Missy was already excited, even before anyone attached the leash to her collar. Jack, of course, took his wife’s hand into his own. He still had to smile, now and then, when he saw the engagement, wedding, and eternity rings that Katelynn wore proudly on her ring finger. The engagement ring was so small and pathetic, at least that’s how he had felt when he had bought it. She deserved diamonds and jewels but with his salary he hadn’t been able to afford anything too amazing. But to her, on that night, she had been blown away and he could remember her tears of joy as she had said yes, again and again and thrown her arms around him.
The wedding day had been full of joyful tears as well.
At least, now, he no longer had to see her crying out of fear, or worry, or sadness any more. Those days were long behind them.
He squeezed her hand gently in his own as they walked down the sidewalk, Missy trotting ahead of them, sniffing at everything.
“How is it,” Jack started, “that you continue to be as beautiful, if not more so, like you were on the day I first met you?” he glanced at her, smiling softly.
Compliments still made her blush though she gave a little turn of her nose at them sometimes, just to tease him. There was a very visible smile on her face however. “Okay mister, what did you do this time?”
Oh how Katelynn loved to tease her husband any opportunity she could, though sometimes it seemed to backfire but in the end they would still laugh together about it. She loved how they could joke with each other and just have fun despite their age. Who said old people couldn’t act young?
She turned a loving smile to him, squeezing his hand gently.
“What do I want?” he asked, sounding insulted. “My dear lady, can’t a man compliment his beautiful wife without being accused of wanting something?”
Oh how Jack had grown since she first met him. He could still be sweet, and sometimes shy, but he was so much more bolder than all those years ago. He no longer stammered, nor double guessed himself either. His hand squeezed hers back affectionately, and smiled at her in a triumphant way.
“I was just telling you how gorgeous you are, and how I’ve felt that way ever since I first met you.”
Jack Maple 