1. Unwind with Kerri

Transcript

It's the end of a long day of work. Not too long. And nothing too frustrating happened.

You did good work. It was a solid day. But you are so ready to close your computer, stretch your arms up to the ceiling, take a big breath, and enjoy an evening with your partner.

They've told you they've got something up their sleeve, and to not worry about making dinner. You're excited to see what they come up with. Life has been a bit work and responsibility heavy these last few weeks.

It's nice to have something to look forward to, to feel taken care of. Soft Brazilian music is on the record player when you walk into the living room. It's a style you had to warm up to at first.

The whispers and romance felt a bit unrealistic, but it's grown on you. You do a little dance, moving your hips side to side, your feet front and back, in tune with the music. You never had a partner so solid, so caring and sweet.

Maybe this music isn't so unrealistic after all, you think. It makes you smile as you walk into the kitchen. Spices are laid out in little silver bowls along the counter, ready to be sprinkled into the cast iron, vegetables prepped too, all set for roasting, but your partner has left the room.

You hear their footsteps coming, and smell the freshness of a recent shower, the subtle scent of their shampoo as they put their arms around your waist and ask you how your day was. Though you say it was perfectly fine, they let you know that it's about to get even better, because they've got a three-course meal for the two of you, starting with the fancy crackers they know you like, and a homemade roasted carrot and zucchini hummus. Your taste buds perk up with delight at the sound of a healthy but delicious meal.

They tell you to have a seat as they light a pair of cream-colored taper candles on the table. You thought those candle holders had been lost for good, but they found them in a shoebox in the storage closet and bought fresh candlesticks for you at the gift shop in town. You touch the smooth brass base of the candle holder as your partner sets a plate of salt and pepper crackers and the golden orange hummus down in front of you.

Smiling and grateful, you thank them as they smirk, give you a kiss on the forehead, and make their way to the stove to season the main course. Their dish needs 25 minutes in the oven, and then you'll be ready to eat. They make it all look so easy tonight.

Your partner invites you to play a game. It works by one person saying the name of a city you've been to together, and the other person has to choose the best thing about that place. They start the game with Barcelona.

You think of the food at the amazing restaurants you visited together. The quirky vermouth bar with the award-winning bartender that could juggle and toss the glasses and shakers around like a circus act. The apartment you stayed in with the tall ceilings and birthday cake decorative details and drool-worthy chandeliers.

You think of driving to the coast on their birthday, the brilliant blue of the water, and taking your favorite photo of them. You describe all of these things and more, landing on your photo being the favorite takeaway from that trip. Your partner laughs and says they probably would have gone with the food.

They invite you to take a turn and pick a city. You go back and forth, revisiting memories from Paris to Cleveland, laughing and remembering things you hadn't thought of in ages. As the oven timer dings, your partner pours from a special bottle into the two glasses in front of you.

You cheers to one another and take a sip. Life is sweet. You go into the other room to flip the record and come back to a beautiful plate of food at your seat.

The colors, the presentation, the attention to detail. It's photo-worthy. After taking a few shots for posterity, you love that your partner doesn't mind this, even if you never share them.

You try it. The flavors are wonderful. So good that you actually remember to slow down and savor every bite.

You ask them where they learned these new techniques, and they admit that YouTube may have been involved. You love that they made the extra effort. They tell you it makes them happy to make you happy.

And you reach your hand across the table, newly in awe of how good you have it. How lucky you are. How lucky you both are.

You know it. They know it. And everyone else can see it, too.

Not the special moments like this, but even your mom says that you are one of the most solid couples she's ever seen. You feel so relaxed, so taken care of, and so pleasantly satisfied when you remember they're still dessert. Your partner has nixed the fancy tarts and the puffed pastries, instead opting for something a little more your style.

Dark chocolate peanut butter cups with a side of oat milk vanilla ice cream. They know you too well. You start to take the dinner plates away, and they refuse to let you wash any dishes.

You protest, but they won't budge. They've got it covered, and will do it in the morning. You wonder if this is some special occasion you forgot about, but realize it isn't.

This is just them being them. They come over and put their arms around you again for a big hug. You are cute, you say, and give them a kiss.

As the ice cream softens, you bring out your favorite dessert dishes, the ones that your friend gave you when she was moving years ago. They make you think of long walks, talking about career and art and relationships, when you used to live down the street from one another, you wonder how she's doing now. Your partner chooses another record, something jazz that you never remember the title or artist of, but can hum along to the melodies as they play.

You ask them what the record is again, and when your partner answers, you know you almost could have guessed it, but it's hard to keep them straight. You didn't grow up on the records like they did. Your partner comes in singing.

They say falling in love is wonderful, wonderful. May I have this dance, they ask, and take your hand and back into a slow sway side to side in the kitchen. Your body's close as the saxophone comes in, making you laugh and sigh and rest your head on their shoulder, nuzzling the crown of your head into their collarbone.

Thank you for this, you say. Really, I didn't know how much I needed it. They accept your thanks and tell you they love you.

You melt for what seems like hours, and then the song is over. The ice cream is soft. It's time for dessert on the couch and your favorite show.

You cuddle in together, stretching your feet out, covered in a cozy blanket. All is right with the world. You never thought a night in could feel so wonderful.