Chapter 22 - The Anniversary Surprise
The tenth anniversary of the night Willow walked into Marcelo’s bistro arrived on a rainy November evening—an exact meteorological mirror of the day that had changed their lives forever.
Willow stood in front of the massive walk-in closet in the master suite, slipping into a breathtaking emerald silk evening gown that hugged her silhouette. As she fastened a delicate diamond necklace around her neck, two strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and Josiah rested his chin softly on her shoulder.
"Ten years," Josiah whispered, his voice deep and rich with emotion. "Ten years since you looked at a terrified little girl, ignored all my armed guards, and offered a saltine cracker on a broken floor."
Willow turned around in his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck, looking up into his dark, devoted eyes. "And ten years of you trying to spoil me rotten with private jets, designer clothes, and enough security to guard a small European nation."
"It wasn't enough," Josiah murmured fiercely, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss that made her breath hitch just as it had on their wedding day. "It will never be enough to thank you for saving my life, Willow."
"You saved mine too, Josiah," she whispered against his lips.
"Come on," he smiled, taking her hand. "We’re going out."
Instead of a private jet or a high-end Michelin-starred restaurant downtown, Josiah drove them in a simple, unmarked sedan right back to downtown Chicago. They pulled up in front of Marcelo’s bistro.
The restaurant was closed to the general public for the evening. Inside, warm amber chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow over the dark hardwood floor. Marcelo had personally set up a private table right in the center of the room—in the exact spot where the glass had shattered a decade ago.
As they walked inside, a small string quartet began to play a soft, romantic melody from the corner. Marcelo stood by the service counter, raising a glass of champagne in quiet salute.
Josiah pulled out Willow’s chair, seating her gracefully before taking the seat directly across from her. On the center of the white linen tablecloth, resting on a small silver saucer, was a single, unopened packet of saltine crackers.
May you like
Willow stared at the crackers, a bright, tearful laugh bubbling up in her throat. "You didn't."
"I did," Josiah smiled, reaching across the table to interleave his fingers with hers. "Never forget where we started, my love. Because that’s where our eternity began."
