Caleb's eyes match the blankets in this halflight of a Tuesday morning. He wonders aloud if the pool has filled again, thanks to all of this rain, or when the snow will reach our part of highway 99. He worries about me driving, though I didn't see a lot of worry last evening when I left at eight to pick Henry up from his job and we arrived back at ten-forty-five to find a darkened house. Even the dog had gone to bed. Henry is learning. It took a long time to finish up. It will be better from now on, I hope, but at the same time this job is a gap-filler until the summer only, unless he loves it and chooses to stay.
It's fine, I remind him. I have a jeep, and if things get really dicey PJ can drive or we just stay home.
He nods against my head and it hurts slightly so I slide it out from underneath his chin. My hair drags against the new beard he sports, going a few weeks at a time without shaving. This is how I get such dramatic bedhead.
You look so beautiful. I laugh and he piles it on. I love your laugh.
Stop. Geez.
I'm just stupidly happy you come for sleepovers now.
I wasn't actually planning to, but when I came upstairs, in their sleep, Ben and Lochlan had taken up all of the available space and I didn't want to wake either one of them to rearrange the bed so I put on my angel pajamas and went down to Caleb's wing. He was still awake, quizzed me about Henry's shift, resolved to pick him up himself from now on and poured us each a quick, stiff nightcap. I don't think I finished mine. I had a good solid sleep spooned sweetly against Caleb's chest and woke up hearing birds. The rain makes them think it's spring. I think they're about to get a surprise.
Me too. I turn back and get a morning-breath kiss that I truly think was far worse for him than for me. But now I turn into a pumpkin.
Already?
Yes.
See you tonight?
Probably not.
Later in the week, then.
Sure, I lie and let myself out as he goes back to sleep.
No lying this time, he calls as I'm closing the door and I remember he can read my mind.
It's fine, I remind him. I have a jeep, and if things get really dicey PJ can drive or we just stay home.
He nods against my head and it hurts slightly so I slide it out from underneath his chin. My hair drags against the new beard he sports, going a few weeks at a time without shaving. This is how I get such dramatic bedhead.
You look so beautiful. I laugh and he piles it on. I love your laugh.
Stop. Geez.
I'm just stupidly happy you come for sleepovers now.
I wasn't actually planning to, but when I came upstairs, in their sleep, Ben and Lochlan had taken up all of the available space and I didn't want to wake either one of them to rearrange the bed so I put on my angel pajamas and went down to Caleb's wing. He was still awake, quizzed me about Henry's shift, resolved to pick him up himself from now on and poured us each a quick, stiff nightcap. I don't think I finished mine. I had a good solid sleep spooned sweetly against Caleb's chest and woke up hearing birds. The rain makes them think it's spring. I think they're about to get a surprise.
Me too. I turn back and get a morning-breath kiss that I truly think was far worse for him than for me. But now I turn into a pumpkin.
Already?
Yes.
See you tonight?
Probably not.
Later in the week, then.
Sure, I lie and let myself out as he goes back to sleep.
No lying this time, he calls as I'm closing the door and I remember he can read my mind.