A Celebration and Double Vows (2)

Prompt: Write a STORY or POEM about a married couple celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary. The story/poem can be of any genre, any plot, but it MUST be about a seventh wedding anniversary, and it MUST include the number seven/7 -- SEVEN times.

A Celebration and Double Vows

“You can’t work in this office anymore! Pack all your personal items in this box.”

Thunderstruck Kathy Montalto looked at her boss, Conrad Miller. Tears welling up in her eyes, her voice coming out choked she pleaded, “Please don’t fire me, sir. I know I made mistakes with some reports, but I have learned. It won’t happen again.”

Conrad’s face broke into a wide grin. “I have been promoted to squadron leader. We’re moving to a new office on the seventh floor! You’re coming with me.”

A couple of tears escaped Kathy’s eyes and rolled over her cheeks. She laughed shakily and wiped her face. “You scared me, sir. I thought you finally had enough of me.”

Conrad Miller had to suppress a smirk when he saw the slim 5’7” blue-eyed girl nearly break out in tears for her position with him. “I’m not going to throw away seven months of hard work getting you instructed on how I like things done just to let a rookie have you.”

Kathy’s belongings were quickly packed. She helped Conrad gather his things. Last was his wedding picture. Conrad held it in his hand and looked pensively at it. He carefully put it on top of his other pictures and knickknacks in his box. He turned to Kathy and furrowed his eyebrows. “Kathy, what are you doing next Saturday?”

“Nothing in particular, sir.”

“Good. I want you to come to my seventh wedding anniversary. Brianna wants to meet you. She wants to know who I spend my days with.” Conrad paused and sighed, “Make sure you come with a man at your side.”

Kathy nodded. It was perfect for her too. Seven weeks ago her high school sweetheart, Brandon, had called her to rekindle what they had during senior year. He was jealous of Conrad, who had made it far in life in his mid-twenties.     

Usually Kathy used the 360 degree mirrored view in the elevator to check on her clothes and smooth her shoulder-length blond hair before coming to work. Riding to the higher floor with Conrad she kept her eyes glued to the patterns on the carpet. At 6’2”, broad shouldered, with sandy blond hair and gray eyes Conrad was a picture perfect cop. Kathy was glad he spent a lot of time in the field. His powerful frame, his confident attitude and the determination with which he pursued his career made him attractive to 19-year old Kathy.

The renewal of the vows turned out to be very intimate. Only seven people took part, Conrad and Brianna of course and their son Brett, Kathy, Brandon and two more Poseidon co-workers, Peter and Kurt.

Conrad had memorized a lovely poem for his wife and she cried as he recited it in front of the priest. Work kept him away from home so many hours in a day, Brianna wondered what mattered more to him in life. The couple shared a tender kiss in front of the witnesses.

“Brianna, I love you and Brett more than anything in the world. I have a surprise for you. I’ve prepared it behind your back even though I know you hate secrets. Can I show it to you?”

“Yes,” Brianna said, smitten with her husband.

The small party piled into Kurt’s seven seat family van. They drove to the suburbs of Seattle, to a very exclusive neighborhood. The van pulled up outside of a large mansion. The lights were off and it was completely quiet when they stepped onto the driveway.

“Brianna, will you go ring the doorbell?” Conrad asked casually. He held Brett in his strong arms.

Ding-dong, the doorbell went.

The double doors flew open, lights in all the windows flooded the front yard. Brianna’s parents and nearly all of Poseidon Security Corporation agents streamed out of the building, encircling the couple.

Conrad caught up with Brianna and put an arm around her shoulders. “Welcome home, baby. You’ll be happy here and Brett will go to the best schools.”

“But how did you …?” Brianna searched for words.

Conrad and his father-in-law winked at each other. Brett was handed to his grand-mother. Conrad got on one knee in front of his wife.

“Brianna, you have held out with me through all these years, academy, rookie times, all of it. Your trust in me has finally paid off. Will you please move into this home with me?”

“Yes, yes I want to!” Brianna exclaimed happily.

“Great!” Conrad swept her off her feet and carried her over the threshold amidst the applause from his co-workers and family.

Standing apart from the circus, Kathy looked Brandon in the eyes. “See? Conrad loves his wife. You don’t have to worry about him being my boss.”

Brandon balled a fist. His young face screwed into a scowl, he vowed, “Kathy, I’m going to get you a mansion like that too! I will! If he can do it so can I!”

“I know you will,” Kathy said to Brandon. His chosen path would take him longer to achieve. But Kathy knew that once Brandon was a brain surgeon he would be able to afford anything he wanted. She would gladly be by his side for the way there, as long as he stopped asking her to quit her job. Kathy wanted and needed the independence her salary gave her.

895 words