The bakery was called, the room at the top floor of Harrison’s building was reserved with edible paint and a view of the Metro City skyline; everything in preparation for their first year anniversary.
Some people would probably call her silly for celebrating such an event as people tended to do things for the first date but her entire world had changed an exact year ago that today had always been very special in her heart.
Wearing the exact outfit she had worn that day, Katelynn tip-toed across the apartment to leave the note for him to find, smiling as she did. Hopefully he would understand what she was trying to do and play along because she really wanted today to be as special for him as it had been for her last year.
The day someone had given her hope and love.
Leaving the apartment, Katelynn couldn’t wait for today to start.
[Note]
Love,
Happy one year anniversary! I wasn’t sure if you remembered but it’s okay because I was trying to brainstorm what to do for a while to make today wonderful for you. You deserve it because you made this year so magical and full of love that it still surprises me you stayed.
I laid out some clothes for you if that’s okay? It was the outfit you were wearing when we met. I’ll be outside, around the apartment building walking around and waiting for you and I hope you understand my plans cause I really wanted it to be a surprise. Here’s a clue: It’s the day we met.
Love you always,
Katelynn.
With no particular plans for the day, Jack had allowed himself to sleep in a little. He dozed quietly as Katelynn set everything up, and didn’t awaken until some minutes after she had left. As the winter sunlight began to filter into the room, the blue man stirred. The room was a little chilly, and he rolled over, seeking his beloved’s warmth – and gave a displeased murmur when he didn’t find it.
“Mmn, Katelynn … ?”
Jack yawned and rose up, swinging his legs out of the bed. He listened, but didn’t hear any sounds from the bathroom or kitchen. Huh. Maybe she took the dogs for a walk? Hoping everything was okay, he started to head for the bathroom to take a shower … when he saw the note on the dresser.
“Love, happy one year anniver-“
Jack swallowed a gasp. So he wasn’t the only one who’d been thinking about this date! He still remembered his first outing with Katelynn so clearly – walking Roxy, visiting the cafe, the way she’d surprised him with cake and candles, how they’d come back and cuddled on the beanbag. They hadn’t spoken their feelings to each other yet, but in his heart, he liked to think of it as their first date. But he hadn’t known she thought it was an occasion worth marking too.
“O-o-of course!” Not wanting to keep her waiting, Jack grabbed the clothes she’d set out, and hurried to get ready …
~
It wasn’t long before a clean, dressed-up Jack Maple was making his way outside. Although he was only wearing jeans and a turtleneck, and a pair of scuffed white sneakers, his smile and bearing were so delighted that he might have been heading to escort a princess to the ball.
“Katelynn?”
It was showtime.
She had been peaking around the corner to wait for him, feeling as nervous as he had probably felt a year ago with meeting the girl from the blog. When he appeared on the sidewalk, Katelynn gathered her wits and walked forward, purposely making herself bump into him.
“O-oh I’m sorry,” she whispered, hands sweating with her nerves. She knew it was just Jack but a part of her worried he would laugh at her attempts to recreate their meeting. “Sorry about t-that..um..I’m Katelynn Foster..nice to meet you..—?”
Holding out her hand, she cocked her head to the side with a shaky smile, hoping he’d catch on.
It took Jack a moment to catch on, since hadn’t realized how closely she wanted to recreate each detail from their first outing. But once he did, he gave her his best shy, sweet smile.
“Katelynn Foster the photographer?” He straightened up, and didn’t have to pretend to be nervous. The memories were still strong enough. “M-Miss Foster, it’s wonderful to meet you. I’m a huge fan of your blog-” He made a show of pausing, realizing he should introduce himself. “Oh. Uh, m-my name’s Jack. Jack Maple."
Jack Maple 