A several weeks later...

6th of February, 1966

The Christmas and New Year's holidays of Howards family passed excellently, as a result of their stable union as a beatific, inseverable family with its own traditions and beliefs, but their unconditional love for each one as family members. Fulfilled holidays with plenty and diversity of marvelous, radiant memories, abiding in their hearts and consciousness for eternity. 

The days spent indoors and outdoors, having so much fun on the snow, building a snowman, making snow angels like excited infants, throwing at one another snowballs as their children watched them though they were too litttle. The memorable New Year's eve in the kitchen with the opulently embellished dining table and the champange, stayed untouched yet until midnight dawned on the horizon as Judy and Timothy shouted out loud hysterically gleeful to embrace the new year with new imminent hindrances that are going to face for the next 365 days as Ellie and Tristan couldn't help but babble, cooing cheerfully, responding to their excitement. 

The last 2 months were spent perfectly as well. But when it arrived February, the month, when the couple married formally, vowing to be faithful to one another in the everlasting space, they didn't underestimate the 6th of February. As they adjusted their minds how to celebrate the prominent occasion.

For the past weeks, Ellie and Tristan's growth were clearly visible. They developed some functions for ordinary 4 months old babies which was perfectly normal. But the couple had plenty of ideas how to spend their first wedding anniversary, despite their limited possible possibilities. 

First of all, they thought of staying at home with the children, being more creative how their first wedding anniversary is going to be marked. Whilst on other hand, they hesitated to go somewhere but the children being supervised either by Jude's closest friends and colleagues, Charlotte and Ramona. Or the couple's old friends, Grace and Kit. In spite of the tough choice, the couple put their children to sleep in their cribs shortly after being bathed, fed and their diapers were changed.

As Mr. and Mrs.Howard were in the kitchen with mugs of hot, streamy herbal tea aside as they had a grave discussion. 

"Darling, have you ever thought of celebrating our first wedding's anniversary outdoors?" Timothy enquired his wife as he sipped his hot tea as the swallowed sips burned in his mouth and body. He was enthusiastic to look forward for her response as soon as possible. Furthermore he was conquered by the idea of noticing her excited face if it's being mentioned their remarkable day to be spent somewhere else, whilst having somebody trustworthy to look after Ellie and Tristan.

"Yes." She exhaled sharply, giving her final response though she was uncertain about the kids as this thought absent-minded her to think about them more than anything else in this world. "But Tim?" The former nun questioned as she was uneasy about the children. 

"Yes, Jude?" He exclaimed as he listened attentively every word of hers, coming from her mouth that spoke wonders.

"What about our little angels during our celebration? I mean who will look after them, sweetie." A panic had already vanquished her as her grotesque, grimaced face radiated what she felt right now.

"Oh, babydoll!" He moved his hand as his thumb managed to massage her bottom lip gently whilst his other 4 fingers cupped her jawline, attempting to reassure her in the best way he could. "We know sufficient amount of people who we trust and can look after them. But I don't know who is going to be better babysitter either of them."

"I suppose Ramona and Charlotte might be fine whilst Kit and Grace are going to be better choice, due to the fact that they have already children." 

"You are right. But we can trust both of them though we can hire either of them."

"Yes, but the point is..." She paused as she sipped her still hot tea that melted her dry mouth and throat. "To hire somebody. However I can trust those who are already with family." She left the mug aside as she cupped his face in her both small, warm palms.

"Just like Kit and Grace , right?"

"Exactly!"

Then they voted who to hire as a babysitter, being responsible for Ellie and Tristan in the forthcoming hours as the couple have their chance to be seperated from their most precious things that had ever happened im their lives, unfortunately. Just for a couple of hours to not see one another. It will be a tough time, in spite of they cannot be forever like that.

After the Howards family prefered the slightly older adults as thry have decided it,  Timothy determined himself to call their old friends as he wanted to hear them if they are doing fine, besides the suggestion.

As Jude grab her mug as she walked away, going upstairs to check if the twins were alright, in the meantime the former monsignor dialed the numbers as he held the handset, pending for response. It didn't lastes for too long the silence when a young masculime voice echoed. The both men spoke to one another in casual way, throughout Timothy rose the topic about babysitting their children whilst the couple are planning to visit a different restaurant , where they hadn't set a foot. Kit didn't mimd at all, otherwise accepting with ginormous pleasure to take care of Ellie and Tristan as he promised to arrive very soon in Howards' mansion.

After the phone conversation, without wasting any time, Jude descended the stairs after checking her children, meanwhile returning in the kitchen with empty mug as she bumped into her husband as they discussed how to arrange the things for tonight. Eventually Mrs. Howard was so delighted to hear how her partner and their old friend arranged the things about the evening and the babysitting as well.

It didn't pass longer than 15 minutes when Jude was in the middle of her preparation as she had already researched her wardrobe for warmer but elegant, eye-catching not with its provocacy. It is with its style, charm and beauty.

She changed herself from her casual garments into more official ones as she had on herself a cotton bloody red dress with moderately transparent long sleeves, almost knee length and V neckline. Followed by black stilettos, clugged silver earrings in her wee pierced ears as her hair covered every inch of her classy, however, lovely earrings. Her ruby-sapphire bracelet, black thick pantyhose, layering every centimetre of her long like tower, slender like a model perfect legs. Her long fabulous, flossy golden hair was brushed, as she had already applied her conservative red lipstick, perfuming certain body parts with her alluring perfume, contributing more charm, self-confidence in the middle aged woman as she smiled to herself in front od the dressing table's mirror, noting her husband's fingers caressing his tie's fabric as he fixed his old-fashioned, but posh tie, rendering him to look even handsomer in suits with ties. His costume was dark, of course. He brushed his hair as he managed to say some perfume on his neck, wrists and hair.

When Jude was about to put her coat on her back, a mild door tap attracted the couple's attention as Timothy held Tristan and Ellie, reassuring them as Jude briskly put on herself her coat, opening the front door as she welcomed warmly Kit, chatting altogether for a while. 

Sometime later...

The early hours of Sunday's evening were snowy, certainly chilling. 

As Timothy parked his car in the fewest free parking lots nigh one Asian restaurant as they decided to go visit another restaurant with much different theme and food, partaking of their romantic adventures. As they left the car and got in the restaurant, taking seats next to the window as they were mesmerized by the restaurant's main theme, leaving them speechless. 

The restaurant had such esthetic furniture, abstract pictures hanged on the wall, a tunable, honey-mouthed Asian music playing in the background of the restaurant. The restaurant's staff including the waiters and waitresses were amiable, open-minded people, representatives of the gargantuan continent such as Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, in some cases Russians. 

The Howards family had never eaten Asian food especially Jude, herself. As they got their menus, having still their chance to choose wisely what to order for themselves, they took their time until gesturing one of the waiters for being ready, telling what exactly they want as they were being told to wait as their order will be lastly served within minutes. 

Further, what the awe-inspiring about this place was actually not lacking of clients, who either like Asian kitchen, are inquisite to taste something much different and unusual or another reasons as well.

When Judy and Timothy's ordered food and drinks settled on their tables at last, they started eating and drinking as they striked a conversation, discussing essentialy the restaurant, besides the scrumptious food as the food was alienating for them.

"Mmm, the food is so scrumptious. Like never before." Jude hummed as she finished munching some bites of her ordered Asian food.

"It is actually!" He confirmed her words. "But not as scrumptious as you, dear!" He exclaimed boldly as suddenly she felt embarrassment as her cheeks heated, a suffusion diffused on her face as she tittered nervously, in the interim Mr.Howard joined her.

"Wh-what?" A guttural titter escaped her vocal strings. "I am aging and my beauty, my appeal just fades." She played nervously with her fingers as she left aside her dish, bashfully smiling, looking down at her manicured in bright red fingernails as her head was lowered. 

"Jude, that's not true." He held her chin, tilting her head with two fingers, having an access to gape at her spectacular hazel eyes for eternity. "With every passing year, you are becoming more beautiful. Don't you remember when I looked at your younger photographs?"

"I do." Mrs.Howard replicated. 

"Well, you were so beautiful back in your younger years even as a child." He stated unflappable, encouraging her to believe in his words and in her divine beauty. "Howsoever, you are prone to be more beautiful even gorgeous than your younger years. Because you know why? There is a proverb which portrays you perfectly."

She listened attentively as she nod her head in agreement with his speech, murmurming "Thank you!" as it can be heard by the love of her life only. Nobody else.

"Women are like fine wine...they get better with time." 

"That's so sweet of your side...though I don't think there are women, who correspond with this quote. You know what I mean."

"There are though you haven't analysed and observed them. But I can give such an example with you, despite we know one another for almost 7 years but being married for 1 year with twins."

"I have seen many young girls and ladies who turn out to be either prettier or fuglier in their older years. I had already embraced the aging process."

"You are amongst the prettier ones. Believe me!"

To be continued...

Author's Note: So this is actually the 100th chapter and marking its prominent anniversary of this book as well. I would like to thank cordially to everyone who gave efforted to read, vote and even comment my book. We are almost near the 1000 reads and 250 votes. You know how much this truly means a lot to me especially as a writer, who has still to learn and develop its own books. :))