Surprise

"You know what I need, Lloyd," came the statement, and a bourbon on the rocks almost magically appeared. "Many thanks," he said, pleased and grateful. "We're almost in it, my friend - a highly sentimental time; lots of pressure to do it right; embrace the ridiculousness of more courting when you've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt ages ago - thing's practically falling apart in the wash. But a person's gotta stand and deliver, do they not? Make an effort. Recommit. Surprise that valentine." Another drink appeared as an understudy to the first. "You're top notch, Lloyd; never let anyone tell you otherwise," he whispered, "and with this kind of reliable fortification ... why, I feel confident that I can deliver on surprise this year." Wendy heard Jack talking to himself in the empty ballroom, and felt a chill move through her; she looked out of The Overlook's main floor windows and saw nothing but snow and more snow. She'd been in the pantry planning a candlelight dinner - something special for the two of them, but felt a strong conviction to abandon that and move upstairs to her room. Wendy tucked one of the kitchen knives inside a fold in her cardigan.

Credit: Setting and characters, Stephen King’s “The Shining”