We had landed at Geneva International Airport at around 2:45 and went directly from the plane to the two cars waiting for us on the runway. Roger, me, Veronica and John in one car and Freddie, Mary, Chrissie and Brian in the other. It was an hours car ride to the resort at Montreux. The route was mostly along Lake Geneva, which was quite scenic. There were some boats on the icy waters of the lake and the Swiss winter around us set the tone for this late February.

 I gasped as we pulled up to the beautiful Montreux ski lodge and resort. It’s wooden shakes so perfectly set against a backdrop of white and the flags flying in the drive-around in the front of the resort made it more than inviting to us. I looked to Veronica with excitement in my eyes. The driver pulled around to the front entrance of the resort. Immediately, four bellhops came to the car even before we could lift a hand to open the car door ourselves. I looked to Roger. He raised his eyebrows at me.

 “I knew it was nice…I didn’t know it was this nice!” he said to both John and me. John shook his head. The door of the car came flying open on our side of the car. We could hear luggage being unloaded from the trunk and being sat around the car for us to sort out I was certain.

 “S’cuse me and welcome to the Montreux Resort and Ski Lodge. Uh, which of you are the newly weds?” the bellhop asked, already having been informed. I looked to Roger again as if I were looking for the newly weds.

 “Oh, that’s uh…that’s us…yes…we got married.” I shook my head at the bellhop and pointed to Roger and I.

 “They got married today!” Veronica added smiling at the bellhop. I shook my head again. The bellhop smiled at Roger and I.

 “Oh congratulations, Mr. and Mrs…” the bellhop paused and looked to Roger and I. “…oh, uh…Taylor…it’s Taylor.” Roger said, squeezing my shoulders.  “Your room was upgraded to the suite. Consider it a gift from the resort. The champagne you’ll find there is compliments of the resort as well. Please come take a look at your luggage and I’ll promptly have it sent to the 18th floor. I looked at Roger and then over to Veronica and John. I blushed horribly but Roger and I would never turn down free champagne…or a room upgrade for that matter. We had all planned on modest rooms for this holiday but not anymore…for Roger and I anyway.

 “How did the resort even know we got married?” I asked Roger, sliding out of the car.

 “I have no idea.” Roger answered me, putting his hand in the middle of my back. The chilly air greeted him and me as we exited the car on one side, John and Veronica on the other.

 “Yes, yes…those are ours.” I pointed to half of the luggage and the bellhop loaded everything accordingly onto the luggage cart. John and Veronica managed to get loaded faster than Roger and I had.

 “Lydia, we’ll be inside, yeah?” Veronica called as she and John followed the bellhop into the resort. I gave her a nod. Freddie, Mary, Chrissie and Brian had just pulled up behind us as Roger and I watched the bellhop and began walking toward the front doors of the resort. I stopped in my footsteps as we walked into the main lobby. It took my breath away and I think Roger was just as taken aback. It was a vastly expansive area with a near wall of solid windows that overlooked the ski slopes. There was a massive fireplace along the wall. The warm smell of cedar logs in the  fire, pine and vanilla filled the lobby. There was ample seating all around with guests sipping Swiss soffees, hot chocolate or tea. There was what appeared to be a buffet style restaurant off the main lobby as well as a small kiosk in which one could grab a quick snack or beverage.  The rustic rafters towered into high, open ceilings above. It was so plush, so luxurious and the earthy cast given off by the lighting made it an utmost inviting of places. Roger and I looked to each other nearly at the same time. We had missed John and Veronica’s reaction to everything and we could hear Freddie coming through the door behind us, making certain everyone knew how fabulous he was. Mary laughed the entire way inside.

 “Oh my! Can you believe this place!?” Chrissie asked me, tapping my shoulder. Her eyes were full of excitement and delight.

 “I know!” I said turning sideways to face her. “Come on, come on! Let’s get checked in.” I motioned Chrissie to follow us. It sickened my stomach slightly…the sight of Brian and Chrissie’s ‘his and her’ scarves. They were the only couple in the entire world who could pull off such absurd nonsense and truthfully looked so dreadfully precious. I had to laugh because Mary was scolding Freddie behind us, telling him to stop hitting on the doorman and to stop calling her his afternoon delight in front of all these strangers. Instead of listening to her, he just squeezed her shoulders and kissed her cheek.

 “Hi, we’re checking in. Reservation under Taylor.” I said to the woman at the desk.

 “Hey, we’re in 614. Call our room when you get upstairs.” Veronica said, having checking in with the front desk associate beside us. She and John were ready to follow the bellhop upstairs.

 “Alright, I’ll tell Chrissie and Mary.” I said, letting Roger take over our reservation. I relayed the information to both Mary and Chrissie regarding where Veronica and John’s room was located.

 “Oh! You’re in the suite! 18th floor, suite three. It’s the largest of our suites on that floor. Are you celebrating something?” the woman asked of Roger. Still not knowing how the hell we got upgraded to the suite and not really taking the time to ask; Roger merely answered what we were celebrating.

 “You’re married!? Today!? Congratulations to you both! Please accept your bar tab on the house for tonight.” The woman said.

 “Shit, Roger we need to get married more often. Ya’ get all kinds of free crap.” I told him. He smiled at me

 “I got married too, love.” Freddie told the woman at the front desk. “On the trip here, I made a lifetime commitment…to caviar and champagne!” Freddie giggled, more than pleased with himself. I looked to Mary who just rolled her eyes and threw her hands up. Freddie was in rare form today, that was certain.  “Roger, see you in ten. Lydia…” Freddie paused and eyed me. “First, you are a beautiful bride and second? You run up that bar tab, ya’ here?” Freddie pointed a finger at me. I laughed at him

 “Thank you and don’t worry…we girls will run up that bar tab. I told him softly as Roger and I followed our bellhop.

 “We’re in 701!” Chrissie called to me as Roger and I disappeared with the bellhop. I would leave it to her to determine where Freddie and Mary were staying. Once in the elevator, we soared to the near top floor of the resort as the bellhop jabbered away, telling us where to find everything, what line to call for room service, where the pool was located, the sauna, the spa…well, everything.

 “If you don’t mind me asking, are the two of you on your honeymoon?” the bellhop inquired as the elevator doors opened and spit us out on the 18th floor.

“Eh, not really…”

 “I don’t suppose so, no.” Roger and I answered in unison. The bellhop shook his head.

 “Do you have any plans during your stay?” he asked, escorting us to the brilliant, walnut double doors at the end of the hallway.

 “Oh yes, yes. We have lots of pla…” The bellhop opening the double doors interrupted me. It was….absolutely…positively…the most luxurious suite I’d ever seen. It wasn’t a suite…it was a fucking condo. “Jesus…christ…” I murmured, stepping inside to the wooden floors of the entry.

 “Fucking…hell…” was Roger’s reaction as he looked around. Immediately, there was a round table with a chandelier centered over it as one entered. The floors were dark mahogany and it transitioned to dark green carpet. There was a sunken main living space, a stone fireplace and solid windows that shown a full view of the gorgeously cold Lake Geneva. There were large tan curtains one could cover the windows with if so desired. A full kitchen, breakfast nook, a washer and dryer and a master bedroom that would rival even the one Roger and I had at home.

 “Do…do you know…do you know how the fuck we got upgraded to this?” I asked, still dumbfounded.

 “A gift from the resort, after all. You’re newly weds! Congratulations! Where would you like your luggage?” the bellhop asked.

 “It’s alright, we got it.” Roger assured him, tipping him in a most discreet way. I’d be lying if I said the way he did that was wasn’t the hottest thing ever.

 “Very well and thank you. Enjoy your time here. Use the guest phone to call for anything at all you may need.” The bellhop tilted his hat toward us and left us be.

 “My god, Lyd…look at that view there.” Roger observed. We both paused and stared out the long windows into the view that was lakeside Montreux. “ ‘Ey, listen. I gotta’ go. Fred will kill me if I’m late for sure. You care to unpack?” Roger asked of me.

 “I don’t mind. I think us girls are gonna’ get into somethin’ soon.” I assured him.

 “Okay, I’m gonna’ go. Make us some dinner reservations. We should be back at around 7:30 or 8:00. Make it somewhere nice.” Roger said adjusting his watch. I shook my head and watched him.

 “Okay.” I began to unbutton my white coat. Roger started toward the entry from which we had just come. I took a few steps toward him, letting my coat be for the time being.

 “Hey…” I started, watching his hand on the doorknob over the fresh flowers. Roger turned around to face me. Neither of us said anything for a moment. I walked over toward him. “…we’ve been married for about five hours and you have yet to kiss me.” I reminded him.

 “I kissed you on the plane.”  Roger smiled at me a bit.  I smiled at him.

 “Noooo, no. The top of my head when I’m half-sick doesn’t count.” I said moving in closer to him. I hesitated slightly before closing my eyes as Roger pressed his lips into mine. I have to say, I was a little disappointed. He could do a hell of a lot better than that. It didn’t matter though. I had missed those lips. “Bye, sweetheart…love you.” I told him.

 “Love you too. See you in a few hours.” And with that, Roger left to meet Freddie, Brian and John downstairs to go to the studio. I closed the door behind him and leaned up against it, taking in everything around me. I sighed and began to remove my coat. I felt like Roger had wanted to talk about something before he had left but if he did, we’d discuss it later. For now, it was time to call the girls and get this fine evening started.