AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That was a lie.
“Are you hungry?” His head shook. “Have you eaten anything today?” His head shook. “How about we go to the park and get some sun in before it sets, then we can grab something light to eat?”
His posture sagged and body rocked as he avoided her eyes.
“I don’t really feel like it, Harmony.”
“Okay, but can you do it for me?” Harmony’s voice softened when she added, “Please?”
With a sigh, Keith looked around the room. His head bobbed once before he rolled out of it. “Aight, but I don’t want to stay out for too long.”
“That’s fine.”
Though he may not have slept with her in the master bedroom, Keith always showered down there. Hanging back, Harmony waited until he’d left to start cleaning. If Keith was truly in one of his depressed states, he genuinely didn’t have the energy to clean, cook, or do anything else for that matter.
By the time she was done taking all the trash out and making the bed, Keith was still in the shower, so she made quick work of straightening up the living room and kitchen too. The bedroom was already clean because she picked up behind herself every night before bed. She made her way into the bathroom, and at the sight of Keith sitting on the shower floor, Harmony took her shoes off and made her way inside, not even bothering to take her clothes off. Pulling him into her arms, Harmony held him close as he said, “I’m just… so tired, bae.”
“I know, Keith,” she agreed softly, closing her eyes as her own tears fell.
As Keith sniffled and tried to compose himself, Harmony stroked his back and silently prayed for him. They stayed there—hugged up on the shower floor—until the water began to cool. When it did, Keith stood and helped her do the same.
“I’ll be quick,” he said, grabbing the liquid Dr. Bronner’s soap and avoiding her eyes.
“Keith, we don’t have to go…”
“Yeah, we do. I need to get out the house.”
With a nod, Harmony stepped out of the shower to give him privacy. She took her wet clothes off and put them in the washer before going upstairs and taking a speedy shower herself. When she was done, she dressed in a loose-fitting, gray Puma sweatsuit that ironically matched the black one Keith had put on.
He walked over to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Thank you for cleaning up for me.”
She nodded, giving him a small smile as her heart squeezed. “I know you don’t like for me to treat you like you’re dependent, but I’m here for you, Keith. Whatever you need help with, I’m here.”
His voice was low and drained as he said, “I wanted to do it, just didn’t have the energy. Now that it’s clean, I feel a little better already. Like I can think and breathe. You know I don’t like you cleaning up behind me like you’re my mother, but I appreciate it this time around, Harmony. For real.”
“How about we look into bringing the cleaning lady back?”
Keith’s mouth twisted to the side as his head shook. His initial reaction didn’t surprise her. The only reason he’d originally agreed to them hiring a housekeeper was because they both were working the first time he battled cancer and it was a strain on the both of them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Harmony was working longer hours at that point and writing under a publisher, so she didn’t have the freedom she had with her schedule now.
Arms crossed over his chest, he said, “That’s a waste of money to me. I’m not going to pay someone to do what I can do.”
“But you can’t do it.” Harmony rushed the words out quickly. “Not consistently. And you don’t want me to do it for you, so why not let me hire someone to do it? That way, you won’t have to worry about it at all. The house will stay clean and all we’ll have to do is pick up behind ourselves between her visits.”
Keith rubbed his hands together as he normally did when he was in deep thought before agreeing. “Okay. If that’s what you want to do.”
“Yay!” she cheered, gripping his wrists and doing a slight shimmy that made him smile. “Thank you, bae.”
As they headed out, Keith surprised her by asking, “How was work?”
“It was great. I love the crew already.”
“Good,” was the last thing he said for over an hour.
They went to the park and sat there for an hour. Though he remained silent, he held her hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She took him to his barber who thankfully agreed to squeezing him in. There was a short forty-five-minute wait, but it was worth it. As they left, Keith asked, “How do I look?” with a sexy grin.
“Like your handsome self, but I love you either way.”
He chuckled as he opened the door for her. “Thank you, Harmony. I love you.”
