Michelle arrived home to find the dining-room table set with the fine china and good crystal resting on an elegant table cloth. Two slender pink candles stood proudly in their polished silver holders. A bottle of champagne peeked out of the ice bucket. And the aroma of basil and oregano wafted through the house.
"Everything looks beautiful, darling," Michelle gushed as her husband greeted her.
Mike looked his wife up and down. "Everything sure does." He kissed her passionately. Mike ended the kiss and looked into her eyes. " I bought you something to change into." He took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom where he presented her with a gift box wrapped in lavender paper adorned with pink and white bows.
Michelle unwrapped the package and lifted the lid on the box to reveal a full length satin lounging robe. It was a rich purple with flowers embroidered on it. Michelle went to the bathroom to change. When she returned she found that Mike had changed into lounging pajamas that complimented her robe.
Back in the living-room Mike popped the cork on the champagne bottle. The bubbly cascaded down the sides of the bottle and on to the carpet. "Sorry about that," he laughed. He poured Michelle a glass.
"I'm just glad you didn't get burgundy," she teased taking the glass.
Mike poured champagne for himself then offered a toast. "To my lovely wife..."
Bing bong! The doorbell interrupted the moment.
"Kind of like when we were married," Michelle said as Mike set his glass down and headed for the door. Michelle set her glass aside and joined her husband at the door.
"Mikey, sweetie," Aunt Lenore cooed when he opened the door. She grabbed his face in her hand and squeezed planting a kiss on his now puckered lips. He pulled his head away as she used her thumb to wipe off the lipstick remnants.
"Hi, Aunt Lenore," Mike said unenthusiastically.
"Your cousin Joshua is in town and I KNEW you'd want to see him." Mike's dark haired cousin appeared in the doorway with his wife Gretchen.
"Hey, cousin," Mike said giving him a hug.
"Good to see you," Joshua told him. Then looking Mike and Michelle over he said, "We came at a bad time didn't we?"
"Of course we didn't," Lenore insisted as she pushed her way into the living-room. The two couples followed.
"Mom, I think Mike and Michelle were trying to have an evening," Joshua said as tactfully as he could. "Why don't we just go to dinner and let them be alone?"
"There's always time for family," Lenore informed him as she helped herself to the cheese and crackers Mike had set out for him and Michelle.
Joshua draped an arm across Mike's shoulder. "I'm really sorry about this."
Gretchen folded her arms. "I guess next time we should pick a restaurant where your house is not on the way."
Lenore made herself at home on the sofa picking up the champagne glass that Michelle had abandoned. "This cheese is just divine."
"So how's Jake?" Mike asked. Jake was Joshua's older brother.
"He's fine. Told me to give you and Michelle his love." Joshua looked to his mother who had just selected another cracker.
"Well, give him ours," Mike said trying to pass the time with polite conversation.
Gretchen looked at her watch. "Mom, we really should get going. We have reservations."
"Oh, that restaurant will hold them for up to thirty minutes," she said with a wave of her hand. "What's this cheese called? It is just scrumptious." She took another bite.
"Havarti," Mike told her.
"So, how's your sister?" Gretchen asked Michelle.
"Doing good." Probably having a nice quiet, undisturbed romantic evening, she thought to herself.
"Did you see Tim yet?" Mike asked.
"No, we're going over there tomorrow." Joshua read Mike's thoughts that their visit also could have waited. "Mom, I really think we should be on our way."
Lenore rose. "Fine. Since you're just going to nag, nag, nag about it we'll go."
Mike smiled at his cousin. "Thank you."
Joshua nodded. "Have a good time. I'll call tomorrow." He dropped a kiss on Mike's cheek and one on Michelle's before following his mother and wife out the door.
Mike and Michelle returned to the sofa. Mike put an arm around her. "Now where were we?"
Mike and Michelle were finally enjoying the champagne and crackers, the interruption forgotten. And things were just getting cozy.
Bing Bong!
"I'm going to disconnect that bell," Mike said irritated. "I'm telling you right now whose ever relatives it is I'm getting rid of them." He went to the door.
Michelle leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Then she heard something rare. Not only was Mike angry he was raising his voice.
"What, he thought I couldn't even get flowers for my own wife?" she heard him say. His tone caused her to go to the door.
In the doorway was someone she had never expected to see again... well at least until the next picnic. "Mr. Breck?"
"I thought you would have learned to call me Peter by now." In his hands he held two dozen pink and white roses. "And like I was trying to tell your husband here. Dick and I had talked about making sure you got flowers. I thought that even though... well here." He handed her the bouquet. Looking at the glare in Mike's eyes he said, "I best be going. You take care."
Michelle nodded. "Thank you. You too." She closed the door behind him. She then turned to Mike. "Okay, what was all that about?"
Mike gave her a balky look. "I gave you flowers."
"So?"
"Didn't he think I would?" Mike stalked into the living-room. Michelle followed.
"Mike, you're making way too much of this."
"Really?"
Michelle set her roses aside. "This isn't just about flowers. What is the problem?"
"You want to know? You really want to know?"
"I asked you."
"Fine," Mike relented. "I'm jealous."
"Jealous. Mike, what are you jealous about. He was a friend... "
Mike sat. "No. Not like that.'
Michelle sat beside him. "What then?"
Mike looked to her with tears forming in his eyes. "I'm jealous because... because... " He paused. "You've done such great things with the auxiliary and the charities. All the time you put in and well... I just take it for granted. And then some stranger comes along and at every opportunity is telling you how he admires what you do." Mike swallowed as tears ran down his cheeks. "I never did let you know that I'm proud of you. And I'm lucky to be with you."
Michelle stroked his hair. "Hey, Mike, I knew. I always knew."
"I still wish I'd have said it."
"You've felt it and that's what matters."
"I love you," Mike told her.
"And I love you."
Mike brought his lips to meet hers. They kissed for a long time. Then Mike rose and picked Michelle up from the sofa and carried her to the bedroom. The rest cannot be told.
THE END