withered tender_square she coordinated with his boss to whisk her husband away, unawares, for their anniversary, to toronto. the boss lied and told the husband that he was being dispatched to the via rail station for a meeting. when he arrived, he was greeted by his wife, who stood at the entrance with a bottle of champagne, two glasses, and an arrangement of balloons. he was flustered and demanded to know what was happening. “i’m taking you away for the weekend; we’re staying at the royal york.” she was smiling as she said this thinking of all the hours she had put into making the arrangements, into getting the kids taken care of, into packing their luggage, all without him knowing. “but i have to work!” “no, you don’t,” she assured him. “i already coordinated time off with your boss.” “you did what?!” he was furious. “i don’t like surprises.” she was suddenly embarrassed, shamed for the love she had put into such a gesture. on the train, she slowly let all the air out of the balloons, quietly deflating them the same way her heart withered. later, he argued that she organized the trip because it was an activity that she wanted to do, that is was more a gift for herself than for him. she never surprised him again. 220605 what's it to you? who go blather from