Sandy hurried into the kitchen to put all his bags from the grocery store down on the kitchen island.
'Seth! What am I going to do about him?' Sandy thought, feeling a bit panicked for a second. He couldn't leave him with Jimmy and Julie, Seth hated them, and he had no friends he could be with. That leaved Sandy one person, the person he least wanted to call, Kirsten usually called him, but that was no option now.
"Hello Cal, it's Sandy. I was wondering if Seth could spend the night at your house. You see, it's our wedding anniversary…Yeah, of course you knew that already. He can? Great, I'll drop him by at your house any minute. Bye" Sandy hung up. Luckily Seth liked being with his grandpa.
Sandy hurried upstairs to pack Seth's stuff and then he hurried back out to his car to pick him up.
Seth was sitting on the ground at the parking lot, reading a comic book, when Sandy came.
"Hey kid, what do you think about spending the night at your grandpa's house?" Sandy said when Seth got into the car.
"Sure, any specific reason?" he asked and looked at hi dad. Seth was a very special kid….
"No, I just thought you wanted to be any where else than home." Sandy said and drove off. "So how was school?"
"As usual" Seth answered shortly. Sandy knew too well what that meant. Ten minutes later they saw Caleb's big mansion in front of them. Seth and Sandy both got out of the car and Sandy took out Seth's bag and carried it to the door. Seth rang the doorbell and the door opened almost immediately by Caleb himself.
"Grandpa!" Seth said and hurried forward to hug him.
"Hello, Seth. I'm glad you wanted to come out here tonight" Caleb said and Seth turned to his father to say goodbye.
"Love you kid" Sandy yelled after him as he rushed into the house, leaving Sandy alone with Caleb. Sandy handed him the bag.
"Thanks Cal, I'll better be going now. I'll pick him up tomorrow afternoon." Sandy walked back to the car and thought about the next step in his plan. He drove off towards the mall.
'Flowers, candles, presents' Karen's words echoed in his head. 'But what am I going to buy?'
Kirsten was at her office, it was getting late. She looked at the watch. 19.38.
She looked around; there was nothing more that needed to be done.
'Well, I guess I have to go home, then.' She thought. She was still upset with her husband for forgetting their anniversary, but maybe they could get a last minute reservation at some fancy restaurant.
Sandy was working away in the kitchen; he was hoping Kirsten would be home soon, dinner was almost ready. He had been spending a while trying to figure out what song he would play. He walked into the sitting room and looked around. It was perfect.
Meanwhile, Kirsten just drove up outside their house. She got out of the car and hesitated for only a few seconds before she placed her hand on the doorknob and tried to open it. It was locked. She frowned. Wasn't Sandy home yet? He couldn't be, he never locked the door when he knew she would come home late. Sandy heard her when she tried to open the door. He got up from the chair he was sitting on and let his eyes wander over the romantic set table and he smiled.
Kirsten unlocked the door and walked in. She froze in the doorway. The lights were out, but tens of red candles lit up the sitting room. There were bunches of red roses everywhere and something smelled good from the kitchen. She closed the door behind her and looked around after her husband.
"Sandy?" she asked as she walked towards the couches. She suddenly felt an arm around her waist and a voice whispered in her ear.
"Happy anniversary, honey"
She turned around and looked into those big blue eyes that belonged to Sandy. She opened her mouth to speak, but he placed a finger over her mouth.
"Don't say anything. Let me turn on some music" he said and walked over to the stereo. He pressed play and walked back to her just as a woman with a beautiful voice started to sing.
Can you forgive me again?
I don't know what I said
But I didn't mean to hurt you
Kirsten immediately understood that Sandy carefully had picked out this song, he was asking for forgiveness.
I hear the words come out
I feel like I would die
It hurt so much to hurt you
Then you look at me
You're not shouting anymore
You're silently broken
Sandy stood behind Kirsten and hesitated before he placed a hand on her shoulder, she didn't move.
"Will you forgive me?" he whispered.
I'd give anything now
To hear those words from you
"Of course" she replied and turned around and fell into his arms.
Each time I say something I regret I cry 'I don't want to lose you!'
But somehow I know that you will never leave me, yeah
Cause you were made for me
Somehow I'll make you see
How happy you make me
I can't live this life
Without you by my side
I need you to survive
So stay with me
You look in my eyes and I'm screaming inside that I'm sorry
And you forgive me again
You're my one true friend
And I never meant to hurt you
"You know what this song's called?" Sandy whispered into her ear. Kirsten shook her head.
"Forgive me" he said "I heard this song and I realized how well it copied my thoughts."
Kirsten looked into his eyes. The lyric had been touching and the room was beautifully decorated…he had done all this for her.
She leaned in to kiss him but he backed away from her, smiling.
"Not yet. I have something for you" he said and took something from the table. He walked back to her and handed it to her. It was a jewellery box. She opened it and stared at its contents, breathless.
"Oh, Sandy"
Sandy smiled at her reaction. She took up the necklace and placed it in her palm and looked at it. It was a thin gold chain attached to a beautiful golden butterfly. The wings were decorated with coloured gemstones. Sandy took off the necklace she was carrying and took the butterfly from her hand. His hands reached behind her neck as he put it on. He looked at her.
"It suits you" he simply said.
"It's beautiful. Can I kiss you now?" Kirsten said and wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. Sandy broke apart.
"Come on, dinner's ready" he said and took her hand and led her into the kitchen.
"You made dinner?" Kirsten asked, impressed.
"Yeah, of course. Anything for you, my dear" he smiled.
The table was set beautifully, a red table cloth and lit candles.
"Oh my…"
Sandy led her to her chair and pulled it out for her, she sat down.
"Thank you"
He walked over to the kitchen island and lay up the food carefully on two plates.
"What have you cooked?" Kirsten asked, she was sitting with her back to him, so she turned around to face him. He looked at her with a smile.
"Grilled salmon in a raspberry coolly reduction" he answered.
"My favourite" she replied.
"I know" He placed on plate in front of her and the other on the opposite from her. He went back to open the wine.
"So" he said when he sat down. He raised his glass "Here's to our marriage" he said and they clinked glass. As they drank Kirsten looked into his eyes, she felt like she had to say something. They started to eat in silence.
"Sandy" she started and he looked up at her. "The food is amazing" that was not what she had meant to say.
"Thank you sweetie" he smiled.
"I'm sorry about my behaviour today, I shouldn't have taken this day this seriously" she said and he frowned.
"I'm not blaming you for acting like that" he said and she looked up into his eyes, they were sparkling in the candle light.
She waited for further explanation
"This day is important, and I should have remembered it" he said.
"Then why didn't you?" she whispered, loud enough for him to hear. He reached across the table and took her hand.
"I don't know. I guess I thought so much about not forgetting that I didn't remember to, you know, remember. But don't think our marriage means nothing to me, it does. You're my everything, my one true love. I should have remembered, I should have remembered"
He looked sad, Kirsten understood he felt really bad for letting her down. She got up from her chair. Sandy felt her hand slipping away and he heard her footsteps as she walked. 'She's leaving'. He got surprised when he felt a hand on his back, he turned his head around and looked into Kirsten's face.
"It doesn't matter, as long as you're honest with me, and as long as you love me, I'll forgive you. It's not a big deal"
"Believe me when I say I love you" Sandy replied, and Kirsten believed him.
"I know. I love you too." They stared in each others eyes for a while. Sandy broke the magic.
"I should clean up. Why don't you go to the sitting room and wait for me?" he said and reached for her plate. She quickly stopped him.
"The clean up can wait. Come on" she took his hand and dragged him back into the sitting room.
"Wait here" Kirsten went over to the cd player and put on a cd.
"Let's dance" she said and wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled and put his hands on her back.
The whispers in the morning
Of lovers sleeping tight
Are rolling like thunder now
As I look in your eyes
I hold on to you body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender
A love that I could not forsake
Cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
Kirsten kissed Sandy lightly on the lips. He looked deeply into her blue eyes, he saw who she used to be, the same Kirsten he had fallen in love with over ten years ago. The funny, rebellious Kirsten. She kissed him again, more passionately this time.
Lost is how I'm feeling lying in your arms
When the world outside's too
Much to take
That all ends when I'm with you
Even though there may be times
It seems far away
Never wonder where I am
Cause I am always by your side
They had stopped dancing now and had started the make-out session.
Cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
They stumbled backwards and collapsed on the couch together, Sandy was sitting down and Kirsten straddled him. Sandy started to kiss her neck and she moaned.
The sound of your heart beating
Made it clear
Suddenly the feeling that I can't go on
Is light years away
Cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
Kirsten pushed Sandy down and crawled on top of him. She started to fight with his tie and threw it away. His hands had found there way under her shirt.
He kissed her throat, collarbone and when his lips found hers, they shared a kiss that was so full of love and passion that it even took Kirsten by surprise. Sandy slowly started to unbutton her shirt, it slid off.
"Sandy, wait" she breathed and he continued to kiss her neck but letting out a "Yeah babe?" to let her know he was listening.
"We can't do this"
Sandy stopped kissing her and looked at her and frowned. "What do you mean? Don't you want to?" He couldn't believe it, they were doing so well…
"Of course I want to, that's not what I meant. But we can't do it here, we're on the couch, people sit on this couch. And I'll be having the newpises over tomorrow, and they're going to sit on this couch and if I think that we just did it on it…" her words were stopped by Sandy's mouth covering hers.
"You would start to laugh" Sandy finished the sentence for her. "Ok, let go upstairs" he said and sat up, Kirsten was already standing. She smiled at the decorated room, she felt Sandy moving up behind her. Before she had the time to tell him how beautiful the room was, he had scooped her up in his arms.
"Sandy!" she laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He started to walk up the stairs and he smiled when he felt Kirsten's lips exploring his throat.
He put her down right outside their bedroom door. He stood behind her and covered her eyes.
"Sandy" she laughed and tried to remove his hand, but he was much stronger than her.
He slowly opened the door and led her inside before he shut it, still covering her eyes.
"Oh come on! This is ridiculous. Sandy Cohen"
He smiled at her frustration.
"Ok, are you ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm ready" she said, trying to sound patient, but Sandy knew she was curious to what he was hiding from her.
He slowly removed his hand and she looked around and gasped. As opposite to the sitting room, the bedroom was decorated with pink and white roses and candles.
"Oh my God Sandy" she said as she saw rose petals covering the floor and the bed.
When she turned around he was holding out an envelope for her. She accepted it. She took out the card and read it.
"You're taking me to a weekend at the spa?"
"Yeah, I figured you could need to relax" Sandy said and smiled.
"Thank you" Kirsten said and kissed him softly. The envelope fell to the floor as she wrapped her arms around him and deepened the kiss. They stumbled towards the bed and fell down on it, Kirsten on top, only dressed in her bra and skirt. Sandy's hand slid down her back and ended up on her ass while the other took her gently by the neck and pushed her down so he could kiss her. Their lips met and she opened her mouth to let his tongue enter. Sandy quickly got rid of Kirsten's skirt and she looked down at his full-dressed body, she smiled and started to work with the buttons on his pants.
When Kirsten woke up the next morning she got very surprised when she didn't feel Sandy's arms around her. That could only mean one thing. She turned around and she got her worst suspicions confirmed, Sandy wasn't there. Couldn't he have skipped surfing today? She found herself getting upset with him. Then she heard footsteps from the hallway. Seconds later Sandy entered the room, carrying a breakfast tray and dressed in a robe.
"I thought you'd left to go surfing" Kirsten said, relieved.
"You think I'm crazy? No way. I would never leave you after a night like that, even though the waves are really good"
He slid out of his robe, put the tray down on the floor and got into bed again. He kissed her.
"I think that was a pretty good anniversary" she said and laughed.
"Me too" he said as he left kisses all over her upper body. She put her hand on his naked chest.
"I'm a little hungry" Kirsten said and he bent down and picked up the tray and put it on his bedside table. On the tray were two cups of coffee, bagels and a present. Sandy handed the present to her. She took it and looked deeply into his eyes.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I want you to know I care about you, that I love you" was his answer. She opened it. It was a very sexy set of underwear. "Sandy, it's beautiful" she laughed.
"That's why it'll suit you. You're so hot" he murmured and started to kiss her neck again. She closed her eyes and lost herself in his touch. She wanted him, needed him, again. Kirsten climbed on top of him and let her hands wander. Their blue eyes met.
"I love you so much" she whispered.
"Not as much as I love you" was her husband's response.
Ok, that's that. I wanna know what you think, so please review! Thank you!