Page 75 of One More Time

‘You’ll always have whatever it is.’ With Grace rising on her tippy toes, they met each other’s lips, lingering there for a kiss and a cuddle.

The delicious scent of bacon sizzling made her mouth water. ‘Whatever you’re cooking smells amazing.’

‘With me at the helm, of course it does.’ He grinned playfully as he cracked fresh eggs into a pan.

‘Now, now, don’t get too ahead of yourself.’ Giving him a quick pat to his bottom, she padded over to the coffee machine. ‘Would you like me to make us both a vanilla latte? Or would you like a hazelnut one today?’

‘Hmm.’ His brows scrunched in thought as he sliced a fresh loaf of sourdough. ‘Let’s go hazelnut.’

‘Okay-dokey, hazelnut it is.’ The bopping song Charlie had just turned up evoking sweet memories she longed to share with him, she raised her voice over the music. ‘Remember when we used to dance our tooshies off to this?’

‘How could I forget all the times we burnt up the dance floor at Confetti?’ His arms came around her waist and she spun to face him. ‘Can I have this dance, Mrs Wilson?’

Tossing the teaspoon onto the sink, she obliged, and they swirled and swayed their way around the butcher’s block, over to the dining table and then back to where Grace was halfway through preparing their coffee, their wide smiles identical.

‘Now that was fun,’ Charlie said, a little out of breath.

Catching hers too, Grace had to agree. ‘We do impromptu so well, my love.’

‘Just like everything else.’

Charlie finished preparing a scrumptious feast of crispy bacon, poached eggs, grilled basil tomatoes, garlic butter mushrooms and toasted sourdough then, with two plates in hand, led Grace out to their favourite spot to sit while enjoying a lazy brunch. He had already set the table with rattan placemats, shiny silver cutlery and a vase with freshly picked flowers from her beloved garden; it looked delightful, and made Grace feel extra special.

‘Oh, Charlie, this looks beautiful,’ she gushed as he pulled her chair out for her. ‘I’m so fortunate, having a husband like you.’

‘I’m the one who’s lucky, my love.’ He settled himself on the chair beside her, then passed her a gift-wrapped box. ‘This is for you, my darling Grace. Happy anniversary.’

Unwrapping the pretty paper, a velvet box was revealed. ‘Whatever have you got me?’ she asked as she opened it to see a pair of gold teardrop earrings with sapphires at the centre. ‘Oh, my goodness, Charlie, they’re absolutely stunning.’

‘They should match your brooch.’

‘Oh, yes, they most certainly will.’ She leant into him and lingered an appreciative kiss on his lips. ‘Thank you, I’ll be sure to wear them with my brooch tonight.’

‘Your turn.’ Taking the gift from her robe pocket, she passed it to him.

He unwrapped her present to reveal a golden signet ring with the Wilson family crest engraved upon it. ‘Oh, Grace, this is…’ He blinked faster, sniffling. ‘Wow.’

Vincit qui se Vincit. She repeated the verse that was written at the top of the crest when she’d researched it, not sure that she’d be able to fit the inscription on the ring. ‘I know what it says, but what does it mean?’

The tender look Charlie gave her was wise and otherworldly. ‘“He conquers who conquers himself”. Which essentially means it’s you against yourself, and if you can conquer all of your flaws, and all of your weaknesses, then you will find yourself on the road to becoming the best person you can possibly be.’

Grace’s hands came to cover her gasping mouth. ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so fitting for your life, my strong, sweet man.’

‘Yes, it most certainly is, my darling Grace.’ Tears rolled down his cheeks as he held the ring to his chest. ‘This means so very much, so thank you, from the bottom of my heart.’

‘My pleasure, Charlie.’ She met his lips. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you more.’

Taking the first bite of her brunch, Grace rolled her eyes in pleasure. ‘Oh, my goodness, Charlie! Where on earth did you get this maple bacon from?’

‘I drove over to the butcher on the other side of town yesterday, just for you.’

Her heart welled. ‘This is why I love you.’

‘Because of my bacon hunting skills?’

She chuckled. ‘Yes, exactly.’