The Queen's Knight In Shining Overalls

Chapter 20

Emma drives along Depot street, which is like a Main Street in Manchester Center Vermont. "Oh Emma this town is wonderful". Regina smiles as she looks out the window and sees all the little country stores, the little restaurants and all the outlets. "Babe look over here. There's Armani and Ralph Lauren and that baby clothing store".  "We should definitely go shopping in there". "Anything you want babe".   "Oh. Is that a Ben & Jerry's I see there?"  "Yup". Emma laughs. At the end of the road Emma took a left turn. About half a mile up the road The Equinox comes into view. "Emma this place is huge". They pull up right in front and two young men open the doors for them. "Good afternoon ladies. I hope you enjoy your stay here. May we take your luggage?"  Emma nods and pushes the button to open the trunk. They walk into the lobby and up to the main desk. They check in and receive the key cards and they are taken up to their room. The room is incredible. Everything is big. The bed, the tv, and definitely the bathroom. They have a beautiful fireplace and view of the mountains are really unbelievable. They tip the bellhop and he leaves. Regina wraps her arms tightly around Emma. "Thank you for bringing me here my love. I can't wait to explore everything about this town". Regina gives Emma a passionate kiss. "Whoa! Babe. You know how much I love kissing you, but if you keep kissing me like that we'll never leave this room".  "Fine with me dear".  Regina says and dives back in on Emma's lips. She starts kissing down her neck and begins to unbutton her shirt. "Babe, shouldn't we unpack first?"  "I am. I'm unpacking you my love". She was right, and who was Emma to tell her otherwise. They spent the next few hours making love and holding each other close. After a much needed nap, Regina stretches to look at the clock on the nightstand. "It's only 3 o'clock my love. We still have most of the day to shop and have a nice dinner somewhere. What should be start with first?"  "How about another nap?"  "Nope. Let's get a move on". They start with a nice shower together and they have the valet bring the car around. They stop at the Yankee Candle store first and Regina buys a few of her favorite scented candles. Then it was over to Eddie Bauer where they bought new winter boots, since winter was right around the corner. "Emma sweetheart I'm getting kind of hungry, can we get some dinner soon?"  "Of course babe. What do you feel like. There is all different restaurants around here. Italian, there is a steakhouse, pizza, pub food. What's it gonna be?"  "What about that old restaurant you told me about last night?"  "Ya we can definitely go there". They go to the car and put the bags in the trunk, then drive to The Ye Olde Tavern. They walk in holding hands. There are 3 small dinning rooms on the main floor and a bigger dining area upstairs. They are greeted by the hostess when they walk in. "Good evening. Two for dinner tonight?"  "Hi. Yes please". Emma says and her and Regina follow the hostess through one room and into the back dinning room. They are seated next to a very old looking fireplace that looked like it was used for cooking way back when. They sit and they look around. "Emma this place is just as beautiful as you said. Its got such an old fashioned feel to it".  "Ya. It's great isn't it?"  The waitress walks over. "Hello ladies, I'm Betty I'll be your waitress tonight. Can I start you off with some drinks?"  Regina asked for an iced tea and Emma got a bottle of ballentine ale beer. "Ok. Thank you. I'll go grab that and be right back". They looked over the menu and had made a decision when the waitress came back with their drinks. "Ok, do you need are few more minutes or would you like to order now?"  "I think we're ready. Gina would you like to go first?"  "Ok. I'll have the crispy duck with the rosemary and garlic sauce with rice and the sautéed vegetables please".  "Ok. No problem. And for you?"  She asks Emma. "I'll take the filet mignon with the lobster meat and béarnaise sauce, rice and vegetables please".  "All right, and both of those come with a side salad or a Caesar salad". They both choose the Caesar salad. The waitress excuses herself to go get the salads. When she comes back she also has a plate of something that smells really good. "Here are your salads and these are our complimentary warm cranberry fritters with a Vermont maple glazed butter". The ladies both say thank you and reach for a fritter. They are absolutely delicious. Regina says she could just eat those for dinner and they both laugh a bit. They finish the fritters and the salad just as their dinners arrive. The plate presentation is fancy for such an old style restaurant. They both start eating their meals and it's just delicious. They had occasional conversation while eating. Halfway through the meal Emma noticed that Regina wasn't really eating much anymore and she had a look on her face like she wanted to cry. "Are you full already baby?"  Regina just shrugs. Emma takes her hand. "What's wrong babe?"  "I don't know. Must be the baby or something". Emma drops her knife and fork. "What's wrong with the baby, are you in pain?" Emma gets up quickly and kneels at Regina's side. "What do you need babe?"  "Emma please get up I'm fine".  "You said it was the baby".  "I meant hormones. That's all". The waitress quickly comes over. "Is everything ok here?" Regina speaks up. "Yes, I'm sorry for the trouble. This place is so beautiful and I'm pregnant, I think the hormones are affecting me. Emma please get up". Emma gets up. "You sure your ok babe?"  "Yes I'm sorry for all the trouble". She says to the waitress and the patrons. She's so thankful there's only a few tables in this small room. "Ok. Congratulations, by the way. Do you ladies need another drink?"  Regina gets another iced tea and Emma only gets a water. Emma sits back down. "Ok babe, what happened?" Regina clears her throat. "I really like it here Emma. While I was eating I was thinking of our wedding, and wondered if we could have it up here with the mountains behind us. That would be so beautiful my love".  "I totally agree babe. Let's do it, I'm ready whenever you are".  "Soon Emma. Can we do it soon?"  "Baby, we can do it tomorrow if you want". Regina gives Emma a big smile then continues to eat her dinner. For dessert they shared a hot fudge brownie sundae with mint chocolate chip ice cream. When they asked for the tab Regina also asked if the do small private functions. The waitress Betty was more than happy to tell them yes. They could do anything from 8 people to 40, or they could rent the restaurant to accommodate up to 100. They gave the waitress a credit card to cash out, when she returned she had a business card for the function coordinator and a pamphlet that explains about the different functions they can do. Regina and Emma made sure to give the waitress a nice tip for being so helpful, then the couple left to go back to the hotel. While sitting on the bed, they looked at the pamphlet together. They talked about the guest list. They figured it would only be about 10 people plus them. They have a small circle of friends that they would like to share their day with. They hope to be able to get married within a month or so, before the winter comes around. About an hour later Emma was watching tv and Regina was on her laptop googling things they could do tomorrow. She found many antique shops that she'd definitely like to go to. They hear Regina's phone buzz and she looks at it. "It's Kathryn, she wants to know how our getaway is?"  She sends back how much she loves this place and she tells her that her and Emma want to have their wedding there in about a month. "Kathryn says she's so excited for us and she better get an invitation". Emma smiles and says. "Of course she will. She's your best friend".  "She is. I was thinking of asking her to be my maid of honor". "I'm sure she'd love that babe".  Emma says and kisses Reginas cheek. "What about you my love, you asking anyone to stand up for you?"  "Nah, I don't think so. I don't really need anyone up there with me as long as you are there". "Are you sure my love?"  "Yup".  "Not even Ruby". "Nope".  "Are we going to invite her to the wedding?"  "That's up to you babe. I know your friends so if you want to invite her then go ahead".  "Ok Emma". Regina shuts down her laptop and puts it on the nightstand. She snuggled into Emma's arms. Emma decides to shut off the tv so they both can fall asleep.

A/N - Manchester Center is a real town in Vermont. My aunt lived there and I went to visit many many times. I love it there. The Equinox hotel is real and the Ye Olde Tavern is also a real restaurant that opened around 1790. Very cool place for dinner.