I walk into the used bookstore not looking for anything in particular. I look around the small store, liking the friendly atmosphere. It is the only bookstore in town, and most don't even know it's here. The owner has a scrabble night once a week, and a book discussion every month. Anyone is invited to come.

"Oh, hi Jace. Anything specific you're looking for today?"

"No, just killing some time."

I turn towards the counter where the owner is standing and it's then that I notice the book. Curious I grab it off the shelf. It's been a while since I've seen a copy of this particular book being sold.

"Oh, that just came in a couple of weeks ago. It's a fairly old book. Written about twenty years ago."

I smile at his rambling. He really does know his books, what he doesn't know though is I know everything there is to know about this book. I have a lot of memories that are associated with it. The fact is, I wrote it. It was my first book, it's a surprise really that I've lived in this town for ten years and no one hear knows I'm a writer. Or at least that I've actually published a few books.

"Yeah, it's actually a really good book. I don't know why it never sold that many."

"Because there wasn't a market for it then." I reply

"Ah, so you're familiar with the book?" I chuckle to myself.

"You could say that."

"Then you'd be interested to know that copy is signed by the author." I look up at that comment startled. I don't remember signing too many copies. Unless... but it can't be. I open the cover with some trepidation and pale as I read the inscription I know so well.

Darrell,

It's only ever going to be you. Written with love.

Leo Benson

Leo Benson is my pen name.

"Sweet isn't it? The author must love this Darrell a lot."

"Yeah, and his balls are going to be on a platter by the time I'm done with him." I mumble to myself not loud enough for him to hear. He still gives me on odd look though, so I try and make my face unreadable.

"Darrell, isn't that the name of your husband?" I try and force out a laugh.

"Huh, yes it is. Isn't that a coincidence?" I lift up the book.

"Hey, I'm gonna go ahead and buy this." He grins at me and rings it up.

-------------------------

I slam the front door shut.

"Darrell!" The ride home did nothing to calm me down. In fact it gave me time to think and I seem to be angrier than I initially was.

"Darrel! Get the he'll in here!" I yell again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." My anger cools just a tad when he walks into the room. He looks adorable in his apron. He must have been baking again.

"What's wrong? I don't think I've heard you yell in forever." He's right, I don't like raising my voice. Even when our son cam him plastered, or when he wrecked our car.

I slump into the nearest chair and sigh.

"Do you still love me?" I'm afraid of the answer, and to my embarrassment I hear how vulnerable I sound. I look up at him and then quickly look away at the shock on his face.

"What? Why would you even ask that?" I don't answer and in a minute he's kneeling in from of me holding my chin.

"Jace, my little lion. You should know by now there is and will never be anyone other than you." I smile at the pet name that he came up with because of my pen name. It's a wattery smile though. If he did he wouldn't have gotten rid of the book, our book.

"I thought you did." He looks at me unsure of what to say next.

"Hun, are you going to tell me what this is about?" I hold up the book for him to see. He looks even more confused now.

"I found this while at the bookstore today."

"It's our book, but why would that get you upset? Another question why did you buy it? I have a copy already. You know that."

"No you had a copy. Not anymore apparently."

"What are you talking about? Of course I still have it." I shake my head and open the cover. Once he sees it he pales a bit.

"Oh."

"Yeah oh." He's shaking his head now.

"No, Jace. I know this looks bad, but it's really not that big of a deal." Oh no, he did not just say that. I stand up and head to the door.

"Not that big of a deal. Darrell, how can you say that?"

"No, I didn't mean..." I cut him off and continue speaking.

"You got rid of the first book I wrote. The one I wrote for you, not only that, but the copy that I signed for you. I thought that meant something to you, but I guess not. I'm surprised I'm just now realizing it." He grabs my wrist to stop me from leaving. I don't look at him, but stay where I am. I want to see him try and explain his way out of this.

"You know it does Jace." I snort at that.

"Will you let me talk?" I do turn to him now.

"I'm not stopping you." I reluctantly let him guide me back to the living room.

"Come on, sit down. I'm not going to talk to you like that."

"I just want to know why." He sighs.

"I really didn't mean to get rid of it, and I'm glad you got it back."

"How do you not mean to get rid of it?" I'm getting pretty annoyed with him, not that I wasn't already.

"You really think I'd get rid of it?" When I don't answer he sighs again.

"I came across another copy last month when cleaning. I didn't think we needed two." Okay, that is understandable, but still doesn't completely make sense.

"W-why did you get rid of that copy?" I need to know this.

"I honestly didn't realize I did. I thought I kept that one. I put the other one up on the bookshelf, right in front. I had just read through it again, so I haven't picked it up since. If I did I would have noticed and started freaking out on how to tell you." Okay, now that's the Darrell I know. He's usually more sentimental than I am.

"I probably wouldn't have freaked out as much myself if that's how I found out." He laughs weakly at that.

"You would have told me you can always sign it again for me." He had tears in his eyes now and I reach up and wipe one away. He smiles at me.

"Now I'm the one crying. I can't believe I got rid of our book and didn't even realize it." I grab him and cuddle him to me.

"Shh it's fine. We've got it back now and I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere."

Just then the front door slams open and our son walks in. He stops at the sight of us.

"Hey, what's going on?" I laugh.

"Nothing, we're just old men being silly. Don't mind us."

"Um.. Okay I'll just go... Hey! You found my book!" I glance over and see him looking at the book that started this all. That's right. We leave our copy in the room so I'm not sure he would have seen it.

"You know how hard it was to find that? I saw dad reading it a long time ago, and someone mentioned it out if the blue a while back. It took forever for me to find a copy. It's supposed to be a really good book." Oh my God, what are the odds? Darrell and I share a look and the burst out laughing at the same time.

"What's so funny?" I pat the other side of the couch next to me.

"Come sit down." Darrell takes the book from me and opens it.

"It's about time you learn about the book that was the turning point in our relationship, and inspired me to ask your father to marry me twenty years ago." That's right, and I just realized it was twenty years ago today that I presented Darrell with a copy of a book I wrote just for him.