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“Hey, Courtney . . . where are you, babe?”
I called out, “I’m in here,” from the den while I worked on a huge presentation for work. It’s already Wednesday, and this thing is due Friday morning. I knew with Erik being home, I wasn’t going to get much accomplished, but I planned on doing my best. I need this promotion and that third-floor corner office that comes with it.
When Erik came up behind me, I could hear his phone vibrating. He ignored it, and so did I.
“Hey, baby.” I quivered when he wrapped his arms around me. “I missed you so much.” He kissed my neck when he was in reach.
“I’ve missed you too, Erik.” I reached up and kissed his awaiting lips.
As he thumbed through a stack of mail, he asked, “What are you working on?”
I put the pencil I was jotting notes with behind my ear. “I have a massive presentation due this Friday, and it has to be textbook perfect; my entire career is riding on it. If I nail this account, I could get a new office, and the big raise I deserve.”
When Erik asked, “What about Fenmore’s?” I looked over at him.
“You know to open my own tapas bar is my dream, but when the time is right. I can’t put my career and everything I’ve worked so hard for on hold until that happens, so I need this promotion.”
He paused for a half-second before he asked, “What if I said I could help you.”
“Erik, no. I-no, I don’t want you involved.” I shook my head when I said, “No,” again.
“I’m your husband, Court; anything you do, I would hope to be involved.”
“Erik, you know what I meant. I don’t mix business and pleasure. That never ends well.”
“I can understand you feeling that way.”
My eyes landed down to my lap. “When the time and money are both right, I’m going to scout out a great location without going over budget; hire a good, solid, reliable staff, an accountant, attorney, interior designer, exterior designer . . .” I shrugged my shoulders as my dreams of owning my tapas bar fell to the floor. “It’s a lot, but it’ll happen when the time is right.”
“What if I told you the time was right now?”
I opened my mouth to answer him, but when nothing came out, I turned back to my computer screen. I didn’t want to talk about my derailed dreams anymore; I have work to finish.
“I took care of all of it, Courtney.”
I ignored him. He’s rambling something over there, but I’m not taking time to even respond.
When he asked, “Did you hear me, Court?” I answered him back with an “mm-hmm,” as I jotted figures down onto my notepad.
“Courtney, you don’t seem excited.”
I threw my pencil down on my desk and turned back toward him. “I’m not getting excited, Erik, because I have a lot of work to do. You asked me a hypothetical question. I answered it, so now I’m done.”
His eyebrows furred. “Baby, I didn’t say what if I took care of it; I said I took care of it. It’s all yours if you want it.”
My eyes followed as he popped his black leather briefcase opened. He pulled out papers and two sets of keys. I asked, “Erik, what-what are you doing? What’s all that?”
As he got up and headed over to me, he said, “I took care of location, staff, an accountant and a lawyer. I called in the best interior designers in Maryland, too. It’s all yours, baby.”
I jumped up and hugged him tightly, my eyes filling with tears. “Erik, you didn’t. You . . . no, you didn’t.”
“I did, babe. I did it for you.”
I had to pinch myself to make sure Erik was really saying these words to me, and I wasn’t just daydreaming like I do as he rambles on about Monday night football. This couldn’t be happening, though. He found a location. An attorney . . . designers. This must be a dream, but I would’ve awakened by now.
“I spoke with my investors this afternoon and drew this up.” He pulled a lease from his briefcase for a property on Canterbury Road near The Ambassador. “We can go look at it now if you want.” He jingled the keys.
I can’t believe it . . . The opportunity I’ve been waiting on since I graduated from college is now staring me right in the face. All I could do was sob tears of joy.
“Courtney . . .” His voice was so gentle. “You know I hate it when you cry.” His eyes became watery, looking into mine. “Did I do something wrong?”
Absolutely not! He’s doing everything right. I could never repay him for this, or express my gratitude for what he’s done for me.
“Erik . . . thank-thank you so much. You . . . I don’t know why you did this, but thank you. Sometimes, I’m so hard on you because you’re not always here when I want you to be . . . I know you’re working, but the selfish part of me wants you home.” I whimpered. “Please forgive me.” I cried harder. “Forgive me for not being more understanding. Oh . . . Erik, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being self-centered, thinking only of my needs while you’re out working, providing for me like you did today.”
I couldn’t speak any longer. No more words. Just light sniffles from my overjoyed heart. My husband has just made the impossible possible. If Shaun was here, he would say I was being dramatic, and I was, but I didn’t care. I’m so happy, and I want the whole world to know it!
“Would you like to go see the new building now, or would you whether go later?”
“Let’s go now! I can’t wait to see it. I bet it’ll be everything I’ve ever wanted.”
As I stood there, I started to pray. I didn’t really know how to, but I felt as if I owed a few words to whoever was listening: Lord, thank You. Thank You for sending me such a great man and best friend. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve him, or any of what he does for me, but thank You . . .
Erik grabbed me by the hand. “Let’s go, Court. Let’s go see Fenmore’s.”
I walked beside my husband to the front door, beaming the whole way out, just thinking of how lucky I am.