“Good morning,” she murmurs.
“Morning.” I fluff up the pillows behind her as she sits and hand her a steaming cup of coffee once she settles. “For you, my love.”
“Thank you.” She tilts her head up to greet my light kiss. “We’re coming up on three-hundred-and-sixty-five days, and you haven’t missed a delivery. Not even when your poker tournaments are still going strong.”
It’s true. As I told her the night we met, I’ve brought my wife a cup of coffee in bed every morning. I had to be creative a couple of times. Like setting up a coffeemaker with a timer on her nightstand on the rare mornings I’m not with her when she wakes.
Or the time her mom was visiting us, and I asked for assistance. Initially, she was confused by the request. Once she realized I do it every day, and it brings her daughter so much joy, she’d been on board.
She’d, naturally, been concerned and even suspicious of me from the start. I don’t blame her. Even my parents were cautious when they met Tina. Of course, it took her all of five minutes to make them fall in love with her.
I won my mother-in-law over that day. She’s been my eager accomplice to surprise Tina on more than one other occasion since. A partnership I appreciate now more than ever.
“A promise is a promise.” I brush my lips against hers once more, savoring the way her cheeks flush in delight.
“You’re a man of your word.”
“I try to be.”
I wrap an arm around her and we cuddle together with our coffee and watch the waves roll onto the shore outside. I brought Tina to Hawaii to celebrate our first anniversary. Our belated honeymoon. I know it’s normal for a couple to take their honeymoon closer to the wedding. It’s also normal for most couples to date and fall in love before they get hitched.
Normal is overrated, anyway.
After exchanging some more kisses and finishing our cups of coffee, Tina asks what we should do today.
“I have something in mind,” I say.
She eyes me suspiciously. “Why do I get the feeling we won’t be spending our day sunbathing on the beach?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get plenty of beach time.” I glance toward the front door of our bungalow as there’s a knock. “But first, I have a few appointments scheduled for you. Starting with a massage.”
“Oh a massage.” She practically purrs in delight. “That’s not a bad way to start the day.”
“I thought you’d like that.” I give her a gentle squeeze. “Then you have the nail tech, the hair and makeup stylist, and the professional shopper.”
She blinks in surprise. “What did I do to deserve all of that?”
“You’ve made me the luckiest—happiest—man in the world.”
“Well, the feeling is mutual.” She wrinkles her nose. “Only I’m the luckiest—happiest—woman.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Just like I hope you’ll be glad to hear about the final surprise I have worked out for this evening.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it. What do you have in mind?”
“Something along the lines of a sunset vow renewal on the beach.”
Her jaw drops. “Really?”
I nod. “Nothing fancy. Just you. Me. Your mom, my parents, and a few of our closest friends.”
She gasps.
“This isn’t to redo our first wedding,” I rush out. “I know we’ve both come around to looking at it fondly. But we’ve never celebrated the occasion with the people we love most, and I thought… I thought…”
“I understand.” Her dazzling eyes fill with unshed tears and she cups my cheek in her palm. “And I think it’s perfect.”
I release a sigh. “You do?”
“Absolutely.” She gives me a light kiss. “When you’re as happy together as we are, it’s a cause for celebrating. Every chance we get.”
