Anniversary Challenge; Not According To Plan

Joe felt a sickening feeling in his stomach but he smiled and opened his arms wide, pushing the bitter disappointment he was feeling back down.

Since Jill had rung him at lunchtime, he just knew something was going on.

'What time will you be home today, Joe?' she had asked, her tone excited.

'The usual, I've a vote at 5.45 and then I'll be along as soon as I can. Why? What's up?' he'd wondered aloud, but she'd been coy.

'Nothing. I just have something to tell you. About school, that's all', she said but her tone gave her away.

'Honestly, it can wait', she assured him when he asked if she wanted to just tell him over the phone.

Then, when he'd just gotten inside the door she'd blurted out her news. 'Joe, I've been asked to moderate a panel and present a paper based on my thesis at the summer convention!' she gushed.

He'd been thrilled, absolutely delighted for her. She'd put so much work in. He was so proud that she'd secured her doctorate but for that work to be recognized by her peers was a huge deal.

She settled her hands on his chest and nibbled her lip. 'There's just one thing, though', she said and he felt his tummy clench.

He knew that look.

He ran through the dates in his head.

'Go on', he urged, watching as she took a deep breath.

'It's in June. Mid June', she said, her eyes fixed on his.

His heart thumped.

Mid June.

Their anniversary.

He could feel a cold sweat trickle down his spine. He pushed the thought away. Nah, he was overreacting, what were the chances?

He took a deep breath.

'Mid June eh. When exactly in Mid June?' he asked, praying he would say anything other than dates falling between the 14th and 20th.

'It's the 16th to the 18th, I'd have to travel on the 15th. It's in Seattle this year', she said, nibbling furiously on her lip.

His stomach flipped over. He pushed his thoughts down as best he could and wrapped his arms around her.

'I'm thrilled for you, honey', he said, managing to sound somewhat enthusiastic rather than the way he really felt.

Her body relaxed a little beneath his hands. 'Joe, I know it's our anniversary but I really appreciate your support on this', she said, her voice muffled against his shirt. 'We can celebrate on another night, right?' she asked and all he could do was plaster on a smile and hold her close in the hopes she couldn't see the expression on his face.

He'd planned everything meticulously.

A special anniversary trip.

Time off work, flights, transfers from the airport, guided tours, a trip down the Danube with a special dinner, tickets to the opera for the night of their anniversary. He almost had to sell his soul to get them; summer at the Opera House in Vienna was sold out for years in advance but somehow, through some miracle, he'd managed to get two tickets for June 17th.

He'd built the whole trip around it.

The hotel in Vienna was magnificent. He thought she'd likely kill him if she ever discovered how much he'd paid for it. He even had afternoon tea booked at Schonbrunn Palace for the day before, something he knew she'd absolutely love.