The Forgotten Surprise

A husband plans the perfect anniversary, but his wife has a surprise of her own.

Jeff Levin had been waiting for this day for a year. Last year, he’d forgotten their anniversary, buried in deadlines and meetings. Janet had smiled through it, insisting it didn’t matter, but Jeff knew better. He saw the disappointment in her eyes. This year would be different.

He planned everything; her favorite flowers to be delivered to her at their favorite restaurant, reservations at Romano’s, and the grand surprise: two tickets to Paris for a week of pampering and adventure. He could already imagine Janet’s reaction, the joy on her face when she realized he hadn’t just remembered, he’d gone above and beyond.

At 9 p.m. sharp, Jeff was seated at Romano’s, roses on the table, heart racing. He checked the door with every laugh and clink of silverware, waiting for her to appear. Nine-thirty came. Then ten. Her phone went straight to voicemail. With sinking hope, he gathered the flowers and headed home.

Inside, the glow of the TV bathed Janet in soft light. She sat curled up on the couch in sweats, a bowl of popcorn at her side.

“You forgot something,” Jeff said, setting the flowers down. His voice cracked. “You were supposed to meet me at Romano’s at nine. I waited for you.”

Janet blinked, her face shifting from confusion to regret. “I’m sorry, babe. I did forget. It’s just...it’s been such a long day. I got some news, and it made me forget everything else.”

Jeff’s chest tightened. “What news? Is everything okay?”

She turned off the TV and looked at him, eyes shining with a quiet smile. “Yeah. Everything’s okay. Or at least, it’s going to be.”

He stepped closer. “Janet, what does that mean?”

She took his hand, placing it gently against her stomach.
“I’m pregnant.”

Word Count: 293
Prompt: Write a story that includes the line: “You forgot something.”
Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"