce ideas until they’re fine-tuned enough to implement is how he got to where he is today. He misses that part of his chats with Sam.

Sam came into his office, “you’re going to be late for your 3pm early dinner appointment.” She grabbed his jacket off the hanger and held it up as he slid into it.

“I need you to attend this meeting with me and take notes.”

“Can’t you just record the conversation and I’ll dictate them for you later?” she said with a concerned look.

“I could but having a third party at the table might keep us on topic better. Why is something wrong?”

“These dinners tend to run late into the evening," she paused, "and I have plans,” She stood up straighter as she confessed her concern.

“You can leave whenever you want.” Steven’s face softened as he held back a smile.

On the car ride Steven tried to make small talk, but Sam kept deferring to his taking points for the dinner. Sam was busy on her Ipad the entire ride. As the car slowed she looked up confused, “what are we doing at Buckingham Palace?”

Steven proceeds through the gates. “Who is your meeting with? Prince Charles? You can’t just go into the palace.” Sam was getting more agitated looking around to see if the guards were going to arrest them for trespassing.

“Relax,” Steven said with a smile. “The queen has opened her lawn for the first time in 70 years for people to come and have a picnic. No one knows how long she’s going to keep it open or when it will happen again.”

He could see Sam relax. “So, you set your business meeting up as a picnic?” Looking at him with one raised eyebrow.

“Not exactly.” He parked the car and got out, walked over to her side and opened her door. Sam was an independent woman, the first time she attended a dinner meeting with him she hoped out of the car on her own not thinking anything of it. He explained how there are certain old-fashioned execs that were watching, and he needed to impress them on every level. He asked her to please allow him to open her door from then on because you never knew who is watching. She saw the logic and agreed.

She followed him to the rear of the car where he pulled a blanket out and draped it over his arm then reached back down and grabbed a picnic basket out of the boot. He started walking and glanced over his shoulder to make sure she was following him. Sam was frozen staring up at the palace. “Are you coming? I don’t want you to be late for your evening plans.”

Sam slowly started walking toward him trying not to trip as she took in her surroundings not unlike someone visiting New York for the first time. As they walked, they saw yellow ribbon clearly marking areas where the public was not invited to go. Sam reached down and slid off her heals as they entered the lawn. They weaved in between other picnickers until they found a spot under a mulberry tree and spread the blanket out. “How is your dinner appointment supposed to find you here?” Sam took out her phone, “do you need me to contact his secretary to tell him where to go?”

“No.” Steven knelt and started taking stuff out of the basket and setting them around the blanket. “This isn’t a business dinner. This is a ‘thank you’ dinner.” Sam slowly lowered the phone to her side, stared down at the spread as she slowly slid to her knees.

“I’ve been wanting to thank you for yoga, our chats, your honesty, your invitation to Paris. I just didn’t know how until this came up.” Steven held Sam’s gaze as he spoke. “You didn’t want to chat anymore and I didn’t know how else to get you out of the office without protests. I hope this is okay.” Sam just stared at him dumfounded.

“You did all this,” she looked around the garden then back to him, “to say ‘thank you’?”

Steven nodded his head and handed her a glass of champagne. She accepted the flute and stared at him while he loaded up a plate for her. “No one has ever…” she trailed off.

Once she emptied her first glass she swiveled from her knees and sat on the blanket. Steven told her how he saw her on the platform that day. He explained he wanted to go with her but his obligation to his father and keeping his routine as he declines is so important. He told her about Hyde Park and how he’s been making weekly trips back to that bench for solitude. He even confessed he’s been taking yoga classes and doesn’t groan nearly as much. He confessed how he feels like a better human since she told him he needs to take some time for himself. They sat on the blanket eating, talking and laughing for hours.

The bustle of other picnickers laying out their blankets and picking them back up a short time later alluded them. Finally Sam admitted her bum was numb and stood up. Steven stood too. “Oh good. I’m glad you finally said that. I didn’t want to move but I haven’t felt mine for the past hour.” They laughed and started walking to get the blood pumping in all the extremities. The conversation continued to flow as Sam recounted her awkward morning waking up next to a gay stranger in Paris.

They came upon some tall hedges when Steven asked, “I wonder what’s behind there.”

Sam smiled, “That is the famous secret garden.”

“How do you know that?” He cocked his head to look at her.

“I’ve dreamt of coming here my entire life. I read all about the new changes they’ve made to the garden. The pictures are all so splendid I imagine it’s like being in a fantasy world.” Sam’s face glowed as a little girl on Christmas morning.

They continued walking when a break in the hedges appeared with a bright yellow ribbon draped across the opening. Steven stopped in front of the opening and peaked as far around the hedges into the garden as his neck would allow. He then backed up and looked around. A mischievous look at her and he hoped the ribbon.

Sam mortified said, “what are you doing?” As she scanned for guards.

“I want to see the secret garden,” he looked at her with the biggest smile and held out his hand. “You wanna come?” Sam expected a palace guard to tackle them any moment. When she didn’t see anyone even looking their way. She hoped the ribbon and ran into the garden. Every color imaginable danced around them. Steven stared at her as she slowly twirled around trying to take it all in. He’d never seen someone so happy, so in awe.

Just then they heard voices. They looked at each other and took off running trying to find a hiding place. Steven grabbed her hand and pulled her towards a bush that looked big enough to crouch behind. Rounding the bush his foot caught on the edge of a rock and started to fall. He spun his body to land on his back but didn’t think to release Sam’s hand. She came down on top of him her head landing on his chest. Her legs straddling his leg. There was no time to assess injuries the voices were getting closer. Sam lifted her head, one hand on his chest and the other on the ground next to his ear for leverage. Steven covered her hand on his chest with his and put a finger to his lips. She froze as the words became clear to hear. “They entered through the west side of the garden.” Someone was clearly looking for them. They stayed motionless until the voices passed their bush and disappeared around the hedge. Finally able to take a breath Sam sunk her head back onto his chest. It only took a few seconds before Sam pushed her head back up, she looked at Steven’s face in surprise. Her hair falling around his head framing his face he smiled up at her. “That was a close call,” he whispered. They both started laughing quietly.