Affiance

We are in the kitchen. Dinner is cooking on the stove.

The kids are wild. In 1 more day St. Nick will come and fill their stockings.

They are running through the house, sliding on the floors and laughing. Running ’round and ’round the kitchen.

Bill is sitting in a chair at the table, thumbing through Surfer magazine.

Not listening.

In his own world.

I can’t get him to engage.

He is unwinding from work.

His brow is furrowed.

I sidle up to him, slide him and the chair back, and climb in his lap.

At first he jokes that I am breaking his lap, his arms remaining on the chair rails.

I kiss him.

He tells me dinner is burning.

Whatever.

Finally he melts, wraps his arms around me and I snuggle down into him, kissing his neck.

The kids are spinning around us. Laughter and noise.

We stay like that for an eternity.

When I try to break away, he grabs me back and holds me tight.

The kids are everywhere.

We look at each other.

Finally connecting in the chaos.

After all of the kids are asleep in their beds, Bill climbs into bed next to me.

He wraps his arms around me.

No words.

I just know.

I got his attention.

Happy Love Thursday a bit early.