Long Day

This had to have been the worst day ever. Christie’s job was really trying her lately and she honestly felt like quitting, but she knew she wouldn’t. She loved her students too much to leave. However, those darling little monsters had really tried every last bit of her patience today. Middle school kids could either be angels or devils and today they all decided to be devils: throwing paper and pencils, chasing each other around, being loud, and just causing mischief all around.

But thank the gods it was Friday. Christie had been waiting on the weekend since Monday and it was finally here. She sat at her desk watching the clock tick down to 3:30; and when the bell rang to signal the end of the day, she almost cheered. She just wanted to get home, eat something that wasn’t cafeteria food, take a nice long shower, and slip into her comfy pajamas. Plus she wanted to be with her husband Chris. He was home and she was eager to spend as much time as possible with him.

Unfortunately, that had to wait just a little while longer, as she had to run a few errands before she headed home.

When Christie finally walked in the house an hour later, she was greeted with the smell of dinner on the stove. She dropped her bag and, taking in a deep breath, she smelled her favorite meal cooking. Chris came out of the back room and she smiled at the sight of him. She felt the tension from the past week leave her body; her shoulders relaxed. She was home.

“Hey, how was your day?” Chris asked her after kissing her hello.

“Ughhhh, no no no. I do not want to talk about it.”

He chuckled. “That bad, huh?”

“You would not believe.”

He moved to the stove to stir the stew that was bubbling in a pot. She walked up behind him and put her arms around him, resting her head on his back. Just being this close to him was everything she wanted.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” he said, leaning into her a bit.

“Good. I’m starving.” She let him go, so she could get the dishes.

“Didn’t you eat lunch today?”

Christie reached up into the cabinet taking down plates and glasses. “Nah, they were serving something called ‘chicken chunks’ and I didn’t want to risk it.”

“What are chicken chunks?” Chris asked, piling stew and rice onto the plates.

She sat at the table and said “I don’t know and I’m not willing to find out.”

He placed a plate in front of her and one for himself.

“Well, dig in.”

As the two ate the dinner Chris had made, she vented about her day to him, telling him about how horrible the students acted that week.

“Well, judging from everything, I made the right choice making your favorite. How is it?”

“Surprisingly good,” she joked.

He balled up his napkin and threw it at her, grumbling “Married for two years and you’re still shocked that I can cook.”

“I’m kidding. It’s wonderful, baby. Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah. I should make you wash the dishes, but I’m a nice guy.” He said, gathering her dishes and heading to the sink.

Christie just laughed as she pushed her chair back from the table and headed for the bathroom. She needed that hot shower.

She stood under the spray for longer than she normally did, letting the hot water relax her muscles. She stayed in there for so long it caused Chris to knock on the door.

“Christie, you didn’t drown in there, did ya?”

“No, I’ll be out in a minute.”

She hopped out and dried off. Walking into the connected closet, she pulled out her favorite cozy pajamas: a mix match of soft, polka dot blue drawstring pants and a purple long sleeve top. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and walked out.

Chris was sitting against the headboard on the bed reading. Christie smiled at the sight. He was wearing just a t-shirt and sweatpants, reading glasses perched on his nose. She was glad he was finally wearing them since she had picked on him for squinting so much.

As she walked over to the bed and he looked up from his book, “Looking really cozy there, Christie.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I deserve it.”

She went over and rummaged through her bag he had brought back in their room, pulling out the book she checked out from the library earlier that day. Settling in the bed and curling up next to him she opened her book.

“Yeah, you do.” He said. Then, spotting her book, he commented “You know, I think you’re one of the few people left who still get books from the library.”

“I just love them, though. I love the smell.”

“The smell?”

“Yeah,” she opened the book and took a small sniff. “It smells like… I dunno, but it’s nice. Like all these years of knowledge.”

He leaned over and sniffed. “Smells like an old book to me.”

She rolled her eyes again, pushed him away, and began reading.

Spring 1521. I could hear a roll of muffled drums. But I could see nothing but the lacing of the bodice of the lady standing in front of me, blocking my view of the scaffold....

Christie yawned realizing she was more tired than she originally had thought. But she kept on trying to read.

… The Duke of Buckinghamshire, far away on the scaffold, put off his thick coat. He was close enough kin for me to call him uncle. He had come to my wedding and given me a gilt bracelet….

She yawned again and closed her book. It was no good, she was too tired. She couldn’t even make it past the first page of the book.

She lay her head on Chris’s lap.

“You okay there, babe?” He asked, moving his book out of the way.

She nodded her head. “I’m just really tired.”

“Go to sleep, then.”

“Only if you read to me.”

“Christie…”

“Please, baby?”

Chris sighed, closing his book and putting to the side. He picked up hers and flipped the pages. “Where were you?”

“Just made it to page two.”

“Okay, get comfortable.”

She did and he began reading to her in a soft, gentle voice. “My father told me that he had offended the king a dozen ways: he had royal blood in his veins and he kept too large a retinue of armed men for the comfort of a king not yet wholly secure on his throne….”

Chris began stroking her hair as he read on and she relaxed at his touch. The feel of his hands in her hair coupled with the sound of his voice was perfection. She felt warm and comfortable and loved.

She soon drifted off to sleep.

“Christie, this book is getting good.”

He looked down at her and saw her eyes were closed, her breathing deep and even. He put her book to the side and positioned her on her side of the bed and tucked her in.

Kissing her cheek, he whispered “I love you.” And settled down beside her. He continued to stroke her hair as she slept on peacefully.