Least Said by Pamela Fudge

and popping it into his mouth.
    ‘I was just thinking,’ I told him, not altogether truthfully, ‘that for us, under the circumstances, oysters would probably have been a more appropriate choice of starter.’
    ‘Oysters?’
    I just stared at him, raised my eyebrows and rubbed my foot against his leg under the table.
    ‘Oh,’ he grinned and leaning closer whispered in my year, ‘that’s where you’re wrong because you’re the only aphrodisiac I need, woman, you look good enough to eat, yourself. In fact, if we weren’t staying with friends I would suggest skipping the show and...,’ he leaned close and whispered in my ear just what he would like to be doing, and sooner rather than later.
    I shivered deliciously and, slipping off my shoe, I pushed my foot up to caress the very satisfying bulge in Jon’s groin. I watched the bright blue of his eyes darken with desire, his lips curve into a surprised smile that lifted my heart. We had rarely been this passionate, this playful but, I made myself a promise, that too was about to change.
    Anticipation itself was an aphrodisiac we discovered, as we shared the food on our forks during the remainder of the meal, and then secret little touches and glances full of promise during a show of which we took in very little. Back at the house we somehow resisted the strong desire to rip each other’s clothes off, instead taking our time and finding mutual and very deep satisfaction before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
    Back at home, the days that followed were, without doubt, the happiest of our entire marriage because not only were we enjoying our son, but appreciating each other, too. When we weren’t working, the time we spent together was pure quality with magical moments that stood out from the rest.
    The first of these was the surprise that Jon had organised for our wedding anniversary – without any prompting from me. I suspected nothing when Tina said she was coming down to take me out for a special lunch on the day – because Jon had to work.
    ‘I want you to wear something extra-special,’ she ordered, ‘because we’re going to the Grand Hotel and you know how exclusive it is there. Ripped jeans and flip-flops are out. Wear that lovely cream dress we bought when you came up to London.’
    I personally thought that particular outfit was a bit over-the-top for lunch, even at the Grand Hotel, but I was so pleased to be seeing Tina and enjoying her company that I didn’t object. I also thought the welcome we received when we arrived at the hotel was a bit effusive – after all, we were hardly regulars and we definitely weren’t celebrities.
    I was almost sure the dining room was in a totally different direction to where Tina was ushering me, but before I could query it, a bunch of flowers was thrust into my hand just as a door was opened in front of me and I was swept inside. To my astonishment Jon waited there with William by his side, both were suited and booted in unfamiliar clothes. I turned to find Tina, Calum and Leanne all smiling behind me, and standing with them was the lovely vicar who had married Jon and me fifteen years before.
    Jon dropped to one knee in front of me and, taking my hand, he asked, ‘Wendy, will you marry me - again?’
    William came to stand beside him carefully holding a satin cushion with a gorgeous eternity ring sitting dead centre, and he pointed out in his piping voice, ‘Those are real diamonds, Mummy.’ Then he turned to Jon, and sounding perplexed asked, ‘Why is she crying?’
    ‘Because she’s so happy,’ Jon said, standing up and taking both of my hands in his.
    ‘Mummy?’ Will looked anxiously up at me.
    ‘Daddy’s right, Will, it’s because I’m so happy and also because this is such a wonderful, wonderful surprise,’ I confirmed and, releasing one of Jon’s hands and taking one of Will’s, I walked between them to where the smiling vicar waited, with the sound of Shania Twain singing, ‘ From This