My Forever Valentine

“What shall we do on Valentine's Day?” Stephanie asked her newly minted husband.

“Good grief!” Jeff snorted. “It's too soon to think about that!”

“It's never too soon or too late to think about love.”

Here she goes again, Jeff thought. Everything has to be inflated into a social media event.
He resolved to be as diplomatic as possible. “You’re my forever Valentine every day. It’s not a special occasion. It’s a lifestyle.”

“But we can have both, can’t we?” Stephanie protested. “Planning is fun. Choosing the right venue, the right outfit, the right caterer ... It is our first anniversary, after all.”

“Puh-leez! Don't make it as complicated as our wedding.” Jeff took her hand. “Let’s start celebrating love right now.”

“How can we?” Stephanie asked. “I haven't even put up the decorations.”

He led her to their love seat and settled her on his lap. “Let's make up a story about love.”

Stephanie sighed contentedly. Making up stories was not part of her own family tradition, but it was one she was eager to adopt. When she discovered that telling stories was something Jeff’s family practised instead of arguing, she was charmed. Whenever she sat in a circle with them, spinning tales, she truly felt like she belonged. This is something she wanted to pass on to their future children and grandchildren.

“Once upon a time, there was a lonely princess...” she began.

“Waiting for her prince,” Jeff continued.

“She waited and waited and waited, and nothing happened.”

Jeff pulled her closer. “She was so disappointed that she started to cry.”

“She sobbed and sobbed and sobbed until her eyes were red and her face was puffy.”  A princess’ worst nightmare!  Even worse if she likes to wear a lot of make-up.

Jeff studied the horrified look on Stephanie’s face and decided it was time to add an unlikely hero to the mix. “Jason the Swineherd happened to be passing by and heard her crying. He stopped and asked what was the matter.”

"’I can't find love anywhere!’ the princess wailed.”

“Jason put his arms around her. ‘It's right here,’ he reminded her."

Stephanie brushed her lips against Jeff’s. “Then she realized that love had been right beside her all the time, but her expectations kept her from realizing it.”

Several kisses later, Jeff resumed the story.

“She didn't marry the swineherd, of course. Her parents would never have forgiven her.”

“But they talked until late at night and were friends forever,” Stephanie continued.

“The next day,” Jeff said, “she told her father that she needed a break from just hanging around waiting to get married.”

Stephanie reflected a moment.  “The king sent her to her uncle Bertie's kingdom, with a constitutional monarchy, which was much less pretentious. On pleasant days, the king used to go to work on his bicycle.”

“Uncle Bertie put her to work in the palace gardens,” Jeff said. “She enjoyed her new lifestyle and made many friends.”

“Then she studied horticulture and married one of the professors at the college.”

“Her parents were horrified, of course, but they got over it after the first grandchild was born.”

“And they lived happily ever after,” Stephanie concluded.

“With the occasional interruption,” Jeff teased.

Stephanie nodded. “But even when they disagreed,”

“Love was always there,” they said together.

Stephanie melted into Jeff’s arms. “Love is the great healer, the sustainer, the wellspring of creativity.”

“Love is what pours from my heart when I see you,” Jeff whispered. No words were exchanged for several minutes.

Finally, Stephanie stood up. “You're right, Jeff. We don't need decorations. But I would love a piece of strawberry cheesecake with a heart on it.”

“Me too,” Jeff said. “Shall we go out, or phone for delivery?”

“Delivery. I’ll concoct some special coffee just as soon as I slip into something more comfortable.”