The Perfect Surprise

Diane loved her husband. She would have done anything for him regardless of what it may be. She would get down on her knees in obedience to please him, and the way he would punch the walls from anger thrilled her. His insults he fired at her warmed her heart for the mere purpose of he was paying her attention. She valued his affection even if her family disagreed of what “affection” is. She cherished the man, and his birthday was coming up very soon. She wanted to make it perfect to show how appreciated she was of having him in her life.

The day before the party, Diane set out on her quest to gather up the perfect party materials. Off to the market to gather up cooking ingredients where she filled the shopping cart all the way to the top.

At the cash register, the cashier run up her items and gave Diane a smile saying, “Hi, Diane. I see you bought lots of decoration for cakes. Who’s birthday?”

“It’s my husband’s birthday soon. I want to make it special to vow my eternal love for him,” Diane replied with an enormous smile.

“John is a lucky man,” The cashier gave Diane a warm smile as she handed her the bags of groceries.

“I guess he is,” She responded with an odd look but quickly faded, replaced with a smile as she remembered her special plans.

Before her next stop, she entered in a little antique shop since it was right next to the craft’s store. She loved antiques of lost memories from the past. The store was small and the register was on the right side of the door where a little old lady was listening to an old radio on the AM channel. Diane made her way to the aisle where old books were kept, and picked up an old photo album that reminded her of the one that her husband accidently destroyed. It was a big book with a decorative design on the cover that resembled spider webs in gold thread on a green surface. Diane had to have it. At the register table, the old lady was tuned into what the newscaster was saying.

“Robert Mar-” the radio static faded in and out, “Billy Smith, and Vince David’s bodies still not found…each one went missing on May 27th… the three cases each a year apart. Officials still searching for suspects.” The radio goes silent as the broadcast was over.
“Oh my, so many crimes in the world. How might I help you, dearie?” The elderly lady turned to Diane after she turned the radio off.

“Today is my husband’s birthday and I’d like to purchase this to hold our memories together forever,” Diane handed the old lady the photo album.

After leaving the little antique shop, and making one last stop at the Craft’s shop for decorations, Diane headed on home since the end of evening was approaching. She hurried on home, hid the party items, and started making supper for her husband who would be getting off work soon. She watched the second hand tick by as she waited for her husband to get home. The door opened and in entered an exhausted man who dropped his work items by the door.

“What’s for dinner?” He asked in a monotone as he sat down at the table. Diane sat a plate full of food in front of him, and found her seat across from his. “You’re not going to eat?”

“I don’t need to eat. How long will you be tomorrow night?” Diane watched her husband take bites of the supper she made him. He shrugged at her question, not giving her an answer. “Oh, I talked to that chatty cashier today at the market. She brags a lot about some guy she knows, but regardless nothing will compare my love for you my dear.”

“Okay.  Well, I’m going to turn in. Had busy day today and I’m exhausted,” The man stood up, but before he could take his plate to the sink, Diane had already grabbed it to begin the dishes. “Good night.”

“Good night my dear husband. I will be up soon,” She called sweetly after him. She didn’t mind him heading to bed since he was always a hard worker, often working long shifts to gain the money they needed. After the dishes, she headed on up to the bedroom where her husband was passed out on the bed. She went to the closet and pulled out a hidden compartment to where she placed the photo album on top of several old photos of her and her husband. She wanted it all to be the perfect surprise. Then she curled up next to her man and fell asleep with a smile on her lips.

Morning came slowly for Diane as she awoke at sunrise. Her husband was still sound asleep so she quietly made her way downstairs to cook him his food for today. She filled his lunchbox up with treats and sandwiches for lunch, and laid out a plate of breakfast foods for when he gets up. The bedroom door closes as a sleepy man gets ready to head out. He grabs his plate and lunchbox, and says good-bye to Diane before leaving off to work.

After making sure he was out of sight, Diane excitedly decorates the house in birthday decorations. It has to be perfect for her husband. She started baking the cake and adding in special ingredients for flavor, and some of his favorite foods for supper. Then she waited watching the clock countdown to when her husband will be home. She wanted this party to express her love for him, so she dared not invite any guest. It wouldn’t be perfect if she had others to worry about messing this day up.

Hours passed, and it finally was time for her husband’s arrival. She cut off the lights and waited patiently for him to arrive home. When her husband opened the door and clicked the light switch next to the door, he yelled out in shock. Diane was standing in the middle of the room with an unlit cake in her arms.

“Happy birthday!” she shouted in excitement.

“Wha-what is this?” He asks confused as he looked at the decorations around the room.

“It’s your birthday party, silly! I made it special for you to show how much you mean to me.” Diane began lighting the candles on the cake.

“It’s not my birthday until two months,” He responds still with confusion on his face.

“Oh, silly, you forgot your own birthday!” Diane giggles, and her husband gives her a stare of disbelief. “Hurry blow out your candles!” Her husband shrugged going along with it, and took a breath to blow out the small flames from the candles. “Happy birthday to you,” Diane begins to sing, “Happy birthday, Rob, Happy birthday to you!”

Her husband gives her a strange questioning look, “Rob? Wai-“

“Here, take a bite! It’s your favorite kind.” She shoves a piece to him happily wanting him to try the cake she baked herself. He had no time to hesitate since she fed him a bite from a fork she had. It was a very sweet cake, sickening sweet, but he swallowed it down.

“Did you make this?” He asks accepting the plate of more cake from her.

“Yes, of course! Only the perfect cake for my dear husband!” She smiled, “Remember when we first met, Rob? Everyone told me how awful you were, and that our marriage was a mistake, but I dared not believe them and here today I’ve proven them wrong as we spend our times together, forever. I will always love you my dear husband, and I swear I’ll never have you leave my side. Together forever.” As Diane speaks, her husband falls to his knees as the plate of cake crashes to the floor.

“Who is Rob?” Her husband heavily coughs barely getting the words out, “My name’s John…”

Diane smiles and crouches next to him with her hand rubbing his back, “Oh how I love your joking ways. Remember we vowed to love each other for eternity through health and sickness.” She began stroking his hair. “Sleep now. You had a long tiring day. Time to sleep my sweet.” She kisses his forehead as he blacks out.

The following week, Diane was sitting on the bed next to her husband’s body as she placed all her photographs from her past into the new photo album. Each picture was of a different time of her life with her husband, and dated each year apart. The first photo was a rough looking man that glared at the camera, the second photo was one where the husband showed a faint smile, the following photo had the husband wrapped his arms around Diane’s body, and the final photo, the most recent one, was of the same man that laid next to her. In the background she had the radio on where a newscaster interrupted the radio station for an important announcement.

“Jonathon Nathan, age thirty three, is missing since last week on May 27th. Anyone who knows his whereabouts please contact...” Diane turns the radio off as she didn’t’ want to wake her dear husband from his eternal slumber. He deserved to be by her side forever.