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I drive to the recreation center, and with a bouquet of flowers, I get out of the car and head inside. When I open the door, I see my baby immediately. She stands and runs over to me as if I didn’t slide my tongue down her throat before she left the house this morning.

“Hey, baby,” she says, throwing her arms around me.

“Hey. These are for you.”

“Aw. Thank you, Judah. They’re beautiful.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Happy one-month anniversary.”

She gasps. “It has been a month. That went by so fast.”

“They say it always does when you’re having fun.”

“Amazing.”

“You want to know what’s even more amazing?” I ask.

“What’s that?”

“I’ve invited your parents and my parents over for dinner this evening.”

Her eyes grow big and beautiful. “You did not. You hate having people at the house.”

“Yes, but I made an exception this time, sweetheart. For you.”

She sets the vase on her desk then returns to embrace me again. “Thank you.”

“You’re always welcome.”

“Hey, what about the food?”

“It’s all taken care of.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“It should be a good time.”

“It will be.” I kiss her lips and say, “Go ahead and get back to work. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye, baby.”

“Good evening, Mrs. P.” That’s what I call her mother. Her father told me to call him Fred. He’s getting something out of the car.

“Good evening,” she says as she enters my humble abode. “You have a lovely home. It feels so cozy and inviting.”

“That’s the way I want it. I love my surroundings to give me a sense of calm and peace.”

“Well, you nailed it.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “What is Fred doing? Does he need help?”

“Oh, no, he’s fine. I baked a cake. I told him to be careful with it.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, make yourself at home. I don’t have a formal dining room, so we’ll sit at the table in the kitchen and the living room is also available.”

“Good. Is Autumn here yet?”

“Yes. She’s changing clothes.”

Fred finally comes inside and says, “Good evening.”

“Good evening, Fred. You can set that cake on the counter right there.”

“Thank you.”

I go outside to see if my parents are on their way and they are, walking down the sidewalk, all smiles.

“You have the gift?” I ask my father.

“Of course. She’s going to be so excited.”

“I know she will be.”

“Aw…I’m so happy for you, son. You look so happy,” Mother says.

“I am. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Riley pulls up around the same time as Nico. While my parents go inside, I stand in the driveway and wait for them.

Riley gets out first, walks over to me, and says, “Hello tall man who’s making my best friend happy. How are you this evening?”

“I’m good, Riley. How are you?”

“Peachy.”

“By the way, you didn’t tell her you were coming, did you?”

“No. You told me not to say anything and I didn’t. I know how to keep a secret. I’m ready to surprise my girl.”

“Wait, we’re doing a surprise party now?” Nico asks.

Riley looks at him then at me.

I say, “Nah, man—just dinner.”

“Oh. I thought I heard Ms. Lady say something about a surprise.”

“ Mrs. Lady ?” Riley’s eyes narrow as she looks at him.

I intervene before things go left and say, “Riley, you remember Nico from the wedding, right?”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“It’s good to see you again,” Nico tells her.

She narrows her eyes and continues inside.

We enter behind her, greeted by our parents’ spirited conversation about their back-in-the-day stories. Autumn emerges from the hallway, looks at Riley and screams.

“Riley! Judah, you didn’t tell me Riley was going to be here.”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“Ahh!” She rushes over and throws her arms around her. “Hey, girl!”

“Hey, boo. I finally made it over here. It looks so nice and feels so cozy. I would never leave this place either. Y’all are on to something. And it smells good up in here, too.”

“It sure does,” Nico says.

“Hey, Nico,” Autumn tells him, then hugs him as well.

“Hey, Autumn. How are you doing?”

“Oh, I’m doing just fine. This one right here,” she says grabbing my arm, “He keeps my heart full.”

“That’s so sweet,” Mrs. P. says.

I say, “Since we’re all here, Dad, can you pray over the food?”

“I sure will.”

We bow our heads.

He says, “Lord, thank you for allowing us to get together as a family to celebrate this special occasion for Judah and Autumn. They are wonderful people who deserve the best that life has to offer. Bless this food to give us nourishment for our bodies and bless this association that we have to be able to come together with family and friends. May love forever live in this home. In Jesus’ name, amen. ”

“Amen,” I say among the others. I’m all set and prepared to fix plates for everyone and when I tell them this, Mrs. P says, “Nonsense. We can get in line and pick up what we want.”

“Yeah, that’ll work,” Autumn says, then flashes a smile at me.

I smile back, walk over to stand behind her and whisper in her ear, “You smell like heaven.”

“No, that’s this food you arranged.”

“No. It’s you. I’d much rather have you than anything up in here.”

She turns around and says discreetly, “Stop making me blush.” Then she rises to her tiptoes and gives me a peck on the lips. “Thank you for the flowers. Every single time I looked at them while I was working today, I thought of you and smiled.”

“Good. That’s what I wanted you to do.”

After we prepare plates, we go to the living room. Our parents are sitting at the dinette. Riley and Nico are still in line talking, or maybe arguing? Depends…

I tell Autumn, “I think our best friends don’t like each other.”

Autumn smirks. “Yeah, for now. They’ll probably end up together. It always starts like that, doesn’t it?”

“With the people hating each other’s guts?”

She grins. “Yes.”

“We didn’t start like that.”

“Yes, but that’s us, babe. We’re built different.”

“I still can’t believe we’re married,” I say.

“I pinch myself every morning I wake up next to you,” she tells me.

“What are you lovebirds talking about over there?” Fred asks.

“I was just telling your daughter how much I love and adore her.”

“Listen to him,” Mrs. P says.

They talk amongst themselves for a moment. We take the time to eat this delicious catered food.

Riley says, “So, how’s married life been so far, y’all? Asking for a friend.”

“It’s good,” Autumn answers. “Too freakin’ good.”

“Honey, wait ‘til you been married for thirty years,” Mrs. P. says. “That man gon’ get on your nerves so much…”

“Like y’all women don’t be getting on our nerves,” Fred says.

They chuckle, then Mother says, “It’s all a part of the process. I mean if you think about it, what’s the alternative? To be out here alone and lonely all your life.”

“I was that way for years,” I say. “And you know what? Looking back, I’m glad I was because if I hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have found the woman of my dreams.”

Blushing, Autumn says, “I’m still going to get on your nerves, though.”

“I’m ready for it, baby. I’ve been waiting my whole life for a woman to get on my nerves.”

Her mother giggles.

My Mother says, “And I’ve been waiting forever for Judah to settle down.”

“I’m just waiting for them grandbabies,” Mrs. P. says.

Mother looks at me. I look away from her.

Autumn hasn’t told anyone about my condition so her mother doesn’t know that we won’t be having children, well, unless we adopt.

Now, my mother knows that her parents don’t know.

It’s not really a big deal, but it is probably something they should know eventually.

After dessert, I stand up and after getting everyone’s attention, I say, “I want to thank you all for sharing this special occasion with us. From the moment I met Autumn, I knew she was different. She spoke to me without saying a word. I could feel her aura when she was around, and whenever she wasn’t near me, I felt emptiness.

It’s one of the ways I knew I had to have her.

And so, now that I have you, I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you’re happy. ”

“Thank you, Judah,” she says, embracing me before I get the chance to give her the box in my right pocket. I take it out, hand it to her, and say, “Happy one-month anniversary.”

“Judah, what’s this?”

“Open it.”

She pulls the red bow and opens the box to find a Mercedes key. Then she looks up at me and says, “No way.”

“It’s outside.”

“Judah, stop. You did not buy me a car.”

I take her hand, head for the door, and step outside. I had the white G-class delivered to me while we were eating and the dealer didn’t disappoint. Not only did they get it here on time, but there’s a big red bow on it.

She brings her hands to her mouth in disbelief and says, “This is insane.”

“It’s yours.”

She embraces me again.

I say, “Go, check it out.”

Riley tugs at her arm and says, “Girl, if you don’t come on here and go check out our car.”

“ Our car?” Autumn says laughing.

My mother and Mrs. P go as well. I stand with the men, watching them all get inside. Riley pulls off the bow and Autumn starts it up, backs out and takes her new whip for a spin.

My father says, “Oh, you done did it now.”

“I know. She deserves it, though.”

“That’s a nice ride, man,” Fred says. “Those jeeps cost ‘bout, what? One hundred.”

“This one was a little over that. I got the upgrade.”

Fred whistles. “My baby girl going to be rolling in style.”

“Yes, she is,” Nico says. “See, that’s how you can tell this man is in love. Ain’t nobody spending that kind of bread on a woman he ain’t in love with.”

Nico pats me on the shoulder and says, “Congrats, brother. You got a good one.”

“Yes, I do.”