They grab their backpacks filled with stuffed animals and race to the front door.Picking up Selena, I carry her out to Jem’s minivan and settle her in her car seat.I buckle her up as she chatters to me about what they’re going to do at Aunt Rowan’s place.
I walk around to open Jem’s door as she finishes buckling Abigail into her seat.She smiles up at me, and I lean down, stealing a kiss as she gets into the car.I climb behind the wheel, and then we’re off.
Rowan and Heath’s place is only a few miles away, and we pull into the driveway five minutes later.Rowan is on the front porch with their kids, and she smiles, waving as we all climb out.
“Thanks again for babysitting!”Jem says, walking up the porch steps and hugging her best friend.
“Of course.Hi, girls!”Rowan greets our daughters.“Go on in.”
The kids race inside, and I wave at Heath as he corrals them into the living room.
“Happy anniversary!”he calls.
The two of us have grown close.He became my partner and helped me buy the lumberyard all those years ago.He lets me handle everything since I know more, and the two of us have gotten quite rich in the last few years.
“Thanks!”I call back, then turn to Rowan and Jem.
“Go on, you two!Have fun,” Rowan says, shooing us back to our car.
“Thanks.We’ll be back in a few hours!”Jem calls as I open her door for her.
We both wave as we back out of the driveway, and I take Jem’s hand in mine as I turn onto the road.
“Oh, shoot!I forgot my sweater at home,” Jem says.
I hit the blinker.“No worries, we have time.We’ll head home and grab it.”
She squirms in her seat as we turn back toward home.When we pull into the driveway, she turns to me with a mischievous smirk.
“Okay, so I lied.I didn’t forget my sweater.I did change our plans, however.”
I grin.“Oh, yeah?”
“Uh-huh.I ordered us tacos.They’ll be here in an hour, and I thought that while we wait, we could…”
I’m already climbing out of the car and racing to open her door.She giggles as I grab her and throw her over my shoulder.
“Fuck, I love you, Shortcake,” I groan as I carry her inside and straight to the bedroom.
“Happy anniversary, Rune.I love you.So much.”
I set her on the bed and come down over her.“Not as much as I love you.”I kiss her.“Happy anniversary, Jem.”
She smiles as I press my lips against hers.Then neither of us talks much for the rest of the night.
Best wife.Best anniversary ever.