I live for the moment when I hear the catch in her throat with our first kiss. Her breathing getting heavier with each caress, touch, or stroke, of her sensitive places, I wait for those words she will say..., but not yet.
Catherine Chapter 31
Erin's, "Hi daddy, it's me!" Days for me, don't get started any better than hearing that.
"Hey pumpkin, you're up early!"
"Yeah, but mom wouldn't let me call you sooner; she said you got in here late because of an accident and were up late too."
"I guess I have to remind your mom, that you, can call me any time. And being up late, part of that was because your mom wanted to see me so she could tell me in person all about the great report your teacher gave to her. Great job girl; loved it!"
"Thank you!" I get in Erin's return.
"I also hear, you've got your own phone now," telling her.
"OH YES I DID!" Comes loud, crisp and clear out of my phone.
"It's so cool; I love it, I can't wait to show it to you!" The excitement in her voice.
"That must have been one really great report; your own phone a well deserved reward!" Telling her.
"I guess." Is all I get back.
"No, 'I guess,' telling her. Hard work pays off; I know, and so does your mom. Speaking of Sally, where is she," asking Erin.
"Mom's still in bed; I think," Erin's replies.
"Okay, Pumpkin, tell her when she gets up, that I'll be leaving here in about twenty minutes. Oh, and tell the 'Old Bat,' to expect a big wet kiss on the cheek when I get there."
"Daddy.., Alice is not an old bat!" Erin scolding me.
"Erin, if I didn't call her that, she would think I didn't love her."
Gets Erin laughing, then her, "Hurry up daddy, I miss you."
"I miss you too baby and I'll be there as soon as I can; bye
"Bye, bye daddy."
And now I need to take a minute to swallow that soft ball size lump in my throat! Also looking at the garment bag, now laying on the bed knowing what's inside -- the choices you make have many cost; right Sargent Swaggart?
Turning into the long gravel drive way that will take me up to and around to park in the back of Alice's house; how I love this old place. A large multi room farm house with the big barn in the back, smaller out buildings, a tool shed, a two car garage, the doors open I can see Alice's car and another, Sally's new Lexus. White painted horse fences marking the boundaries to the, now fallow fields on each side of the main property line, awaiting the spring planting.
The words to a song by, John Mellencamp coming to mind:
"Well I lived on the outskirts of town In an eight room farmhouse, baby."
I grew up in the suburbs of a big city.
But it's the cry of, "DADDY!" Right outside the drivers side door of my truck hauling me back -- and I wouldn't change a damn thing!
Opening the door, sliding out into Erin's wide open, waiting arms, I scoop her up, turning around and around with her arms tight around my neck..., this is why I stayed in, this is why I fight!
Sally, standing just inside, holding the back door open, I catch the fingers at the corner of her left eye, then to her right eye, my hand wave to her, brings her hand from her eye to wave back to me.
"Hey Pumpkin, do you want to help carry something into the house for me?" As I set her feet back on the ground.
"Sure daddy, what cha got?" She ask.
Where it's opening the back drivers side door and reaching in to retrieve the storage box I carry my black, lace up shoes and visor dress hat in and hand it back to Erin. Then slide my garment bag off the seat along with my over night bag. And with both truck doors closed, we both make it over to Sally who's still holding the back door to the house open for Erin and me.
A smile and a, sweet, sounding hellooo!" From Sally, as Erin and I get to the door Sally's been holding open for us.
"Get in here, It's cold out!" She says, trying to hurry us up.
Eyeing Sally up as I approach the door, her in her short terry bath robe, tied at the waist. Bare legs from mid thigh down to her bare feet. Bed hair, no make up, she looks gorgeous.
"Did we wake you up," asking her as I get to the door. "No...," she says. "I was just being lazy until I heard Erin screaming for you," she replies.
"Something or someone kept you up late; huh?" Needling her a little bit, knowing she didn't pull out of the hotel's parking lot until almost mid-night.
"Shush!" She tells me; not wanting Erin or Alice hear what I said.
"Alice and Erin were both asleep when I got back here," she tells me. "But Erin was up at five, practicing on the piano. Along with her going back and forth to the windows and back door looking for you to come up the driveway.
"You smell good," telling as I'm standing in door way, blocking her from closing it.
Not only does Sally smell good, it's her bed hair, no make up, the shorty robe, loosed up little, a quick glance down at her exposed cleavage with her, "Get in here!" she orders, My feet are cold." Comes along with it.
"Do you want me to warm them up for you," asking her, as I linger in the open doorway.
"NO!" I firmly get again, but this time it's with quick kiss to my cheek, along with a firm shove into my shoulder to get me moving on into the house.
"Good morning, you Old Bat!" As I come into the kitchen with Alice standing at the stove.
"You watch who you're calling 'Old Bat," Bob Swaggart! Alice comes back at me. "If you're thinking of sleeping here tonight, you better keep one eye open!" She firmly threatens me.
Quickly stepping into her with a quick kiss to her forehead. Is followed by her, "Oh you get away from me, you, you no good rascal," she calls me.
"Rascal?" Now that's a word I haven't heard in a long time.
"Well if that's all you're going to call me..., maybe the next time I'll pat you on the butt. Speaking of.., when was the last time a man has patted you on the butt?" Where it's the snort from Sally, standing just inside the door from utility room, her hand to her mouth, trying to hold in her laughter that's choking in her throat.
Where its Alice, who heard it too, looking over at Sally with, "And you, Miss Sally, standing there, half naked, setting a bad example for my granddaughter.. You can stop your snickering too!"
Looking back at Sally now, "Where can I put this," indicating my garment bag, "Where the, 'Old Bat,' won't shred it?"
"You can put it right back in your truck and go home!" Is what we hear from Alice.
"I know you love me Alice!" Nudging my elbow against her arm. To her, "Get away from me you rascal." Alice's calls me again, pushing her arm back against mine at the same time.
"Bobby...," Sally jumping in." You can hang it in my bedroom," she tells me. "That's where I told Erin to put your case when she came running in the house with it."
"Don't go anywhere Alice." telling her now. "I just might want to pat your butt when I get back here." Who swings a back hand at me where I'm already out of her reach.
"How did you ever let him get away, Sally Collins?" Is what I hear in Alice's admonishment; Alice maybe thinking I was already out of ear shot.
Walking into Sally's bedroom the first thing that hits me is the scent of her favorite cologne mixed up in the rumpled unmade bed cloths; a restless night Sally?
Then it's hooking the garment bag by it's hook over the top of one of Sally's open closet doors where I begin to carefully remove each item; shirt, jacket, pants, closely inspecting each one for wrinkles and especially each and every item pined to the jacket; fruit salad it's referred too; I have a full bowl of it.
"Everything okay with it?" It's Sally standing in the bedroom door way who's voice I hear asking it.