I just had a thoughtmaybe you and I are a bit of an odd family.
“Its so good to have you,” said Alexander, wrapping his arms around his wife.
“And Im happy to have you!” Emily replied.
“Who else would I be with?” he laughed. “Of course, only you. Youre my destiny. The best woman in the world.”
Emily didnt answer. She kissed him on the cheek and hurried to the kitchen to take the pie out of the oven.
Today, the Wilsons were celebrating their silver wedding anniversary. Theyd decided to keep it simple, just the two of them and their children. They had twoa son, Thomas, in Year 11, and a daughter, Charlotte.
Charlotte had recently graduated from university, started a job, and moved into her own flat near her workplace. Though Emily had tried to persuade her to staythere was plenty of room at homeCharlotte insisted on living independently.
“Why waste money on rent?” Emily had asked. “Youve got your own room here, we all get alongwhy move out? Wait till you get married, then you can leave.”
“Mum, I love you and Dad, and I know youd never push me out, but I just want to try living on my own. And dont take this the wrong way, but you cook so well and bake such delicious pies, Im afraid Ill turn into a whale! Youre luckyyou stay slim no matter what you eat. I didnt inherit that! I have to watch my figure, and how can I do that living here? Your treats are impossible to resist.”
Emily smiled, looking at her daughter. Charlotte didnt resemble her at all. Emily was petite and slender, almost delicatesometimes people still mistook her for a teenager from behind. Her looks were unremarkable, and she never made much effort to enhance them. She barely wore makeup, usually tied her hair in a ponytail, and dressed modestly. Charlotte, on the other hand, was stunningshe took after her father.
Alexander was a striking mantall, well-built, though hed put on a bit of weight over the years, hardly surprising with Emilys pies. In his youth, hed been extraordinarily handsome, and even now, at forty-eight, he was an attractive man.
Emily knew she didnt stand out beside him. Shed long grown used to the whispers behind her back and paid them no mind because she knewto her husband, she was the best woman in the world. The most beautiful, the most desirable.
***
When Emily first met Alexander, she was twenty, and he was twenty-two.
That September day, university student Emily was on her way to her friend Sophies birthday party. Shed already prepared a gift but stopped at a florist to pick up a small bouquet.
Inside the shop, the only other customer was a young man choosing flowers. The shop assistant, a friendly girl, offered various arrangements, glancing at him with obvious interest. Emily looked at him too and understood whyhe was incredibly handsome.
“With looks like that, he should be in films,” she thought. “Maybe he is an actor.”
Just then, the young man noticed her and spoke.
“Excuse me, which bouquet do you prefer? The red roses or the peonies?”
Emily was taken abackshe hadnt expected him to address herbut answered anyway.
“Id pick the peonies, though most girls prefer roses.”
“Are they for your girlfriend?” the shop assistant asked.
“My girlfriend?” He laughed. “No, theyre not for anyone I know, actually.”
“Oh?” The assistant exchanged a puzzled glance with Emily.
“A friends dragging me to his cousins birthday party,” he explained. “I couldnt show up empty-handed, so I thought Id get flowers. But theres too much choiceIm lost.”
“If you go with roses, you cant go wrong,” Emily said. “All girls love roses.”
“Do you?” he asked suddenly.
She felt herself blush. “I love wildflowers most, but roses too. Everyone likes roses.”
“How interesting,” he said. “I like wildflowers as well. My mum always brings some back from the countrysidetheres a meadow near our cottage, full of them. Theres something special about them. They might seem plain at first glance, but if you look closer, theyre extraordinary.”
He bought the roses and left with a smile at Emily.
“Gorgeous, isnt he?” the shop assistant sighed. “That smile! He could be an actor.”
“Thats what I thought,” Emily agreed.
She bought a small bunch of daisies and headed to Sophies.
Her surprise was immense when she saw the handsome stranger at the party. It turned out his name was Alex, and hed come with his friend Daniel, Sophies cousin.
Alex was just as startled to see her. He kept glancing her way, smiling, while Emily blushed and looked down. Later, he sat beside her, and they started talking.
Now, years later, Emily couldnt recall their conversation. Alex asked questions, she answered, he told stories, she listened
And she couldnt understand why he was paying her attention. She caught Sophies sharp looks and saw her friend was irritated.
When music started and guests began dancing, Sophie asked Alex for a dance. He glanced guiltily at Emily before accepting.
But afterward, he returned to her. And when she left, he offered to walk her home.
The next day at university, Sophie ignored Emilys greeting.
After lectures, Emily approached her. “Whats wrong?”
“You really dont know?” Sophie snapped. “Daniel brought Alex for me! He wanted us to meet. Id seen photos of Alex and liked him. And you ruined it! Flirting with him all night, then leading him away And playing innocent!”
“I wasnt flirting!” Emily protested. “I dont even know how! He just talked to me. And he walked me home on his ownI didnt ask!”
“Oh, sure,” Sophie scoffed. “What does he see in you, anyway?” She stormed off, leaving Emily bewildered.
Had she really stolen her friends chance? Was she some kind of scheming homewrecker? Nothat couldnt be.
Her, Emilythe girl boys never noticed. Plain, quiet Emily had caught the attention of someone like Alex? Sophie was perfect for himpretty, lively, vibrant, with loads of admirers. Emily was none of those things.
No, a man like Alex wasnt for her. So what if hed talked to her and walked her home? He probably didnt know anyone else there and just passed the time with her.
Lost in these thoughts, Emily examined herself in the mirror at home.
“Really, whod want someone like me?”
Just then, the phone rang. It was Alex. When hed asked for her number, shed been sure hed never call.
They met that evening by the river. When Emily arrived, Alex was already waitingwith a bouquet of wildflowers. His smile made her heart leap. She was in love.
And so began Emily and Alexanders romance. Many predicted it wouldnt last. No one believed a man like him could seriously fall for a girl like Emily. Of course, envy followedpeople whispered their relationship was doomed.
A man that handsome must be used to female attention; surely, hed stray eventually. But Alex had eyes only for Emily. In time, she stopped doubting and ignored the naysayers.
A year after they met, Alexander and Emily married. Not a day passed without him telling her she was the best. Only once, a decade into their marriage, did Emily ask why hed chosen her.
“You couldve had any beauty. Why me? Theres nothing special about me.”
Alexander looked genuinely surprised. “Can you ever explain why you fall in love? But since you askedI fell for your eyes, the kindness in them. For your voice, your scent, your soul. To me, youre the most beautiful woman in the world. Like wildflowersyour beauty doesnt shout. Not everyone sees it. But I did. And Id never trade my favourite wildflower for the grandest rose.”
***
Their twenty-fifth anniversary dinner was cosy and warm. The childrens heartfelt words were the best gift Emily and Alexander could ask for.
At the centre of the table sat a delicate bouquet of wildflowers. Alexander always gave them to heron her July birthday and every wedding anniversary.
“Alex,” Emily said as they settled into bed. “I just thoughtmaybe were a bit of an odd family.”
“Why?” he asked, puzzled.
“In twenty-five years, weve never had a single fight. Is that even normal?”
“You want to fight?” he teased, tickling her.
“No, no, I dont!” she laughed, squirming away.
“Good,” he said, kissing her. “Neither do I.”
