Page 122 of Finding Us

His face lights up. “You got me a surfboard?”

“It’s the one you wanted, right?”

He picks it up, inspecting it. “It’s exactly what I wanted.”

I stand next to him. “Good. Because I had to special order it and they won’t take it back.”

He sets the surfboard back against the wall, then gives me a kiss. “You’re officially the best wife ever.”

“Go test it out. I have some things to do and I need to get rid of you for a few hours.”

He laughs. “Get rid of me?”

“Yeah, your last gift of the day is that I’m making you dinner.”

“Really?” He looks surprised and a little concerned, as he should be because I’m a horrible cook. But I’m still going to try.

“Yeah, so take your surfboard and have fun. It’ll take me all afternoon to make dinner and I need privacy.”

“You don’t have to make me dinner, Jade. We’ll just go out.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Are you saying you don’t want my dinner?”

“I do, but I don’t want you to have to spend all day in the kitchen.”

“I don’t mind. See you later.” I give him a kiss before heading inside.

While he’s out surfing, I attempt to make homemade lasagna and a cake. It’s ambitious for someone who can’t cook or bake to try to do both in one afternoon, but I’m doing it anyway.

The lasagna takes forever to make. Sean showed me how to make it but that was weeks ago and it was easier to make when he was standing next to me.

The cake smells good as it bakes but it comes out looking kind of lopsided. Then I frosted it before it had completely cooled so the cake crumbs stuck to the frosting. I hope it tastes better than it looks.

At 5, Garret comes back from surfing, a big smile on his face.

“How was the surfboard?” I ask him.

“Freaking awesome.” He comes over and puts his sun-warmed lips on mine. “Dinner smells good.” He notices my lopsided, crumb-covered dessert. “And you made me a cake?”

I laugh at his expression. “I forgot to let it cool before I frosted it.”

“I’m sure it’ll taste delicious.” He kisses me again. “I have to shower. When’s dinner?”

“In like 10 minutes. I just need to let the lasagna sit before I cut it.”

“Okay, I’ll be right down.”

The lasagna looks better than the cake. I just took it out of the oven and it’s bubbling with gooey cheese and the homemade sauce I made from Sean’s recipe.

I plate the lasagna and take out the salad I made and set everything up on the table. I have breadsticks, too, which I warmed in the oven.

Garret comes downstairs wearing shorts and a black polo shirt and the cologne I love on him.

I take him over to the table. “Happy Birthday!”

“Thanks, this looks great.”

We sit down and I wait, anxiously and nervously, for him to try it. He takes a bite of the lasagna, then reaches for his water and takes a big gulp.

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