Aren't they coming anymore? Gabbie said they will be here in the morning but it's night already and I can't get through to them on phone," my wife muttered repeatedly at the dining, refusing to eat dinner after all the stress I went through to make the meal.
"Honey, they are fine. I believe they probably had a little delay,"
"And they can't call to inform us," she cuts in.
"Probably the network was affected by the rain," I gently move my plate aside reaching for her hands across the table.
"They will be here and I will keep trying until we get through to them," I held her hands and smile hoping she would do the same.
"I just hope they are fine," she replied.
"I believe they are," I assured and immediately tried convincing her to try my new recipe.
"I lost my appetite already," she replied, moving her seat backwards.
"Really?" I stuttered watching her leave the table.
It's a few days away from Easter and nothing makes us happier than seeing our children and grandchildren gather to celebrate the season with us. They also enjoy that break from the city life and it's just a perfect time for us to be together.
I couldn't eat the food anymore and immediately joined my wife in the living room. I knew she wasn't happy but there was little I could do to help if I don’t want to get on the bad side of the kids.
I actually know their whereabouts and it was for a good reason which their mom would have said no to because she hates surprises.
We sat down on the sofa reminiscing memories from our younger days and how far we have come in life.
"How time flies," she stuttered and I couldn't help but smile.
"Your smile hasn't changed a bit after many decades."
"Me? With all these wrinkles?" I asked touching my face.
"You are just as handsome as you were when we first met," she replied.
"It's the other way around because you got prettier with every sunrise," I whispered and we both burst into laughter.
"Don't tease me and if you do, I still remember clearly that tomorrow is my 70th birthday. I am not getting younger."
"Happy birthday in advance my queen," I replied, bowing my head before going to fetch two wine glasses and a bottle of her favorite wine.
We drank and chatted for hours until a voice note came from Gabbie assuring her that they are fine and just had a little delay in the city.
"We should head to bed now," I suggested immediately I noticed her yawning.
"Yes, we should."
At exactly 12am, I woke up with the intention of wishing my wife a happy birthday but she was fast asleep.
"That can wait," I stuttered and just reached for my phone.
Upon scrolling around my notifications, I saw a message in my mail saying my parcel will be delivered to me the next day.
"Parcel?" I stuttered, thinking about what it could be or who the sender was.
There was no other information and I immediately replied to the mail but got no feedback.
"Could it be my kids pulling tricks on me," I thought before falling asleep on the sofa.
At exactly 6pm, my phone rang and it was Gabbie.
"We are at the gate, dad," he said and I rushed down to open the gate.
I was happy to see everyone and the cakes, balloons and gifts made me feel happier.
We quietly returned into the house and everyone waited in the living room while I went to see if my wife had woken up.
"Honey, where have you been?" she asked, still yawning.
"I was in the living room to prepare your first surprise for the day," I replied.
"You know I hate surprises," she muttered and I assured her it wasn't anything serious before she followed me.
Happy birthday!!! Everyone screamed immediately we got to the living room and she burst into tears out of excitement.
We gathered around to hug her before singing a birthday song, the kids put up a good performance and it was just that perfect life I envisioned many decades ago.
Everyone went to their place in the mansion and prepared for the big day.
While overseeing the barbeque, I heard Simon calling me from the yard.
"Grandpa, there is a delivery man outside. He is asking for you,"
I immediately remembered the mail and went to see the delivery man immediately.
We exchanged pleasantries and he stretched a box to me.
He told me to sign a paper as proof that I got the package and he left without answering any of my question.
The box looks familiar but I can't remember exactly where I saw it. I gently returned inside trying to remember where I saw it when Gabbie approached me.
"Another gift for mummy," he asked.
"No, it's a package for me. I am trying to remember something," I replied walking past him.
"Honey, what's that?" my wife asked upon seeing the box.
"Oh, it's a package that came for me just now. I haven't even opened it," I replied and she joined me in the living room where I sat to open it.
Upon opening the box, there was just one envelope sitting inside with something written on it.
"A letter to my future self," my wife beat me to reading it and I immediately remembered where it came from.
Exactly a year after we started dating, we went to hang out and the idea came up. It was supposed to be a love letter to our future selves but I ended up writing something else to my future self.
I met with a company who handle future delivery by tracking their clients with this sophisticated technology and I fixed my wife’s 70th birthday as the delivery date.
"Oh, I remember this," my wife stuttered and the kids gathered around us to see what we were talking about.
"Annie, come read this aloud to us," I said to one of my grandkids and she came to take the letter from me immediately.
"Grandpa has good handwriting," she said and everyone laughed.
Annie cleared her throat and read...
Dear Future Self,
If you are reading this, it means you have made it to the day I can barely imagine and if Dara is reading with you, I admire how far you have come together...
I hope you are sitting there with a big, loud family around you—kids and grandkids. You should look back today and laugh at how you arrived here because you deserve every victory and success you've achieved.
Every pain, struggle and tears was worth it so be grateful that I didn't give up on trying to make the future a great one...
Annie read on for a while and it was just too emotional for me and my wife thinking about every bit of challenge we encountered.
The birthday celebration was a remarkable one and I just couldn't stop reading it over and over again... It's really been a beautiful life truly.
