"Happy Valentines day!" Tom beamed and handed Lily a small, badly wrapped package barely held together with tape.
"Oh thank you," Lily said, genuinely pleased. "And here's yours."
Lily handed him a more proficiently wrapped box that had the look of expensive chocolates.
Valentines Day was a well practised tradition in the Barone house. With the kids looked after by a sitter they were free to exchanging presents, have a meal at their favourite restaurant and of course share a night of passion together. Tom pulled open the wrapping of his gift was pleased to see his favourite chocolates.
"Thanks, we can have these later. Open yours."
It didn't take much to open Lily's present, as the wrapping fell apart it revealed a set of black lacy underwear. Lily smiled as if she had been expecting something like this.
"Did you want me to wear them tonight?" Tom's smile was her answer and she quickly dived into the bedroom to put them on. Tom smoothed down his best white shirt and put on his coat. Lily returned from the bedroom wearing her smart white and silver tunic dress clinging to her short but curvy frame. Tom's face dropped when he saw Lily still holding his gift in her hand.
"Nice idea but they were a little small," she said with a wry smile on her face. "I haven't been that size since before the kids were born." Tom looked a little crestfallen.
"Oh Sorry. I just wanted it to be a surprise. "
"Well, you can always get me something else for another time." she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and he patted and squeezed her bottom.
"So what underwear are you wearing tonight?" Lily turned and giving nothing away she simple replied,
"I chose something you'll like."
And with that Lily pulled on her short cream leather jacket flicked her dark hair over her shoulder and they headed out the the restaurant.
They had been going to the La Trattoria every Valentines day and birthday for the last few years. It was a warm and friendly place and they both liked Italian food so there was lots to love. Tom had his favourite in the spaghetti with several different choices of sauces. Lily had a more varied taste and was happy most kinds of pasta or seafood. They went there because they knew what they liked and they could relax.
Tom and Lilly settled into the familiar surroundings and ordered a glass or wine Tom didn't even mind buying a rose from the lady visiting each table and making a nuisance of herself. They made their orders, Tom went for the meatballs again and Lily the seafood linguine. As they finished the starters, Marcioni, the owner, spotted the couple and made his way over to the table to speak to them.
"I wondered when you would see you two, happy Valentines day. It's so lovely to see you again, I can't believe that you have been celebrating Valentines day at my restaurant for 10 years!"
Tom and Lily both looked at each other in confused, convinced that the old man had got it wrong.
"No, it can't be that long can it?" Tom questioned. "It can't be many more than 5."
"Oh yes, remember we had been open 5 years and this year is our 15th anniversary. 10 years! Thank you for being such loyal customers, have another glass of wine on the house!"
Marcioni left Tom and Lily feeling rather confused. Where had the last 10 years gone?
Tom decided against the second glass of wine but Lilly ended up finishing of them both
The rest of the night was spent talking about the last 10 years time had flown past as the kids were growing up. Now they were the old married couple with a favourite restaurant, so many old habits and traditions. Where were the young exciting couple they had been 10 years ago.
By the end of the evening Lily was drunk and Tom was a little deflated. He helped Lily to bed and she was asleep before there was even any thought of naughtiness. He clicked off the light and settled to bad as an old married couple.
15th of February
The day after Valentines day was Saturday and Tom woke up early looking on the internet for something that would make them feel better. Lily didn't wake till gone 12:00 sleeping off three glasses of wine.
Tom dug through the back of his wardrobe discovering clothes that he didn't even realise he still owned.
When Lily finally awoke he plied her with a tall glass of water and pain killers until she started to feel better. Still the though of getting old and the 10 years has flown past was still playing on her mind.
When she was ready Tom sprung his surprise
"Get your dancing clothes on we're going out again tonight!"
"What?" Lily replied. "I'm not sure I'm up for this."
"Go on, I'll look after you."
They gathered by the front door just like the night before this time Lily looking a little more tired and apprehensive but willing to give it a try.
Lily had chosen her little black dress with the spaghetti straps, her breasts filled it out well and Tom thought he could see her nipples peaking through the material but he didn't mind if she didn't. Tom was wearing a black shirt that he hadn't worn since they had been dating and he was very happy to find that it still fitted. With some loose fitting pants so he could move. He had dug out his old black leather jacket which he wasn't sure he could still pull off but he wanted to get out and have some fun.
The baby sitter had agreed to do another night for a rather extortionate fee but he hoped that this night out would end more happily than valentines day.
Lilly had no idea where Tom was taking her so when they got out on a dark and noisy street near the middle of the city. Lilly looked confused.
"Are we going clubbing?" She said with incredulous fear.
"If you're up for it!"
"After last night I'm really not sure."
The queue for the club was long but moved fast. Everyone else in the queue was younger, prettier and better dressed. Tom and Lilly started to feel quite self conscious. But the men on the door of the club looked them up and down and with a glance at each other inside decided to let them in.
As they walked into the club they were hit buy the noise, heat and lights. The last time they had been in a place like this was a long time ago and they were already getting strange looks. Lily held onto Tom's arm and he guided her inside. The smell of alcohol mixed with sweat reminded both of them of their youth. As her eyes got used to the darkness and the pulsating lights Lily slowly began to recognise different parts of the room.
"Did this used to be the Happy Hideaway?"
"Yeah we used to sit right over there. The dance floor looks pretty much the same but the music's changed."
Groups of girls danced together on the dance floor and bored looking boys stared on from the sides. Some things didn't change that much but he wasn't wrong about the music.
"Want to dance?" Tom invited.
Lily looked round the the room the headache and fog of last nights wine had finally lifted and she started to feel more energise.
"Yeah lets do it!"
They hit the dance floor, obviously the oldest people in the place. Catching a few disapproving glances from the younger, thinner, cooler people. They started to dance and after a while had forgotten all about the other people and were just enjoying dancing with each other looking into each other eyes and being together.