It would be easier for me to tune out the anxious voices downstairs with music; but, of course, after tonight’s surprises, music didn’t seem appropriate anymore.  Anything I chose would seem trite and more than a little sickening, like Muzak tinkling mindlessly over a tinny intercom system in a fluorescent-lit grocery store just before a massacre.  So I turned away from the stereo and didn’t bother playing anything.

Bella had kicked off her satin flats and now clambered on top of the golden coverlet, the folds of her dress spreading like white flower petals on water at sunset.  I stepped out of my shoes and joined her, sitting as close to her as I could. She began pulling pins out of her hair, letting her locks fall onto her shoulders and down her back; the scent of strawberries mingled with the unbearable ambrosia scent I wanted so badly.

“So, these surprise plane tickets … ” Bella prodded, trying, I was sure, to lighten the mood, if such a thing was possible now.

I decided to go along.  What choice did we have?

“You didn’t think I’d let you get away without a honeymoon, did you?”

Bella sighed.  “I suppose that would’ve been too much to hope for.”

“You would have liked it.”

She looked askance at me, but I pressed on.

“We were going to some of the popular places first – London, Paris, Brussels – because you said you’d never been there.  I must admit I wanted you to be able to sample their cuisine, before – ” I stopped abruptly and continued more brightly.  “A bit of a whirlwind the first week, I’m afraid.”

“I can’t imagine you taking me on a whirlwind trip,” Bella said sarcastically, smiling.  But her eyes were somehow shy as they looked at me.  I knew she’d caught my slip.

I leaned closer, resting my hands on her knees, and tried to inject some intrigue into my voice.

“And then for the second week I was going to take you to County Donegal, in Ireland, where my grandparents – my mother’s parents – were from.”

“Yes?” Bella prodded, suddenly interested.  Her hair was down now, and I ran my fingers through it, relishing the warmth at the nape of her neck.  She hummed.  “Tell me more.”