Premonitions, Part 3

"Happy birthday, Sarah."

I smiled at Peter as he handed me the black jewelry box.  It had been weeks since I first saw that reporter, John, in my office.  He had been back a few times, trying to talk to someone, get some sort of story, though I can't imagine what, but after the first couple of weeks, he seemed to give up and I didn't see him anymore:  not in person and not in my dreams.

I took the box from Peter and opened it as I continued to grin.  I let out a little gasp as I pulled the bronze chain out of the box and held the necklace with the small golden heart up in the light.  "Oh, Peter, it's beautiful!" I exclaimed.

He smiled at me and reached across the table to hold my other hand.  "It was my grandmother's," he said.  "Before she died, she gave it to me, said I should give it to that special someone when I found her and well," he shrugged and turned a little red, "here we are."

I continued to smile as I admired the antique necklace.  "Can you help me put it on?"

"Of course," he said, and he got up and stepped around the table behind me.  "You know you're very special to me, Sarah," he said.  "I don't always say it, but I really am happy to be together."

"I'm happy, too," I said, as he hooked the necklace on.  He leaned around the front of my neck and kissed me lightly on the lips.

"Good," he said after he pulled away.

I gave him another little smile, but as I looked into his eyes I got the strangest feeling, like something wasn't quite right.  I couldn't quite place it, but I felt suddenly uncomfortable, I must have frowned or something because I noticed Peter frown back at me.  "Are you okay?" he asked.

I forced the smile back and nodded.  "Yeah, I think so," I said.  "Just tired.  Do you think we could go to bed?"

"Of course," he said.  "Happy birthday, Sarah."

As I wandered off to bed hand in hand with my boyfriend that night, I tried to regain the contentment and even joy I had felt just a few moments before, but for whatever reason it was gone.  I felt uneasy and even more so because I couldn't tell what was making me feel that way.  I silently unlatched the necklace Peter had just put on me, switched into my pajamas and slipped into bed.  Peter much have been worried and confused, but he didn't say a thing, and I eventually drifted off into a thankfully dreamless sleep.