“I just had a thoughtmaybe you and I are a bit of a weird family,” Emily said with a laugh, snuggling closer to her husband.
“Lucky Ive got you,” James replied, wrapping an arm around her.
“And Im lucky to have you!” Emily grinned.
“Well, who else would I be with?” James chuckled. “Only you. Youre my destiny. The best woman in the world.”
Emily didnt answerjust kissed him on the cheek and hurried off to the kitchen to pull a pie out of the oven.
Today, the Harrisons were celebrating their silver wedding anniversary. Theyd decided to keep it simple, just the two of them and their kids. Two children: their son, Oliver, in Year 11, and their daughter, Charlotte.
Charlotte had recently graduated uni, landed a job, and moved into her own flat nearby. Emily had tried to talk her out of itthere was plenty of space at home, after allbut Charlotte was determined to be independent.
“Why waste money on rent?” Emily had argued. “Youve got your own room here, we all get alongwhy move out? Wait till youre married, then you can leave.”
“Mum, I love you and Dad, and I know youd never kick me out,” Charlotte had replied, rolling her eyes. “But I want to try living on my own. Anddont take this the wrong waybut your cooking is too good. Youre one of those lucky people who can eat anything and stay tiny. I, unfortunately, didnt inherit that. If I stay here, Ill end up the size of a house. Your pies are impossible to resist!”
Emily had laughed, shaking her head. Charlotte looked nothing like her. Emily was petite, almost waif-likepeople still sometimes mistook her for a teenager from behind. Shed never been one for makeup, always wore her hair in a ponytail, and dressed simply. Charlotte, on the other hand, was a proper stunner, taking after her father.
James had always been a striking mantall, broad-shouldered, with the kind of face that turned heads. Age had softened his edges a bit (thanks to Emilys baking), but at forty-eight, he was still undeniably handsome.
Emily knew she didnt exactly stand out beside him. Shed long since stopped caring about the whispersbecause to James, she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
***
When Emily first met James, she was twenty and he was twenty-two.
It was a crisp September evening, and Emily, then a uni student, was on her way to her friend Isabellas birthday party. Shed already bought a gift but stopped at a florist to pick up a small bouquet.
Inside the shop, the only other customer was a young man browsing the flowers. The shop assistant, a pretty girl, was offering suggestions while shooting him not-so-subtle glances. Emily stole a look at him and immediately understood why. He was gorgeous.
“With a face like that, he should be in films,” shed thought. “Maybe he is an actor?”
Just then, the young man noticed her and asked, “Excuse me, which bouquet do you prefer? The red roses or the peonies?”
Emily blinked, caught off guard. “Um, Id pick the peonies. Most girls like roses, though.”
“Are they for your girlfriend?” the shop assistant asked him.
“My girlfriend?” He laughed. “No, I dont even know the girl theyre for. My mates dragging me to his cousins birthday party. Couldnt show up empty-handed.”
The assistant and Emily exchanged amused glances.
“If you go with roses, you cant go wrong,” Emily offered.
“You like them too?” he asked, grinning.
Emily flushed. “I like wildflowers best, but roses are nice. Everyone likes roses.”
“Funny,” he said, “I love wildflowers too. My mum always brings them home from the countryside. Theres something special about themquietly beautiful, you know?”
He bought the roses, flashed Emily another smile, and left.
“Gorgeous, isnt he?” sighed the assistant. “Like a film star.”
Emily nodded, paid for her chrysanthemums, and hurried off to the party.
Her jaw nearly hit the floor when she walked in and saw the same handsome stranger chatting with Isabellas cousin. Turned out his name was James, and hed been roped into coming along by his friend, Archie.
James was just as surprised to see her. He kept sneaking glances, smiling whenever their eyes met. Emily, flustered, pretended not to noticeuntil he casually sat beside her, and they fell into easy conversation.
She couldnt remember now, decades later, what theyd even talked about. Just that hed asked questions, shed answered, hed told stories, and shed listened.
The whole time, shed been painfully aware of Isabellas glare. When the music started, Isabella marched over and dragged James to dance. He shot Emily an apologetic look before obliging.
Later, he returned to Emilys side. And when she left, he offered to walk her home.
The next day at uni, Isabella blanked her completely.
“Whats wrong?” Emily finally asked after lectures.
“Youre seriously asking?” Isabella snapped. “Archie brought James for me! He was supposed to be my date. And you spent the whole evening flirting with him, then whisked him away! And you act all innocent!”
Emily was stunned. “I wasnt flirting! I dont even know how! He just talked to meI didnt ask him to walk me home!”
“Sure, sure,” Isabella scoffed. “What does he even see in you?”
The words stung. Emily spent the walk home wondering if shed somehow stolen James from her friend.
“Me? Really?” she muttered to her reflection later. “As if someone like him would ever…”
The phone rang. It was James.
They met that evening by the riverside. He was waiting with a bouquet of wildflowers and a smile that made her heart flip.
Their romance shocked everyone. No one believed a man like James would ever seriously fall for a girl like Emily. “Hell get bored,” people whispered. “Men that handsome always do.”
But James never looked at anyone else. A year later, they married.
Ten years into their marriage, Emily finally asked, “Why me? You couldve had anyone.”
James looked genuinely baffled. “How do you explain falling in love? But if I had to tryits your eyes. The kindness in them. Your voice, your laugh, your soul. To me, youre the most beautiful woman alive. Youre like wildflowersyour beauty doesnt shout. Not everyone sees it. But I did. And Id never trade my wildflower for any rose.”
***
The family dinner for their twenty-fifth anniversary was warm and full of laughter. The best gift was hearing Oliver and Charlottes heartfelt speeches.
At the centre of the table stood a vase of wildflowersJamess tradition for Emilys July birthday and every anniversary.
That night, as they got into bed, Emily smiled. “You know, Ive been thinkingwe might be a bit of a weird family.”
“Whys that?” James asked, amused.
“In twenty-five years, weve never had a single proper row. Is that normal?”
“Want to have one now?” James teased, tickling her.
“No, no!” Emily squealed, squirming away.
“Didnt think so,” he said, kissing her. “Neither do I.”
