The Secret Admirer

     They were the loveliest shade of white. That's the first thought Susan had as she peered down at the short ceramic vase that cradled the most perfect dozen white orchids she'd ever seen. They had been placed cheerfully in the center of the welcome mat on her porch. The neighbor's cat, Baby Jane, sat curiously next to the bundle, licking her paw and glancing between the pure blossoms and the woman who stood in front of them.

"You shouldn't have." She cooed to the impassive cat.

They were her favorites, she thought smiling to herself as she knelt down in one graceful dip to secure the orbicular black vase. As she walked them inside, she heard her husband's hurried footsteps on the stairs.

"Thank you so much, Ethan. They're beautiful." He swept into the kitchen where he saw his wife happily arranging and rearranging the orchids on the breakfast table. He planted a hasty kiss on her cheek while straightening his tie.

"What's beautiful?" He asked with one tawny eyebrow raised in question.

"The flowers of course." She turned and stared into his impenetrable eyes, noticing his vacant expression. "Oh, you didn't send these?" She sounded so disappointed he was tempted to say he had.

"Sorry, Babe." He gently stroked the underbelly of the nearest orchid, noticing for the first time the silver ribbon that was tied along the lip of the vase.

"What's this?" He plucked a small silver rectangle hidden beneath the bunch. "It's a card." Susan leaned over his shoulder and together they silently read the dark bold lettering:

"Beautiful Flowers, for the World's most Beautiful Woman

-Sincerely, Your Secret Admirer"

"How cute, looks like someone has a crush on you." Ethan chuckled to himself as he poured a cup of coffee from the splintered glass pot on the counter. "I'm not sure if I like other men sending you gifts."

"Jealous?" She smiled up at him.

"Only that I didn't think of it first. Speaking of surprises, I'm taking you out to dinner tonight. Don't tell yourself." He leaned down to lay a gentle kiss on her lips. "Happy Anniversary."

"To ten beautiful years, and hopefully ten more." She agreed. He smiled sweetly, pouring the remainder of his coffee down the drain.

"You really didn't send them?" She asked skeptically. There was no one else, as far as she knew who would go through the trouble of sending her flowers, and besides that who else knew her favorites.

He placed his right hand over his heart and with solemn eyes said:

"I swear on my life, Sue." He flashed his goofiest grin as he strolled casually back in the direction of their bedroom to prepare for work.

Susan shrugged to herself, and snatched her purse off the counter as she sauntered out the door and to her car, spirits lifted by the morning's fascinating turn of events. She smiled to herself while reaching down to stroke Baby Jane between the ears. A secret admirer, she thought, sounds like fun.

Susan frowned down at her desk. She eyed the small heart shaped box suspiciously, looking around at the lined cubicles and wondering if this token was related to her earlier present. With a sigh she tossed her purse under her desk and reached manicured hands toward the lid of the dark red box. Chocolates. Ten of them, lined arbitrarily within the plastic tray inside the cardboard container.

Taking a second look she realized with surprise that there was another note, attached carefully to the lid of the small package with the same silver ribbon. With inquisitive fingers she slipped the card from its tether and read the same bold lettering from before: