On a sunny weekend afternoon, Amelia settled down to do some knitted bookmarks for Patricia Johns. George liked to sit with her while she knitted. He corralled the yarn and they chatted while she worked.
“It’s almost Valentine’s Day, you know,” George said.
“That’s true,’ Amelia said. “What should we do?”
“What would you like me to get you?” George asked.
“Do you know what I’ve been craving lately?” Amelia asked. “Mango. I don’t understand it, but I feel like I could eat a mango as big as I am!”
“Challenge accepted,” George said.
“Are you hungry?” Amelia asked. “I’m hungry. Have you ever tried peanut butter and pickle sandwiches? I’ve never tried them, but it sounds good.”
“Does it?” George asked doubtfully.
“It really does!”
“Amelia…” George said. “Did you have an upset stomach again this morning?”
“Yes, but I feel fine now,’ she replied. “It must be a bug going around that makes your stomach only a little upset. Because I’m starving now. What about those sandwiches?”
George looked at Amelia thoughtfully. “Anything you want, Amelia. Anything at all…”
On Valentine’s Day, which was a Wednesday that year, George came home early from work. He had everything arranged except for one detail… mango transportation.
He stood downstairs with a love letter in hand, some sparkling grape juice and cheese prepared, and with the biggest mango he could find and have delivered. He’d had to get Patricia Johns to accept the delivery for him because it was too big for him to carry alone. Patricia was only too happy to help, but she’d left it on the Johns’s kitchen table below.
So George pulled out his cell phone and dialled his wife’s number.
“Hi, George!” Amelia said. “Are you coming home yet? I’m making a special dinner for us tonight. We have a beef roast, and mashed potatoes, and for dessert–“
“Look out the window, Amelia,” George said.
“What?”
“Just look out the window!”
Amelia appeared in the window and George waved. “Ta da!”
“George! How on earth did you get that massive mango?” Amelia gasped.
“Determination, my dear,” George crowed.
“Oh, George, it’s perfect!” she said. “For dessert we will eat mango until we burst!”
And after Amelia’s delicious dinner that night, and after they’d eaten so much mango they could barely move, Amelia opened her letter for the fortieth time that evening and read it again.
“I love your love letters most of all, George,” Amelia said, and she kissed his cheek.
George was one lucky frog, and he knew it.
After all the high emotion of Valentine’s Day, it was nice to sit down with a pot of tomato soup and some toast. Quite frankly, her mind had been on other things today, and they were lucky she’d scraped up this much to feed them.
“Where did you get those heart-shaped pot holders?” George asked.
“From a reader named Janice. She sent them to me as a thank you for my work on Patricia’s latest book,” Amelia said. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Tears welled up in Amelia’s eyes, and she didn’t even know why! But the gift suddenly seemed so thoughtful that she could just cry.
“They are beautiful,” George agreed. “But Amelia… are you all right?”
“I have something to tell you, and I’m not sure how to do it.,” Amelia said.
“Oh?” George stopped with his spoon held aloft.
“First of all, this wasn’t planned, I know, and we aren’t exactly financially prepared for any new big changes. I think we’ll sort it all out, though. I really do. But I need you to sit down before I say anything–“
“I am sitting, Amelia.”
“Right.” She gave him a wobbly smile. “Um…”
“Can I guess?” George asked. “Because you have been queazy in the mornings, and hungry all the time, and craving all sorts of interesting foods… You’re feeling quite emotional lately, too. Are we, by any chance, expecting a tadpole?”
Amelia nodded. “Yes, we are. What do you think about that?”
She was afraid that George would be scared, or uncertain, or panicked. But George just smiled a big, wide smile. Then he got up, circled around the table and wrapped his arms around her.
“Yay!” he said softly, and he squeezed Amelia a little bit tighter.
If you enjoy stories about love, romance, family, and family drama, you’ll enjoy my books, too! Have you checked out my book page recently? If you’d like to be entered to win signed books and knitted surprises, sign up for my monthly newsletter. I’d love to stay in touch!
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
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