**Diary Entry 25 Years On**
I caught myself thinking todayperhaps were the wrong sort of family.
*”Im so glad I have you,”* Alexander said, wrapping his arms around his wife.
*”And Im happy youre with me!”* Olivia replied.
*”Who else would I be with?”* He laughed. *”Only you. Youre my fate, the best woman in the world.”*
Olivia didnt answer. She kissed his cheek and hurried to the kitchen to take the pie out of the oven.
Today, the Wilsons celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. Theyd decided to keep it simplejust the two of them and their children. Their son, Henry, was in Year 11, and their daughter, Emily, had recently graduated university, started a job, and moved into a rented flat near her office. Olivia had tried to dissuade her*”Why waste money on rent? Youve got your own room here!”*but Emily insisted.
*”Mum, I love you and Dad, but I need to try living on my own. And dont take this the wrong way, but your cooking is too good. Ill turn into a whale if I stay!”*
Olivia smiled. Emily looked nothing like her. Olivia was petite, almost waifishstill mistaken for a teenager from behind. She hardly wore makeup, tied her hair in a simple ponytail, and dressed plainly. Emily, though, was strikingshe took after Alexander.
Tall, broad-shouldered, with a presence that turned heads, Alexander had only grown more distinguished with age. Olivia knew she didnt stand out beside him, but she didnt care. For him, she was the most beautiful woman alive.
***
Theyd met at twenty and twenty-two.
Olivia, then a student, had been on her way to her friend Victorias birthday when she stopped at a florist. Inside stood a young manhandsome enough to be an actoragonising over bouquets.
*”Which do you prefer?”* he asked suddenly. *”Roses or peonies?”*
Flustered, Olivia admitted she liked wildflowers best.
*”So do I,”* he said, grinning. *”Theres something special about themquiet beauty.”*
He bought roses and left with a smile.
Imagine her surprise when she saw him at the party. His name was Alex, and hed come with his friend James, Victorias cousin.
Victoria was furious. *”James brought him for me!”* she hissed later. *”You ruined everything!”*
Olivia was bewildered. Shed never flirteddidnt know how. But Alex sought her out all evening, walked her home, and called the next day.
They met by the river that evening. He was waiting with a bouquet of wildflowers.
That was the start of it. No one believed it would last. *”A man like that?”* people whispered. *”Hell get bored.”*
But he never looked at anyone else.
A year later, they married. Ten years in, Olivia finally asked: *”Why me? You couldve had anyone.”*
Alex frowned. *”How do you explain love? I fell for your eyes, your voice, your soul. Youre like a wildflowernot everyone sees it, but I did. And Id never trade you for any rose.”*
***
Tonight, their anniversary dinner was quiet, just the four of them. The childrens kind words were the best gift.
At the centre of the table stood a vase of wildflowersAlexs tradition for her birthday and their anniversary.
Later, as they lay in bed, Olivia murmured, *”Alex, Ive been thinking we must be the wrong sort of family.”*
*”Why?”*
*”In twenty-five years, weve never once argued. Is that even normal?”*
*”Do you want to?”* He grinned, tickling her until she shrieked.
*”No! Never!”*
*”Good,”* he said, kissing her. *”Neither do I.”*
