I thought to myself just now that perhaps you and I are rather an unusual family.
“How lucky I am to have you,” said Alexander, embracing his wife.
“And Im so happy I have you!” replied Olivia.
“Who else would I be with?” the man laughed. “Only you, of course. Youre my destiny. The finest woman in the world.”
Olivia said nothing. She kissed her husband on the cheek and hurried to the kitchen to take the pie out of the oven.
That day, the Winstons were celebrating their silver wedding anniversary. They had decided to keep it simple, just the familythe two of them and their children, Henry and Emily.
Henry was in the tenth form, and Emily had recently graduated from university, found work, and moved into her own flat nearby. Olivia had tried to dissuade herthere was plenty of room at homebut Emily had insisted on independence.
“Why waste money on rent?” Olivia had asked. “Youve your own room here, and we all get on so well. Why leave? Wait till you marry, then you can move out.”
“Mum, I love you and Father dearly, and I know youd never turn me out,” Emily had replied, “but I want to try living on my own. And, please dont be cross, but you cook so well and bake such delicious piesIm afraid Ill turn into a dumpling! Youre so slender; you eat and never gain. But I didnt inherit that. I must watch my figure, and how can I, living here? Your treats are impossible to resist.”
Olivia had smiled, studying her daughter. Emily looked nothing like her. Olivia was petite, slightpeople still mistook her for a girl from behind. Her looks were plain, and she made no effort to enhance them. She wore little makeup, tied her hair in a simple ponytail, and dressed modestly. Emily, however, was a beautyshe took after her father.
Alexander had always been strikingtall, well-built. With age, hed filled out a little, hardly surprising given Olivias pies. In his youth, he had been exceptionally handsome, and even now, at forty-eight, he remained a fine-looking man.
Olivia knew she faded beside him. She had long grown used to whispers behind her back but paid them no mind, for she knewto her husband, she was the most beautiful woman alive.
***
When Olivia first met Alexander, she was twenty, and he twenty-two.
That September afternoon, Olivia, then a student, was on her way to her friend Violets birthday party. She had already prepared a gift but stopped to buy a small bouquet on the way.
Inside the florists, the only other customer was a young man selecting flowers. The shop assistant, a pleasant girl, suggested various arrangements, glancing at him with obvious interest. Olivia looked too and understood why. He was extraordinarily handsome.
“With looks like that, he ought to be in films,” she thought. “Perhaps he is.”
Just then, the young man noticed her and spoke.
“Miss, which bouquet do you prefer? The red roses or the peonies?”
Olivia flustered, unprepared for his attention. “Id choose the peonies, though most girls like roses.”
“And your sweetheartwhat flowers does she like?” asked the shopgirl.
“My sweetheart?” He laughed. “Im not buying for a sweetheart. I dont even know the girl theyre for.”
The shopgirl and Olivia exchanged puzzled glances.
“A friends dragging me to his cousins birthday,” he explained. “Cant go empty-handed, so I thought Id bring flowers. But theres so much choiceIm quite lost.”
“If you take roses, you cant go wrong. All girls like roses,” said Olivia.
“Do you?” he asked.
She felt herself blush. “I love wildflowers most, but roses too. Everyone does, I suppose.”
“How interesting,” he said. “I like wildflowers as well. My mother always brings bunches from the meadow near our cottage. Theres such beauty in themhumble at first glance, but astonishing when you look closely.”
He bought the roses and left with a smile.
“What a handsome young man,” the shopgirl sighed. “That smile alone! He could be an actor.”
Olivia agreed, bought chrysanthemums, and hurried to Violets.
Her surprise was great when, at the party, she saw the same smiling stranger. His name, it turned out, was Alex, and he had come with his friend Arthur, Violets cousin.
Alex was equally startled to see the girl from the florists. He kept glancing at her, smiling. Olivia, flustered, smiled back and looked away. Later, as the evening wore on, he sat beside her, and they talked.
What they spoke of, Olivia couldnt recall now, after so many years. He asked questions; she answered. He told stories; she listened. And all the while, she wondered why he sat with her, why he smiled, why he paid her any mind. She caught Violets sidelong glares and saw her friends anger.
When music played and guests danced, Violet approached Alex and asked him. He glanced guiltily at Olivia but went. Later, he returned to her. And when she left, he offered to walk her home.
The next day at college, Violet ignored Olivias greeting.
After lectures, Olivia confronted her. “Whats wrong?”
“You dont know?” Violet snapped.
“Know what?”
“Arthur brought Alex for me! He meant to introduce us. Id seen Alex in Arthurs photos and liked him. Thats why Arthur brought him. And you ruined itflirting all evening, then leading him away! And you pretend to be so meek!”
“I wasnt flirting,” Olivia protested. “I dont even know how. And he walked me home of his own accord.”
Violet scoffed. “As if! What does he see in you?”
Olivia was left stunned. Had she truly stolen her friends beau? Was she so sly? No, it couldnt be. She, Olivia, whom boys never noticedplain, quiet Oliviahad caught the eye of a man like Alex? Violet was perfect for himpretty, lively, bright, with admirers aplenty.
She studied herself in the mirror that evening. “Whod want me?”
At that moment, the telephone rang. It was Alex. He had asked for her number the night before, and shed been certain hed never call.
They met that evening by the riverbank. When Olivia arrived, Alex was waiting with a bunch of wildflowers. And when he smiled, she knewshe was in love.
Thus began Olivia and Alexanders romance. Many predicted an early end. No one believed such a handsome man could truly care for a girl like Olivia. Envy whispered their love was doomedthat a man accustomed to admiration would stray.
But Alex never looked elsewhere. Soon, Olivia believed in his love and ignored the doubters.
A year after they met, they married. Not a day passed without Alexander telling her she was the finest woman alive. Only once, a decade into their marriage, did Olivia ask why hed chosen her.
“You could have had any beauty. Why me? Ive nothing men admire.”
Alexander looked astonished. “Can love be explained? But since you askI fell for your eyes, the kindest Ive ever seen. For your voice, your scent, your soul. To me, youre the most beautiful woman alive. No wonder you love wildflowersyoure like them. Your beauty doesnt shout; not everyone sees it. But I did. And Id never trade my wildflower for the grandest rose.”
***
Their twenty-fifth anniversary dinner was warm and intimate. The childrens kind words were the greatest gift.
At the tables center stood a delicate bouquet of wildflowers. Alexander always gave them to Oliviaon her July birthday and every wedding anniversary.
That night, as they lay in bed, Olivia murmured, “Alex, I was just thinkingperhaps were an unusual family.”
“Why?” he asked.
“In twenty-five years, weve never once quarrelled. Can that be right?”
“Do you want to quarrel?” He laughed. “Very welllets quarrel!”
And he began to tickle her.
“No, no, I dont!” she cried, squirming.
“Nor I,” he said, kissing her.
