Secret Present

Their wedding anniversary was close, they didn't have any plans yet, but they'll surely celebrate it. However, they started thinking about what kind of present they'll give to each other.

Lars' presents were always perfect, last year he gave her a beautiful necklace that she wore every day. So this year Mei wanted to surprise him. She wanted to give him something really special, but what it could be? She wondered.

Also, Lars was in the same situation, what could be an excellent present for her? Jewels maybe? Clothes? Flowers? A trip? He thought about so many things she would like. What about a romantic dinner in a very elegant and expensive restaurant? That would be perfect, but also, he wanted something more intimate, just for the two of them.

They were thinking about it while they were in their way home. Then they found the answer at their problems when they passed near a library. "That'd be perfect!" they thought looking at the books and at a cooking class' advertisement.

Mei decided to give him a book and not any book but the first edition of his favorite one. It would be difficult, but she was ready to find it. Lars decided to take cooking classes and then preparing a romantic dinner for her. They went to bed with a smile, thinking of how happy the other would be with their present.

Mei looked up at the book when she got home from work, asking and investigating about prices. She was so worried about her research that she didn't notice that Lars was returning home late. Lars' class was after work, but it was a secret, she didn't have to know about it.

Mei didn't realize his absence until one night, when she looked at the clock, she sighed, Lars' dinner was getting cold. He was late. She imagined that probably he had lots of work. He finally got home and she felt relieved. Also, she needed his hugs so badly, she approached opening her arms, but he told her he needed a shower. Mei was worried, but well, a shower wasn't something dangerous.

"I'll warm over your dinner, you must be hungry" she said when he got out of the bathroom.

"Don't worry, I ate at work" he replied hesitantly.

Mei looked at him, she was about to make him questions and feeling annoyed, when he hugged her and kiss her.

"Sorry for not kissing you first, but I really needed a shower" he told her.

Mei's bad ideas disappeared in that moment. Then, they went to bed. Lars felt guilty for lie to her. That day, his shirt got dirty when he was learning to cook a soup. He had fun in that class, even though his brother-in-law, Yao, was the teacher.

"Please, don't tell her I take this class" he asked Yao the first day and explained him his reasons.

"Ok, I won't tell her" Yao said, thinking that after all, his sister had a good husband.

Finally, Mei found the book, it was in an excellent condition, and then, she looked at the price; it was more expensive than she thought. She was shocked; she truly wanted to give him that book. She decided to sell a few jewels she had and she never used, and a couple of furniture, waiting to gain the rest of the money she needed.

Lars got home late every day, and she tried her best to believe that he was busy and he was at work… and not out there with some wh… She hit the table with her fist. No, that was her imagination; Lars was a great husband, responsible and caring. He could never do that kind of disgusting things. She looked at the clock and got mad.

"Are you alright, Tulp?" he said when he opened the door.

"…I am fine, Lars" she replied faking a smile.

Lars put a kiss in her head and they talked about their day, he wanted to tell her everything about the class, but he couldn't. However she'll know it eventually and that comforted him. He had learnt too much and he wanted to practice at home, but it would be strange since Mei knew he could just cook simple things. He waited impatiently for the big day.

Days passed, Mei got the money she needed for the book with the jewels she sold. But the thought of Lars' strange behavior caused her concern. He loved her, she knew that, also, she trusted him… or that was what she tried to convince herself.

Mei felt bitter, looking at him sleeping so calmly, while her imagination was getting wild. She wanted to ask him why he was late, but she felt like a fool, what if he had been passing through a difficult moment at work and he didn't want to tell her to don't worry her? But why he didn't tell her? She thought they were a team, maybe she was wrong.

Also, why he hadn't mentioned their anniversary? Every time she was about to talk about it, he told her he had everything solved. But even the morning of their anniversary, he didn't make the comment. She was very disappointed; meanwhile he was planning the menu for that night, imagining Mei's surprised.

Mei had bought the book two days ago, but she hadn't wrapped it yet. She was thinking about how to talk with Lars, how to tell him she was worried for him, for her and for them. That day, Yao had invited her to his home; he wanted her to give him her opinion about a new dish he invented. Lars asked him to distract her, while he prepared the dinner and decorated the house.

Mei tasted the dish and closed her eyes, trying to not cry.

"Didn't you like it?" he asked, when he noticed her gesture.

"It's not that, it's very tasty. It's just that…"

"What's wrong?" he asked when she started sobbing.

"I think… Lars is… cheating on me" she said, crying.

"Why do you think that?" Yao was about to get mad.

"He has been getting home very late and he seemed to be in other world. I feel that he has a secret…" she complained. "Also he is always tired…" she said shyly.

Then, Yao realized what she was talking about, and shook his head. He sighed and tried to cheer her up, and then Mei got angry and said that maybe he was right and Lars was just a pretentious jerk and other nasty things that even him hadn't thought.

"No, Mei, don't think that way about him. He loves you; he wouldn't be capable of doing such a disgusting thing to you. Don't you think that maybe he is working too much for you?"

Mei stopped crying, and glared at him. She was furious.

"Yao, don't tell me you are his friend now? You are my brother, you used to dislike him! All men are the same" she said "I can't believe I spent so much money to buy his stupid book"

She decided to go home, ready to talk with Lars. Yao tried to stop her. But she went home anyways. When she opened the door, she found the dim lights, flowers, candles, wine and a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. She was about to scream, he was at their own home… with someone. She knew Lars; he didn't cook, so other person had to be there.

She got into the kitchen and he looked at her, he was surprised, he hadn't finished the dessert. He was wearing an apron and had some flour in the face.

"Lars? What are you doing?"

"Oh… surprise? Mei, it's supposed you had to be here in a half hour" he said disappointed.

Mei gasped and cried again. Lars didn't understand what was going on, why she was crying, it was their special day, and she didn't have to cry.

"Hey, what happened? Did I do anything wrong? Did you want to cook? Or don't you like this? I am sorry, but I thought all this was your favorite…"

"No! It's not that! I am a fool"

"Why do you say that? You are not a fool"

Mei told him about her suspicions and apologized for all the hurtful things she said about him. He sighed and explained that he wanted to surprise her, so he thought that a romantic dinner was the perfect gift.

"Lars, I am really sorry, I should trust you"

"It's ok" he said hugging her "Sorry for lie to you and make you think all that"

Both felt calm. She knew she had the best husband and he was relieved for finally tell her the truth. Minutes later, they had dinner, he was glad to know that she loved all the dishes. Then, they danced slowly in the living room. They kissed, and then she remembered.

"Oh no! Bunny, I forgot your present"

She went to her wardrobe and returned with a book.

"I didn't wrap it, I'm sorry"

He smiled, that was the first edition of his favorite book, in perfect condition. But how?

"I sold some jewels and furniture to buy it. I hope you like it"

"Mei, thank you"

He kissed her again several times; he knew he had the best wife. She smiled and both embraced tightly.

And that was the story of their third anniversary, a story that they'll like to tell to their children when they were adults, and the story that will make Yao to roll eyes.