Aaron immediately forgave Keeley for teasing him, and she, in turn, showed him how to win several carnival games. They won so many stuffed animals that a vendor had to give them a plastic bag.

"I think Violet and Kaleb will enjoy these when they're a little older," she said, eyeing the pile of bears, monkeys, cats, and even a duck inside.

"Did you like them when you were younger?" Aaron asked.

"Oh yeah," Keeley replied. "I used to have so many stuffed animals on my bed that I hardly had room to sleep. My mom used to sneakily remove the ones I didn't play with often and donate them because they took up too much space."

Once, her mother made the mistake of taking one that Keeley noticed was missing. She cried for days wanting her stuffed lion back. After that, her mother was more careful about removing toys.

Keeley eventually outgrew her stuffed animal obsession. She kept a few in a box in her old room for sentimental reasons, but that was it. One was old and dirty—she'd had it since infancy—but a few she'd acquired later were surprisingly well-preserved.

She was about to ask if Aaron had any cherished stuffed animals from childhood before realizing she already knew the answer: Of course he hadn't. His parents wouldn't have allowed their son to have such a "comfort item."

No wonder he'd asked if she liked them. He didn't understand children's preferences because he hadn't been allowed to be a child himself.

Feeling a surge of anger toward her in-laws, she hugged him tightly before they continued. He didn't seem fazed—probably because he hugged her frequently without reason.

Keeley insisted they ride the Cyclone, Coney Island's most famous ride. The ancient wooden rollercoaster was so shaky it felt like their brains would rattle out, but that was part of the thrill. They stumbled around afterward, and Aaron needed to sit down.

"That was terrible," he said bluntly.

She chuckled at his honesty. "Most rollercoasters aren't that bad. Metal ones are much smoother, but this one's history keeps it popular. It's a historic landmark, you know."

"They have metal ones?"

"Yeah, at least one here, I think at Luna Park."

Coney Island isn't a single attraction; it's a Brooklyn neighborhood with multiple amusement parks, independent rides and carnival games, and a beach, among other things. Luna Park is one of the amusement parks.

Keeley had ridden Luna Park's big rollercoaster before and bet Aaron would scream during the big drop. They took a picture right as the drop began—she wanted to see that!

Taking his hand, she dragged him toward Luna Park's entrance. "We're going to ride everything here."

"Everything?" he gulped.

"Everything! Don't worry; many rides are kid-friendly and pretty mild."

Aaron was visibly distressed. She knew his moods; despite his calm exterior, he was panicking inside.

Keeley sighed and amended her statement. "I'm going to ride everything. You don't have to if you don't want to."

He shook his head. "I brought us here. I might as well try these things. But if I throw up, you're not allowed to laugh."

She kissed his cheek. If he threw up, she probably wouldn't laugh, but she might tease him later.

They started with gentler rides to recover from the Cyclone. Aaron didn't seem to mind those, though his expression remained blank. He wasn't amused but had brought her anyway. He deserved Husband of the Year. Keeley could tell he was enjoying himself simply by watching her have fun. He was so sweet.

Aaron's stoic expression didn't waver on most rollercoasters, though he looked a little green afterward. But Keeley was right about the most intense drop. The ride photo didn't disappoint.

She couldn't describe his face; hers was a typical screaming face.

He stared at the photo booth screen, baffled. "How do you scream so attractively while I look like…that?"

Keeley snorted. "How can a scream be attractive?"

"Look at you! That's your normal face, except your mouth is in a perfect 'o'. I don't even look human."

She examined the photo. He really didn't look human.

"I'm buying this."

"Why?!"

"Because I want to put it on my desk at work and laugh when lab equipment gives me grief."

Aaron sighed. "I'll get you back for this."

"Sure you will," she soothed, though she doubted it.

After the last ride, Keeley was hungry, so they grabbed a snack and returned to her father's house. Both babies were asleep.

"So, did you have fun?" Robert asked.

She grinned. "Oh yeah. Best day ever."

Aaron buried his face in his hands; he knew she'd show the photo. He was right. Robert apologized for laughing, but they'd ganged up on him.

Keeley knew he wasn't angry and was secretly pleased his date idea had been a success. He lived to make her happy.

To repay him, she gave him extra attention after the babies were asleep. It was the least she could do after such a fun day. He seemed to appreciate her efforts, and the embarrassment of the photo faded. The final paragraph mentioning a website has been removed as it is irrelevant to the story and appears to be an advertisement.