After lunch, Sarah put the boys in front of the television and sighed into a chair at the kitchen table. One more task and then I can rest.
"Harry." She got the man's attention where he sat reading the newspaper across the table from her. He lowered the newsprint to look at her. "I was supposed to change the dressing on your stitches yesterday and I forgot. We'd better do it now."
He shrugged. "Don't worry about it."
She sighed. "Are you going to be difficult? Because, frankly, I'd rather that you just 'manned' it out and got it over with."
His eyes narrowed. "And if I refuse."
She put on her best 'mommy' face, the 'do-it-or-face-the-consequences-expression'. "You may think you're too old to be—"
Harry put up his hand to stop her, laughing, a laugh that reached his eyes. "I give. You are quite fierce when you're angry. You know that, don't you?"
She grinned in return moving away to retrieve the bandages and ointment. Harry sat very still as she slowly peeled away the plaster on his chin and over his eyebrow. One of the stitches was caught in the gauze requiring a very close inspection.
Sarah caught herself humming as she moved closer, inhaling Harry's aftershave deeply, enjoying the spicy scent. She glanced down to see his eyes riveted on her face. He looked away quickly, his face flushed red. She stepped away from him.
"Sorry," he apologized.
She returned, giving him a brief kiss on the forehead. "Don't apologize. I'm sure—it's—never mind." She turned away but he grabbed her hand, squeezing it once before releasing it. She moved away into the kitchen putting away the medicaments. "We need to leave the bandage off for a few hours but we should cover it again before b—uh, slee—tonight."
He cleared his throat, drawing her gaze back to him briefly before it flitted around the room, her thoughts flitting with it. "Why don't you have nap? I'll watch the boys for you," he offered.
Her gaze settled on his face. "Really?"
He smiled. "Yes. Truly. Go ahead."
"Thank you." A nap! Glory be!
Sarah sank into the centre of the bed, spreading her limbs and making a modified snow angel, enjoying the width of a bed not inhabited by kicking, flopping boys. She breathed a sigh of relief and drifted into her nap.