Chapter 1

The veil between dreams and reality began to lift. Jeff sank farther beneath the down comforter. He reached across the bed for his wife, but came up with a handful of air. He sighed. No cuddling this morning.

The aroma of brewing coffee drifted up the stairs. He stretched then rolled out of bed. Through the window, he could see the sun just peeking over the horizon, casting its ray of light on the hill behind the house. Jeff smiled. The tulips were in full bloom. Which meant today was Tulip of Love Day.

Michelle believed tulips were God’s first visible sign of love. He agreed. This had been an extra-long winter and the flowers were a welcome relief. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt.

At the top of the stairs he glanced into Jack’s room. His son was still sleeping soundly. Jeff whispered to the dog to come. Shadow lifted his head before putting it back down. “I see how it is.” It was amazing how loyal that dog was to Jack. He would not move until the child was up.

Jeff hurried down the stairs. Once the kids realized what today was, there would be no more quiet time.

Entering the dark empty kitchen, he flipped on the light. Michelle was standing with her head leaning against the French doors in the family room. She flinched and squeezed her eyes shut.

He quickly turned the switch back off, then slipped up behind her and kissed her neck. “Sorry about the light. Another headache?”

She barely nodded. “The cold glass feels good against my head.” She moved, letting the lace curtains fall back into place. Her attempt at a smile was more of a grimace. She added, “The tulips are blooming.”

“Woohoo,” their daughter Beth shouted as the nine year old ran to their side. “Can I see?”

“You know the rules,” Jeff said. “No peeking until we are all here.”

Running out of the room, Beth yelled, “Jack, it’s Tulip of Love Day.” They could hear her as she dashed up the stairs and into her brother’s room.

“You would think it was Christmas or something the way you people act about those silly tulips,” Jeff said.

“Silly tulips, hmph.” Michelle put the bacon in the oven, slowly turning her head to look over her shoulder at him. “You can’t fool me. I know you’re looking forward to it as much as we are.” She handed him a mug of coffee. “Besides baseball practice with Jack, do we have any other plans for the day?”

He followed her into the kitchen. “You know I can cook breakfast if you want to go lie down until the headache goes away.”

“Thanks, but it’s really not too bad. Just a little one.”

“I don’t know… you look pale. I bet sometimes even the virtuous woman had help.”

Michelle smirked. “You can help by keeping the kids quiet.” She stirred the pancake mix. “Anyway I don’t think you can make tulip pancakes, can you?”

“Maybe not as pretty as yours.” He winked. “But they would be something to talk about for years to come.”

The kids burst into the kitchen, followed by their Siberian husky Shadow. “Can we go outside now?” they asked.

“Inside voices,” Jeff said, raising a finger to his lips.

Beth lowered her voice to almost a whisper and repeated, “Can we?”

Michelle took a sip of hot tea. “It’s chilly this morning. Go get your jackets.”

“This year there will be more tulips than ever,” Beth said. “I can’t wait to see the pink ones I planted.”

“And I planted orange ones for the Orioles, right Dad?”

“You sure did.”

Michelle stood with her hands on the French doors. “Are we ready?”

“Yes!” shouted Beth and Jack.

With a flourish Michelle flung open the doors. “It’s Tulip of Love Day.”

The kids ran out, stopping in awe at the sight of the hill half covered in tulips of every color. Shadow barked and raced past them. Michelle stood for a moment, admiring the breathtaking view.

“Wow, we’ve had a lot of blessings, haven’t we, Mom?”

“We sure have.” Michelle stooped down to hug her children to her. “It has been a long winter, and God is showing us His love with the beauty of the tulips.” She gave them a gentle push. “Now go pick one of your favorites so we can put them on the table as a reminder… not only of our blessings this year, but of God’s wonderful love.”

Beth ran straight to a pink one and Jack to an orange one.

Jeff put his arm around his wife. “Do I need to ask what color you want?”

“You know I’m going for a red one.” She nudged him and asked, “What about you?”

“Red, of course.”

They held hands as they climbed the flagstone path. Halfway up, the path veered off, only to rejoin, forming a heart filled with red tulips. Leaning in, he picked the one in the center. “This was the tulip that started it all. What a wonderful blessing this flower has brought us.” He pulled her to him. “I love you,” he whispered as he joined his lips to hers.

“Oh no, they’re kissing,” Jack said, covering his eyes.

Beth ran behind them and wrapped her arms as wide as she could around their waists.

Jeff reached down and swooped her up with one arm. He kissed her cheek, then his wife’s. “My two favorite girls,” he said and hugged them tight.

Beth giggled, “I love Tulip of Love Day.”

Jeff winked at Michelle before releasing his arm from around her. He grabbed hold of Beth’s waist and tossed her in the air. “So do I, buttercup.” Laughing he put her down and reached for Jack, tossing him into the air next. When Jack was back on the ground, Jeff grabbed Michelle by the hands.

She started to pull away. “You are not going to toss me!”

He laughed, “No,” then pulled her close and started two-stepping around the flagstone path.

Beth skipped behind them while Jack ran ahead. Shadow yelped and ran from one to the other. But when they headed into the downward part of the path, Jeff felt Michelle stumble. He scooped her into his arms without a second thought and continued dancing up and down the hill with the kids and Shadow parading behind.

“You can put me down now,” Michelle said.

He whispered, “Is this bothering your headache?”

“No.”

“Then I’m not putting you down. Any chance I get to hold you in my arms is one I’m not giving up.”

She kissed his cheek. “I love you so much.”

He grinned at the kids. “Want to hear the tulip story?”

They both clapped, jumping up and down. “Yes.”

“Once upon a time there was a handsome prince who wanted to buy the only red tulip at the store.”

Michelle giggled, “Handsome prince, huh?” He put her feet on the ground but didn’t let go of her.

“That is what the beautiful princess said.” Jeff winked at her.

Beth started to giggle. “I love this story.”

Jeff continued, “Just as his hand touched the potted tulip, another hand landed on it. Now the prince could tell by the dainty fingers with red nail polish, he would have no trouble taking the tulip as his own. Until he lifted his gaze and looked into the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. Then he knew he would willingly give not only the coveted tulip to her… but the world, if he could.”

Michelle whispered in his ear, “You are so silly.”

“Now he wasn’t going to just give the beautiful princess the flower, for fear if he let go of the pot, she would disappear and he would never find her again. So he quickly said, ‘I will buy you the tulip, but only if you go for coffee with me’.” He nodded toward his daughter.

Beth, imitating her mother, said, “I don’t drink coffee.”

Jeff nodded at Jack next and the little boy said, “Well, the place has other things to drink besides coffee.”

Beth pushed her brother. “He didn’t say that.”

Jack put his hands on his hips. “Well, he should have. She was just being difficult.”

Michelle and Jeff tried not to laugh.

“She was not,” Beth argued. “She was being careful. She didn’t know him.”

“Okay, let me finish the story,” Jeff interrupted. “The difficult princess—” Michelle busted out laughing. Jeff rolled his eyes at her and continued. “The princess said, ‘I don’t drink coffee.’ And the prince, being full of patience said, ‘You can order whatever you would like.’ Suddenly she smiled at the prince and from that moment on he has never been the same. Six months later they were married, and they planted the bulb of their first tulip. When it bloomed the next year it looked so lonely on this big hill. That is when the princess came up with the brilliant idea to plant a tulip for each of their blessings.” He spread his arms out. “Ten years later we have a garden of love.”

“That is the best story ever,” Beth said, hugging both of her parents.

“Isn’t it amazing how God can take something as simple as a flower and turn it into a lifetime of love?” Michelle kissed her children before reaching up and kissing Jeff. “My handsome prince,” she said with a grin. “So tell us your blessings.”

Jack pointed. “That orange one is ’cause the Orioles made the playoffs last year.”

“I planted the pink ones because I made honor roll,” Beth said.

Michelle pointed at a variegated pink and yellow tulip. “I planted that one because I have been blessed with the two greatest kids on the planet.”

Jeff pointed to the red tulips. “Your mother and I planted these two for another year together.” He pointed to the center of the heart. “Look at all those red tulips. I bet there are at least forty… and yet we have only planted nineteen of them. One the first year, and two for each of the years we have been married.” He bent down, picked three red tulips, and handed one to Michelle. “When I married you, I never thought I could love you more. I was wrong. My love for you has multiplied beyond words…” He gave a tulip each to Beth and Jack. “…and has given us the wonderful gift of you two. We plant these flowers as a reminder of our blessings every year. I find it amazing that as our love multiplies, so do the tulips. It won’t be long before this heart is overflowing, like my heart is with love for the three of you.”

Beth and Jack flung their arms around their parents, almost knocking them down. Jeff’s arms went around his family. He gently collapsed with them to the ground, making sure he landed on the top of the pile, and started tickling them. The children’s laughter was music to his ears.

Somehow, Michelle inched away and suddenly she was on top tickling him. “Come on, kids. Let’s get him.”

“I give,” Jeff said between the laughing. He stood, pulling the kids up with him. He then held out a hand to Michelle, helping her stand.

She brushed the dirt from her pants and said, “I’m hungry, how about you?”

“Are we having tulip pancakes?” Jack asked.

“Of course,” Michelle answered ruffling his hair. “Why don’t you each pick me one more flower so we can have tulip tea?”

Jeff made a face.

Michelle laughed. “Don’t worry. You can have coffee.”

“Phew,” he whispered in her ear. “I don’t like tulip tea.”

“I know.”

Jeff bent down to pick some of the red tulips for the table.

Back inside, Michelle said, “My handsome prince, would you get the vase from the top shelf in the pantry? Jack and Beth, go wash your hands so you can help me.”

“Mommy, can I get the tulip teapot and cups?” Michelle looked at her daughter. “I’m nine. Not a little girl anymore,” Beth said. “I know to be very careful.”

“Yes. And how about you make the tea?”

Beth clasped her hands together. “Thank you, thank you.” She ran to the china cabinet, and with care she picked up the red tulip teapot, then carried it to the kitchen island before going back for the cups.

Jeff noticed Michelle couldn’t keep from smiling as she watched Beth softly place each tulip cup on its saucer at each of their place settings on the table. Her hand lingered a moment on the handles. With a big grin she said, “Time to make the tea.” Beth hurried around the island. Picking up the tulips she asked, “What do I do first?”

“You wash them.”

“Yes, please do,” Jack said. “I don’t want bird poo in my tea.”

“Oh, Jack.” Beth rolled her eyes at him.

“After you gently wash them, pat them dry, then bring them over here.” Together Michelle and Beth pulled the petals off the flowers, and put them into the teapot. Michelle picked up the whistling kettle, now filled with hot water. Jeff could see her hand shaking and made a move to help.

Putting the pot back down, she immediately said, “Beth, would you like to pour the water into the tulip teapot this year?”

Beth grinned, then slowly poured the hot water over the tulip petals and put the lid on top.

“Great job.” Michelle rubbed her daughter’s back. “By the time the pancakes are finished, the tea will be, too. Would you run and get our blessings book from the desk so we can read it and remember why we planted the tulips?” She turned back to the stove, carefully pouring each pancake into the shape of a tulip.

Jeff watched closely. Her hands were no longer trembling. “It’s amazing how you can do that.”

“Years of practice.” She grinned. “Remember how they looked that first year?”

Jeff winked. “Oh, were those supposed to have been tulips?” He chuckled when she swatted him. “They were very lovely.”

“Hmm.” She handed him the plate of bacon and said, “You can set this on the table.” Then she followed him with the pancakes.

After they said grace, Michelle started to pour the tea. Jack put his small hand over his cup. “I don’t like tulip tea.”

“You have to drink it, Jack,” Beth added. “It’s tradition.”

“Daddy doesn’t drink it,” Jack argued. “So I don’t have to either.” He pulled his shoulders back. “We men don’t drink sissy drinks.”

Jeff saw the disappointment flash in his wife’s eyes and held out his cup to her. “Of course I’m going to drink the tea.” Her radiant smile was all the reward he needed, but he was glad when she only filled his cup halfway. “It is tradition… and with lots of honey, I’m sure it will be delicious.”

Michelle kissed his cheek and whispered, “You are the best.”

He winked and said, “I know,” and held out Jack’s cup to be filled.

“But—”

“Men do what needs to be done to make the women we love happy.” Jeff poured lots of honey into Jack’s tea and stirred. When everyone had their cups in hand, Jeff picked up his own, making a toast with Jack. “Sometimes we have to take one for the team.” Jeff took a sip of his tea, trying to keep his face straight. “Umm, yummy.”

“Yuck,” Jack said.

Michelle and Beth drank from their cups as if it was the most delicious tea ever. Over tulip pancakes and bacon, they talked about all the blessings they’d had that year.