Day 2376 Just got away with it.

14th February 2023

I woke up this morning with a strong feeling of guilt, I didn’t have a Valentine’s Day card to give to Kelli. What was worse, I did know it was coming up, but I have very little opportunity to buy one because I was rarely on my own. I did go to the corner store a few days ago but what cash I had was spent on eggs and cheese.

Last night I looked at the calendar on the side of the fridge and saw the date, suddenly I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach. The only chance of redemption was if Kelli had forgotten the day as well.

I should have known better, it was six years ago that I asked her to marry me, it is carved deep inside us both, and I had failed.

Her card was warm and loving, making me feel even worse. I explained why I didn’t have one for her, and even though she said it didn’t matter I could sense the disappointment, and I had to put it right.

We had a customer arrive early to view the large dresser we had posted, so it was my job to seal the deal. That done, it was going to be a busy day. We had another visit to Plato’s closet with more Kelli’s cast-offs and whilst she waited for them to be sorted and priced, I took the opportunity to drive to get petrol and even buy a card. The heavens opened up, the sun shone down as I found a suitable example. I then planned what to write in it and decided to give it to her over dinner at the Boatwerks restaurant.

I smiled at my cunning, my guilt was replaced with smugness.

The rest of the day was filled with food shopping and stuff typical of our Wednesdays.

Our dinner reservation was early, closer to a late lunch, but four thirty was the only time available, other than eight o clock, and that was too late.

So we arrived with all the other senior people, it wasn’t that bad, but we laughed at how early it was. After we ordered our drinks I handed over the card I had secretly wrote out as she was getting ready. Actually I had enough time to write out hundreds of cards, but one was enough.

I thought it was especially appropriate as there are many pill bottles in the house.

The meal was good, we had a view over the lake and we were back home by six thirty, and it was still light outside.