Love Among the Pumpkins

As my car rounded the corner of our street I saw my husband's Yaris parked in front of the house. The hatch was open and inside sat a large pumpkin. I broke into a broad grin, as I knew that pumpkin was for me. Wayne knew I wanted one to decorate our front step, but due to three consecutive rainy weekends we had not been able to visit our favorite pumpkin patch.

I entered the house. There on the kitchen counter was a second pumpkin, this one larger than the first. Wayne was giving it a bath of sorts, meticulously washing off the dirt and then drying it with paper towels. He was startled to see me. "You're home early!" he exclaimed. "I went to my union office and passed this place that was selling pumpkins, two for the price of one. I was going to arrange them out front and surprise you."

I threw my arms around him and held him close, so thankful for this man who loves me so completely, who knows that autumn is my favorite season, one I deem incomplete without pumpkins adorning the house. "Thank you, " I whispered, grateful for such a priceless act of kindness from this man I was fortunate enough to marry, and who made himself vulnerable in allowing me to see a little more of the Man Behind the Apron.