Pictures Of The Other Side
1.
'Sal, Have you seen my new tie?' Flynn Saunders voice sent a light echo through the house. He took a glance at his reflection in the bedroom mirror. His hair, freshly washed and combed to perfection. His shirt, hanging loose but smart over his trousers, remained open at the top button. Waiting for his tie.
He listened to the sound of his wife moving furiously around the kitchen, trying to dress their daughter. She hadn't answered his calling, but he wasn't sure of why. Had she not heard him, or was she still holding a grudge against him for working late the previous night?
Sighing in defeat, he sat himself at the end of the bed and began to put his shoes on. Shoes that he'd just noticed had been cleaned to perfection and were now so shiny, he could make out his own reflection in them. He pulled them on and fastened the laces. Satisfied he was ready, he took a second look in the mirror. [iIt'll do.[/i He told himself, and he headed downstairs to where his wife had been waiting for him.
'Wow, you look...amazing' he smiled as Sally came into view. She was wearing her black halter neck dress. It sat neatly against her figure, hugging all the right places and hiding all the wrong ones. Her hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders. He smiled as he remembered the conversation they'd had yesterday morning. Sally had been preparing for another gruelling day at work and had opted to pull her hair into a tight, high ponytail at the back of her head, and Flynn had asked why she did that. Her hair was one of her best features, yet she always seemed to be reluctant to let it free.
'And you look beautiful too' he told his now one year old daughter who, although he was sure hadn't understood him, gave him a huge smile. He unfastened the chair she was sat in and scooped her into his arms, kissing the top of her head as gently as possible.
'Have you wrapped the presents?' he asked Sally, who was now fussing with some toys, trying to fill the bag that would soon become a carrier of every possible toy to keep their daughter amused during the night. Flynn nodded. 'Of course'
Sally glanced around the room, checking one again that they'd managed to gather all the essentials they'd need for the next few hours. Flynn could tell from her eyes that she was mentally ticking the check list she took with her every where. The check list that was fixed permanently in their minds. The checklist to keep their daughter, and themselves, happy. Had they packed fresh clothes for Pippa? Check. Had they packed her juice cup? Check. Had they packed enough toys? Check. When they truly thought about it, that one single bag, that was now bursting at the seams, carried their daughters life.
'Have you got the keys?' Sally asked, her voice still low, her tone still annoyed. Flynn reached for the keys that lay on the table. 'Yep. And I've got the presents' he said, producing a large gift bag from under the table that was packed to the brink with numerous gift wrapped toys. Sally gave him a weak smile, just like she always did when she was annoyed at him, despite him sorting things in the end. 'And I've written a note for Ric and Cassie, telling them there's lasagne in the oven for when they get back, and that we'll be home late, so not to wait up. Don't worry, I've sorted things' he said. [iNot everything.[/i
'Lets go' she said, waiting for Flynn, still carrying Pippa and the bag, to leave the house, before leaving herself and closing and locking the front door behind her.
There was a cool summer breeze washing through the air that him them as soon as they left the house. Because Flynn hadn't been much of a drinker, he'd insisted on driving them to Leah's, since they'd no idea whether it would be dark, or too late, to walk by the time they wanted to go home.
He watched as Sally seated their daughter in the back and fastened her into the child seat. It amused him how, even when she was angry or upset with him, she still managed to look beautiful.
Satisfied they were ready to leave, he double checked the door was locked and sat himself in the drivers seat of their car. He fastened his seatbelt and took a glance in the rear view mirror at the road behind them, that was clear to drive through. That was when it occurred to him, he hadn't put a tie on after all.