he turns, his face lighting up at my presence. That reaction is hard to fake, but yet can be more special than any flowers or grand gestures; knowing that that person only has eyes for you and that just being in the same room as them can make them happier than you'd ever think possible. It warms your heart.
“Hey good timing, I was just going to come and get you” he smiles.
“What's all this in aid of?” I ask, daintily touching the fairy lights as I step into his arms.
“It's the two week anniversary of when we first met” he explains. Now this is romance, all I got for the first year of being married to Jake was a card, given to me two days late! I'm gob smacked, there are no words which will convey the extent of how much I love this man right now.
“Carlos, this is amazing, how did you...when did you?” my words fail me as I expected.
“You've been asleep for an hour, I sorted most of it this morning when you were talking with my parents and stashed it round the side of the house and the last few bits I picked up while you were snoring!” he jokes.
I give him a fleeting disapproving look for suggesting that I snore, but I'm so elated by his efforts that I don't care for long.
“I got chef Alfredo to prepare the same food we had on our first date, I know that was the day after, but I thought it would be a nice touch all the same, it's just warming in the oven now.”he tells me, turning to check on it.
Without warning I fling myself at him, locking lips with him fiercely.
“What was that for?” he asks, looking pleased.
“This, you, everything, I've never been so happy, I love you Mr. Johnson” I gush.
“I love you too”
Dinner was as scrumptious as it was the first time round, only even more enjoyable on account of me not being a jittering bag of nerves around Carlos anymore. Once we finish the main course he clears our plates and returns to take his seat, then reaching his hand across the table he places a small white rectangle box with a blue bow in front of me. I look up at him quizzically.
“Open it” he prompts me gently, his boyish grin spreading across his face as he practically jumps up and down in his seat with excitement. I undo the blue satin bow as painstakingly slowly as I can, just to wind him up, even though the curiosity is killing me.
Inching the lid off carefully I find a silver necklace, the pendant is a smooth piece of curved silver it the shape of an Arum Lily, with a single pearl nestled at it's heart.
“Carlos it's lovely” I say, draping it across my palm to inspect it closer.
“Turn it over” As I turn it I can see something engraved into the back, I bring it close to my face so I can make it out in the dwindling candle light, 'C & K' and then directly under the letters a shape that looks like the figure eight on it's side.
“Eternity” he whispers.
I grin back at him, again he has left me speechless, I'm not sure if I would ever tire of this romance lark, each gesture he has made tonight has taken my breath away and I couldn't be more pleased.
“I love it!” I exclaim, “Will you help me put it on?” I jump out of my seat excitedly, passing it to him. Standing behind me he lowers it down to my chest then brings the clasp together at the back of my neck, finally easing my hair out from under it and turning me round to face him.
“It's beautiful Carlos thank you” I say, moving my fingers up to touch it once more.
“A beautiful necklace for my stunningly beautiful girl”
After a perfect evening we are rudely awoken early the next day by thundering bangs on the front door. Carlos is up immediately, sprinting downstairs to attend to whatever emergency is beckoning.
I'm a little slower, choosing to throw on a little more clothing than a pair of pants like him. As I leave our bedroom I'm just in time to catch the beginnings of the scathing onslaught fired at him by Julia.
“What the fuck Carlos? I've just got back from my honeymoon and as soon as I set foot back here Marcus fills me in on all the shit that's been going