Many Mini-Adventures

Business as Unusual

She looked at me with those intense eyes. Narrow and brewing. I knew this was not good.

What did I do though? I haven't seen her all day. Or was it simply because I didn't see her all day.

I sighed and sat down at the table. Her folded arms were at eye level with me. I was actually wanting to just grab her and kiss her until she melted but I'll wait.

"So, what do you have to say for yourself?" She asked.

I scratched my head. "Sorry, I guess?"

She puffed her cheeks. "You guess? You completely forgot what today was, didn't you?"

"Uh, well, I know it's not our anniversary or your birthday. Those don't come up until another several months."

She leaned against the table, tapping her fingers on the wooden surface. "Try again, Sherlock."

Geez, remember to not to forget each and every event we celebrate. That was the lesson to learn here right? I propped my elbow on the table, resting my chin on my hand. "What about your sister's birthday? I think I forget that every year." The tapping sped up. Safe to say that was the wrong answer.

"Even if it isn't a birthday or anniversary Rob, it's still quite special." She pulled out a card from her back pocket. "You remember this?"

"Yeah, that's my business...oh" And now it struck me. I forgot to bring home the new set of business cards from the store. We needed them for the upcoming networking convention tomorrow. And, as luck would have it, that printing store closes tomorrow.

"So, as you may realize now, it's too late to get those 1000 beautifully crafted cards until Monday. Any words?"

"Yeah, we don't need them."

The tapping stopped. "What?"

"We don't need them. Our plan B was always to just exchange numbers with them. Takes no less than a minute. Or better yet, we could hand out the leftover t-shirts that have our website link on them."

She sighed. "You mean the website that says 'Under Construction'? Nah, I think not."

This wasn't anything new to us, honestly. And to be quite frank with myself, this has gone on almost every time we were part of a huge gathering. We happen to forget something. Something small sometimes, but still. I sighed as I stood up from the table. "I do propose one other thing."

"And what's that?"

"Let's not go and enjoy the day elsewhere."

Her eyes widened. Her lips moving but no words coming out. I may have either tuned her out or busted my eardrums. I walked over to her and grabbed her around the waist.

"Hey," I said, "Since when have we had a good genuine time? Just the two of us?"

She stopped and blinked for a second. "Now that you mention it. Wow, when was the last time?"

"Exactly 2 years ago, 3 days, and 23 minutes."

"Did all that math in your head huh?"

I looked back at my phone on the table and then at her. "That's what you call a decent countdown app. I set it for the next time we may just go on a date."

She giggled as she shook her head. "You're too much."

I smiled. "Too much to handle or just too awesome overall?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Too much to handle? Please. Too awesome? Eh, maybe." She kissed me on the lips before breaking away several steps back. "But still, when will be the next time we can go to such a large convention? There will be thousands there."

I shrugged. "This isn't that bad. We received the tickets for free anyway."

She bit her lip at the statement. I kind of knew why. These weren't just given to us by anyone. Our own niece was kind enough to get us into the convention. Partially because she's part of the staff organizing it.

I kissed her on the forehead and sat on the table with my hands again at her waist. "I'll explain to her the situation. Look, we've been running around for a long time now. We've been pushing and pushing to get our business off the ground and we're making progress. But once, just once, we need to slow it down."

She sighed as she laid her forehead against mine. "I know. I know we've been busy. But we're doing so good it's hard to stop now."

"And if we don't, we'll burnout fast. So, what do you say?"

A small grin slowly grew from her lips. She opened her mouth but immediately closed them. Was she about to say something? She then held my face in the palms of her hands and kissed me. Kissed me longer than my mind anticipated. The session ended with me staring back into her brown eyes. I couldn't help but grin. And it took all my nerve not to giggle like a schoolgirl. Seriously, I felt that happy.

"That's not an answer," I said before sticking my tongue out.

She laughed and hit my shoulder. "You are really too much! So, what did you have planned, mister 'countdown to date time'?"

I looked up at ceiling for answers. The rotating fan won't be off much help. I looked back at her as she was still grinning. Still quite beautiful. "Something."

"Like?"

"Something...interesting. Just be prepared for anything. I mean anything."

She raised an eyebrow. "You don't say?"

I stood up from the table and walked towards the bedroom. "Oh dear Valerie, little do you know."

Valerie huffed and before I knew it, she was on my back. She's lucky I have pretty sturdy legs. With her soft arms cradling my neck and her sweet scent dancing about, I carried her piggy back style through the hall to our room.

"So," she said, "this is the married entrepreneur life huh?"

"Yep, full of work that will pay off someday."

She yawned before resting her head on my shoulders. "It already has. I married you. And no matter what happens with this venture, I'm blessed to spend my life with you."

"Ditto."

Great, I can feel those narrow eyes upon me again. I turn my head only to see her fast asleep on my shoulder. Her light breath breathing in my face. I laugh a bit. So innocent. "I love you too, Valerie."