About two weeks before graduation, I came home from work on a Monday to get some very bad news when I arrived. My wife's mother had suffered a stroke and was hospitalized in Connecticut. She was in very bad shape. Our daughter still had 2 weeks of school, so it would be impossible for her leave right now. After talking with our babysitters, our neighbors, and my daughter's best friend, we figured between all of us we could get Kelly to school and then picked up from the bus stop without totally wrecking my work schedule. We decided Pam would fly out immediately, and we would fly Kelly out when she finished the school year.
We got Pam off early the next morning without incident. On Friday evening I had a fundraiser to attend to support student scholarships. Too many of my coworkers knew my wife for me to risk taking a date, but I was happy that Brittany would be able to baby sit for the evening. Immediately I started thinking about how to make the evening even more enjoyable, but in the end just decided to let it go and see how things turned out.
Brittany showed up on time and I prepared to head out. I had her look over my suit and tie to make sure I was presentable and to show off a bit. She adjusted the knot of my tie and then shooed me out the door after reminding me not to drink and drive.
"You look great Mr. James, have a nice time," she said.
"Thanks, I will try," I replied.
I slipped my cell phone in my pocket, picked up my keys, and gave my daughter a kiss on the forehead.
"Make sure you behave yourself," I reminded her.
"Give me a call if you have any problems, ok Brittany."
"Oh don't worry, she will be fine," Brittany replied. "Now get going."
I couldn't help but notice how cute she was as I walked into the garage, got in my car, and drove down to my dinner. It was the usual work crowd. Lots of alumni, and some well known donors we were schmoozing for more donations to support our students.
The food was decent, there was a silent auction of some artwork, but the biggest fund raiser was probably the cash bar manned by our Athletic Department staffers.
I flirted with a few of my single female coworkers, and even a couple of the coeds who were student workers in my department. By 10pm I was ready to get out of there, so I paid my regrets and my goodbyes and headed home.
The house was dark as I drove up. I opened the garage door, pulled in and stopped. I closed the garage door and walked into the quiet house. As I neared the stairs that lead up to the second floor, I saw a faint glow coming from down the hall from my bedroom.
I quietly walked in a found the girls asleep on my bed watching the DVD of Titanic. I slide my arms under Kelly and carried her to her bedroom and tucked her in. I turned on her night light, turned the ceiling fan on low, and then left, closing the door behind me.
I walked back to my bedroom, dropped my suit jacket and tie on the dresser, then went in to my bathroom. I took a leak, washed my hands and face and brushed my teeth. I returned to my bedroom, being careful not to disturb Brittany as she was sleeping. I turned off the bed stand light she had on, letting just the TV light the room.
I sat down beside her and ran my hands thru her hair a couple of times.
"Hey sleepyhead," I said. "How was Kelly?"
"I'm so sorry," she said. "I must have fallen asleep."
She sat up, looked around quickly, with a slightly surprised look on her face.
"Where is she?" Brittany asked.
"Don't worry, I just tucked her into bed," I told her. I was not sure if she realized I was still gently stroking her hair.
