Tom mentally thanked her mother.“Do you miss your mother?”he asked.He knew she’d died a few years before.
“I do.It was just the two of us after my father died, and we had little.That’s why I went to work at the hotel.With our joint income, it was better.”She sighed.“I do wish she had lived longer.It was her fondest wish that I marry and start a family.She told me repeatedly I should go out west.”
“Well, you are west!”he said with a chuckle.
“Northwest, but yes.She’d be very proud of me.”She stood and began carrying the dishes from the table to the basin where she’d wash them.
Before dishes, she emptied the pots of hot water into the bathtub she’d dragged to the middle of the room.After adding cold water, she tested the temperature.“It’s perfect,” she said.“Well, it’s perfect for me.You let me know if you need more hot or cold water.”
He nodded, standing as well.He dipped his hand into the water and said, “It’s perfect.”
“Do you mind if I do the dishes while you bathe?Or would you rather I gathered the clothes from the line and remained outside until you’re done?”
He regarded her for a moment, pleased that she was concerned with his feelings.“I don’t mind if you stay.”
“I’ll have the clothes off the line before you’re finished.”She gathered the rest of the dishes from the table and returned to the basin to wash them all, turning her back so he wouldn’t be uncomfortable undressing in front of her.
Tom bathed quickly, scrubbing his hair and body.It had been so long since his last bath, he was surprised at how good it felt.
When Sally finished the dishes, she walked outside, careful not to look at her husband.She knew they would see each other soon enough, but with how shy he’d been with her, she felt it would be better if she didn’t let her gaze linger upon him.
She removed the clothes from the line and carefully folded them all, leaving her nightgown and his nightshirt on top of the pile of clothes.She was happy to see he was out of the tub and wrapped in a towel when she returned.
She held out his nightshirt, and he pulled it over his head before dropping the towel.“The clothes are dry.I’ll press what needs to be pressed tomorrow.I can do it in the morning before we ladies meet and decide who is on baby duty tomorrow.”
“Do you like children?”he asked, realizing they hadn’t really discussed the topic.
“Oh, yes.I want several.What about you?”she asked.
“Yes.I hope to have a few.But I want us to have some time alone together before they come along.”
“We should have a minimum of nine months,” she said cheekily.
He chuckled.“I suppose that’s right.”He looked toward the door, thinking about how careful she’d been when he’d undressed and bathed.“I’ll empty the tub while you ready yourself for bed.”
She quickly changed into her nightgown and set aside what she’d worn that day, so she could wash it along with his remaining clothes.Normally, she’d wait longer, but they’d worn them too many times for that.
She was sitting on the bed, brushing her hair when he returned.He’d seen it down only once, and it had been very dirty.Now he’d see how long and shiny it was.
He sat beside her on the bed and took the brush from her, running it through her hair.“Your hair is so soft and beautiful.Perhaps you’d consider wearing it down more often.”
“I’d love to,” she said softly.“But it’s much more practical to wear it up.”
“Well, I hope you’ll leave it free tonight.I like the idea of feeling it against me.”His voice was much deeper than she’d heard it, and it made her shiver a bit.“Are you cold?”
“No.I shivered at your voice.I like it when you touch me.”
He carefully set the brush on the trunk at the foot of the bed before returning to sit beside her.When she offered her lips, he didn’t hesitate to kiss her, his hands roaming over her body.“You’re beautiful,” he said softly.
“I’m so glad you think so,” she said, pulling his head down for another kiss.
It wasn’t long before they were undressed and entwined on the bed.When he made her his, she gasped at the feeling of fullness.
When she climaxed, she thought to herself,This is it.This is the beginning of my happily ever after.
