12. Premier Anniversaire Initiale (Z-Boy Hungry!)

November for the Hodges closed on a seriously low note which threatened to change the makeup of their present family. On Thanksgiving, Kim prepared her first complete turkey dinner. William had offered to help, but Kim, even in her advanced condition, was determined to see her task through without assistance. She prepared a small turkey for the two of them - a mere 10-pounder - which was more than enough to provide at least three filling meals, and enough meat left to allow turkey sandwiches to bring for a future lunch.

Kim lavished all the care and love she knew how to onto the meal, filling the bird with a stuffing made with a host of spices, raisins, celery and onions, and doted over it from early morning, buttering and basting it. The kitchen became as part of Kim as she orchestrated the courses of the meal - devilled eggs as an appetizer, made with dijon mustard and minced olives; potatoes she made from scratch, peeling and mashing them, mixing in a bit of sour cream to richen the texture; a savory gravy complete with giblets; candied yams; peas sauteed in butter; hot rolls caressed by butter; and for dessert, Kim whipped up a Texas pecan pie and whipped cream. It was a meal that could put many cooks to shame - William could not find enough superlatives to express his approval of his wife's efforts and their result.

Kim found that the undertaking was more taxing than she realized, as she went for a "short nap" in the mid-afternoon when the meal was completed, after scraping a bit of dark meat onto a saucer for Angel - a "nap" that lasted the remainder of the evening. William did nothing to disturb his wife, instead taking up the chores of putting the food away and cleaning the dishes before retiring himself.

The drama began around 2 AM. Kim had awakened to use the bathroom, and found Angel on the floor nearly motionless and seeming to struggle for the least bit of raspy breath. She screamed for William, who came quickly from the bedroom. A blanket from the closet to wrap the cat from the cold, and they were on their way to the emergency veterinary center, Kim cradling Angel in her lap, tearfully pleading for her not to die.

An inspection by the doctor revealed that Angel had encountered a small bone in the turkey meat Kim had given her, which had first pierced the roof of her mouth - then slid back to almost completely block her airway. Kim became hysterical to the point of being inconsolable at the thought that she herself may have caused the death of her luscious gossamer Angel Mist. The doctor then told them that another half-hour probably would have been too late. Kim promptly fainted, collapsing onto the couch on which she was seated, with the doctor pulling double-duty, checking her vitals when she came to.

The veterinarian then went to perform surgery to repair the damage the bone had done. He found that the bone had partially lacerated the cat's vocal chords, requiring more surgery. There was also a slight buildup of fluid in Angel's lungs from the lack of free breathing. He came out to tell the couple that it would be at least two more hours before the procedures would be complete, and that they could go home if they wanted - and he would call them with his prognosis. Kim vehemently refused, resolving herself to remain there until she could learn something - anything of Angel's outcome.

She napped restlessly against her husband on the couch as the hours progressed, frequently shifting in his arms William was undergoing his own silent hell - not only at the prospect of losing Angel - but also at not being able to calm or even console Kim's fears and emotion from the situation. It kept throwing him back to Kim's emotional malestrom the night he had told her that Angelica had been killed - and his lack of skills to soften the blow then as well. He continued in the only way he really knew...the only way he had ever known - to continue to hold his wife - to continue to be there for her.

The veterinarian emerged from the operating room shortly after 5:30 AM, and softly woke Kim and William to tell them that Angel would recover from her injuries, the only negative being a possible change to the tone of her mew, depending on how her vocal chords healed. Kim rose as quickly as she could and embraced the doctor, thanking him non-stop. She then asked if they could see Angel.

The doctor escorted them into the recovery area, where the cat was resting on a table, nestled in warm blankets, breathing through an oxygen tube, and while still groggy from the anesthesia, made an effort to acknowledge Kim's presence by purring, managing only short bursts due to her vocal chords' injury. The doctor told them that Angel would have to remain in the veterinary center for a few days to monitor her recovery, and to start a regimen of antibiotics and pain medication. Kim and William bid their pet and companion a reluctant adieu, and returned home to try to catch up on sleep.

Kim sank into a kind of funk for the remainder of the holiday weekend. William accomodated her by running the house, fixing the meals, which Kim made an effort to eat. Her appetite was practically nil, yet she did try to eat to continue to nourish her growing baby. When Kim wasn't moping around the house, she was calling the veterinary center to check on Angel's progress. Her mood began to lighten somewhat on Sunday when the nurse told Kim that Angel was responding well to her medication, and had even graduated to soft solid food instead of being fed intraveniously.

The high point for Kim came on Tuesday, December 2nd. The vet had called the evening before and told her that Angel could come home on Tuesday. She was so excited she worked through the reports at light speed that day, completing them even before 3, leaving Tina to email them to Los Angeles. She raced to the veterinary center, where the staff was treated to a tearful reunion between Kim and her Angel. She was given post-hospital instructions on care, along with prescriptions and the special food that Angel would have to continue on for the next couple of weeks, and an appointment schedule for follow-up visits. Kim and Angel spent that evening reuniting and bonding, the cat showing her appreciation for the return to her home, cuddling and purring the best she could.

Convinced that the crisis had come to a positive end, Kim returned her efforts to her work with a renewed passion and vigor. She concentrated on increasing Tina's knowledge and capacity within the department, grooming her for a seamless transition into being in charge of the reports when the time came for Kim to stop working. The two had formed a strong bond in their work environment, anticipating fluctuations in the work flow, and supporting and supplanting each other in the completion of tasks, making for a fluid team which seemed able to formulate a "battle plan" against anything that might slow or otherwise hinder production and processing.

Kim was more than confident that when she took over the supervisory position that Carolyn Ackerman was turning over to her, Tina would easily step into her role, being Kim's "right hand" when research matters demanded another set of skills be brought in toward a resolution. Kim would start her new job with the support of a co-worker she could trust without limits.

Things had also progressed well for William in the grand restructuring of the department. Even without the changes from Data Operations, which were scheduled to come online the first week in January, including the vastly quicker and more powerful "server farm," the new Processing department, now consolidated, already showed signs of the results the restructuring were designed for - the department was now operating within 20 percent of the projections made for the completion of the project - even without the boost from the new technology. Integrating access to the other departments' databases on each workstation alone had an instant streamlining effect - with all information on a claimant available to a processing agent, it cut out the time taken to phone another agent in what used to be a physically separate department to have them look up the inquiry.

In fact, with the time-saving measures that William had devised and employed into the project, the restructuring was basically completed, lacking an official announcement to come after the New Year's holiday. A perk unbenknownst to the agents was that because of the cost-cutting proposal William had presented earlier in the year, the company would also announce a substantial pay raise for the department. With the increased capacity, the company would be able to increase their client base - which in turn would increase revenue into the company.

The Board of Regents was more than impressed with William's commitment and contribution to the project, and paid him a handsome bonus for coming in not only well ahead of schedule, but far under budget. Every step of the restructuing was documented down to the smallest detail, and would be incorporated into an "application model" to be used at other Meridian regional offices to spread the gains in production and operation.

Monday, December 8
12:16 PM.
Kim and Tina walked through the double doors to the department laughing softly, each holding a drink from the Knick Knack Chick Shack. As they approached their desks, the receptionist's voice came through the overhead speaker:

:::Kim Hodge, you have a call on 2157....Kim Hodge, 2157:::

Kim placed her drink on her desk and sat down. "I wonder if that's New Jersey calling about their reports from yesterday."

"Could be," said Tina, logging on to her workstation. "They had quite the storm out there...more than a foot of snow. Maybe if they can get through on the phones, it means they're back online, too. I'll take a look at the databases while you take the call."

"Yeah," Kim nodded, reaching for the phone. "One way to find out." She pressed a button for an open line and dialed 2157. "Processing, this is Kim," she said sweetly into the mouthpiece.

"Hi there, Luscious."

Kim's expression brightened into a warm smile. "Hiiiii, baby," she purred into the phone as she turned to Tina and motioned her finger to make a "W" in the air. "What's up with you?"

"Nada. How was lunch?"

"Tasty. Knick Knack Chick Shack Chick'n Bitz with relish and mayonnaise."

William winced. "You know...that's the only part of your pregnancy I'm not going to miss."

Kim broke into a quick giggle. She then heard a raspy "mew" in the background over the phone. "Honey? Are you at home? I thought I just heard Angel."

"Yep. She's here on my lap. I took a half-day off. I was bored," he snickered. "But the reason I called...do you have any plans tonight after work?"

"Well," Kim mused, "I have the backgammon thing tonight..."

"Cancel it."

"What? But I had made those lemon squares for the club tonight. They're kind of counting on me for dessert."

"Have Tina follow you home and pick them up," said William. "She can take them to the club."

Kim's expression slowly melted to one of curiousity. "Just what are you planning, Mr. Hodge? You sound rather...mysterious," she said, raising one eyebrow.

"You'll never know unless you break your plans and spend the evening with me," William said with a low mysterious tone to his voice.

"Oooooookaaaaaay," Kim drew out, "I'll play. This had better be good for me to skip the backgammon club." Tina turned to look at Kim as she said this.

"Well, I think it is," he said, "And I think you will, too."

"See you a bit before 5?"

"Yeah. Don't be late...our kitty misses you." He then added, "Oh - and I think the club will just love the lemon squares."

Kim gasped. "You just stay out of those lemon squares, you rat! Those are for the club. I stashed us a few in another place."

"I know," William snickered.

"Sneak," Kim giggled. "See you tonight. Love you."

"Love you...bye bye."

Kim turned to Tina as she hung up the phone. "I guess you'll be taking the lemon squares to the club tonight. William has 'something planned'," she said, bringing her arm up over the lower half of her face in a "cloak and dagger" motion, her eyes shifting back and forth.

"Hmmmm," Tina mused slowly. "Sounds mysterious," she said while scanning her screen. She then slid into a pseudo-German accent. "...maybe he found a Pan-Dimensional Vortex Inducer on eBay."

Kim's head whirled as she was logging on to turn to Tina. "Hm-hm-hm-hm-hmmm," she giggled. "You, girl, are obsessed."

4:52 PM.
William was sitting on the couch as Kim and Tina entered from the garage, each shivering from the falling temperatures as the sky began to cloud over in the late afternoon. He rose as Kim crossed the room, removing her 3/4 length suede coat with faux fur collar and cuffs, tossing it onto the other side of the couch and giving her husband a kiss. "Hey Tina," he said as his and Kim's lips parted.

"Hi there," Tina returned. She then noted the fireplace, which was caressing the entire room with the heat from its full flame. "Toasty," she said, holding out her arms in the direction of the mantle.

"Yeeahhh," purred Kim, until William tapped her lightly on the back and pointed toward Tina. Kim turned and giggled. "Oh...you mean the fire."

"You two," said Tina, breaking into her own titter. "Between you and the fireplace, I might spontaneously combust. Better get me the lemon squares before the car un-warms up."

"Back in a sec," said Kim, smiling warmly first at Tina, then at William, and she turned for the kitchen.

"Quite the fire you've built here," Tina said to William, rubbing her hands together.

"It's been burning like that since about 3," William replied. "It's the first really good one I've been able to do. When it starts to die down, I just throw on another log." He motioned to the wood holder on the other side of the mantle. "I got the wood from the hardware store. It's dry enough to burn nice and hot."

"You guys are lucky. I think even a gas fireplace is romantic on a shivery winter's night."

"Actually, we're all kind of lucky. I was watching the news earlier...the coast got all that snow - all we got was cold."

"Yeah. New Jersey called about 2, and said they were finally back online. We worked double duty to resend yesterday's and today's reports."

"Well, I can't think of two people I'd trust more to get the job done," said William. They both heard the beep of the microwave.

"I don't think I could be doing it as well without Kim showing me all her little tricks," said Tina.

Kim walked into the living room a moment later with a large flat pan covered with foil, and a travel mug. "I heard you," she said, smiling and passing Tina the pan, and then the mug. "This is to make sure you don't un-warm up."

Tina sniffed at the mug. "Hot chocolate! Awww Kim, you are the best." She then set the pan on the coffee table and moved toward her friend, hugging her.

"You have fun tonight," Kim said. "Tell them I'll be there next time, and that I'll keep showing up until I can't anymore."

Tina got a rather sad and worried look on her face. "Kim? ...you make it sound like you're getting ready to say goodbye or something..."

"Noooooo," Kim protested with a wide smile. "Quite the opposite--" she patted her stomach, which had become quite round "--I'm getting ready to say hello!" The two laughed, then Tina picked up the pan of lemon squares, and Kim walked her to the door.

"I'll get the pan and mug back to you tomorrow."

"No big. Whenever's fine." Kim smiled and hugged Tina again. "Play well," she said as she turned on the porch light and held the door open. She watched Tina hurry to her Volkswagen, placing the pan on the roof as she unlocked the door. She got in and started the car, giving two quick toots of the horn as she drove off. Kim then closed the door with her back to it, eyeing her husband who had sat back down on the couch. "O-kaaaay, Mister Man of Mystery," she said, turning her head slightly sideways, one eye closing, "just what is it you have planned?"

"Meeee?" William drew out as Kim sat next to him. "Not meeeee."

"Well you must have something in mind, to have me break my plans for the evening, you mysterious lemon-square-stealing sneak, you," Kim said, patting her husband on the leg. "And you took the afternoon off...you must have had a lot of time to plan what you have - err, planned."

"Okay," William said resignedly, "Maybe a couple of little things."

"Hmmm," mused Kim. "Would one of those 'little things' be dinner? You've had enough free time to think of what to have..."

"Yep."

"Well let's cook something up. I'm pretty hungry."

"Nope," William replied rather smugly. Kim gave him a puzzled look. "Dinner will be here about 6."

"Aha, ordering out. Something good?"

The smug smile on William's face widened and he raised his head slightly, half-closing his eyes. "Not telling you."

"Grrrrr," Kim sneered. "You're driving me crazy with all this 'mystery,' Mr. Hodge."

William's smile turned into a smirk. "Let's see if I can do this like you do....hm-hm-hm-hm-hmmmm," he laughed softly with his mouth closed.

Kim sat on the couch and took a swat at her husband's upper arm. "You-are-a-RAT tonight! I'm wondering if I should have gone to the club!"

William's smirk grew back into a warm smile. "Trust me, my darling, radiant wife," he said, sliding his arm around her shoulders and drawing her close, "I think you'll find before the evening is over that you'll be quite enjoying yourself." He then leaned to kiss Kim again. "Let's enjoy the fire until dinner gets here."

Kim settled into William's embrace, letting the dance of the flames hypnotize her into relaxation. "Mmmmm....I'm pretty sure I can enjoy that."

6:02 PM.
Kim was so comfortable and content from the embracing heat from the fireplace, William's soft caresses along her temple, and the cuddling from Angel, that she had nearly drifted into sleep when the doorbell rang. William gently rocked his hand against her shoulder. "Hon? I have to answer the door, and you have to get up...dinner's here."

Kim drew out a long soft moan through her breath as she straighened up. William rose and went to the door, turning on the porch light and peeking out the small stained window, then opening it. A man with short black hair, dressed in a smart black suit and a long topcoat stood on the porch, his breath wafting a whitish curl of vapor into the chilled evening air. A blue minivan sat in the driveway.

"Good evening," the man said. "D'Angelo's Steakhouse Catering for two for William Hodge."

"Yes sir," William said, opening the door wider. "Come right in."

"I'll be in in a moment," the man said. "I need to bring the carts in." He then went to the minivan, rolling the side door open, and unfolding a short ramp. William remained by the door as the man rolled two carts down the ramp and folded it back into the minivan, then moved the carts toward the porch, pushing one and trailing the other behind. William held the outer door open for the man as he brought the carts over the threshold and into the entry hall. "How do you do," the man said, reaching to shake William's hand. "My name is Kyle, and I'll be serving you this evening."

"Hi Kyle, said William. "Let me take your coat." Kyle removed his topcoat, giving it to William to put into the entry closet. "Let me show you where the kitchen is, so you can get set up." William offered to push one of the carts as Kyle followed.

Kim was watching the fire again, floating in a half-sleep state. She perked as the men rolled the carts in front of her, each ringed with a dark burgundy drape and the D'Angelo's logo in white, an Italian chef kissing his fingers. "D'Angelo's?" she piped. "Isn't that where you got the lobster the night you proposed?"

"Sure is," beamed William as he rolled into the kitchen.

"Good evening, Ma'am," Kyle said, following behind. "My name is Kyle, and I'll be your waiter this evening."

"Hi," said Kim, smirking, "I'm Kim, and I'll be one of your customers this evening...do I need to get up?"

"No no, you're fine," replied Kyle. "I have to set up and heat up the food. It'll be about 20 minutes." He noted Kim's condition. "You just relax for now." Kyle then noted Angel nuzzling against Kim's leg. "Neat cat."

"Thanks," Kim beamed, softly stroking the kitten behind the ear. "This is Angel Mist."

"My sister has a couple of Angoras," Kyle said. "One white, one black...but I don't think the black one is a true Angora."

William moved the cart he had next to the stove island, facing the table. Kyle rolled his cart between the island and the cupboards next to the sink, noting the electrical outlet on the backsplash there. "This is the heating platform," he said, pulling a retractable cord from the cart and plugging it in. "The cart you have there carries the food."

"Good catch, hon," said Kim from the living room, causing the men to chuckle softly. "And speaking of catches, what's on the menu tonight?"

William leaned quickly to whisper something in Kyle's ear. Kyle then said, "Mr. Hodge has chosen a meal of 'Le Bout rôti de Moufette' this evening."

"Mmmm," Kim cooed. "Sounds romantic and delicious. What's that in English?"

William again whispered something to Kyle - whose eyes immediately widened. He mouthed the word "Noooo" to William, refusing. William made the "OK" sign with his hand, smiling. "Uhhhh - I believe it translates to 'Roasted Skunk Butt,' Ma'am," Kyle said.

"What!?" Kim shrilled loudly. "You've gotta be kidding. I'm not eating--" she paused for a second - then her voice rang out from the living room "WILLIAM HODGE!!"

"BOO-ya!!!" shouted William. "HAHAHAHA!" He exchanged a high-five with Kyle, who was trying to hold his own laughter. "You thought I forgot about that." A low growl came from the living room. William tried to stop laughing long enough to walk into the living room to check the fire. "Would you settle for prime rib and lobster tail?" he said, fluttering his eyelids at Kim as he bent to take another log from the holder and opened the copper firescreen.

"Ooh-hoo-hooo, you," Kim hissed through a smile, shaking her fist in his direction. She then made a kiss in the air toward him. "Call me when it's ready. I have to relax to get over that."

William returned to the kitchen as Kyle was placing a large thick steak onto a cutting board next to the heating surface of the cart, and producing a knife and fork. "This is 16 ounces," said Kyle. "The order says you want it divided for two?"

"Yep," William replied. "Right down the middle."

"And how would you like them prepared?"

"Both medium well....oh, and did you bring any of the D'Angelo's horseradish?"

"Comes with every prime rib order," said Kyle, taking two lobster tails wrapped in foil and placing them into the steamer on the heating cart. He then picked up each of the steaks with the fork, placing them onto the heating surface. They sizzled into life. Kyle brought two baked potatoes from the food cart and placed them into yet another compartment to heat.

6:38 PM.
"Well, Mr. Hodge," said Kyle, "everything's ready here, if you'd like to bring in your wife." With this, he knelt down and started retrieving dishes from the food cart, arranging them on the table.

William walked into the living room, where Kim had once again watched the fire, and this time she had fallen asleep, with Angel sleeping on the arm of the couch. William stood next to the couch, sliding one arm under Kim's legs and moving the other to her shoulders. "Kim," he called softly. caressing the point where her neck and shoulder met. "Kim?"

"Wh--huh...?" Kim stirred softly. She opened her eyes and began to smile wide as she took in the vision of her husband. "Hiiiiii...I was just dreaming about you..."

"Sounds like a good one, by your reaction. Ready for dinner?"

"Mmmm-hmmm," she purred. She then took note of the placement of William's hands. "Would this mean that you're thinking of carrying me to the table?"

"That was the plan," William smiled. "As tired as you seem to be, you'd rather walk?"

"I probably should, to keep up my stamina," said Kim, "but I think I'll let you spoil me this once." She then raised her hands toward Willaim's neck to hold on. He straightened up, scooping under Kim's legs, and headed for the kitchen. Kyle pulled out the chair as they approached, and William set her gently into it, pushing the chair forward.

Kyle then went back to the heating platform and checked the steaks one last time, and moved each one to a plate. He removed the foil from Kim's potato and lobster tail and set them onto the plate, then took a small container and brought them both to set in front of Kim.

The aroma of the meal fairly begged Kim to inhale deeply. "Kyle...this smells absoutely...stellar."

"Thanks," Kyle replied as he assembled William's meal. "The cuts of meat are selected by Mario D'Angelo himself." He brought over William's plate and another small container, and then the butter for each of their lobsters as Kim cut open her potato. He lastly brought over a basket containing slices of several different kinds of bread and set it in the middle of the table.

William opened his potato, and then cut into his steak, touching the corner of the bite into the small container on the side, and brought it to his mouth. "Mmm-mmm...definitely worth the admission fee."

Kim looked at the container near her plate. "I was going to ask you what this was," she said to William.

"That's horseradish, hon," he said. "It almost always comes with prime rib." He cut another bite from his steak.

Kim cut a bite from her steak and hovered it over the small cup. "Just dip it?" she asked.

William nodded an "Mmhmm" as he was putting butter onto his potato, and wasn't watching as Kim promptly sank her fork, coating nearly half the bite with the whitish sauce. She was just about to close her mouth around it when William looked up to ask her how she liked it. He immediately blurted out a low "Ohhhh, boy" as Kim pulled the empty fork from her mouth and looked at him.

"What?" At that moment, her eyes became as big as saucers, and her expression changed to one accompanying a plea for help. "Wha-haa-aawwaa!" she tried to say breathlessly.

William rose quickly to get some juice from the refrigerator as Kim began to flop her hands in front of her face. "Too hot?" asked Kyle. Kim nodded her head furiously. "Take a slice of bread," he said. "That will put out the fire faster than liquid will."

Kim lunged at the basket, quickly bringing a slice of a light seeded rye to her mouth and chewing a bit. William noted a look of relief spreading over Kim's face, and continued to pour a glass of juice for his wife and milk for him, bringing them to the table.

I am SO not ever touching...horseradish again," she wheezed, her eyes now tearing from the heat.

"By the time you had the steak in your mouth, it was too late to warn you," William said as Kim dabbed at the corner of her eyes with her napkin. "You just touch a corner of your steak to the sauce. That's powerful stuff."

Kim cut her steak again and reluctantly tapped just the corner of one edge to the sauce and slowly placed it in her mouth. A smile grew over her face. "Much better," she said. "Just enough tang without the blast furnace effect."

William turned to Kyle. "Thanks," he said. "I never knew that about bread."

"It also works with Mexican food," Kyle said. "A mistake a lot of people make is drinking lots of water after something too spicy. That just serves to intensify the effect."

William thought for a moment. "What about Indian food?" he asked.

Kyle shook his head slowly. "I have no idea whatsoever how to put out the fire of Indian food, except not to eat it." This produced a giggle from Kim. "I love habañero sauce," he continued. "I can't get enough of it. But there are some Indian dishes that make habañero peppers look like a booger in comparison."

"A booger-HAHAHA!" Kim blurted out, quickly putting her hand over her mouth. She then recovered. "How can you tell how hot a sauce is?"

"They use a system that was devised in the early 1900's," said Kyle. "Scoville units, I think they're called. They list a Jalapeño pepper at anywhere from 2,500 to 5,000 units. The hottest Habañero peppers can get to more than 500,000 units."

William let out a low whistle, and Kim said, "Whoa...and Indian food is hotter??"

"It's a different kind of 'heat'," Kyle said, "but a much greater impact."

"How do they measure, ummm....Scoville units?" William asked.

"Well, they do it with machines now," Kyle explained, "but the way the originally devised the test was, they took a cup of whatever hot stuff they were testing...and they would dilute it with sugar water until the hotness of the sauce could no longer be tasted. A cup of sugar water is one Scoville unit."

"3,000 cups of sugar water to dilute one cup of Jalapeño sauce..." William said. "Egad." Then, "There's a little place down in Brookings Market Square that we frequent...Lupes. They have a sauce called 'Don't Go There.' Ever tried it?"

"Yeah," said Kyle, "but that's tame." Kim and William looked at him incredulously, remembering how even the smell of the sauce nearly burned their noses. "It's mostly tabasco, with some Chiletepin pepper mixed in. Even if you made it as hot as you could, it would only be about as hot as the weakest Habañero."

Kim shuddered at Kyle's statement as she picked up her lobster fork, gently opening the steaming tail, and squeezing a lemon slice over it, then picking out a bite of the rich white meat and bringing it to her mouth. "Oh William," she said as the taste of the seafood overwhelmed her mouth. "Oh oh oh. You must try the lobster right now. It's to die for!"

7:44 PM.
William got a plate out of the cupboard for Kyle to put the portions of steak that he and Kim couldn't finish, and he then covered it with plastic wrap and placed it on a shelf in the refrigerator. Kyle then placed a small wrapped candy on each of their placemats. "With D'Angelo's compliments," he said, taking the plates and utensils from the table and sliding them into a bin on the lower level of the food cart.

Kim smiled at Kyle and looked down at the label on the candy. "Check it out, hon," she chimed to her husband. "Vanilla Creme Mint!"

William sat as Kim unwrapped her mint. "My compliments to D'Angelo," he said to Kyle, "and compliments to the chef...both of them," he grinned.

"Yes thank you, Kyle," echoed Kim, as she brought the mint near her mouth. "The entire meal was just fan-taassstiiiiiiic..."

"Looks like I should look into the mint-producing business," Kyle smiled, watching Kim's reaction to the confection; that now-trademark dreamful smile spreading across her face.

"She's always had a real thing for sweets for as long as I've known her," said William, his smile one of quiet content and appreciation as he interlocked his hands and rested his chin on them to study his wife's enjoyment of a delectable Flesher culinary treat. William then reached into his pocket, folding a $20 dollar bill. "Kyle, that was a wonderful meal. Thank you very much for an enjoyable dining experience."

Kyle put up his hand, blocking the offer. "I appreciate all the compliments," he said, "but we're not allowed to accept tips for service on a catered meal."

"Okay...then it's not a tip," said Wiliam, pushing the bill onto Kyle's palm. "Consider it a long-term loan. Repayable upon retirement. Without interest," he smiled. "Without repayment."

"The customer is, of course, always right," Kyle laughed softly. curling his hand around the money. "Thank you again, Mr. Hodge." He then turned to Kim, who had recovered from the mint. "And thank you, Ma'am." He then went about finishing the clean up, readying the carts for return to the minivan.

William again helped Kyle to the door, holding his coat while he put it on. "Thanks again, Kyle," he said. "And tell D'Angelo we'll be coming to see him soon, after the baby is born."

"I will," replied Kyle. "And thank you for choosing D'Angelo's Catering for your home meal." He took one of the carts and opened the outside door. "Whoa," he shrank back a bit as a frigid wind had come up, biting at his face. "It's really gotten cold out here...keep that fire going tonight."

"That was the plan," said William, rolling the second cart foward a little. "You want some help out with these?"

"No no," Kyle protested. "I can get 'em. You stay in here and help the fire keep your wife and child warm." He pressed the outside latch with his elbow and rolled the first cart out onto the porch, with William handing him the second. "Bye Mrs. Hodge," he said toward the living room. "Bye Mr. Hodge. It was a pleasure serving and meeting both of you. Goodnight!"

He then hurried along the short walk to the minivan, sliding the side door open hurriedly and unfolding the ramp, shoving the carts into the van, growling against the cold, and slamming the side door shut. He then ran to the driver's door, pulling the keys from his pocket and opening it, starting the van. He was rubbing his hands together, warming them while the van idled as William flashed the porch light to bid him goodbye. Kyle waved as William turned off the light and locked the outside door, then closed and locked the inside door. He then walked to the kitchen. "Nice meal?" he said, softly caressing his wife's shoulders.

"Oh, it was just heavenly," Kim cooed. "But I'm not sure what it might have been that I've done lately that I deserved such a beautiful meal."

"Heh," William chuckled as he again offered to carry his wife. "If that were the occasion for such a meal, we'd be eating like that nearly every night."

"Awww," said Kim as she slipped her arms around William's neck.

He lifted her from the chair and moved into the living room, settling her gently onto the couch. "Besides," he said, "it wasn't recently...even though it sometimes seems that way." William then went again to the wood holder and folded back the copper firescreen, setting the log onto the burning pile, which had begun to ebb a bit during dinner. The fire seemed to thank him for his contribution, a few of the embers growing flame as they were stirred a bit. He waited until the fire had resumed its former crackling glory, and closed the screen - then walked over and turned off the light on the end table, leaving a small light over the kitchen sink to compete with that from the fireplace, and came back to the couch, sliding Kim into an embrace - then moving back just enough to take in the sparkle in her eyes from the fire, his gaze shifting back and forth between them, drinking in their glow.

Kim slowly searched the eyes of her husband, wondering about the sudden change in atmosphere, mixed with his evasive and mysterious nature since the phone call after lunch. She then noticed that even though his face wore a content smile, there was a slight glassiness to his eyes. "William?" she asked after a few seconds, "is...is there anything wrong?"

William's expression changed for a moment to one of slight surprise. "Oh my God, no," he said. "I was just...thinking..."

Kim smiled. "Anything you're willing to share, Mr. Hodge?"

"Absolutely," he said, lightly brushing the hair along Kim's forehead with two fingers. "You know," he started in a soft voice, "last winter...I used to be someone who just went to work and did his job. I wasn't that concerned with a social life...and I accepted that. It seemed that most other people accepted that, too...that William was a quiet guy...not really unpleasant...but not really amiable, either. I was just someone who did the job at hand, with little more than whatever interaction it took to do that job. There were other people 'in my life,' I guess you could say...but it never really went any farther than interaction at work."

Kim had come to savor the sound of her husband's voice when he talked with her in this low, soft romantic tone. She knew it meant that he was sharing his inner feelings - his inner self - with her. She wasn't sure how it might be with other couples; if they had this level of deep heartfelt conversation or not; but she did know that William's openness with her - his willingness not to even try to hide anything he felt from her - that sharing quality in him went farther to ignite and nurture her love for him than nearly anything else could have. She caressed his hand slowly, softly, her gaze fixed on his as he continued.

"Then one night, I stopped off at the bookstore in the market square to pick up some books I had ordered--"

"My books," Kim interjected, grinning widely.

"Yeah," William said, bringing her hand up to kiss it. "Your books. I was really looking forward to them. I had phoned the bookstore the day before they came out, and had them hold a copy of each for me. After work, I went straight there and picked them up...and then something happened. I didn't know it at the time, but the woman I met that night would start to change my life from the moment I met her." He ended this with another kiss on the back of Kim's hand, which was still clasped in his.

"Angelica," Kim managed, squeezing his hand a bit.

"Yeah," William continued. "The mysterious, seemingly strange woman who came out of nowhere. You know...if anyone else had approached me that way and said the things she said, I probably would have called the police and had them picked up...but there was just...something about her personality...something in the tone of her voice--"

"Especially when she was about to tell you something important..."

"Exactly!" he punctuated the end of Kim's statement. "And after a time - even in the, ummm, 'dreams,' I learned that what she was about to say when her voice changed was information that would impact and even help my life. Anyway...I met her on a Wednesday night...and what kind of freaked me out at first was how she knew things about me...she knew my name...she knew where I worked...things she couldn't have known unless she was stalking me or something - or so I thought. Then she asked me something that just caught me completely off guard...she asked me if I had ever seen or met a Celler."

Kim listened intently as William recounted his meeting her late friend.

"Nearly the entire time we talked - every time we talked - she held my hand in a handshake sort of way. I remember that from the moment she did that the first time, I had a...an uneasiness in the pit of my stomach...like I was going to be sick, you know?" Kim nodded slowly. "But I never did. That was just another strange part of it. Then she put an old-looking piece of paper into my hand, and said that when I come back to the bookstore, to bring two things. One was $20 for her...and the other...was a strong belief in my heart that anything is possible. I opened the paper - and it was a likeness of you, Kim...drawn on the old paper. I never even said anything to her about you...in fact, the only clue she had was the sack with your books in it - and she already had this paper."

William stopped. "Kim...I know you know all this already...and I hope it's not tedious to you..."

Kim moved this time to bring her husband's hand to her lips. "Honey...you could tell me this story a thousand times...and the way you tell it, I could never get tired of it. In fact, the first time you told me anything about it was the first time I'd ever heard anything about meeting a Celler from a Flesher's point of view...and you put your own thoughts and feelings into it. Please don't stop."

William knew now that what he had planned would make this night a special one that his wife would remember and cherish. "Two nights after that was Friday. It was the day Marcy was made one of the members of the Board of Regents. They had a big party planned, and everyone had an invitation in their mailbox...except me. I was devastated, especially after everything I had done to help her with things when she was my supervisor."

Kim's expression drooped a bit as William told her about his disappointment. "You found out later that it was a mix-up...but yeah, I can see where you'd have been hurt. I know I would be...especially with someone like Marcy."

William nodded and went on. "Yep. I went home and moped around most of the night. I couldn't even watch you on TV - your show was pre-empted for a Proud Family marathon...so I fell asleep."

Kim winced. "Ewwww. Penny Proud is nice and all that...but you really could have used a half-hour, umm, 'with' me that night...even if just on the TV."

"Well...that night, I could have used a half-hour with just about anybody...so when I woke up, I took a $20, and went back to the bookstore--"

Kim tried to hide a sudden giggle. "...you weren't thinking of asking Angelica out, were you?"

"No...!" William said, lightly smacking Kim's hand while chuckling. "I thought maybe she might know someone who wanted to spend an evening with me...just to talk and get my mind off of what had happened at work. But I never got to that. That's when she gave me the things for The Cross...she gave me instructions with it all...but wouldn't tell me what would happen when I followed them. When I finally remembered to ask her if she might know someone, she was gone - just like that--" William's expression then fell. "--that's the last time I ever saw Angelica face-to-face."

Kim spent a moment remembering the vitality and joie le vive of her friend - and her hand tightened around William's, her eyes glassing over a little. "I remember something she always used to say," she said, "and I didn't remember it until just now. She always had a dream that, someday - she didn't care how long it took - but someday, all Fleshers would not only believe that Cellers can and do exist in the Flesher environment and not just on their TVs - but accept them openly. She would always say, 'Until the circle fills, and wisdom lies ahead...the Faithful live awake - the rest remain misled.' She called it 'The Fall of Cynicism'...that one day, those who deny or refuse to believe would all change...even the mean people, who would call us 'freaks'--" her face fell a little more as she wiped at a tear "or worse."

William brought his wife close. "I like that. I really like that...'the Faithful live awake...'. That describes it so perfectly. The night that I heard the news about Angelica." He softly caressed Kim's back and shoulders as she held him, and continued. "Up until then, I hadn't really given much thought to following the instructions for the things she had given me...but at that moment I figured it would be the least I could do to follow her wishes. I followed the instructions to the letter--" William now slid his wife back until he could look into her eyes, which were now aglow with the flickering from the fireplace dancing with the tears that had welled up. "--and the room exploded into light, and wind, and sound..." He now took both of her hands in his. "...and on that cold December night...the first night of the new moon...you walked out of my mirror, Kim - and into my life. It was December 8th, in fact...one year ago tonight."

A tear escaped and rolled down Kim's cheek as the realization hit her. "Tonight...?" she stammered a bit. "It was tonight? Ohh God, William," she shook her head slowly, her tearing eyes trained on his, "I had- what with all the news at work, and with everything happening at home, and the new home, and Angel and everything--" Kim sobbed, trying to smile, while inside she was engaged in an internal beating. How could she forget the night that was to be just another Cross, but became such an intense, emotional event not only for William, but for her? Her hair slipped to hide her increasing tears as she lowered her head, her voice breaking a little. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...I...forgot--"

William collected his wife into his arms, feeling her sobs shake against him. "Shhhhhhhh," he said trying to soothe her. "You've been through more events in the last six months than a lot of people on the planet...things you've never even thought could happen, much less would happen to you - or any Celler. With all that...a lot of people wouldn't have been able to take it all the way you have...and you still come up smiling." Kim lifted her eyes to her husband's, searching. William lifted his hand near his mouth in a halting motion - then put a finger to her mouth. "There isn't a need for any kind of apology, Kim. All you have to say...is Happy Anniversary."

The tears began to flow as Kim moved to embrace William tightly. "H-Happy Anniver-hersary, baby," she stuttered through sobs. William hugged her tight in return, himself remembering the events of that night a year ago, when his entire life was changed forever for the better by the woman from inside the box - and the woman who brought her into his life.

William slid back to look into his wife's eyes again. She reached back for the box of tissues on the end table, wiping at her eyes, then locking her gaze onto his, her mouth in a wide, open smile. "Now, for one of the little things I talked about," he said while rising from the couch. "Stay right there and close your eyes," he said, and turned for the hall, opening the door to the bedroom that he had turned into an office. Kim waited patiently as a moment passed, entertaining a bit of reverse thought - wondering if William could be such a warm, caring, wonderful husband and person - and be real himself. Of course she knew the truth - but still, it was astonishing at times - the depth of his love and caring.

The thought was put to rest as William said, "You can open your eyes now." She did so - and took in yet another affirmation of her feelings for Mr. William Hodge.

Kim brought in a breath in a long gasp. "William, it's--it's beautiful."

William stood next to a large display case, nearly as tall as he was, made of a dark cherry wood. Inside the back of the case was the mirror that Kim had come through a year ago. Inside the center of what remained of her outline was the scroll with the Incantation, adorned with Angelica's printer-perfect penmanship, affixed to the mirror. Inside the outline of Kim's head was the small drawing that Angelica had given William on the night they met. To each side of the mirror, about halfway down, a small shelf held the candle, and the box which held the crystal. The gold strings that were tied around the box and the scroll now hung down on either side of the unrolled scroll.

"It's even better than I would have done," Kim smiled. "I had given thought to putting the items inside a display case...but I wouldn't have thought of incorporating the mirror into it." William leaned the case against the coffee table and sat next to Kim, who immediately slipped her arms around him. "It's a so way lovely gift, hon...thought about where it should be?"

"Yep," replied William. "I'd like to put it against the far wall there...so people can see it the moment they come through the entry hall...so anyone who enters our home can view one of the main reasons that it is our home."

Kim said nothing, but embraced her husband again, eyeing the case over his shoulder. She suddenly backed up a little. "William? Ummm...not to disparage the case, but...there's something missing."

"...oh?" said William in mock inquisitiveness. "Why, what's missing, hon?"

"The cap from the crystal. It's not in the case."

"Ohhhhh...that," William said, a sly smile growing over his face. "Kim..." he said, reaching into his pants pocket, "just because something isn't in the case, doesn't mean it's missing." He brought his hand forward with a small black box in it. "Open it, Mrs. Hodge," he smiled wider.

Kim took the box and lifted the lid. Nestled in black velvet was the cap. She removed it from the box, and a long chain trailed from the box after it. Kim again inhaled slowly through an open mouth. William had the cap mounted onto a "zip ring" which allowed the chain to pass through it. The chain itself was made up of links in sterling silver - each twisting back over itself to form an elongated figure-8. "A necklace," she cooed. "Ohhhh, William, this is so neat." She then turned to face away from him, holding the necklace aloft. "Do the honor?" she asked in a sweet tone.

"I'd be honored," William replied. Kim tittered in response as William took the necklace, undoing the clasp and lifting it over her head. Kim gathered her thick mane of hair, holding it off her neck, and William slid the necklace around her, latching the clasp.

Kim admired the look and feel of the cool sterling against her skin. "Mmmm...I need a mirror."

William subtly pointed to the mirror in the display case, which was still leaning against the coffee table, right in front of them, and his wife giggled with a silly grin. "Dooiii, Kim," she said, positioning herself. She looked at the six-sided crystaline keepsake, now around her neck - and thought about how it made her feel closer to the vibrant and wise friend who was no longer here - yet never really gone. She then thought about how, by these actions, and the value William placed on that cold night one year ago, that she now felt closer to her husband as well. Here was a Flesher who, contrary to the accepted "circus attraction" mentality after a Cross, welcomed and accepted her not as a curiosity; but as a guest - a welcome, cherished guest.

Kim held the crystal up to get a closer look at the chain. "Each link is like a little eight," she remarked.

William smiled in response. "That's the mathematical symbol for infinity," he said. Kim gave him a rather curious sideways glance. "Infinity is another way of saying 'forever'."

Kim turned back to her husband, embracing him once again. "William, this has turned into a fantastic surprise..and I will treasure and wear this necklace every single day--" her face fell a bit "--but...I feel bad because I didn't even remember this day was coming, much less giving any thought to getting you a gift. You have to let me shop a little this week to find you something."

William looked at his wife with a rather disbelieving expression. "Kim..." he started, his face changing to a warm smile. "You don't have to buy a thing to give me any gift..."

Kim looked at him, a bit puzzled, as he continued. "Kim...every morning I wake up and you greet me - it's a gift. Every time you kiss or hug me - it's a gift. Every time you tell me you love me...that's a wondrous gift. Every day that you are my wife...that is the most welcome gift. And soon--" he softly caressed Kim's upper midsection "--soon, you will share with me, and the world...the most amazing gift that could ever be...a gift without compare." His gaze shifted to her eyes again. "Kim...you are my gift...and each day of life with you just makes that gift just that much more precious."

Kim's heart started to melt away as William began - and by the time he finished, her love for him - and the feelings and passion surrounding this anniversary of the night that actually started not only her life, but William's - and soon, another - overtook her like an avalanche of emotion. "William, I lo-ve you so mu-ch-ch," she burst out, nearly lunging into his arms, weeping openly, clutching ever tighter, giving over completely to the moment. They both repeated "I love you" into each others' ear as they embraced.

After about fifteen minutes, William slid his wife back to look into her eyes, her face now streaked with tears of joy and love, her mouth seemingly now a semi-permanent smile. "There is one more...little thing," he said. Kim raised an eyebrow as she drifted a tissue over her face. "When you go on maternity leave, you won't be allowed to use my computer to do your work from home."

Kim's expression instantly changed to one of near shock. "What?" she blurted. "But I'm going on leave in less than a month! It's the Christmas buying season!" She continued as her husband rose, motioning his hand for her to take. "I'll never be able to order a new computer this time of year and have it arrive in time to even get it configured correctly with the company software, much less get comfortable using it. Did the company tell you this?"

"Nope," he said, leading her into the hallway. "It was completely my decision."

"William, I don't understand," she continued. "Without a computer, I won't be able to do any work from here. I don't even think I could get to a local computer store and get what I need in time! William, how could you decide this? I don't know what I'm going...to........do...."

William had led her to the door of his office, and opened it. Inside, caty-corner to his desk, sat a new desk, made of a light blonde oak. A hutch sat on the desk, with a myriad of shelves and compartments. A thickly-padded high-backed leather chair was parked in front of it. In front of the chair on the desk was a new monitor and in a compartment near the floor sat a new computer tower, both a rich dark silver. A brilliant red ribbon cascaded across the hutch, with a large bow affixed to the monitor.

Kim just stood with her mouth open, taking it all in. "You...have...outdone yourself, Mr, Hodge," she said slowly, moving toward the chair, bringing William in tow. She sat in the chair, and the plush padding immediately molded around her like a hug from an old friend. "Ohhhh....ohh ohh William," she said as she sank into the rich chair.

"Turn it on," said William. "It's already been fully configured for Meridian...and I added a few...extras."

"When did you have time to do this?" she asked as she pressed a button on the tower. The system came to life, going through its bootup sequence and loading the operating system.

"Well, I ordered the computer from work, during the week that we were moving."

"We'll have to transfer my email over to here...and get a connection for the cable modem--"

"Done and done," William smirked. "You thought I took the afternoon off just to sit around?"

Kim's smile widened more and more. A login window appeared with the username "KHodge." "Ummm, what's my password?"

William smiled smugly. "happyanniv."

Kim pulled out a drawer from under the desk surface, revealing the keyboard and mouse. She entered the password and hit the enter key. The speakers immediately burst forth. "Z-Boy hungry!"

"Oh, YOU!" Kim squealed, grabbing William by the shirt, nearly pulling him into the chair with her. He bent down, chuckling as she smothered him with kisses. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou," she streamed into his ear.

"Happy Anniversary, Kim," William said. "So I take this to mean I made the right call in having you cancel the backgammon club tonight?"

Kim pulled back for a second. "Doi!" she exclaimed, then returned to hugging and kissing her husband. "Happy Anniversary, you wonderful, wonderful man, you!"

to be continued...