"I did indeed," was Percy's response to her statement, a wide, bright smile on his face. It had been his intention to steer clear of the ordinary, but to attempt to give the both of them something unlike what they were dealing with related to this crime wave, to the case he would be involved in following this weekend, away from the weird poetry Marguerite received. Tensions were high in Orange County lately, and Percy had hoped that even for just the next couple of hours, it could be left behind and on the back burner.
Placing the container down onto what he believed would be the perfect spot, he untied the blanket wrapped around it, pulling the corners out to lay it flat on the ground. It was thick enough to help insulate the coolness of the ground and large enough just about fit two people. Stretched out in front of the spot was the expanse of the beach and the ocean, clear all the way to the horizon. The sun was hanging low, already on its slow descent. Soon, it would begin to tint the colours of the sky.
Sitting on one side of the blanket, Percy opened up the container itself. Inside was a fairly wide variety of food, some he had prepared earlier and some that only required to be moved from the fridge into the basket. Of course there was the large thermos for the tea, and a few other things more typical for Valentine's Day, namely strawberries, though he only decided to dip half of them in chocolate, not having too much of a sweet tooth himself, but he did like the occasional sweet.
"Did I do well," he asked with an amused tone as he looked over at her. At times, he still couldn't believe everything that had happened since his move from Massachusetts to California. The dreams were strange, but it was somehow falling in love with Marguerite so completely that still confounded him in all the best ways. Never would he have guessed that he would follow his friend halfway across the country and not only find him, but fall in love with his sister besides. It was so unlike him, and he was certain most people who knew him well would say the very same, but here he was seated beside her and he wouldn't want it any other way.