THE SECOND SURPRISE
Later that night, Terrence found me outside the hotel.
He was still wearing his pilot’s uniform.
“You’re angry,” he said.
I looked at him.
“A little.”
“I understand.”
“You kept so much from me.”
“I was ashamed.”
“Of what?”
“Of being unable to forgive him.”
I stepped closer.
“You don’t have to carry everything alone.”
He looked at me.
“I know that now.”
Then he reached into his pocket.
“There’s one more thing.”
I laughed through my tears.
“Another secret?”
He smiled.
“Sort of.”
He handed me a small velvet box.
I stared at it.
“Terrence…”
“Open it.”
Inside was the wedding ring he had given me twelve years earlier.
Except it wasn’t my original ring.
I looked at him in confusion.
“The original one was damaged,” he explained. “I had it remade.”
Then I noticed the inscription inside.
Our anniversary date.
And beneath it:
Still choosing you.
My eyes filled with tears.
“I thought you forgot our anniversary.”
He smiled.
“I could never forget.”
I laughed.
“You had me sitting on your plane thinking you were about to announce something terrible.”
“I know.”
“You’re a terrible husband.”
He laughed.
“Probably.”
Then he pulled me into his arms.
“Happy anniversary.”
I rested my head against his chest.
“Happy anniversary.”
