Snapshots of the Future
It was late when Tommy came home from the formal dinner he'd had to attend to honor the retiring Superintendent, and he was surprised to be greeted by Denton, with his finger over his lips. "Please be quiet, m'Lord. Miss Havers came home exhausted and went right to bed. I brought her a pot of tea and some sandwiches, and she didn't touch them."
"Well, she must have been totally done in if she wasn't hungry!" he said, shrugging off his coat, and heading towards the bedroom.
Denton shushed him again, and looking at him, murmured. "I hope you'll just let her sleep, m'lord."
"Denton, what kind of man do you think I am?" he said with a smile. "No worries. You can go home now, and thanks for looking after her."
He locked the doors after Denton left, and went quietly into the bedroom, bending down to take off his shoes.
"Hiya," he heard, and looking over at the bed, saw that Barbara was awake. "I hope I didn't wake you. Denton warned me to be very quiet."
"No, she said, "I was awake and I heard you come in. I couldn't pass up a chance to see you in your penguin suit, could I?"
He came over to the bed, and kissed her lightly. "Hungry? Denton said he brought you some food, and you didn't eat any of it."
"I was just wiped out," she said. "You never told me how hard it is to be an Inspector."
"Well, you see, I was very lucky. I had this incredible sergeant who did most of the hard work, for which I got the credit." He touched her face. "You made it easy for me," he said.
She frowned. "Yeah, maybe that's the problem. I can't seem to let go, so I'm doing all the work. And it's not like Winston and my constables aren't willing. I just double check all their work. I don't remember you doing that."
He sat down on the side of the bed. "Barbara, that's ridiculous, and I think you know it. Will you try trusting them? It's a team, remember."
She leaned back on the pillows. "You're right. I can't go on doing it my way, I'll burn out in a couple of months. I'll try asking myself what you would do, and then do it."
He lay down next to her, still wearing his suit, and pulled her close, kissing her softly. "I wonder if you're hungry now?"
She laughed. "I am! Why don't you shower and get into your jammies, and I'll bring some tea and those sandwiches back here."
"No I can do that! I promised Denton that I wouldn't disturb you. And look, you're wide awake now."
"Well, I've had a couple of hours sleep, and I'll go back to sleep after I've eaten. Promise."
By the time she'd brought the tea and food to their room, he had changed and found that he was hungry enough to share her supper. "Banquet food," he said, "mostly inedible."
He took the dishes to the kitchen, and when he returned, he saw that she was drifting back to sleep. He got into bed, put his arms around her, kissed her again, and thanking his guardian angel for this woman, fell asleep beside her.