“You almost ready honey?” He asked, still patiently waiting for his wife to finish her makeup.
“Two more minutes” she replied, knowing it was going to be at least ten
He smiled, hanging his head with a small chuckle. “You know after 10 years you should be aware that I do, in fact, know that two more minutes is more like twenty” He has gotten used to this over the years, and it has been less and less of a hassle every time. Every night they go out, he was ready in fifteen minutes, and she was ready in one or two hours. Depending on the type of night out.
“You’re going to love where I picked out for tonight. We’ve never been here before. Not to brag, but I have definitely outdone myself this year”
“Well stop talking before you spoil the surprise!” she laughed. “There aren’t too many options around here, it won’t be hard for me to figure it out if you keep bragging like this”
He peered into the bedroom to see her putting in her second earring, smiling when she caught him peaking. “Wow.” He said with his mouth slightly ajar. “You look incredible.” He took a moment and let his eyes flow from her eyes to her new heels he has never seen before. He closed his mouth quickly when he realized he was mere seconds away from howling like a cartoon wolf.
“You don’t look so bad yourself handsome.” She chuckled walking over to him. “You clean u pretty good when you’re trying to impress me” As she also eyed him from head to toe. “Did you get a new tie” she whispered
“Actually,” he paused for dramatic effect “This is an entirely new outfit.” He grinned with fake arrogance. “Ten years together is a pretty special achievement these days.” He said with a solemn smile.
“Well then, I guess we better get going so we can celebrate in style.” She gently grabbed his face with both hands and touched her forehead to his. After a moment she pulls away with the smile that won him over all those years ago. “Come on honey, lets see if you can sweep me off my feet still after all these years”
In his best British accent he said “My dear, if you would please follow me outside, your chariot for the evening awaits” knowing full well the chariot was a dark blue Nissan Altima he’s owned for the past three years. To him though, that joke never lost its luster.
The car ride was more quiet than usual. The roads felt empty for a spring evening, just his wife, himself and a winding road.
“I’m a little nervous” he said softly. “I feel like its been ages since we’ve had a night like this”
She smirked and let out a small chuckle. “Don’t be nervous honey. It has been awhile, but all that matters is that we have each other tonight.” She smiled at him, in a way that he has not seen in some time. Red lips trailing into two small dimples, just below her eyes that would stop most, if not all mean dead in their tracks. Those eyes are the first thing he ever noticed about her all those years ago. They drew him in like a moth to a flame.
“I am going to make more time for nights like this, just you and me.” He looked at her, a slight grin on his face.
“I would not complain about that dear.” she responded
“I never told you thank you.” He said to her seemingly out of no where.
“Thanked me for what?” She asked, not having any idea where he was going with this.
“For everything. For this life, and all the love and happiness you have shown me over the years.”
She smiled at him again, somberly, knowing where this conversation was now going.
“When my parents died, I never thought I could find happiness again. Loosing them both the way I did, no more family to turn to, I was lost in this world. Then I meet you, and I find hope again. I see the sun for the first time in years.” His eyes began to water, but like always he fought them back.
He pulls up to a red light and takes a long and loving glance at his wife. “You taught me that no matter what tragedy this world throws my way, not to give up. To keep going because happiness will come back to me. My happiness came back with you. Now here we are, ten years down the road, and you still have my heart. You will always have my heart.”
The light turns green. He hesitates for a moment. The horn of the car behind him gives two small beeps and shake him from his thought. “You better get moving dear” she chuckled.
He eases onto the gas and continues on their way. A few minutes later they pull up to a small Italian restaurant. She beams at him “Well now, you have outdone yourself this time”
He smiles “This is the one you’ve been wanting to try right?”
Her smile growing she says “Why yes it is”
His smile slightly fades as he turns to her. “I’m sorry I never took you here sooner honey. I know you’ve been wanting to try this place for a long time. I feel like an ass for you having to wait so long” He grabs her hand
“Honey I know how hard you work for us. This is just a restaurant. As long as its with you, I don’t care where we go. I do hear however that the eggplant parmesan here is to die for” she laughed. “Now come on! Some handsome man promised me an amazing anniversary dinner.” She swung her legs out to the pavement below and stood grabbing her clutch. Her eyes met his over the room of the car and felt that familiar spark she does when she locks eyes with him. They meet at the font of the car, intertwine their hands and walk into their waiting table.
A short time after sitting, the waiter approaches the table. A Smile on his face he says “Hello and good evening. How are we doing today?
“We are wonderful” he tells the waiter.
“May I start you off with some drinks this evening?” The waiter asks him
Looking at her, he says “I think we’ll start with a bottle of champaign. Please and thank you. Whatever you have top shelf, I want to celebrate tonight” He smiles in the waiters direction.
The waiter nods “Absolutely sir. I will bring you something special”
After a few moments the waiter returns with a beautiful looking bottle of champaign he has never heard of. However if it tastes as good as the bottle looks then they are going to just fine with it.
Dinner went on as dinners do. They enjoyed each others company, often stopping to stare into each other eyes and remember all the special moments from the last 10 years. So many happy memories between the two of them, so many adventures shared.
Finally, He knew the evening was winding down. He flagged the waiter for the check, left a handsome tip, grabbed his wife by the hand and walked back to their car. He opens the door for her, and as she turns to sit, he kisses her lips. The same spark came back, as it always does, but this time it meant something more to him. As their lips parted, he smiled and hangs his head.
“Come one honey, take me home” she says to him.
On the ride home, he makes a small detour. She looks at him, “Where are we going now?” she asked quietly.
He grins and says “I just have to pick up something I had ordered earlier.” He glances at her to see her reaction. She shakes her head, knowing he was quite proud of himself this time.
He pulls into a spot in front of his favorite flower shop. Makes a quick trip inside to pick up his order he had made earlier in the day, and walks back to the car carrying two bouquets of flowers.
He climbs back into the driver seat and hands, puts one bouquet in the back seat and hands the other to her. Dahlias, her favorite flower. She smiles at him, holding back a forming tear. “You, really have thought of everything tonight haven’t you?”
“I do believe I have.” he smiled sheepishly at her. “Now, just one last stop to make” he said, with his smile slightly fading.
She looked at him knowingly “Come on honey. We are going together. You and me like always”
He began to drive down the winding road for what felt like an eternity. After a few songs on the radio, he slowed, pulled onto the nice blacktop of his destination. As he drove through the gates, he felt his heart began to race. She ever so gently squeezed his hand.
“I don’t know if I can do this part” He said, his face sober and emotionless
She looked up at him. “I’m here honey, I’m with you. Everything is okay. You know you want to be here.”
He gave a solemn grin and continued on slowly. After a few minutes he eases onto the brake, puts the car in park and slowly opens his door. He meets her on the passenger side, grabs her hand, and begins walking. The sun is beginning to set on the day. A cool breeze begins to blow giving the slightest chill to his face. She lets out a small shiver next to him. Without a word he removes his coat, and drapes it over her shoulders. He wraps his arm around her and they continue.
They walk through the rows of headstones. He has always been uneasy coming here, knowing how many families have loved ones here. People left behind in this world alone, not knowing what their next step is. His feet begin to feel weak. She touches his face, “Come on honey. We’re almost there.” She smiles ever so slightly.
He looks ahead and sees the stone he is looking for. Sitting side by side in the distance.
As he approaches, he feels his wife’s arms on his shoulders, giving him all the courage he needs. “Hi mom… Hi dad” He says already feeling tears forming in his eyes. “I know its been awhile since I stopped by. I haven’t really been able to find the courage to do this.” He looks towards his wife. “But she taught me recently that sometimes it takes us awhile to figure out our emotions, and how we deal with loss. I feel like I’ve waited long enough to do this, and god I just miss you so much” He hangs his head, tears beginning to roll down his face.
He feels her warm breath on his neck. “I love you” she whispers into his ear. He feels his wife’s hands leave his shoulders. He doesn’t look up. He sits in silence, a stream of tears painting the grass below him. His parents know how he feels, he tells himself. Talking to their graves wont bring them back. He sits in silence, remembering their lives together before they were taken from him.
He grabs the bouquet of flowers, and places it on the headstone above where his parents have been buried for what seems like an eternity. He gives one last look to the grave and a soft smile crests his face. His eyes still red from tears, He grabs the bouquet of Dahlias in his hand. He turns slightly on his knees, and lays the bouquet on the second head stone.
“I brought you your favorite honey.” He says, fresh tears swelling in his eyes. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. It’s been so hard without you. I miss you so much every day. You should know you were right though, that restaurant was amazing”
He swore just then he heard his wife chuckle at him. It felt more real than ever, even though he knew he hasn’t heard the real thing in a year. However the thought of it made him smile. After a long while the sun began to set. The air became colder and he knew it was time to start home. He got back to his knees, kissed his mother and fathers headstone then turned and kissed his wifes stone again. He lay his hands on the cold fixtures for a moment, then stood and began the walk back to his car. Today he was proud of himself, because today he knew was the first day of the rest of his life and that happiness would once again find him.
