The Honest Affair

69

"Maybe this was a ridiculous idea. Maybe she won't come out and we are wasting our time," she finally huffed.

"She seemed confident she would be there..." He turned then to glance at her. "Maybe it is ridiculous and even more ridiculous to think I've been sitting here for," he checked the time on his watch, "nearly an hour."

"Ah..." A smile struck her lips. "Imagine how tedious it would have been for you if you had sat through it all on your own." She grinned playfully at him. "You'd be sitting, shifting, and turning, thinking that you'd wished you'd come home to see what I prepared for you instead. You'd have sat here beginning to feel pain in your stomach from growing hungry and only the worst sound of all to entertain you— your stomach grumbling."

He pouted at her in return. He couldn't blame her for making her point, she was absolutely right, there wasn't a place that he would have wished to be other than home.

"I would deny it all but you've hit it spot on... Anna, I'm starving." He'd groused unhappily. "What did you make at home? At least spoil the surprise. I can't wait to finish this so we can go home and eat." He was nearly pleading to hear more, perhaps it would be something that was appealing and exciting to him, and the taste he already knew would be delicious. It was prepared beneath her hands.

"Aha..." she softly smiled and leaned to the right to see him more directly. "Just as I imagined you to be, honestly." He watched her lean down to where her feet were and open a large pink purse which she had brought into the car with her. He hadn't thought it to be more than a personal bag until he listened to her and watched her pull out small plastic containers. "And that is why I am so thoughtful... that is why you will love me and only me, ever, because I consider even your belly in the most ridiculous of moments." He tilted his head as he had seen containers come out of the bag, one after the other.

"Did you– did you bring food with you?"

"Björn... I'll remind you now that it is not only you who missed dinner tonight." She handed him a small tupperware and a fork and placed her own into her lap until she sorted everything they needed. "And now I will spoil the surprise. Potato dumpling."

"Anna."

"Shh. Eat. They're still warm."

"You even stuffed them!"

"Did I surprise you again?" she laughed, just before her mouth became full from the bite she had taken.

"You surprise me daily." He observed them before eating and she quickly warned him before offending her.

"Björn, we both know I am not the best cook, but today isn't the day you remind me of that. I couldn't find the recipe so I had to go by memory."

"Oh, so we're doomed," he laughed before taking a bite, but immediately, he closed his eyes when he tasted them. "They're amazing."

"Are they?"

"It's like I'm having them for the first time."

"There is another surprise at home." She cleared her throat and quickly added in. "Was," she mumbled.

"I am trying to swallow this surprise down first," he laughed. "You made dessert?

"Of course. I prepared it before the meal. And you know what?"

"Hm?" he hummed as he took bites.

"I already ate it." He frowned.

"All of it?"

"No... I saved a piece for Emma. Maybe you frustrated me and I ate in place for me and you." He looked at her, playfully judging. "It was chocolate cake, and I was hungry and you upset me."