Hating You Was My Full Time Job

CHAPTER 16: OUR SECOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

*March 14, 2029*

Two years ago today I walked into BlackCorp Tower in a dress I borrowed and shoes that hurt.

Two lawyers sat at the table.

One notary.

Zero flowers.

Zero guests.

Zero love.

Adrian Blackwood sat across from me in a $10,000 suit and looked like he was signing his death sentence.

I signed mine too.

We signed a marriage contract.

For business.

For James.

For reasons that had nothing to do with romance and everything to do with survival.

Today I woke up in Adrian's arms with sunlight on the sheets and Grace babbling in her crib and James yelling "cake!" from the kitchen.

Today there are flowers on the table that Adrian picked out himself.

Today there is love in every room of this house.

Today I am Mrs. Blackwood not because a paper says so but because I chose it and he chose me back.

Two years.

*6:00 AM - WAKING UP*

Adrian was already awake. Staring at the ceiling.

"Morning," I whispered.

He turned. Smiled. The real one. "Morning, wife."

"Wife," I repeated. "Still sounds weird sometimes."

"Good weird," Adrian said. He pulled me closer. "Happy anniversary."

"Happy anniversary," I whispered back.

*7:00 AM - THE KIDS*

James burst through the door. "IT'S YOUR WEDDING DAY!"

He was wearing a paper crown and socks that didn't match.

Grace followed behind him. "Baba! Mama! Cake?"

Adrian picked her up. "No cake for breakfast, princess."

Grace crossed her arms. "Yes cake."

We all laughed.

*8:00 AM - BREAKFAST IN BED*

Adrian brought me a tray. Pancakes. Coffee. Strawberries.

And flowers. Red roses.

"Two years ago today," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I was terrified."

"Of what?"

"Of you hating me," Adrian said. "Of ruining your life. Of being a bad dad."

I took his hand. "You didn't."

*9:00 AM - THE GIFTS*

Adrian gave me a small blue box.

Inside: A gold bracelet. Three charms.

J.

G.

And a heart.

"For James and Grace," Adrian said quietly. "And for us."

I started crying. "I love it."

I gave him his gift. A watch. Simple. Silver.

On the back I had it engraved:

_"To the man who chose family. March 14, 2027 - Forever"_

Adrian put it on and didn't take it off all day.

*10:00 AM - THE WEDDING ALBUM*

We pulled it out. The one from the office.

We looked so young. So scared. So formal.

Standing apart in the pictures. Not touching.

"Look at us," Adrian said. "We had no idea what was coming."

"No idea we'd have this," I said, gesturing to our messy, loud life.

*11:00 AM - ADRIAN'S MOM CALLED*

"Happy anniversary!" she yelled through the phone.

Then she cried for 10 minutes. "I'm so proud of you both."

Adrian held up Grace to the camera. "Look, Grandma. Your granddaughter."

His mom sobbed harder.

*12:00 PM - LUNCH WITH THE KIDS*

James made us cards. With glitter. Everywhere.

"Happy Aniversery Mama and Dada"

Grace gave us her drawing. Scribbles. "This is you," she said, pointing.

Adrian framed both and put them on the fridge.

*2:00 PM - THE DATE*

Adrian's mom took the kids. "Go," she said. "Have your date."

We went to the restaurant from our first real date. After the contract but before everything else.

Same table. Same waiter.

"Back for anniversary?" he asked.

"Two years," Adrian said. He sounded proud.

*2:30 PM - THE TALK*

Adrian reached across the table. Took both my hands.

"Do you regret it?" he asked.

"The contract?"

"No," Adrian said. "Me. Us."

I squeezed his hands. "Never."

Adrian exhaled like he'd been holding his breath for 2 years. "I was so scared you'd leave."

"I was scared you'd stop choosing us," I said.

"I won't," Adrian said. "I don't."

*3:30 PM - THE WALK*

We walked through the park. No phones. No agenda.

Just us.

Adrian told me about work. I told him about Grace's new words.

Normal. Easy. Ours.

*5:00 PM - HOME*

The kids ran to us. James: "How was your date?"

Grace: "Mama! Up!"

Adrian picked her up. "It was perfect."

*6:00 PM - DINNER*

Adrian tried to cook. Burned it.

We ordered pizza. Ate on the living room floor.

James: "Best anniversary ever!"

*7:00 PM - THE LETTER*

After the kids were in bed.

Adrian handed me an envelope. His handwriting on the front.

Inside:

"Editor Joshua,

Two years ago I married you because I had to.

Today I thank God I did.

You gave me James.

You gave me Grace.

You gave me a home.

I love you.

Not because of the contract.

Because of you.

Happy Anniversary.

Adrian"

I couldn't speak.

*8:00 PM - MY LETTER*

I gave him mine.

_"Adrian,

Two years ago I signed a paper.

I didn't know I was signing up for the best thing that ever happened to me.

You.

James.

Grace.

This life.

Thank you for choosing us.

Every day.

I love you.

- Me"

Adrian read it twice.

Then he kissed me. Soft. Real.

*9:00 PM - ON THE BALCONY*

City lights. Wine. Quiet.

"Remember that first night?" Adrian asked.

"When we slept in separate rooms?"

"Yeah," Adrian laughed. "Look at us now."

*10:00 PM - THE PROMISE*

Adrian turned to me. "Another two years?"

"Another twenty," I said.

"Deal," Adrian said. He pulled me in.

*THE NEXT MORNING*

We woke up late. For the first time in years.

James was watching cartoons. Grace was eating cereal.

"Morning," Adrian said.

"Morning," I said.

Normal. Perfect.

*WEEK AFTER*

People kept asking. "How was your anniversary?"

Adrian's answer every time: "Quiet. Perfect."

*MONTH AFTER*

We put the letters in a box. "Open on year 5," Adrian said.

*THE TRUTH ABOUT TWO YEARS:*

Year 1: We survived.

We fought. We figured it out. We learned to co-parent.

Year 2: We lived.

We fell in love. We built a family. We chose each other.

*ADRIAN AT WORK:*

Assistant: "How was anniversary, sir?"

Adrian: "Best day of the year."

*ME AT HOME:*

I wear the bracelet every day. J. G. Heart.

*JAMES TODAY:*

"Mama, when's your next anniversary?"

"Next year, buddy."

"Can we have cake again?"

"Yes."

*GRACE TODAY:*

She points at pictures. "Mama. Dada."

*ADRIAN LAST NIGHT:*

He was in bed, reading.

"Hey," he said. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For saying yes. To the contract. To me. To all of this."

*ME LAST NIGHT:*

I thought about that scared girl who signed a paper.

And the woman I am now. Wife. Mom. Loved.

*TODAY:*

Two years down. Forever to go.

*ADRIAN TO ME THIS MORNING:*

He kissed me while making coffee.

"I love you," he said. "Not because I have to. Because I do."

"I love you too," I said. "Contract or no contract."

*LAST THOUGHT:*

Two years ago we started with lies.

Today we live in truth.

Two years ago it was business.

Today it's family.

Two years ago I was alone.

Today I have everything.

Adrian.

James.

Grace.

Me.

The Blackwoods.

Happy Anniversary.

END OF CHAPTER 16