I hope you enjoy my submission into Literotica's "Love the One(s) Your With" contest.
New Habits
Covid-19 didn't beat us!
I was conflicted, as I leaned against the railing on the deck of our Essex, Connecticut waterfront summer home on that early August 2020 morning. I was watching my family; Trish, my wife of thirty-four years, my son Michael and his beautiful wife Lori along with their new born daughter Kylee, another son Steven and his wife Meg and my youngest, a daughter Gretchen, her husband Phil along with their unborn baby. Gretchen was six months pregnant and her belly was just starting to show, under her over-sized tee shirt.
My family was sitting in the sand on blankets, just out of the reach of the slowly rolling waves. Although the worst of the Covid-19 virus had passed, our family still practiced social distancing. The beach blankets were spread in a circle, each several feet from the next.
Our kids had driven down to our home, earlier this morning. They all lived in the central Connecticut area where they grew up
The biggest challenge that Trish and I still faced was we hadn't been allowed to hold our first grandchild. Kylee was almost a month old. Current guidelines directed that new born babies be isolated from everyone other than their parents, until they received their six week immunizations. Although we were disappointed we were unable to hold and kiss our precious Kylee, we understood that our kids were in charge of their daughters' well-being and we wouldn't interfere.
As our family had been personally and professionally touched by the destruction of the Covid pandemic, we were careful to follow sensible rules and regulations.
But overall, I was still conflicted. While the world had been ravished by the God-awful virus, Trish and I had taken the time and transformed our stale marriage and mundane life into something special.
Six months earlier
"Can you make me a drink?" Trish yelled, as she walked from the garage and into our kitchen on that mid-March, Friday afternoon.
I walked out of my home office, holding a half finished glass of bourbon and headed to the bar in our family room. After pouring a couple of inches of tequila and topping the glass off with ice, frozen berries and lime, I added another inch of Knob Creek to my glass.
"Here," I said as I passed Trish her drink.
"You're not going to believe what the asshole school bigwigs decided today," Trish said. "They're closing the schools for the next two weeks."
"It's not just your town. All schools in the state are closed through the end of the month."
"Fuck! I'll be making up school days into July."
"No you won't," I told Trish. "I read that this two week shutdown won't extend the school year. You'll be getting out in mid-June."
Trish took a sip of her drink, sighed and asked, "Where are we going for dinner?"
Since becoming empty nesters, with a well above average disposable income, Trish and I have dinner out three or four nights a week.
"Haven't you been listening to the news? All restaurants are shut down."
"Then what the hell are we going to do?" Trish wanted to know.
"I had some time at lunch today and went to the grocery store. I stocked the basement freezer with meat and bought other essentials. I'll grill some asparagus, shrimp and steaks."
Our dinner was delicious, but we ate mostly in silence. We split a bottle of wine and when our plates were empty, Trish volunteered, "I'll clean up, if you take the dog out."
Without saying a word, I grabbed my bourbon glass, went to the bar and poured another drink. I called for the dog and together, we walked through the backyard to the trails leading into the woods. As was my habit, I walked Gordon, our twelve year old shepherd until my drink was finished and then returned to our home.
I poured another drink for me and refreshed Trish's tequila, before sitting in my arm chair and falling asleep. Trish woke me for bed, several hours later and insisted that I had been snoring uncontrollably. "I want you to sleep in the guest room tonight," was her order.
The following morning was slow, as Trish and I nursed slight hangovers. I took Gordon for her morning walk. The only difference is my drink of choice was a steaming cup of black coffee.
We were sitting around the kitchen table at around 10 am realizing that our options for an active Saturday were very limited. Our gym was closed, as were all other non-essential businesses and federal and state officials were suggesting that everyone remain home.
"Let's go to the beach house. We can open up and give it a nice clean."
Trish almost immediately dismissed my idea and we sat with our own thoughts for the next few minutes.
Eventually, I got up from the kitchen table. "Where are you going?" She wanted to know.
"I'm going to pack for overnight and head to the beach," I told her.
I was heading to the stairs leading to the second floor, when Trish bellowed, "What the hell am I supposed to do?"
I ignored her rhetorical question. Five minutes later, Trish entered the bedroom and watched for a short few seconds, before she went into her closet and brought out her overnight duffle bag and packed her needed clothes and accessories for the night and next day.
My suggestion to clean our summer house was a gross exaggeration. We have a service that comes in at the beginning of March. They clean the winter dust from the cottage, scrub the kitchen and bathrooms and set up the deck and patio furniture.
By 1 pm, Trish and I were walking along the beach and watching Gordon chasing the waves. I grilled chicken for dinner and Trish made a nice garden salad. Since we hadn't turned on the cable and internet service, we took another long walk after dinner. The beach is cold in mid-March and we bundled up in winter coats, hats and gloves for our walk. That night, we slept like logs.
"What are you thinking about?" Trish wanted to know. I was sitting at our kitchen bar drinking a cup of coffee and looking through the living room and out to Long Island Sound.
"You have next week off from school, right?" Trish nodded her agreement. "I've told my sales team to conform to all local shutdown provisions. In discussions with my customers, I know our products and associated surgeries have been deemed non-essential at most hospitals. Surgeries will be postponed. I'm not going to have a lot of work to do over the next week or so." Looking up at Trish, I asked, "Let's stay here."
I could tell that Trish's first reaction was to tell me no. I was happy to see her catch herself. She sat on the stool next to me and looked out over the water.
"We'll need internet service."
I lifted my cell phone from the countertop, looked up our local cable and internet provider and dialed customer service. Five minutes later, I told Trish, "the service will be on later today."
Still looking out at the gray water, I could see a twitch of a smile. Trish said, "Let's run home, pack what we need for the week and be back by dinner."
Later that night, as I grilled a pork loin, Trish opened the sliding glass door and said, "I was going to make us a couple of drinks. You packed my tequila, but forgot your bourbon."
"I didn't forget it," I admitted. "I've been drinking a little too much over the last year. I decided to give the beer, wine and booze a break for the week."
Trish looked on in surprise. "Can I get you anything?" She asked.
I shrugged and told her, "I'd love a seltzer."
Two days later, a little after 5 am, I was getting ready to take Gordon on our normal two mile morning walk. Trish was in the living room, in front of the TV and was about to start a forty five minute You Tube yoga routine.
"Can I ask you a favor?" I wanted to know.
Trish looked over and raised her brow. "My chiropractor is closed, due to the shut down and I know my back will start to stiffen up over the next few days. Dr. Joe sent out an email to his patients to begin yoga stretches."
"Ok?"
"Will you come for a walk with Gordon and me? After we get back I'd like to do yoga with you."
Trish tried to stifle a laugh, but failed miserably. "You know I'm going to laugh at you?"
I nodded and told her, "And you know I'm going to be staring at your ass."
"You're still a dirty old pervert!"
On Wednesday morning, after reading an email from her school system superintendent, Trish told me, "School is opening up for virtual learning in two weeks. I have a full week starting on Monday. We're going to be trained on different internet teaching platforms." After another minute of thought, she asked, "Do you think we should go home?"
"What do you think?" I wanted to know.
Trish shrugged, smiled and said, "I'd rather not."
Later that afternoon, I returned from Lowes. I had two six foot folding tables and two folding chairs.
Our home has two stories. The first floor has an open floor plan and is our living and entertainment area. The second floor consists of three bedrooms and two baths. The master bedroom suite is in front of the house and has a large window that faces the water. The two smaller guest bedrooms have windows that look either north or south along the shore line.
Trish helped me move some furniture and in less than an hour, we had set up two offices. Each bedroom was equipped with a temporary desk that had a view of a mile or two of beach.