“So, Dad immediately burst into tears when he found out that Julian was critical?” Gabriella asked Gabriella while combing her hair in front of the mirror.
“Yes. It took a few minutes for him to stop sobbing,” the man who had been lying on the bed, said.
“Then I guess you will have no trouble reconciling them. Dad doesn’t hate Julian that much,” the woman mumbled as she placed the comb on the dressing table. A second later, she walked towards the bed.
Seeing that his wife had been lying on the side, Max secretly smiled. Carefully, he tilted his body so that he could get a better look at Gabriella’s face.
“But, won’t they mind? Waiting for their condition to recover requires patience. Why don’t you just bring them together now?” the woman asked without paying attention to the hand that began to wander.
“I want to make a memorable moment of peace, Gaby. It’s too dramatic for them to do it in a hospital. Won’t it be great if we all have a party to celebrate?” Max explained in a dragging voice. His thoughts had been divided on his wife’s tenderness.
“What kind of party do you want to have?” Gabriella asked with round eyes.
While continuing to pamper the woman, Max muttered. “How about we celebrate your delayed birthday? The event designs I’ve created are too precious to just throw away.”
After a moment of contemplation, Gabriella finally nodded. “That’s a great idea, Max. That way, I won’t be too sorry for running away that day.”
“Do you know how messy this house was when people found out you’re gone? Just imagine, your birthday cake was left half-baked in the oven, while the ingredients for food and decorations were scattered everywhere. You can’t do that kind of mischief again, Gaby.”
“Yes. What I did was really stupid, Max,” the woman muttered softly. She didn’t realize that she had started to sigh. With a gaze fixed on the ceiling, Gabriella was too busy reviewing memories. “So, don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere else. I will always stick by your side.”
A few seconds passed, the man did not answer. Getting confused, Gabriella turned around. As soon as she found a slightly protruding tongue, the woman immediately furrowed her brows.
“What are you doing, Max? You know that we can’t send out invitations yet, right?” Gabriella whispered as she waited for the man to look back at her.
Unexpectedly, a mischievous laugh wafted from the man’s mouth. “Not me, but my hand. It keeps moving on its own, Gaby. I think, my hand is too happy because it hasn’t met warmth in a long time.”
“Then just hold the thermos. It’s hotter than my body temperature,” Gabriella said with pursed lips.
But, instead of stopping, Max’s hand slipped in. “Do you have the heart to see your husband having fun with a thermos?”
Hearing such a question, the woman could no longer hold back her lips from curling. “Stop it, Max. I don’t want you to end up spilling blood on my stomach.”
“And I don’t want you to have new bruises on your back and blood on the bed,” the man said lightly. “You don’t have to worry, Gaby. I’m conscious enough to remember the doctor’s advice. But ….”
A second later, Max put on a pitiful look in front of his wife. “If it’s just letting go of longing, is it still not allowed?”
A small laugh suddenly escaped along with Gabriella’s sigh. “What are you missing, Max? We’ve always been together these days.”
“I want this in my mouth,” the man replied as he turned the knob he hadn’t played in a long time. “You can’t forget my favorite flavor, can you?”
Noticing the half-desperate expression, the woman finally sighed. “Okay. But remember, you can’t cross the line.”
“I promise,” Max said no less than a second.
A moment later, Gabriella also lay on her side. Without waiting for orders, the man removed the thin cloth so that the beauty of his wife was no longer covered. In just an instant, the woman had screamed at her husband’s wildness.
“Slow down, Max,” Gabriella pleaded, stroking the untiring head.
“Hmm,” the man answered. Max was already immersed in the pleasure he never tire of devouring. It didn’t take long for the man to invite his wife into the same world. The room, which had been quiet for a long time, was finally bustling with breaths.
***
“Max, this is great,” Gabriella exclaimed as her husband showed her the new birthday present. “Is this the reason you have barred me from entering your workroom for the past few days?”
With a thin curve of lips, the man nodded. “Yes. Do you like it?”
Without thinking, the woman hugged her husband. “Very much. Thank you, Max.”
“You’re welcome, Gaby.”
While stroking his wife’s head, the man inhaled the fragrance of the shampoo that always soothed his heart.
“But, Max, isn’t this an exaggeration? Previously, you already gave me a present,” Gabriella whispered before turning to the miniature of her parents’ house that was only a memory.
“Yesterday’s gift is too simple, Gaby. I want to make something more special for you. Look, you can see the inside of your house too,” Max said before opening one side of the walls. Various small furniture spontaneously surprised Gabriella.
With round, teary eyes, the woman stared at the replica of the house that evoked memories. Every now and then, a small laugh could be heard, making the husband’s heart feel lighter.
“It’s perfect, Max. How could you possibly make it very similar? You only visited my house once,” Gabriella sighed in amazement.
“Because I never forget every memorable moment in my life, Gaby. That day was our first meeting. I remember every detail. Just look at the kitchen. There’s a bottle of chili powder on the shelf,” the man replied, lifting the corners of his lips higher. He knew that Gabriella would be touched by his words.
A second later, the laugh that Max had been waiting for, was heard. Touching the nail-sized bottle, the woman tilted her head. “This is what triggered our first kiss,” she sighed almost inaudibly.
“Yes, you’re right, and I’m very grateful that you put that much chili powder in my coffee,” the man said, suddenly making his wife pursed her lips. “But sorry, Gaby. I don’t know what’s in your room. So, I just guessed it. At least, I was right in putting Snowy on the bed, right?”
As soon as she saw the super small white teddy bear, Gabriella gasped and covered her mouth with one hand. “Oh my God! This is really cute, Max. How could you make a small version of Snowy?”
With a mischievous smile, the man moved the mini bear into Gabriella’s palm. “I asked for Auntie’s help on this one.”
“This is so lovely,” the woman sighed with furrowed eyebrows depicting emotion. After one long breath, Gabriella went back into her husband’s arms. “You’re amazing, Max. I am very lucky to have a husband as good as you.”
“Yes, I know,” the man implied without the slightest hesitation. It managed to make a small laugh sounded again.
“Now, how about we go downstairs, Gaby? Guests are waiting for you, including Dad and Julian. We have an important agenda waiting for us,” Max asked after kissing his wife’s forehead.
As soon as she’s putting little Snowy back in its place, Gabriella grabbed her husband’s hand. Then together, they walked towards the party.