Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Annabelle's POV

Soon we were on our way to the farm to spend our weekend. Arielle was too excited and kept asking questions all the way. Stefan drove to the Great Northern Catskill Mountains in Durham where Queens Farm was located, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away from downtown Manhattan. Arielle sang with me all the way in between quenching her curiosity about the place we were going to.

From what I learned from Stefan, Queen's farm was a farm stay overlooking the beautiful Catskill ranges and had a petting zoo as well on its premises offering animal feeding activities, other farm activities, farm-fresh organic food, and much more. It was a first-time farm vacation for me as well. Soon we reached the place and Stefan parked the car. After the check-in, we were shown to our private cottage on the sprawling green pastures. Located at walking distance from the barns, our cottage had 2 bedrooms, a sleeper sofa, a full kitchen, a full bath, a living room with pinewood floors along with a large porch with a sit-out.

"Wow!" I gasped with delight.

"Wow!" Arielle gasped, mimicking me. I noticed that she did this quite often. Mimicking me! Then it's natural for children to follow their mother and I was Arielle's mom, after all!

"Like it?" asked Stefan looking relieved.

"Yes," we chorused. The attendant of the farm left us and we took a look around properly. Suddenly Arielle ran outside to see baby bunnies a little further away.

"Daddy, please can we go and cuddle them?" pleaded Arielle. Stefan looked at me and I nodded. We locked up our cottage and took Arielle to the petting zoo. After stomping around them all morning, feeding and helping at the zoo, we returned back to our cottage, dirty and stinky.

I gave Arielle a warm bath and she and Stefan went to the main farm kitchen to buy us lunch. Feeling fresh from the shower, I dressed up and was about to go look for them when I saw them returning with our lunch. We soon tucked into the mouth-watering, farm-fresh food. Arielle had unlimited energy and wanted to see more. So we took her to the Zoom Flume Water Park nearby which was a safe water park in a beautiful natural setting. Afterward, we visited the Dancing Horse Farm nearby for a fun-filled horse riding trip in the vicinity. Stefan booked a trip for the next day to the Northern Catskill Mountains.

It was evening when we returned back to our cottage feeling the tranquillity that comes from being away from the hustle-and-bustle of the city and in the beautiful Catskills. We breathed the clean, fresh air glad that we came here to bond as a family. There was a bonfire with s'mores and delicious barbecued food arranged by the farm. We spent an hour and when Arielle was drowsy, we returned back to our cottage. After tucking her to bed, Stefan and I sat on the porch sipping wine and enjoying each other's company. Stefan showed me the pictures that we clicked throughout the day. They looked awesome! It was obvious how much Arielle enjoyed the day.

"Now starts our pre-honeymoon action!" said Stefan, making me giggle. My heart started its crazy beating. Was it the thought of what was to come or was it the wine? I could never guess because Stefan got up and picked me up in his arms before I could even realize what was happening.

"Don't even make a sound. I don't want Ari to wake up now," whispered Stefan, as he deposited me on our bed. With Arielle sleeping in the next room, we needed to be extra careful. We closed our door softly and Stefan came to lie next to me. My heart started beating faster and faster as if it were our first time together. That was the magic of true love! Every time feels like the first time. You cannot get enough of the other. Stefan and I quickly got rid of our clothes and attacked each other like deprived souls. We tried different ways to please each other. He clamped his hand on my mouth to stop the moans when he pumped inside me passionately. It felt like we were horny teenagers doing the deed behind our parents' backs.

Afterward, we lay against each other to catch our breaths when Stefan heard a movement in the next room. Arielle! She was awake! We gasped and wore our clothes quickly. We rushed to the next room to see Arielle sitting on the bed, scared and staring all around at the new surroundings. "Hey, Ari? What happened? Did you have a dream?" asked Stefan.

Arielle looked at us and got up and rushed towards Stefan. "Yes, daddy, I had a very bad dream. I'm scared. Can I sleep with you and mommy, please?" she pleaded. Stefan picked her up in his arms and she clung to him.

"Of course, you can," he comforted her.

So she came back to our bedroom and Stefan placed her on our bed. "Go back to sleep, sweetie. We're right here," I soothed her, stroking her hair. We lay down beside her and soon she fell asleep. Stefan and I too fell asleep soon after.

The next morning we woke up to bright sunshine, fresh morning air, and lots of birds chirping. It felt as if we were really in the countryside in the true sense of the term. After a hearty breakfast, we went to Dancing Horse Farm where our horses were waiting for us. Stefan and Arielle rode on a chestnut stallion while I rode a white mare. We went exploring, enjoying the pale morning sun. Arielle took pictures on her toy camera every time she sighted something. It was a different kind of fun altogether. When we returned, it was already lunchtime. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and then Arielle went to play with the bunnies and the kittens. Afterward, Stefan and Arielle caught fish at the farm pond and we finally loaded our car with lots of fish produce, organic food items as well as the fish we caught. Arielle fell asleep on the way out of sheer exhaustion. We reached home by dinnertime. Although it was a short holiday, it was enough to energize us.

I somehow woke up Arielle and fed her. Beth tucked her into bed. Stefan and I sat on the deck outside his bedroom, feeling the light breeze. "So, what did you think of our wedding, Rosy?" he asked in a little solemn tone.

"I don't know. Have you thought of anything?" I asked him. I seriously didn't get time to think at all.

"Yes, I want to get married to you in a month," said Stefan. I nodded. I too wanted the same.

"Yeah, me too," I said, agreeing.

"What does your dream wedding look like?" he asked me. I closed my eyes and thought.

"On the shores of a lake in the middle of nowhere," I gasped out. Stefan stared at me and seemed deep in thought.

"Hmmm, that's very unique!" he said, still deep in thought.

"I am unique but you don't really have to discover such a place, Stefan. We can have a city wedding, wherever it's convenient," I told him.

"No, I know just the place. We will have your dream wedding," he said with determination leaving me gaping. Did my dreams mean so much to him? I was touched!