Sealed With Love

Chapter 5

Katie woke up early the next morning. Usually she would need at least two cups of coffee to bring her back to life. Today however she felt happy and excited. She really liked Sam and if this was the only chance she got, then she would enjoy it while it lasted. It's not every day you get to almost be Royalty!

Katie opened the door to get to work and found a beautiful bouquet of roses in all colours, a huge box of chocolates and a teddy bear that had a wand and a tiara on. There was a card attached to the flowers and it was from Sam. 

Katie turned the envelope over to open it. There was an actual red seal on it! The stamp used on it was a detailed Coat of Arms. Underneath the Coat of Arms were the words "Stärke, Respekt, Loyalität". German for Strength, Respect and Loyalty. Katie finally found a use for all the language classes. Katie opened the letter inside.

Dearest Katie

Thank you for being there when I really needed you. Please join me in the garden for breakfast. It wouldn't be right to eat all these delicious things without my beautiful future wife!

Love

Sam

P.S I thought of you when I saw the bear. Tiara...check, as for the ring, you'll just have to wait and see. 

Katie hugged the letter and bear, then gathered the flowers  to rush inside. Once the flowers were in water and the bear safe and comfortable on her bed, she was off to meet Sam...er her future wife.OK no that was still weird argh! 

Katie felt so elated. Who knew Sam was so thoughtful and romantic? She went to the garden near the hospital restaurant. Company policy believed if staff's stomachs were full, then so was production. 

The food was responsibility sourced and lowered the company's carbon footprint. They owned a huge bamboo forrest that not only lowered carbon dioxide emissions but made many products. They had turned dry, arid lands into lush forests. It had not only made it more beautiful but had given the people jobs and the animals homes again. The very letter and envelope she had just read were made from bamboo. 

Katie found Sam at an outside table. There were at least ten cloches on the table!They must be hiding something good. Sam smiled and got up to greet Katie. 

" So how did you sleep?" Sam asked as she gave Katie a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Not much actually but the bit that I did get was good." Katie said as she sat down in a chair Sam had pulled out for her at a smaller table nearby." Did you sleep well Sam?"

" I did yes thank you, for about half an hour." Sam replied with a chuckle. Soon two well dressed waiters came out like magic to present their first dish.

Katie was presented with the starter. The plate was art. Yoghurt swirled from the outside in to draw the eye to the food.The  fresh fruit arranged around a sculpture of honeyed oats and almonds. Then little tears of cream placed here and there.

The main was crispy, glazed bacon with fresh cheese, lettuce and a fine pickle all on fresh homemade bread. There was fresh coffee, tea and three types of fruit juice. 

" How do you bring yourself to eat these stunning dishes?" Katie asked genuinely astonished.

" It's still very difficult to do but, I just think that if someone went to all the trouble of making something so artful, then I couldn't possibly hurt them by sending it back untouched. 

My brother did that once. We were celebrating my mom's birthday. Jeffrey was about eight and I was six. He refused to eat anything even the dessert which he threw onto me in a tantrum.This in front of every citizen in our country and those we are allies with."

"You're joking! What did your parents do?" Katie asked as she started eating the fruit without noticing. She was so intent on what Sam was saying that she soon looked down to find an empty plate. Sam took her queue from Katie and had a few bites before she spoke.

" Not much they just laughed and went to get changed. They never were very strict. They led by example and taught us from a young age that we had different responsibilities then our school friends. At the same time they let us be children." With a shrug Sam finished the last of the breakfast sculpture.

" I really like the sound of that. I never really remember being a kid. I'm an only child and I've helped my parents bring money in since I was ten."Katie looked up from her bacon on heaven expecting the same look of pity. She was used to all her friends feeling sorry for her. Sam just looked intrigued. 

" It was fun to be busy all day. We would all get up early and head off to the bakery. We spent all day together making delicious goods. I used to go with my dad on his motorcycle doing deliveries."

" My mom wasn't always like this. She lost her mind when her heart broke. We went from a happy family building a future.To a single mother being thrown out to make room for a lady half her age and IQ."

"I'm really sorry Katie that must have been terribly hard for you." Sam said trying not to make Katie feel worse. If there was one thing she knew about Katie, it was that she hated being pitied.

" It ripped my world apart. It was a long time ago I really don't worry about it anymore. The only lasting effect is that I dislike lairs." Katie said taking a sip of guava juice.

 " Sam thank you for the roses and the bear and this lovely breakfast." Things were getting too serious. Katie didn't want to send Sam spiralling into depression.

" It's no problem at all. I like...I like spending time with you Katie. I just want you to know I value and appreciate you. I know you're doing me a favour but it doesn't mean you should be treated any less." Sam rambled on and then drank juice to stop what non-smooth thing she might say next.

" I really like the flowers. I didn't even know roses came in those kinds of colours." Katie said unable to stop smiling.

" The red and white ones in the center mean unity. The dark pink ones mean gratitude. The yellow with red tips mean ' I want to get to know you". The violet ones mean Royalty and the lilac are for romance." Sam said very proud of the thought that had gone into buying the bouquet. She wasn't going to mention that some of the roses also meant 'love at first sight' and 'falling in love'.

" So you technically wrote a love letter in flowers. Why Sam I've never been more charmed in my life." Katie looked at Sam and their eyes locked. The heart and the head were at war. The heart showed it's truth in their eyes. Their brains kept torturing them with past heartbreaks.

" I guess that makes me Princess charming then." Sam said with a laugh. it was more joy that Katie had liked her gesture then that the joke was funny.

" I think if you carry on like this Sam, you're going to have a hard time getting rid of me when the truth comes out." Katie said trying to keep the conversion light.

" Speaking of 'out' how are we going to deal with your mom?" Sam took the chance to change the very touchy subject they were on.

" I think she knows it's just better for her to ignore it. Her marriage went wrong after twenty-five years and now after eighteen years, her daughter is broken too." Katie smiled and played with her empty glass. Sam filled it to stop Katie figiting. Sam could see Katie was hurt by this and it made her heart contract.

" Katie listen to me." Sam got up from her seat and walked over to Katie. Taking Katie's hands in hers she continued. " You are not broken. You are intelligent, the animals adore you and I trust their instincts. You are graceful, elegant and beautiful. I'm proud to say I'm engaged to you. In fact I wish I really was because you're simply amazing. Nobody has the right to make you feel less than. It doesn't matter who it is, understand?" 

Sam didn't care if she had shown her feelings a little. She had never been one to hide them. The fact that she wanted Katie so badly that she chose her to be the first to be brought home to her parents. That was a fact she would worry about later, it just felt good to be with her.

" Sam you are all those things and more. Why did you choose me? You could have had someone who actually fit in here. Katie said knowing if she let the joy in just a little. The weight of it would later crush her heart even tighter.

" Someone who fits in here would be family and we are NOT that type of Royalty. Second you happen to blend just fine. And lastly I like you Katie, alot. I find nothing about you to be broken or lacking in any way."

 Sam brought Katie's hands to her lips. Her lips barely grazed Katie's skin and it sent a shockwave to her very core.

"This has been the best breakfast ever but, if we don't get to work soon they will send out a rescue team soon." Sam said looking like a moody teenager.

" Lead the way. Oh did you really have to use a Royal Seal on the letter?" Katie couldn't help asking.

" Not really. Although it's illegal to open it if it's not addressed to you when sealed like that. It counts anywhere in the world." Sam said proudly.

" So then if a journalist was to open it they would be jailed?" Katie said understanding now.

" Exactly! Only they would be put to death and not jailed. It's a very old law that amuses dad too much to change." Sam explained and burst out laughing at Katie's look of horror and disbelief...or admiration.

When Katie and Sam walked into the hospital they stopped dead in their tracks. It seemed all the doctors and med students were all focused on something in the local paper. Some frowned and pointed, others looked up at them in puzzlement. Sam turned to Katie as if to say ' What the hell, the picture was handled'. Sam stepped forward to grab a copy that lay on a desk nearby. She began to read it. Katie looked around and hoped for a clue. Sam was taking her sweet time! She wanted to scream " What the hell does it say!"