Writer's notes: Romance- what does it mean? To some it means chocolate and roses, jewelry and dinner in a fancy restaurant. But for most women, I think true romance is being appreciated and known. A romantic gesture is not a formula to follow, it's personal. It's about remembering little things, showing that you have been paying attention, and a real desire to touch the other's soul, to bring them happiness and pleasure and to connect. There are no roses or chocolate in this story, it is a simple story of two people, taking a break from the demand of 'the real world' to rediscover each other. So come and escape with them and enjoy...
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When I came home from work, the first thing I notice was that everything was very clean. The next thing I noticed was that it was quiet.
“Where’s the baby?” I asked my husband, Kurt.
“She’s staying the night at Grandma’s,” he told me. “So we have the house all to ourselves.”
He led me into a sparkling clean kitchen I vaguely recognized as my own. Our table had been set with a crisp red tablecloth and two place settings of our good china and crystal. A flower centerpiece was flanked by elegant white taper candles in silver holders. Steam rose from the food, tastefully arranged in serving dishes rather than pots and pans.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked lightly.
“I just wanted to show you how much I love you,” Kurt said, putting an arm around my waist. I could only look up into his deep blue eyes and smile.
“So what’s on the menu?” I asked as he pulled out my chair for me.
“Mmm,” he said grinning. “Don’t make it so easy for me.”
I grinned back. “All right then, what’d you cook?”
“Baked rolls, shrimp and scallop pasta, steamed vegetables, twice baked potatoes and chocolate torte,” my husband listed. I should mention that Kurt is a professional cook, but rarely has time or energy to cook fancy meals at home.
I look at my husband from across the table and my eyes fill with adoration. “Why don’t you slide your chair over by me honey. You’re just too far away.”
Kurt scooched over close and brought his plate. We took turns feeding each other, like we had in our early dating days. We spent some time reminiscing about what great times we had when we first met.