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I slip out and hurry around to her car, opening the driver’s door for her. Sure, maybe it’s a little overly chivalrous, but it’s the little things like this that I love doing for her. Still, there’s that little flicker of surprise in her eyes, like she can’t believe someone would even think to do it for her. She climbs out, a purse over one shoulder and a laptop bag in her other hand. I take them and lean in to kiss her.
“Mission accomplished?” I ask.
“I think so,” she laughs. “They’re all at least somewhere. You?”
“Jack’s overnighting with Coopers and Twila’s at that Montgomery girl’s place.”
“Lilly,” she says.
“Sure,” I reply. “The twins?”
“Made it to the bus with seconds to spare,” she closes the door and leans back against it. “You think they’re ready? I know it’s just one night, but…”
“It’s a school trip,” I say. “How much trouble could they get in?”
“That’s why I’m asking, officer. You’re supposed to know these things.”
I shrug. “I’d given a fifty-fifty shot of making it back.”
She swats my arm.
“What?” I say. “That’s why we have spares. And I mean, they’retwins, Megan.”
“You’re awful,” she says, laughing.
“Well,” I lean in, pressing her up against the car. “Ya know, if you’re worried, maybe we should go make another. Just to be safe.”
“Hush,” she says, pushing against my chest, but only lightly, not really wanting me to move. “Whatever it was you saw in me a decade ago has been ravaged by the hard-living lifestyle of a mother of four.”
“I blame the college,” I say. “You probably spend half your time racing down the halls trying to get away from all the undergrad boys who have justone morequestion for the hot lit professor.”
“Well, you’ve officially lost it.”
“Undergrad girls?”
She swats my arm again. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Oh, I’ve got some ideas.”
“I’m sure you do,” she says. “But if you didn’t notice, we’re in the driveway.”
I shrug. “If you think I’m embarrassed to show how I feel about you, you've got another thing coming, Doctor.”
She takes a deep breath, sighs, and then shakes her head. I know she thinks it’s silly, but a Ph.D.? How can I not brag about her? We’re going to have the smartest kids on the block, probably in the whole town.
“You might not be embarrassed,” she says finally, “but I’m not sure how many of our neighbors want to see it.”
I shrug and, like it always is with her, I feel that relaxation, that letting go of my own thoughts and worries and concerns and the urge to just be with her, encourage her, love her, treasure her.
“They don’t have to look,” I say.
“You don’t have to show,” she counters.
“With you,” I lean in, “I can’t help but show it. You’ve given me more than I ever would’ve imagined a guy like me could have. You’re caring, brilliant, an amazing mother.” I kiss her forehead, nose, and lips. “You make me laugh. You make me think. You make me proud.” And just for good measure, I pat her on the bottom. “And you are absolutely gorgeous.”
I feel her hands around my neck and she pulls me down for a kiss. “Ya know,” she says, her lips on mine, “you’re not too bad yourself.”
The End.
