Beatrice smiled as she sat back, feeling more than satisfied from the meal. The old squirrel felt a gentle squeeze on her hand, and returned it. "That was lovely."

John nodded back to his wife. "I'm glad you approve." He cooked the whole thing for their 50th anniversary. As a retired chef, he still liked to cook when he could. "Now for the unenviable task of cleaning everything up."

"I'll get it, Granpa!" The twelve year old hopped up from her seat, happily scooping up all the dirty plates. She turned to cart them off to the kitchen, but not before looking at her younger brother. "You help, too, Billy!"

The ten year old pouted. "Awww.... do I have to!?"

Susan pat her son's head. "Go help your sister." He pouted even more, but slid off the seat and followed Tabby reluctantly. She shook her head as the kids walked off, turning back to her parents. "I have a hard enough time with two of them. How did you two ever manage six kids?"

The elderly woman chuckled. "We had each other. And a lot of friends."

"And a lot of wine." John chuckled, raising his glass.

Susan giggled softly. "Well, you two got lucky, I guess. Sticking with each other for 50 years!" She let out a sigh. She and her husband were going through a rocky time. She was afraid divorce was on the table if things kept up this way. "I don't know how you managed."

Beatrice hummed softly, setting her own glass down. "Oh, luck has nothing to do with it. We just found a way to work things out. And we had our rough patches."

"Usually my fault." John added with a chuckle. "You just have to be willing to meet in the middle. I told you how we met, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah, but it's been a while. Something about a bakery?"

"A diner." he corrected. "I was working there at the time, fresh out of school, bright eyed and bushy tailed. I was trying to perfect this new egg dish. Kept changing it every day until I got it right. Then this woman comes marching up to the counter, demanding to talk to the idiot that keeps changing her favorite breakfast." Beatrice just started giggling. "I was transfixed by her cocksure attitude, and after apologizing more than necessary, asked if she would like to try my other versions."

"I didn't leave for another four hours. And I was so full I nearly burst!" The elderly woman laughed. "He asked me out the next day, and I couldn't say no." She sighed. "I almost didn't go up there, you know. I was just sitting and complaining to a friend about it, and she urged me to go and say something. So, I put on my angriest face, pretended to be all full of vim and vigor, and marched right up there."

Her daughter hadn't ever heard that part before. "Wait, so, you only went up because your friend told you?"

She nodded. "Oh yes, and I'm glad she did. If she hadn't given me that little push, I never would have met your father. And you and your siblings wouldn't be here. Sometimes to change your life, all it takes is just a little push. Just don't push so hard that you push people away."

John sat up. "Well, that's enough remembering for now." He clapped his hands, rubbing them together. "Who's up for dessert? I have a pie I baked this morning just begging to be eaten."

"I AM!" The excited voices of the kids called out in unison from the doorway, making the adults all chuckle.

John smiled, getting up from his seat. "Alright. Then you two can help me cut it!" The kids cheered, eager to help with this part, since it meant getting pie at the end.