Her T-Mobile pressed against her cheek as she fought with her make up trying to make herself look as amazing as possible for the special night. The gown she bought last week was a little more than what she wanted, but it would be worth it. He had a surprise and she was all for a memorable night for their memorable night.
“Girl, so what the hell are y'all gonna do? Don’t be at home making more babies!” Layla said from the opposite end.
Melissa rolled her eyes into the phone and Layla felt it.
“I’m just saying, you know how Shawn is. Y'all will mess around and be home making it a red box night.” Layla continued.
“Noooo, it’s our 5 year wedding anniversary and he said we’re gonna do something special. You know I went back and bought that Vera Wang right?” Melissa continued as she peered into the mirror and admired the reflection that stared back at her.
“Damn, chica, that dress was what $550 plus?!”
“Yea, but it’ll be worth it. Hopefully we go dinner and dancing like the old days.” She smiled as she spoke. Things had been rough between she and Shawn financially. The recession hurt them both more than they cared to admit and being a family with a small baby didn’t leave much room for romance and relationship development.
“He asked me what I wanted to do, but I told him to surprise me. I wanted him to have control. He said we’re gonna do something old school, so I already know what it is.” Excitement spilled through her cheeks. “We’re gonna go to Chez Louch’s downtown and then there was that Cirque De Soliel show that I been hinting about seeing. I can’t wait.”
The keys rattled at the door as she finally finished with the mascara.
“Girl, he’s home, I’ll holla at you tomorrow. I will be BUSY tonight!” she laughed.
“You better be.” Layla said as she hung up.
Shawn turned the corner in his worn brown UPS uniform with less than a smile plastered across his face.
“Hey babe.” She sang, twirling in her expensive Nordstrom’s purchase. The Jimmy Choo heels matched to perfection.
“Hey pun ‘kin.” He replied. “You look stunning.”
“That’s how you keep a man.” She replied.
He was dressed and showered within the hour and the jeans and sweater combo he pulled out didn’t impress her but she promised herself not to complain about a single thing the entire night.
The 38 minute lead them to a remote location she didn’t recognize.
He pulled in a dark parking lot and put a CD into the player. Her favorite tunes from Gerald Levert and Tank leaked from the speakers.
He kissed her cheek and dashed to the trunk only to return with a brown picnic basket filled with fruit and sandwiches.
The card her presented her with was handwritten and as she read he whispered “Happy Anniversary.”
She looked down at the expensive dress, compared the price tag including the just as expensive shoes. The cost of her hair multiplied by the cost and time she spent at the nail salon and divided that by the number of years they’d been together. She always felt he was slipping. She always felt he undervalued her.
And now he, the husband of five long years, chose to spend their anniversary in a remote park eating turkey and cheese in the passenger seat of his old Toyota Camry.
“Shawn, I know you’re not serious right now! Do you know how much I spent, how much I went through. It’s our damn anniversary! And this is all you could come up with?! Our love doesn’t mean anything to you.”
Shawn’s confusion was evident and with that came anger. It was all he knew.
The argument that ensued lasted through the night and culminated their anniversary.
Was Shawn wrong? Did Melissa overact?
The worst thing a person can do in a relationship, is to be expecting stuff.
ReplyDeleteSurely they are on hard times, and she should have known better, or better yet, when given the opportunity to make a suggestion, she should have taken it. At least, he would have known what the scale was..
What he did was sweet and genuine, and she should appreciate that.