“See you guys later,” I said.
“Bye!” they said together.
“And good luck!” the brunette yelled after us.
I waved at her to let her know I heard her.
Margie had a hold of my hand and was dragging me out of the building. “Come on, Daddy! We have to go!”
I laughed. “Okay, I’m trying.”
We raced out the front doors to my car, and I buckled her in right away.
“Artie was okay with you leaving work?” she asked when I got into the driver’s seat.
“Of course. I don’t see why he wouldn’t be.”
“Okay, good. Because this is very important.”
I shook my head and laughed at her use of the word “important.”
The drive wasn’t long, but it felt like it took hours just to get back across town. I was trying to calm my nerves as I drove, but it was hard. This surprise was going to be huge, and if she hated it, it would be the biggest disappointment of my life.
“Are you all ready for the surprise?” she asked me.
“Yep. I’ve got everything I need,” I responded.
I caught her eye in the mirror as we drove on toward downtown. “I’m so excited for this!” she said, looking at me.
“I am too, baby,” I said.
I had been planning the surprise for almost two months and could hardly believe that the day had finally arrived.
“This is going to be the best day ever,” Margie said. She was now looking out the window, but she still had a bright smile on her face.
“I know. It really will be,” I said.
A few minut
es later, we parked in a parking spot. I helped Margie get out of the car, and we started walking down the sidewalk. All the closer spots had been taken already, so we had to walk a bit, but I didn’t mind because it gave me a couple minutes to calm my nerves.
“Are you nervous?” Margie asked me.
“Uh, a little I guess,” I admitted. I was trying to hide the fact that I was extremely nervous, I didn’t want her to catch on. “Are you?”
“No. I’m excited,” she said with a matter-of-fact tone.
We reached the building we needed, and I opened the door for Margie. The front waiting room was empty, and then I heard another door open.
“Margie! Justin! What are you guys doing here?” Anna said as she walked toward us. She was carrying a bag of trash that must have been from the massage room. She set it down next to the front desk.
Margie ran up and hugged her.
“We just stopped by to say ‘hi,’” Margie said.
Anna glanced at her watch. “School’s not even out yet. Are you sick?” she put her hand on Margie’s forehead.
“No,” she said. “I feel great!” she started to giggle. I hoped she could keep it together for a little while longer.