Made to Love: Carmen and Cooper's Story by Candace Werts Page B

black dinner
plate with rhinestones marking the whole outer rim and there is
medium sized plate on top. The outer circle is uniquely designed
with orange and black skulls and spiders. A bowl with black and
white stripes is directly above that. A decorative orange pumpkin
is found in every bowl.
    The silverware is placed to the
right, and an orange napkin held together by vampire fangs is
placed to the left. My mother is a creative genius. Cooper is going
to love this. The tables designated to
hold the food are located at the back of the room. A wet bar is
placed conveniently at the end of the buffet. Fancy glass jars in
the shape of ghosts are located on each side of the bar. One is
filled with candy corn, the other with mini pumpkins. A dance floor
made of wood is to the left where the DJ will mix the hottest jams.
A smaller square shape table is located to the right as the
entrance. It is covered with a black and orange chevron pattern
tablecloth. There are two balloons with the same colors taped to
every edge. A single wrapped gift with a gold bow sets atop of it;
I know it’s from my parents, since the party hasn’t begun
yet.
    “ Mom, this is amazing,” I say,
unable to control my smiling.
    “ Well I knew you would love it, I
sure hope Cooper does.” She sighs.
    “He will Mom, I just know it. How
about we hit the bar for a much deserved drink?”
    “ That would be a real treat,
Carmen. Please lead the way.”
    I order for us both.
    “ A glass of chardonnay for her,
and a dirty martini for me, extra olives please,” I say without
taking a breath in a between.
    “ My little girl has grown dirty on
me, huh?” My mom bats her eyes.
    “ No mother, you are the dirty one,
not I.” I laugh.
    “ That’s the key to a successful
marriage.”
    Our drinks arrive, and I down mine quickly. I
want to check in the room, and then check on my birthday boy. I
can’t wait to see him.
    “ Wow, you drank that like a lush,”
my mom chuckles.
    “ Well duty calls,” I say. “I must
check in and then see when my birthday boy will be arriving.” I
beam then place a $20.00 bill on the counter to cover our
drinks.
    “ Is my daughter horny? Rushing to
leave me at the bar, it’s shameful.”
    “ Oh mother, I’m not rushing, I
just have an agenda.”
    I walk to the counter at the lobby, and
realize the reservations are under “Jackson.”
    The gentleman at check in asks for the last
name, I say “Jackson.”
    He says “I have a reservation for a king suite
under the name of Jackson/Williams. Is that the correct
one?”
    “ Yes,” I reply, before panicking
about not being able to get the key. Cooper never lets me down, he
thinks of everything.
    He hands me a key to the room, and ask if I
need help with my bags.
    “ No thanks,” I call as I rush
towards the elevator. I step in once it arrives, and hit the number
13. I am on my way up to suite 1307.
    It is like heaven inside. The king
size bed is luxurious with soft blankets, and lots of pillows.
Cooper must have put in a special request because usually only two
pillows come to a bed, and there six here. Reaching in my bag I
retrieve my phone.
    Me: Hey
birthday boy. We are in suite 1307. Hurry up and get
here.
    After pressing send, I dial Marcia to confirm
her attendance for the evening.
    On the second ring she picks up and says,
“Guess who got invited to a Halloween party as someone’s
date?”
    “ Hmm, let me think. Could it be
you?” I say sarcastically.
    “ Duh, of course it’s me, why else
would I be so excited if it was someone else?”
    “ So does that mean you’re not
coming to Cooper’s birthday bash tonight?”
    “ Of course I am silly; I’m just
coming with David, that’s all.”
    “ Oh, you are going with David.
Nice. Remember it starts at 8, so no seducing David.”
    “ I will make no promises,
especially since my costume is my birthday suite.”
    “ Marcia, please wear clothes.”
Marcia laughs and ends the call.
    Giselle texts me and lets me