Summer Surprise

They finished breakfast soon after John came back and they headed for the stables. "Adrien, I am back, I brought someone you like," John said as he approached Adrien's stable. Adrien walked towards the door immediately trying to take a peak.

John laughed asking, "Are you excited to see me," as he reached to pet Adrien only for Adrien to turn away towards Jian. She smiled saying, "Calm down, I can't pet you if you move too much." He stood still immediately and John scoffed grabbing his face and meeting him eye to eye saying, "I fed you, cared for you basically your whole life, and this is how you repay me."

Jian giggled saying, "Yes, because you aren't the one who gives him treats are you," as she held out her hand with a slice of apple. John smiled letting go of his face as he turned to the brush.

He cleaned up Adrien before placing the saddle on him and Jian smiled asking, "Are you going to be coming to see him often?" He nods asking, "Would you like to join me when you are free, he really does enjoy your company." 

She nods saying, "My schedule will be free for a few days but I'll need to go back to casting calls and more catalog shoots soon." He smiles leading Adrien out the gates, asking, "When's your next workday?" 

Jian smiled following him, saying, "On Monday I have 2 shoots at the office, then on Tuesday there are 3 casting calls I have to attend but then I'll be free till Friday when I have another shoot. Oh, and I was wondering are you free next Sunday?" 

"Hmm, depends on the time, why?" He asked as they reached Glory's gate. He walked inside brushing her and cleaning her saddle as Jian said, "Well, I'm going to go see Revin to take his measurements and I will need different fabrics to get his opinion on the textures he'll enjoy, so I need to go fabric shopping too."

"And you would like me to go with you?" John asked as she smiled saying, "Yes, because I haven't told Mom about this project, yet." John glanced at her with a serious expression and she smiled saying, "Okay it's because she hasn't been home so I haven't found the time to tell her and she'll be upset if I make plans with less than two weeks of notice." 

"Alright, but in exchange you'll need to help me with something," he said and Jian nodded asking, "What is it?" He smiled securing Glory's saddle before saying, "I'll tell you at dinner, but first, my lady." He reached out for her hand after moving the stool to help her onto Glory. Jian sighed saying, "As long as it isn't illegal I'll help." 

"What if it was," he asked with a smile and she giggled before saying, "I'm going to call the police." He gasped dramatically saying, "On me." She nods with a pout saying, "Of course."

He laughed as he led Glory and Adrien out of the stables. Jian smiled asking, "So what am I doing today?" 

"Well, you'll be just practicing, walking with Glory in the empty ring right here, and Adrian and I will warm up a bit over there, then we'll take a stroll around and have lunch later," John said as he handed the rains over to Jian. She nods saying, "Come get me once you're done." He nodded as he walked away.

The time passed and soon one of the staff came out to meet John before he walked towards Jian. "What's up," she asked walking towards the gate and he coughed clearing his throat before saying, "The trails are cleaned up, shall we go on a stroll, my lady." 

She smiled saying, "We shall," as she guided Glory out the gates. The two walked together passing the main roads towards a trial of open fields.

"The air here it's still a little chilly when the sun's not out," Jian said after taking in a deep breath. "Don't you prefer the cold weather?" John asked and Jian gave him a side eye as he frowned asking, "You said you were excited to live in a cooler climate." 

"I do like the cold more but only by a little because I hate the feeling of sweating on warm days," she said following John as they turned. "Where does this trail lead?"

"There's a lake nearby that Adrien likes," he said as she smiled asking, "We're stopping there for a while right?" He nods, saying, "These two will need to rest and so do we." 

"What design did Revin choose?" John asked changing the topic and Jian smiled saying, "I'll show you the picture later, but it's the one with the dark embroidery patterns."

Their walk continued till they came to a cleared meadow surrounded by flowers and near the edge a table was set up with two chairs. Jian glanced at John asking, "Did you plan this?"

He smiled getting off Adrien before walking next to Glory saying, "I didn't hide it well enough did I?" Jian laughed before taking his hands and getting down saying, "Well you were so nervous yesterday night and during the drive, too, plus last time we visited none of the staff bothered to greet us, so it was a tad bit obvious you planned something." 

He laughed as they walked to the table and Jian turned to notice Adrien and Glory walking towards a feeding station she hadn't noticed before. "So what do you think about the surprise?" John asked as he pulled a chair for her,

"I appreciate it, and it seems you took your time planning," she said, her heartbeat quickening slightly he nodded saying, "It was fun choosing the different materials and Soren helped quite a bit, and Selena too." 

"When did you even have the time?" She asked and he laughed before saying, "Yesterday when I went to fix up the budget I met Soren. He asked why I took the day off and so I told him I was going out with you and you know he gets noisy so I told him about wanting to plan something cute and he said he'd handle the rest, he was also able to get us a reservation for tonight since that restaurant had a 9-month waiting list."

"Wow, and here I thought he was just an exuberant person," Jian said and John smiled commenting, "You're using a larger vocabulary." She nods saying, "I have to make use of what I have learned, otherwise it'll be for nothing." 

"Understandable, so what should we try first?" he asked glancing over the various snacks on the table. "How about the sandwich, it looks nice," Jian suggested as she lifted the clear cover.