As Gabriella was now changing into something casual that would be comfortable for sports activities, I made my way downstairs with a clever trick in mind to find out the names of my boys. I had to think fast, and I knew that I had to come up with a way to get them to reveal their names without arousing suspicion.
Walking out into the backyard, I saw the two boys waiting for me, their eyes shining with excitement. They were eager to start playing soccer, and I knew that I had to act quickly. I called them over to me, trying to sound casual and friendly.
"Hey guys, come here for a sec," I said, trying to sound relaxed. "I've got a little challenge for you. Can you both spell your names backwards, really fast? Like, within five seconds?"
The boys looked at each other, their faces lighting up with competitive spirit. They nodded eagerly, taking on the challenge. "Yeah, we can do it!" one of them exclaimed.
I smiled, trying to hide my ulterior motive. "Great! Let's see who can do it the fastest. Ready, set, go!"
The boys closed their eyes, concentrating hard. After a few seconds, they both opened their mouths to speak. "My name is J-A-C-O-B, spelled backwards is B-O-C-A-J!" one of them exclaimed.
The other boy grinned. "My name is L-E-V-I, spelled backwards is I-E-V-L!"
I smiled, trying to appear impressed. "Wow, that's amazing! You guys are so smart!"
But inside, I was relieved. I had finally found out their names - Jacob and Levi. I felt a surge of gratitude towards my clever trick, and I knew that I could now use this information to my advantage.
"Okay, let's get started with the soccer game!" I exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic. "I'm ready to be defeated by your skills!"
The boys laughed, and we began to play. I tried my best to keep up with them, but my lack of coordination and sports skills made me stumble. They laughed and teased me good-naturedly, and I couldn't help but laugh along with them.
As we played, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. Who were these boys, and why did they seem to know me so well? What was our relationship like, and why did I have no memory of it? The questions swirled in my mind, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the present moment.
For now, I was just happy to be playing soccer with my sons, Jacob and Levi. And I was determined to make the most of it, even if it killed me.
Gabriella came downstairs, her footsteps echoing through the hallway as she made her way to the backyard. As she stepped out into the sunlight, she was greeted by the sight of me and the boys sweating it out on the soccer field. Her eyes narrowed, a sign of anger flashing in her tone.
"Really?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "You're playing soccer with the boys at home, I thought you said something about all of us having fun together away from home? Today of all days, you want to act naive?"
I forced a smile, trying to appear enthusiastic. "Hey, come on and join us!" I exclaimed, waving her over. "Just relax and accept the surprises I have in store for you. This anniversary is going to be one of a kind, I promise. We're going to celebrate it at home with our boys, and by dinner time, I have another special surprise coming up."
Gabriella hesitated, her eyes fixed on me with a mixture of skepticism and suspicion. She clearly didn't believe that I was being genuine, and I couldn't blame her. But after a moment, she seemed to relax, her expression softening slightly. She walked over to us, her eyes fixed on the boys as they played.
"Okay, fine," she said, her voice resigned. "But I better not find out that you're up to something, James."
I grinned, trying to appear innocent. "Scout's honor," I said, holding up my hands in a gesture of surrender. "I just want to make this a special day for us, that's all."
Gabriella raised an eyebrow, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she joined in the game, her competitive spirit shining through as she played with the boys. I watched her, feeling a surge of admiration for her strength and determination. She was an amazing woman, and I was lucky to have her by my side.
As we played, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. Who was I, really? What was my relationship with Gabriella and the boys? And what was the significance of this anniversary that we were celebrating? The questions swirled in my mind, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the present moment.
For now, I was just happy to be with my family, enjoying this special day together. And I was determined to make the most of it, no matter what secrets lay hidden in my past.
As we all lay on the grass floor of our backyard, exhausted from our energetic game of soccer, Jacob and Levi suddenly sprang to life. "We have a surprise for you!" they exclaimed in unison, their eyes shining with excitement.
Gabriella and I exchanged a curious glance, wondering what the boys had in store for us. "What is it?" Gabriella asked, her voice laced with anticipation.
But the boys just grinned mischievously, their faces lighting up with secrecy. "You'll see," Jacob said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Just wait."
With that, they turned and ran back inside the house, leaving Gabriella and me to wonder what they were up to. We lay there on the grass, watching the boys disappear into the house, our curiosity piqued.
A few minutes passed, and then the boys emerged from the house, carrying a large cake between them. Our eyes widened in surprise as they approached us, the cake held aloft like a trophy.
As they drew closer, we saw that the cake was decorated with intricate designs and colorful frosting, and written in bold letters across the top was "15th Anniversary". Gabriella's eyes met mine, and we both felt a surge of emotion.
The boys set the cake down in front of us, beaming with pride. "We made it ourselves!" Levi exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement.
Gabriella and I stared at the cake in awe, our hearts filled with gratitude for these two sweet boys. "It's beautiful," Gabriella said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded in agreement, my eyes shining with tears. "It's the best anniversary present we could have asked for," I said, my voice choked with emotion.
The boys grinned, their faces lighting up with happiness. "We wanted to do something special for you guys," Jacob said, his eyes shining with love.
As we sat there on the grass, surrounded by the beauty of our backyard and the love of our family, I knew that this was a moment I would never forget. This was what life was all about – love, family, and the joy of celebrating special moments together.
Something that was never there yesterday, when I was just a twelve years old boy.