Dedicated to David
I love you
David was sitting on the bed behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder and his arms around my waist. I was telling a story to my tireless six-year-old, the Energizer Bunny of first graders. He was looking up at me, eyes just like his fathers, with rapt attention as I told him a Dr. Suess story. I finished my story and David got up to tuck him in while I gave him a kiss on top of his curly haired head. His father said goodnight and left for one last check on our two-year-old girl.
“Nighty night short man,” I said, using my favorite nickname for him.
“Goodnight mommy.” I had walked to the door and turned off his light when a voice came from the darkness. I gave an exasperated sigh and turned the light back on, remembering how I did the same thing to my mother as a child.
“Yeah Ben?”
“Can Joey come over tomorrow?”
“I’ll let you know in the morning honey.”
“Okay.”
“Goodnight Ben,” I said as I turned his light back off.
“Goodnight.” I could see the dark outline of my son turn over in his bed and I closed the door, leaving it open a crack to let some light in. Walking down the hall to my bedroom I heard the heater come on, beginning to warm my house.
It was a small two-bedroom home with a den, family room, kitchen, dinning room and, thankfully, two full bathrooms. The den had been converted into a nursery when my daughter was born. We lived in a quiet neighborhood with several kids Ben’s age. I had gotten to know a few of the other mothers and we started a carpool to get the kids to school in the mornings.
I walked into my room and saw David already on the bed. He was lying there in light grey boxers and had his eyes closed. His body looked smooth and inviting, his brown hair a bit of a mess but sexy all the same.
I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and change for bed. I put on a silky pink nightgown with thin straps and a low neckline and walked back into my room to lay down next to David.
He opened his eyes when I slipped my arm around his body. His skin was warm and soft to the touch. I moved myself close to him, nestling my head under his chin, my lips against his neck.
“Ben wants to have a friend over tomorrow.” I told him, my voice slightly muffled.
“Aren’t we going to visit your brother’s new baby tomorrow?”
“Not until later in the afternoon,” I said. I moved my head back and looked into his deep brown eyes. “I thought we could bring them some food and have dinner together.”
“Then maybe we can take the kids to the park in the morning. They can play for a while and we can have a light lunch, then we can bring them home to clean up before dinner.” His voice was soft and soothing, pulling me into a sleepy stupor.
“Mmhmm,” I answered.
“You wanna go to sleep Shanna?” I replied by rubbing my nose against his neck and then lifting my head up to kiss behind his ear. I relished in his soft masculine scent. David sat up to pull the white, fluffy comforter over us and put his arms around me.