I was just finishing up dinner as she came into the room, straight from work. "Ah, that smells so nice!" She claimed with a satisfied smile on her face. "Just what I need right now."
She already told me earlier via a message how crazy work had been today and that was the reason she had come in so late in the afternoon. Putting down her working bag like it was made out of concrete, she turned around to undo her coat. From her whole appearance you could see she was tired and happy to be home. After she hung up her coat she came up to me for a big hug, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. Her head melted into my chest as her eyes closed to enjoy the moment. A vague whim of her perfume mixed with the smell of her hairs just below my nose and gave me the enjoyment of that typical smell of the one I have loved already for such a long time.
The moment was slightly short-lived unfortunately, as a shriek from across the room made it very clear someone else felt ignored by the entering beauty. Smiling she unhooked from my embrace and soared away, bending over our little angel who was playing on the floor in the middle of the room.
"Hi, little beauty. Did you enjoy playing today with your grandma?" She asked. A big smile became stuck on my face as our little one shrieked once more and smiled almost in agreement. "Oh, you did? Grandma was nice then?" She continued her one-sided conversation. Still, she would always perceive it as a true conversation, interpreting the shrieks, smiles and winks as positive feedback. It made me chuckle, before turning back to serving the food.
At the time that I was serving to the table, I saw her sitting there with our little person sitting in her own chair next to her. "A bit tired, but still wants to sit next to us. Suppose it is just too cozy to miss, I guess." She smiled at the small person, who immediately smiled back. A grin escaped my mouth as I took in the first bite.
She asked me how my day was and immediately I have to compel myself to not answer in the usual dismissive manner. Even though to me my days were quite boring and repetitive, she has made it clear she wanted to hear it anyway. Over the next few minutes we discussed the passing of my day, making funny remarks here and there about the inadequacy of some co-workers. Somehow it made me feel slightly less tired after a long day of work, like all the problems that were still in my mind found a new place to hide away from me for one night. As usual I wondered whether she knew how much she was cheering me up, while I looked into her eyes.
I returned the question, wanting to know about her day at work. I knew it had been a though day at start, so I was not expecting a very positive report. However, I always loved seeing her get all wound up about the foolishness of people and the lack of patience some could show. She loved fixing problems; the sense of making things right again after everybody seemed to have given up. Her current job seemed perfect for that, seeing the amount of problems that arise every day and the knowledge she had gained fixing it all.
After a few minutes of talking, she closed her eyes and sighed. "Sometimes I do not know why I still bother.
I am so fortunate that the group is nice to me. That is what pulls me through." I tilt my head in agreement, but know deep inside that she is still liking the complexity of the job. The feeling of being needed.
"Well, since you have had such a rough day, I am glad I got you a surprise..." I started mysteriously. A smile came to her face while she contemplated the options. "What surprise?" She finally asked. I looked into her eyes and raised my eyebrows as to make her guess. Finally, I gave up and gave her the answer. "Mini pancakes with vanilla ice cream and... whipped cream!" She yelled out, startling the little one next to her.
"Oh, yummy! That is just what I needed." She exclaimed. "Good," I said, "then start baking!" I just took the last bite of my dinner and started to clear the plates.
Quite coincidentally a big yawn was to be heard that came neither from myself nor my woman. "Better idea; you start baking, while I bring this little gem to bed. Before we have trouble on our hands." I agreed, reluctantly and moved towards the kitchen. As I place the plates down, I turn around to watch her pick the baby up and hold it against her shoulder. A very familiar warm feeling came surfacing from deep within as I watched the love of my life hold the other most important person in my life close to her shoulder. Every time it was amazing to see how in mere months she had transformed from being a young woman into a loving, responsible mother. It made me feel intensely lucky, as if no lottery in the world could have given me a price equal to being on the road of life together with these two individuals.
I planted a big kiss on the cheek of the little one, just before she turned her head as to say: "Come on, Daddy, don't be all mushy on me!" Still she turned back and gave me a big smile with twinkling eyes.
I loved that smile so much that every time I see it, I feel my heart bursts.
As my beloved on turns around to go upstairs, I cannot resist the urge of smacking her bottom with my flat hand. A guilty pleasure I indulge in rather often, to be honest. She turns her head to throw me a look, a bit annoyed but mostly amused. That since she knew I was a hopeless case, never able to resist certain urges.
As she moved out of the living room, I started up the stove again, ready to bake some pancakes.