Chapter 14 - THE ANNIVERSARY WE ALMOST DIDN'T HAVE
Our eighth wedding anniversary arrived in December.
A year earlier, I had wondered whether we'd make it.
Now Ethan stood in our kitchen wearing an apron.
He was making dinner.
Badly.
I watched him attempt to stir risotto.
“Are you sure you don't want help?”
“No.”
I smiled.
“It's burning.”
“It's developing character.”
I laughed.
He looked over his shoulder.
“I wanted to do something myself.”
I walked toward him.
“You already have.”
He frowned.
“What?”
I wrapped my arms around his waist.
“You've spent a year learning how to be present.”
His expression softened.
We ate slightly overcooked risotto by candlelight.
Then Ethan brought out dessert.
Tiramisu.
I stared.
He looked nervous.
“Too much?”
I laughed.
“A little.”
He placed two plates on the table.
One for him.
One for me.
Then handed me my own spoon.
I smiled.
“Very thoughtful.”
He grinned.
“I've learned a few things.”
After dinner, he gave me a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Our wedding day.
Seven years earlier.
I looked younger.
Happier.
More certain.
On the back, Ethan had written:
I thought this was the day I promised to love you.
I didn't understand that marriage would ask me to prove it in a thousand ordinary ways.
Thank you for giving us the chance to learn.
My eyes filled.
I looked at him.
“I love you.”
He smiled.
“I love you too.”
Then he kissed me.
May you like
And this time, I didn't wonder whether another woman was waiting for his attention.
I knew exactly where he wanted to be.
