Clearing the last few papers from the desk, Mayor Taylor delicately placed the candles and lit them. City hall was dark and quiet. The wind whistled through the old building.
Time was running out, but he still had so much to prepare. He walked over to the coffee table where a crock pot was warming. He stirred his delicacy with a purple porcelain ladle. It had been years since he’d attempted this recipe, but he was sure he still had the right touch. He placed the lid back on the pot and the spoon on its matching rest. The record player had been set so when she arrived all he had to do was drop the needle and her favorite song would play.
He opened a door behind the desk revealing a mirror. His tie was adjusted well and his jacket was perfect. “If only I didn’t fill it out quite so much,” he thought to himself. He combed his hair, what little he had, and checked his teeth for debris.
Footsteps.
She was early. He sealed the closet and shut off the lights allowing the candle’s glow to dance under the arched ceiling. The office was warm and cozy when arranged just right. There was a knock at his door.
“George, are you ready?”
“Yes my dear, but I am afraid I have deceived you.”
She stepped inside the room and was greeted by soft pianos and a beautiful aroma. The candles and stew intertwined in the air. He took her hand and they began to dance.
“Instead of a night out I thought we’d try something different this year.”
“Is this our wedding song? Where did you find a record this old?”
“You can find anything on the internet if you look hard enough.”
“And the player is the one from our first apartment? You dug it out of storage?”
“Yes, my love. Happy Anniversary.”
Together in the romantic atmosphere the clocks turned back years for the two lovers. They were in their twenties again sharing a meal from the only luxury appliance they could afford. It was then that they learned that the simplest times, the sentimental times, make all the difference.
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