Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“Fuck, I love you,” I say before kissing her.
“Love you too.” I hate to pull out, but we have people waiting.
“We’re not done. Tonight, I’m going to love you properly,” I tell her, helping her fix her dress before I right my own clothes. Nova is going to take the kiddos back home after a couple of hours. “We’re here, by the way.”
“What?!” Gabriella sits up straight in her seat. I open the door, stepping out before offering her my hand. “Why are we here?”
I’d ended up investing in the Green’s property. I helped them turn a few of the buildings around and had another built. When I’d made back the money I’d put into it, I donated it to the after-school program, Loving After, that was here before signing my part back to the Greens. They’d done so much good in the world; it was time someone did good for them.
Gabriella spends a lot of time here, and Martha and Ben have become like family to us. They never had children of their own.
“There is an event.” I lead her inside. When we step through the doors, everyone shouts surprise.
Gabriella gasps, her hand flying over her mouth as she sees everyone. Our kids come rushing toward us.
“Suspicious Mommy!” Bella shouts again, jumping up and down. Our baby girl has more energy than any other five-year-old I have seen.
“Happy anniversary, Mom.” Our oldest, Nathan, hugs her before kissing her cheek.
“Where are the twins?” I ask.
“They hit their bottles pretty hard. Knocked them out,” Nathan teases. The Greens and more people come over to greet us. There is so much love and respect in this room, and all of it is due to my wife. She deserves all the credit.
It’s not only an anniversary party, and I suppose a New Year's Eve one too; we’re also here because Gabriella is being given an award for all she’s done for the program over the years. She has invested so much of her time, love and life into this. Today is a celebration of her. Of how she changes people’s lives for the better just by being who she is. No one deserves accolades more than her in every aspect of her life.
I thought it would be fitting to combine all of these celebrations into one grand one surrounded by the people she respects and loves. Hosting this occasion at Loving After was the icing on the cake since Gabriella is either here or with her family.
Once things got rolling, and Gabrielle took on a larger role at Loving After, I took a step back from work so I could be here or at home. We do have four kids, and I’m sure it won’t be long before a fifth comes along.
“I can’t believe all this.” Gabriella presses in close to me.
“You can’t believe this many people love you?” One of the servers brings over two champagne glasses filled with sparkling cranberry.
“That this is my life. Our life. We got our family.”
“We did,” I agree. It was her that got us here. My bright light, leading me toward the warmth.
She smiles up at me. Everyone is counting down the clock. The last I hear is ten, but I can’t wait another second. I have to kiss my wife.
So I do. Kissing her well past the countdown.
What can I say? I can never get enough of my wife. This year or any other.