The television blared from the den accompanied by the sound of children laughing. Mary walked down the hall picking up toys along the way. She couldn't imagine what was keeping Lou. She had called the newspaper, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, where he was now senior editor. He wasn't there and he hadn't shown up at home. She walked into the den to find her children, Lily and Sam, engrossed in a television show. They were supposed to be taking their baths

"Alright, you two, it's bath time. Who wants to go first?" Mary asked

"Oh, Mom, do we have to?" Lily asked, "The show isn't over yet."

"It is for you." Mary said turning off the TV, "Now scoot."

"Daddy would let us finish watching it." 5 year old Sam pouted as they walked out of the den

"Well, Daddy isn't home yet." Mary said, "So we're going to take our baths and get ready for bed. I've already let you stay up later than you should."

While the kids were taking their baths she picked up the phone and called Lou's oldest daughter, Sarah, "Hi Sarah, its Mary…oh fine but I was wondering, have you seen your dad...oh you haven't…no that's okay. I'm sure he'll be home soon. Tell Amy and Abby I said hi and I still plan on taking them shopping this weekend…okay, bye."

Mary finally got the kids bathed and in bed. It was almost eleven and she was still picking up the house and Lou still wasn't home. He seemed to be staying out later and later. One night it was a ball game, another night poker. She put the dishes in the dishwasher, came out of the kitchen and finally sat down to relax with a glass of wine. After dinner, wrangling with the kids to get their baths and go to bed, she had to go prepare reports for a meeting with the station manager that she didn't have time to do at work. She looked around the room and thought about the life she and Lou had made together over the past ten years. They might seem to some like an unlikely pair. When they married he was fifty two, divorced with three daughters and four grandchildren. She was thirty seven and never married. It came as a surprise to both of them when their feelings began to change. After a little over a year of marriage they found out they were going to have a baby. Lily Caroline was born seven months later, the spitting image of her mother. Three years later along came Samuel Louis. Lou was thrilled to have a son to carry on the Grant name.

It seemed lately that Lou was gone more than he was at home. Much of the time she felt like a single parent. He was still devoted to the children but she wasn't sure what had changed. What had started as a wonderful romance which blossomed into a committed relationship and marriage had suddenly become two people who simply co-existed in the same home. She couldn't put all the blame on him. She worked hard as well. Lou had been accepting of her continuing to work after the children were born. She knew that his ex-wife had been a stay at home mom and she knew that in some ways Lou was old fashioned. But he assured her that he wouldn't expect her to give up her career. He knew how much it meant to her. He had been there from the beginning watching her grow from an uncertain young woman trying to find her way by herself to a successful producer of a news show. She was now the news director at WJM and it was doing better than ever in the ratings. She finished her wine and as she headed to the bedroom Lou finally came through the door.

"Hi." He said hanging up his coat, "What are you still doing up?"

"Well, it's nice of you to finally show up," She said angrily with her arms crossed over her chest, "You mind telling me where you've been."

"I was at the office." He lied not wanting to upset her

"Nice try," She said glaring at him, "I called the office at eight and they said you were gone."

Lou sighed, "Alright, I went out for a couple of drinks and I lost track of time."

"Well, did it ever occur to you that I could have used your help tonight?" She asked him turning away and heading down the hall to the bedroom

"With what?" He asked following her

She took off her robe and laid it across the end of the bed, "With what?" She repeated, "How about the kids or the dishes or …damn it, anything."

"Oh come on, don't start. I've had a rough day." He said sitting on the bed taking off his shoes

"You had a rough day? And what do you think my day was like? You might have been able to pull this kind of thing with Edie and she wouldn't care. But I won't put up with it." She explained turning the covers down and getting into bed

"Mary, I'm tired and I really don't want to have this conversation right now." Lou said getting up and changing into his pajamas

"You could at least apologize for not calling. I was worried about you, you know." She said

He looked over at her for the first time since he had come home, there was a mix of sadness and anger in her eyes, "I'm sorry, it won't happen again." his voice took on a gentler tone as he got into bed

Mary instinctively moved closer to him and put her arms around him, "Apology accepted," she said kissing him then resting her head on his chest

He pulled away from her and turned on his side, "It's late, let's get some sleep."

Mary moved back to her side of the bed, a single tear escaping her eye

TBC...This idea has been rolling around in my head and I would really appreciate feedback because I'm not sure if I want to continue or where to take it.