Lunar's Eclipse || Wattys 2019

Nineteen: Surprise.

I pour the pumpkin pie mix into the crust and slide it into the oven.

I can hear Nathan on the phone in the living room, talking to his brother about the business and I wipe the counter.

Thanksgiving.

How I loved it.

The turkey, pumpkin pies, corn and melted butter,...not to mention the scenery.
Autumn leaves, the dropping temperature...everything about it was just in perfect harmony.

Nathan walks into the kitchen, his hand over the speaker on the phone.

"What do you say about having Thanksgiving dinner with Fred and Betty?" He asks, referring to his brother and I blink in pleasant surprise.

"Sure, why not?" I say and he smiles before returning to the phone call.

The idea of having dinner with his brother's family always warmed my heart.
They were so welcoming and understanding...even after I apologised for leaving so abruptly the other time.

I open the fridge in search of what else to make, so we can offer it in addition with the pie.

But then my gaze settles on the jar of pickles and I take it instead, unable to resist my sudden cravings for them.

Nathan walks in and his brows shoot up at the sight of me stuffing my face with pickles.

"Babe, that's the third jar you've emptied this week." He says chuckling when I hide my face.

"I'm sorry, I...I just suddenly realise how amazing pickles are." I say and finish the one in my hand.

"You know what? I'm beginning to think you're staying at my place because of my pickles." He says as he comes around to hold me from behind.

"Nice guess, Sherlock." I tease, and then I feel the coolness of a metal chain around my neck.

When I look down, I'm staring at a gold locket dangling as a pendant to the chain while Nathan fixes it in place behind my neck.

"What's this?" I ask, turning around to face him and he smiles.

"I wanted to give you something special to show how thankful I am to have you in my life. Happy thanksgiving baby, I love you." He says and plants a kiss on my forehead.

I stare speechless at Nathan, with his eyes fixed adoringly on me. And then I open the locket.

The two spaces are occupied with the pictures of our silly selfies.

The first one is from when he carried me on his back after our second date.

And the second one is from the night we got back together, before we had dinner at his brother's.

"Oh...my goodness, Nathan. I...I...I don't know what to say." I say sincerely and he smiles at me.

"You don't have to say anything. I love seeing the expression on your face." He says and his words unexpectedly draw up tears I can't control.

"Nathan, I...I love you so much." I say and he frowns at my tears.

"What is it?" He asks.

"I don't know...I just...I'm just so happy." I say and he chuckles as he wipes my eyes.

"So am I, baby." He says and I reach up on my tiptoe and kiss him on the lips.

"Thank you." I say when the kiss is over and he smiles at me.

"As much as I want to stay here staring into your eyes, we have to start getting ready for the dinner at Fred's." He says and I sigh.

"Yeah, you're---"
Suddenly the pickles aren't sitting well with me and I run out of the kitchen in a haste.