Chapter Two of The What If Series:
Billy and Jeanie sat at the kitchen table, both still in their robes drinking coffee, eating breakfast and reading the newspaper. The house was completely quiet, something that they didn't get that often. Although the girls were in their teens, and not little anymore, they still could make quite the noise when they were at home. They'd spent the night at a friend's house and the two of them had a several more hours before Billy was going to go and pick them up. They'd stayed up late watching old movies and eating snacks. The late hour caught up with them and caused them to remain in bed a little later than usual, but it had been a refreshing change.
"Billy?" Jeanie asked all of a sudden while Billy was engrossed reading his favorite comic Dick Tracy.
"Yes, Jeanie?" Billy questioned continuing to read the comic strip.
"Do you still love me?"
"What?" He questioned, lowering the paper so he could get a good look at his wife's face.
"Do you still love me?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course, I still love you!"
"Do you love me as much as you did when we first got married?"
Billy completely lowered the newspaper at this point; placing it down on the table; reached over and grabbed his wife's hand as he looked into her deep brown eyes. How could she ask him a question like that after all these years? Hadn't he known her since they were in college? Wasn't she the one that encouraged him through college, then law school and that supported him when he decided to be an agent? Not to mention a million and one other times of support over the years, from keeping what he did for a living to herself to taking care of the kids alone many nights. But he hadn't been married this long without knowing that there was something more to her question. It wasn't a simple question and he knew it; it was quite loaded.
"Of course, I still love you, but if I didn't, I wouldn't be fool enough to tell you so, not here in the house alone with you fully aware of where my guns are…" Billy said with a hearty chuckle.
"Hilarious, Melrose!" Jeanie said nudging him in the side.
"Jeanie, what is this all about?"
"I was just thinking…"
"Thinking about what? Will you please talk to me?"
"Just thinking…that's all. You know, we have been married a long time and well—"
He knew he was in trouble now. His wife never had a loss for words and she certainly wasn't afraid of speaking her mind. Wait a minute. "Jeanie, let me see your paper."
"Billy!"
Billy reached over and grabbed the two papers Jeanie had been holding in her hands; one was the newspaper, the other one was 'The Enquirer'.
"Is this the reason you asked me that question?" Billy asked pointing to the headline that read, Husband leaves wife after thirty years of marriage! Runs off with sixteen-year-old!
"What have I told you about reading this trash?" Billy retorted but couldn't help but laugh.
When his wife didn't say anything, Billy lifted Jeanie's chin up and looked into her beautiful deep brown eyes and said, "Jeanie, I may not say it often enough, as much as I should; but I love you as much today, if not more than I did when we first met thirty some odd years ago. You are my life. Having you as my wife has helped me to be a better man; helped me to do my life's work. I couldn't do what I do without you in my life. Yes, you're older; hell, I'm older, but that just makes us better."
"Oh, Billy!" Jeanie leaned and kissed Billy on the lips.
"You really don't think I'd run off with a young girl?"
"Of course not, but maybe someone a little younger," she said with a slight smile.
"Well, guess what? I could think the same thing you know. You might want someone that's in his 20's."
"But would he want me, is the question?"
"The same could be said about some younger woman."
They both laughed.
"Hey, how about we spend the day together—anything that you want to do? The girls aren't due home til later this afternoon." Billy prompted.
"Anything?
"Am I going to regret saying that…"
"How about a walk in the park, then we go to the movies and have lunch out somewhere before coming home and—"
"And?"
She winked at him just before she pulled her paper up and focused her attention back on the newspaper, having discarded 'The Enquirer ' altogether.
"How about we skip all that and go right for the good stuff?"
Jeanie placed the newspaper down on the table and replied turning her chair towards her husband, "Well, I was thinking that too!"
"I like the way you think..." Billy said scooting his chair closer to his wife's chair, moving her paper aside and kissing her on the lips.