After Robbie had left, Laura waited for a while in the deli. Her coffee had long been reduced to foamy cold dregs but she wanted to make sure Robbie would be out of town and back home before she left the deli and returned to the house herself.

Back at the house Robbie was in turn on full alert for Laura's return. He suspected that she would try to discover what he had in store and he was determined to keep her out of the kitchen.

His Italian feast was starting to take shape, the table was set and apart from getting everything into dishes and bowls and onto plates he pretty much had everything under control. He couldn't help but smile a little smugly and with a little bit of pride at the table he had carefully set out.

Although he had initially been a little disappointed that he and Laura hadn't made elaborate plans for their actual wedding anniversary he was more than happy with what they had lined up for the rest of the week ahead. Robbie smiled to himself again as he looked at his fishing gear that he had assembled by the back door ready for their departure the following day. That morning Laura had surprised him with the destination for their anniversary trip that she had arranged. She had booked 3 days in a small and charming country hotel which had fine dining, beautiful gardens and private fishing on the river that ran through the grounds. She had booked a day's fly fishing for Robbie and it wasn't luck that there was a spa and at the hotel that she could go to while he spent the day on the river.

Robbie had just put the wine on to chill when he heard the door close and Laura shouting hello.

"Hello Love" He said with a smile, pulling Laura towards him as he reached her in the hallway. He didn't always greet her like this when she got home but their anniversary had been on his mind all day and if truth be told he couldn't wait for them to get their evening started.

"Come here, I want to give my wife a big kiss" He said practically manhandling her into an embrace before kissing her and not even giving her chance to return his greeting.

"Robbie!" she said with a chuckle between his kisses, taken a little by surprise at his overly amorous advances before she found her hands on his back, pulling him closer to her body as he kissed her again

"I missed you" he said softly, nuzzling his face into her hair

"I've only been gone a couple of hours" she said with a smirk

"Yeah, well that's a long time for a man to be without his missus on their anniversary." Robbie said, pulling back to look at her before kissing her once more. She caressed his back, laughing softly at his words but he could see pure affection in her eyes as she smiled back at him

"Did you have a good time?" He asked

"Actually, she cancelled"

"Oh?"

"Yes, it was very last minute. I nearly called you but I assumed you were busy so I just went for a coffee in Waterstones and read my book." Laura spoke quickly. She didn't like to lie to Robbie, even though it was only a white lie. Her approach seemed to be working as far as she could tell.

"So, come on then, what's for dinner?" She continued, deflecting him further away from her white lie

"Wouldn't you like to know, eh?" he said as he felt her pull away from his arms

"Ah no, no no no, you're not allowed into the kitchen" he grabbed onto her arms as she wriggled free from him

"What are you cooking?" she tried to push past him into the front room

"Wouldn't you like to know, eh? Why don't you go and have one of your nice baths?" he said, grabbing her arms again playfully and stopping her going any further

"Do I have a choice?"

"No doctor, you don't"

"Well I suppose I will have to do what I'm told then"

"Mmhhmm" he nodded with a mischievous smile "Although you can have these" and he took her hand and led her into the front room and the dining table in front of the piano. On the table was the bouquet of flowers that Laura had seen him carefully holding in the deli.

"Oh, Robbie they're lovely." Laura said as she saw for the second time that day the bouquet. This time she saw what a beautiful collection of all her favourite seasonal flowers the bouquet was made up of.

"I had them especially made up with the delphiniums you like."

"Thank you. They're perfect." She said, squeezing his hand "And chocolates too?"

"Er, yeah, I got those especially just for you, I know how much you like them" Robbie had found the chocolates in the deli bag when he had got home. He had heard the woman at the deli say something about thank you and chocolates but had been distracted as he'd got the cash out of his wallet. He had been delighted to find them and although he knew it was a little white lie about buying them especially, he didn't think Laura would mind

"There's a little treat for you upstairs in the bathroom, too" he said, pulling her back into an embrace

"Don't tell me. You forgot to flush the toilet again" she said with a smirk

"Any more cheeky back chat like that, Doctor Hobson, and I won't be held accountable for my actions" He said, tilting his head to one side with a look of frowning but amused consternation.

"I certainly will hold you to account, Robbie" she teased but there was a soft tenderness in her eyes that made his heart race with what he knew was pure love. He leant in to kiss her.

"You'd better had do" he said, his voice low and quiet after they pulled apart and he rubbed his nose gently and affectionately against hers.

She smiled back at him her eyes full of a love that he couldn't mistake and he winked at her before pulling her close once more for another kiss before she disappeared upstairs and he returned to the kitchen.