It had been a long day. Lucien's steps were heavy as he trudged through the front door. A particularly grisly murder committed by a very young man (whose life was now ruined as well) left him feeling fragile and with a diminished faith in his fellow man.
It was well past midnight, and usually when he arrived home so late he would head for the kitchen where he knew Jean would have left a plate of dinner for him. But on this night he just wanted to be with his wife. He went directly to the bedroom and let himself in quietly. As he expected, Jean was sleeping.
He stood beside the bed, gazing down at her, and suddenly the cares of the world melted away. After all the years he'd been on his own, he cherished every moment of his life with this brave, clever and beautiful woman who somehow loved him as much as he loved her. Just the sight of her cured all the world's ills as far as Lucien was concerned.
She began to stir, turning towards where he stood watching her. "Lucien?" she mumbled sleepily.
"I'm sorry I disturbed you, my dear. Go back to sleep," he urged.
"I'm awake now," she said pushing herself up to lean against the headboard. She studied him closely. "A bad one?"
He nodded. "Very bad."
"You can tell me all about it in the morning. Are you hungry? I left a plate for you."
"I thought you might have, but really I'm not hungry," he said as he began to loosen his necktie.
She frowned at him but refrained from further comment.
He continued to remove his clothing, and when he got down to his singlet, he patted his midsection ruefully. "I won't starve just because I missed dinner," he assured her. "A testament to your cooking."
Jean laughed, which caused Lucien to rejoice yet again at the remarkable woman who was his wife. This was what marriage meant to him: a safe harbor at the end of a trying day, a place to set his troubles aside and count anew his blessings.
"Come to bed, Lucien," she urged him.
Happily, he complied. He held her tightly for a few moments, and she let him, smoothing her hands soothingly over his shoulders and back. "Better?" she whispered.
"Always," he replied softly.
And they fell asleep in each other's arms, with Lucien finally at peace.
I watch you sleeping
My weary heart rises up on wings
I hear your laughter
Something deep down inside me sings
