* * *
"Sweetheart? Do you mind if we go to sleep now?" After close to an
hour spent trying to adjust his big frame to a tiny, leather loveseat, Ken
was ready to call it a night. Besides, nothing was more appealing than the
thought of curling up with her under the covers.
"Sure baby," she agreed, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Hey, I'll meet you in there in a minute, ok? I just want to use the
guest bathroom first." He picked up his duffle bag from the floor and left
her to change in privacy.
Walking into her feminine bedroom accented with angels, roses and
mauve-colored verticals, Maddy smiled to herself. Here they were, grown
adults and in some ways, it felt like 1992 all over again. True, it was a
blissful miracle that everything still felt so vibrant, fresh and exhilarating
between them; it was just ironic that now that no one was watching-now
that the rules no longer applied, they were still tentative about certain
intimacies.
Maddy pulled open the bottom drawer in search of coordinating
pajamas. Unfortunately, her most desired choices had been relegated to
the bottom of her laundry pile. But when she spotted her green Eagles
sleepwear-long bottoms with matching logo tank top, she realized she
had a winner. If nothing else, it would make him laugh. And, truth be
told, her chest was looking more-well-robust, thanks to functional
training, which had built up her pec muscles. Yes it was an illusion, but
who cared? Ken loved her anyway and this time she was trusting in that.
* * *
"Comfortable sweetheart?" He settled in next to her and pulled her
close to him in the darkness, noting how the contours of her body
exquisitely aligned with his. Maddy felt safe and secure as she rested her
head on a fluffy pillow and savored the feel of his strong arms around her.
"Mmm-hmm," she whispered dramatically.
"Maddy?"
"Yes?"
"Will you come with me to my parents' house for dinner tomorrow?
It's Mothers Day and I promised to go over and cook for her. I was going
to have them over to my new house, but not being sure if I'd actually
move in on time we decided to just have it there."
"Wow, I finally get to meet the parents!" she exclaimed. Then a
panicked thought occurred to her. "Oh Kenny, your mother must hate
me!"
"Huh?"
"Oh my God, what does she know about me, besides the awful facts
that I stood you up for your cousin's wedding and a work party, and wrote
you a Dear John letter-ugh!"
"Madeline, are you crazy? Don't you think I've shared the whole story
with her? She knows everything, sweetheart. Especially the part about me
still loving you." With that he planted a few kisses on her neck.
"But still-"
"Shh! Madeline Rose, all is forgiven, remember? We were both wrong
and we admitted it. We've forgiven each other. It's over; the past is the past.
So let's not squander this incredible opportunity on regret, when we can
spend it celebrating, ok?"
"Ok. Kenny?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for forgiving me. And for being so understanding about
all the other stuff. I love you so much."
"And I love you, Maddy. Please, don't ever forget that."
They drifted off to a contented sleep, home at last.