Chapter 10: The Morning of Departure

The morning of her weekend getaway with John finally arrived, and Pamela woke up feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. She stretched her arms and let out a squeal of excitement as she jumped out of bed. After getting dressed, she headed to the kitchen to make some coffee and check her phone for any messages from John. As she waited for her coffee to brew, she noticed a text from John: "Hey, just a heads up that I'm running a bit behind schedule. I'll be there around 9:30 instead of 9." Pamela's heart sank slightly, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. After all, traffic in the city could be unpredictable, and 30 minutes wasn't a big deal. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table to check her emails and respond to any urgent messages. As she scrolled through her inbox, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. She had been looking forward to this trip for weeks, and she was eager to spend some quality time with John. Just as she was finishing up her emails, Pamela heard a knock at the door. She got up to answer it, expecting it to be John. But to her surprise, it was her neighbor, Mrs. Jenkins, holding a plate of freshly baked cookies. "Good morning, dear," Mrs. Jenkins said with a warm smile. "I baked some cookies and thought you might like them for your trip. You and your young man must be hungry after all that traveling." Pamela's face lit up with gratitude as she took the plate from Mrs. Jenkins. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Jenkins. That's so sweet of you." As they chatted for a few minutes, Pamela couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and kindness from her neighbor. She thanked Mrs. Jenkins again and promised to bring back some stories from her trip. With her cookies in hand, Pamela headed back to her apartment to gather her things and wait for John. She checked her phone again and saw that it was now 9:20. She was about to text John to confirm his ETA when she heard a knock at the door. This time, it was John. He was standing in the hallway, looking handsome in his dark jeans and a white button-down shirt. "Hey, sorry I'm late," he said, as he pulled her into a warm hug. "Traffic was a nightmare, but I made it." Pamela smiled and hugged him back, feeling a sense of relief and excitement. "It's okay, I'm just glad you're here," she said. As they loaded up Pamela's car with her luggage and set off on their journey, Pamela couldn't help but feel a sense of adventure and possibility. She had a feeling that this weekend was going to be one to remember. The drive was smooth and uneventful, and they chatted easily about everything from their jobs to their favorite books and movies. As they approached their destination, Pamela's excitement grew. She had no idea what the weekend had in store, but she was eager to find out. As they turned off the main road and onto a winding driveway, Pamela caught her first glimpse of their destination: a beautiful bed and breakfast nestled in the heart of the countryside. She gasped in delight and turned to John with a smile. "Wow, this place is gorgeous," she said. John smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I knew you'd love it," he said. "I've been here before, and it's one of my favorite places to stay." Pamela's heart skipped a beat as she gazed at John, feeling grateful and happy to be sharing this experience with him. She had a feeling that this weekend was going to be one she would never forget.