“Specifically the spot in front of the fireplace,” Oscar half whispers to his wife, and I nearly choke.
Joy hoots with laughter as the four of us share this private joke and then we start to ask more questions. We spend hours talking about our lives and how we met, and there are lots of similarities between us. Oscar hired Ester to come work for him at the city after he saw her picture in the paper. She worked at the junior college as a typist, and that’s how he convinced her to take the job.
They worked together about six months before he finally proposed on a night a big snowstorm blew through Troping and knocked the power out. They had kids right away too and ended up having seven in total. It was inspiring to see their love and how long it’s lasted. The reason they live at the retirement community is so they can be close to family and around friends, but it’s clear that most of all, they just want to spend every moment together.
After we say our goodbyes and make a plan to come by on Thursday for tea, I take Joy’s hand, and we exit the community center. It’s a beautiful cool night with the fall leaves fading away and the first snow dusting the ground. Christmas is right around the corner, and I can’t wait to see what the holidays bring this season.
“You think you could handle seven?” I ask once we’re standing under the stars and I’ve got my arms around her.
“Seven of you? Hmmm.” She pretends to think it over. “Absolutely. But if they’re anything like their Auntie Tinsel—”
“One it is,” I tease and cup her face. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Not in the last hour.” She smiles up at me, and my heart aches with love.
“How about how lucky I am that you’re mine?”
“You can say that to me as many times as you want.” She leans into my touch, and I bend down to kiss her.
“It’s all true,” I say and brush my lips against her soft mouth. “And I can’t wait to spend forever telling anyone who will listen just how amazing you are.”
“Stop it or you’ll get me pregnant again.”
Our kiss turns from innocent to passionate in a blink, and when I taste her, all I can do is moan and hold her close.
“I think it’s time we go to bed and try out that jealousy thing again,” I offer, and Joy agrees.
With all the love in the world nestled right against me, we make our way home.
* * *
THE END!