Nadine knelt on the soft grass in front of the gravestones. After praying, silently, she carefully began to change out the flowers in the vases. She set the old ones down on the grass and spread the new ones around in their respective vases, grinning at the beauty as she traced one leaf with a finger.

She had woken up very early in the morning to visit the graves of her children and Tasha before she started her day. It was the anniversary of her engagement and her wedding; she grinned at the memory. Dominic had wanted all three days to be the same so that their celebration could be at once and as grand or as simple as they wanted it to be. With all the chaos that had taken place in weeks, she didn't have any quiet time to spend with her kids. So, she took the opportunity to spend the morning, under the magnificence of the orange sky, to enjoy their company.

She sat in the grass for a moment more, her fingers tracing the end of the stone with a sad smile. She kissed her fingers and then pressed them against each stone, the last of which was Tasha's. On her feet, she tugged down her dress and zipped up her jacket against the cold that was slowly building up around the town before walking down the stone path, back to her car.

"Sorry to make you drive this early, Jackie." She apologised, jumping into the back seat and closing the door.

"Not a problem, ma'am. Happy anniversary, by the way."

"Thanks."

Nadine sat comfortably in the back seat, chatting away with Denise about the details of their party, which was planned for the evening. Denise was on video, zealously showing off the outfit she had picked out for the night. It was a beautifully embroidered emerald green cape dress. Nadine drowned in her joy, promising to showcase her outfit the minute she got home.

"Hair!" she gasped, laughing out loud and asking Denise to twirl around with the dress tightly pressed to her chest. "What hairstyle do you have planned?"

Denise puckered her lips, setting the dress down on her bed so she could free her hands. She shook them out then shook her head, so her hair bounced free over her shoulders. "I am thinking of wearing it down, I'll be at the salon today, and I think a bob hairstyle would do nicely. That, or," she pulled the hair back. "Going to pack it up like this. What do you think?"

"Hmm. The bob would fit that dress."

"You think."

"You've worn it before, a few years ago. I remember telling you that it accentuated your face flawlessly, and you looked stunning. With that dress and the hairstyle, you are going to look marvellous." She leaned forward so she could look at Jackie. "You are dressing tonight as well. Pants or dress, or a skirt, whatever you choose, just don't look like you are working."

Jackie laughed, and so did Denise. "Tell her. Make sure she puts on her most flattering outfit tonight because it's all about celebration today. All about it. I reviewed the wines they are bringing over, the food, and, gosh, the desserts. After tonight, I would be seventy kilos heavier with how much I plan to eat."

"I can imagine. We are home, give me a moment, and you'd see my..." her words vanished as she looked up from her phone to see the gates pull away. Her smile broadened, and she unsnapped the seatbelt, pushing the door open even before the car could roll to a stop. Her booted feet slammed down on the floor as she scurried towards the fountain. A peal of loud laughter rumbled out of her at the sight of her maids standing around with enormous balloons screaming 'Happy Anniversary' in metallic grey colours.

"What's happening?" Denise asked. "Give the phone to Jackie so I can see. Well, if it's some kind of surprise."

Nadine tugged her earpieces out, stretching behind her to hand Jackie her phone. "Denise wants to see."

One by one, they offered her their balloons, congratulating and hugging her with sweet messages and laughter. The line stretched over the stairs, and she giggled, taking each step and accepting the balloons on her way. The doorman had no balloon, but he hugged her all the same, bowing slightly at the waist as he pushed the door open for her to enter. Jackie followed closely; the phone raised for Denise to watch.

Flora, the youngest maid and a serial romantic, was giddy by the speakers. The moment Dominic showed up on the stairs, she pushed the button, and music played loudly throughout the room. Nadine couldn't help but laugh at Dominic's appearance, with a vest and his pyjama bottoms on the bouquet of lilies he carried looked so out of place, but she had never seen anything as heart-warming.

He offered her the flowers when he got to her, and people began to fall out of different hiding places. Her in-laws dressed casually and her family, her lips trembled when she saw her mother and sister, her nephews and nieces were all there. Kiron looked different, his hair was longer the last time she saw him, but she could still tell it was him, the light brown eyes and the scar on the side of his neck. He stood by his kids, a large basket of flowers in his hands. Together they filled the otherwise large living room, surrounding them in a circle. Through her tears, she knew the memory Dominic was trying to produce. It was their wedding day. The only confirmation she needed came when everyone began throwing petals into the air.

Nadine couldn't help it; she busted out laughing, turning her face into Dominic's chest as he held her close, swaying gently to the tune of the music. She kissed him soundly, laughing again when everyone cooed. "I love you; I love you. this is... this is beautiful."

"The best part is that I am not the surprise."

She laughed again, unable to fall out of the web of giddiness that she was trapped in. She kissed him again. Nadine looked at her family and then turned back to him. "I can tell. I can tell. Thank you. Thank you, a thousand times, a million and infinity."

"I think," the voice froze her in the middle of her words and her hands dropped from Dominic's shoulders as he straightened. She whipped around to find her father standing behind her with equally vibrant flowers in his hands. "I think the young man meant I was the surprise."

"Dad!"

"Don't be like that." He teased, standing closer, so she closed her fingers around the flowers. "Don't you think your father deserves this next dance?"

"Darling Papa." She fell into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist, her head against his chest. He held her tightly, she could feel his heartbeat against her cheeks and she smiled, her fingers digging into the cotton fabric of his sleeved shirt. "You don't know how much I missed you."

"And you don't know what it took not to drive over here last night when I got in." she pulled away in shock, and he bobbed her nose. "You look like a queen. Beautiful...even in tears. My beautiful girl, look how you've grown."

"Not by much!" Nevaeh laughed from her spot in the line, throwing more petals at them. "She is still a pint and a half."

Nadine grinned, picking out one of her flowers and throwing it pitifully in Nevaeh's direction. She lifted her hands to her father's shoulder, smiling up at him as the petals fell. They danced for some more time alone before more family members joined them. Her father-in-law pulled one of his daughters into the circle, and his son did the same for their mother. One by one, they joined them, dancing to music, enjoying themselves under the rain of flowers and groove of the music.

"One for the boss."

"Ay!" Nadine laughed as she screamed with everyone the chant Denise had offered to them for the toast. Dominic had his glass raised too. Everyone smiled broadly while Denise stood on a small stool to make the toast.

"Two for the restaurant!"

"Ay! Ay!"

"And three..." Denise raised her glass cheerfully, the cape of her dress falling gracefully to her back. "For the night we probably won't remember tomorrow."

"Ay! Ay! Ay!"

Denise laughed. She remained standing while everyone else took their seats. "Please help yourself. Our new menu would be going around, and you are welcome to try out the new dishes we have added. As you all well know, the paintings on the walls are also for sale. If something catches your eye, and I hope something will feel free to put down your interest, and it would get to us."

The restaurant was completely filled with people, some familiar faces and a few strange ones. A few tourists had booked tables for what Denise made out to be the celebration of the year. Nadine had once joked that if the business failed, Denise could go far as a party planner.

The tables were arranged irregularly but with an equal amount of distance between each other. A live band played at the far corner, surrounded by twinkling lights and playing the instrumentals of popular songs with finesse. She had snuck in a few songs she knew her parents would recognize and was more than thankful when they confirmed that they would play most of them.

"Well," Dominic leaned towards her, pressing a kiss to her cheeks. "Denise looks to be enjoying herself. Should we put Jackie in charge of taking her home tonight? She might not remember how to drive by the time we are ready to leave."

"No, what she is drinking is non-alcoholic." She lifted her glass as well, turning it this way and that. "So am I, and honey, you better be too. Our night doesn't end here because we still have to get home early so I can give you my present."

"Of course." She draped her arm over his leg and smiled at the waiter who handed her the menu. Denise joined them at the table, taking her seat after congratulating Nadine one more time. "Thanks for helping me with all this. You are such an angel. I don't know how far I would have gotten without your help."

"And thank you, Dominic, for convincing her family to come over." Denise laughed, raising a glass towards her family's table, and they raised one back at her, to the amusement of the people around. "Your family is beautiful. Oh, even better, is the look on people's faces when they walked in. I have to say that I truly enjoyed that."

"You knew they were coming?"

"Actually, no. Your husband didn't trust me with that information for some reason, I think he believes I am a leaking sieve." Denise accusingly teased Dominic, who pretended not to listen. "All in all, he told me to prepare a place for eight people who would be joining us. I am so glad they came to celebrate with you. and relive your wedding as well. Everything this morning was beautiful."

Throughout the evening, their table was stocked with food, drinks, and good conversations. Her niece had jogged over to her table a few times, her beautifully jewelled dress glinting in the light, as she took pictures of all of them. Her mother's song finally came on, and they spent a few minutes on the makeshift dancefloor in the centre of the room. She spent most of the night sitting and chatting with some of the guests, by the time she was ready to leave, she was bone tired.

"It's seven-thirty," Nadine leaned close to whisper to Dominic, taking his hand in her own. The only strength she had was from excitement at all she planned for Dominic back home. "We have to head home soon, and by soon, I mean now."

"The party ends at nine."

"Well, I didn't plan that we spend the entire night here, remember? An after-party is waiting for us back home, and we need to get to it. Denise and I have planned, she would take care of things from now till then. Come on, I'll inform her that we are leaving."

Dominic nodded, lifting his head to kiss her before she left. Nadine spoke to a few people on her way to her parent's table. They exchange niceties and congratulated her on the expansion of her restaurant. Nadine spent some time with them then walked over to her parents, taking an empty seat and kissing her mother in greeting.

"Dominic and I have to go now."

Her mother reached for her purse, "Do you want us to come along?"

"No!" she screeched quietly, bursting out in laughter at her voice. "Sorry, but this evening is for my husband and me. I have my own surprise for him. Let's do this tomorrow. I will hire an SUV to drive us out of town to a park in the other town. It's beautiful and has a river the kids and all of us could enjoy. What do you think?"

"Alright, darling. You go enjoy your anniversary, and tomorrow, we would spend some time together." Her mother patted her face lovingly while her father took her hand and squeezed it.

"And you guys." Nadine laughed, tugging on the ponytail of her niece and kissing her nephews. "You look like royalty, so beautiful and handsome. Look at you. Now that you are here, feel free to ask me anything, and if it's within my power, I will grant it. We are going to spend so much time together, learn everything and become a full family."

"We would hold you to that. I have missed you so much too. Thank you so much for doing my hair up for me. Maybe tomorrow I can do yours."

"Sure. Just don't tug; my curls can be stubborn sometimes." She gave them another tight hug and quickly rushed to take the mike Denise had been holding out for her. "Thank you all once again for being here to celebrate with us on the expansion of the restaurant. All of you have been so wonderful. Unfortunately, I can't stay past this time because I have other commitments before the night is done. Thankfully, you have the beautiful Denise, and I know she would take excellent care of you. Thank you all once again."

A round of applause broke out, and she hurried to join Dominic by the door. Hand in hand, they walked out of the restaurant and into the night, flanked by guards who walked them to the car.

They sat in the back, his arms over her shoulder while she rested her head against his shoulder. She had left orders for everything she planned to be set up while they were in the restaurant. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw her surprise. Hiding her smile, she took his hand, odd dizziness seeping through her. She sighed, her hold on Dominic's hand loosening, and her head sagged down as she gave in and fell asleep. At that moment, however, she was so tired, too sleepy to stay awake. She would wake up in a few minutes; their home wasn't far, Dominic would wake her, and they would continue their celebration.