Sitting in the spacious and luxurious cabin with her and Mike were Char and Coop, two of her former roommates who had graduated along with her from West Point. She knew they were not only excited to be along for this adventure but because they knew the time for them to become engaged to Wes or Chris respectively, whom they had fallen deeply in love with, would surely be happening during this trip.
Char asked Mike, “Tell me more about this hotel which you’ve chosen for us all to be staying at.” Her eagerness to hear him talk about this was fun to see. Coop was equally curious. Their flight would take them about twenty-two hours in total so the suspense now that they were finally on their way was affecting them both.
Mike laughed and said, “The Rosewood Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown is actually a tiny hotel and one of the most private and intimate hotels anywhere. While Missy and I will be in their deluxe suite, you guys will be staying in their four-bedroom villa. It will only be the four of you in there so two of those bedrooms will be empty, of course.”
Coop exclaimed, “That does sound so romantic!”
“Yeah, it’s right at the edge of Lake Wakatipu with fabulous views,” explained Mike. “We will all be looking out over the lake and Cecil's Peak through full-length windows.”
“How big is Cecil’s Peak?” asked Char. “We all know how Missy gets affected by mountains.”
Missy answered, “It’s in the Wakatipu Basin and almost sixty-five hundred feet high. I will definitely teleport to its peak at least once to soak up lots and lots of wonderful earth energy.” She sighed happily.
Mike added, “You guys also know how Missy gets affected by great food. The Lodge's Swiss chef is among the best in either hemisphere which was definitely a deciding factor for my choosing this place.”
“Chris told me a little about being in Queenstown,” said Coop. “Leisure activities abound, from simple nature walks tohigh-adrenaline helicopter tours after which we can relax in the hotel's private spa. We will be getting waited on hand and foot.”
They continued to talk about the days ahead for a little while longer. Then Char said, “We need to give you two lovebirds some alone time. C’mon Coop. Let’s give them some space.” She got up and walked back to one of the seats further back. Coop also hopped up and went back to sit with Char.
Missy turned to Mike and said, “Having alone time with you is always one of my favorite things.” She hopped out of her seat and came over so she could give him a kiss. He pulled her onto his lap and kept her there even after they finished that kiss.
“Holding you like this is one ofmyfavorite things,” said Mike. “If it were only possible, I would never let you go.”
Missy giggled and after snuggling further up against him, she said, “I always feel safe and complete when you are holding me like this. Sadly, we cannot be selfish. We both must answer the calling we have received to do good for all those around us.”
Mike sighed and said, “While that is true, thank goodness we at least are allowed some moments like these.” He continued to hold her close and, since they had only slept for a few hours the night before, they both drifted off blissfully and soon were in a deep sleep once again.
When Wes came back into the cabin, letting Chris monitor things in the cockpit while the aircraft was on autopilot, he paused only briefly to smile down at Missy and Mike. Then he went back to join Char and Coop.
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Friday, June 24, 2022
It was early evening when they landed at the airport in Queenstown, New Zealand. After grabbing two taxis, they were whisked over to the hotel where they checked in and promptly went up to enjoy their rooms. They had scheduled their comings and goings from that point on such that Missy and Mike would not be seeing the others until Sunday morning eight days later when it was time for them all to check out and fly back home.
Upon entering the room, Missy immediately rushed over to go out onto the balcony. The sun would soon be setting and she stood there admiring the magnificent view of the lake and the mountain. Mike meanwhile gave the porter who brought up their bags a generous tip and then he too came out and joined her.
After several breathtaking moments, Missy turned to him and said, “Thanks for choosing this place, Mike. It’s perfect. Let me take a minute to place my wards all around so we don’t have any nasty surprises.” She removed her wedding rings, West Point ring and earrings which she handed to Mike. Then she took two steps back and vanished in a shimmer of light.
Mike gathered up her clothes which he brought into the bedroom. Then he called down to order some dinner from room service. While the food on their flight had been excellent, they had planned on having this meal up in their suite.
Missy returned before their meal arrived and she wrapped a big fluffy robe around herself before unpacking her things. Mike had already unpacked and was in the main room when their meal arrived. He quickly tipped the man who had delivered that and wheeled the cart over near the windows.
Soon, they were enjoying a splendid seafood variety which included green-lipped mussels, crayfish, oysters, kingsalmon, whitebait fritters and other delicacies. They washed down this delicious fare with a wonderful white wine which Mike had also ordered. Neither had much to say since they were both saying, “Mm mmmmm!” so often about how good everything tasted.
There was no dessert but none was needed as they were both much too full. Mike finally asked, “Did you see anything interesting while placing your wards everywhere?”
Missy smiled and said, “Not really. I tried not to pay any attention to the way one of the hotel staff members was servicing a young girl who had to be one of the maids. They were in his office and she was definitely enjoying that so I ignored them and quickly moved on.”
Mike shook his head and said, “I know how difficult it is to be you, Missy. Always knowing so much about everything and everyone, especially when you zip around in your spirit form.”
“So true, that!” laughed Missy. “My senses reveal so much to me about people, even when I’m in my human form. Their scent, their energy … what they arefeeling, what they arehiding.” After a huge sigh, she added, “As you know, I have found it very necessary to constantly maintain my situational awareness. Even then, as in Beijing, I can be caught off guard.”
Mike nodded and said, “It’s my knowing you cannot always be safe, despite your incredible abilities, that makes me ache inside when we are apart. Not only must I experience Missy withdrawal when you are more than five hundred miles away and unable to share your thoughts with me, but I also must feel that uncertainty about your safety.”
“Mike, I worry about you as well. Things can happen and none of us has any guarantee about tomorrow. Thankfully, we have gotten this far in our lives and now we are married. That has been a dream of mine ever since five years ago when I first asked you whether you were willing to wait around while I went off to West Point.”
Mike chuckled and said, “You have surprised me so many times over the years, Missy. That announcement was one of them. I knew then, however, that I would do whatever was necessary, wait however long, endure whatever hardships, provided I could have you in my life. I have never regretted that and now, yes. We are married.Ourdream has come true.”
