Hi Hearties! I have a short little story for you today. Hope you enjoy! :)
Nathan hung his Stetson up on a small hook by the front door. Closing the door behind him, he looked around the living room of the row house. The house was silent.
"Elizabeth?" He called into the void of the empty room.
He looked over to the small table by the door in hopes of finding a note. Aside from the dust that had settled on top, the table was empty. Maybe she took the kids on a walk or something. Nathan thought. Unbuttoning his serge, he walked towards the base of the stairs and rested his right leg on the first step. Something in the kitchen caught his eye. The stove still seemed to be burning. Still unbuttoning his serge with one hand, he quickly walked over to the stove and turned it down. Then, he ran up the stairs and paused at the top. The door to his and Elizabeth's bedroom was just slightly cracked open. Jack's door was ajar. Stopping by Jack's room first, Nathan scanned the little bedroom. Closet, rug, drawer, rocking horse, bed. Everything seemed to be in place. Across the hall, he opened the door to his and Elizabeth's room. He released a breath he didn't realize he was holding at the sight of his wife and son. Elizabeth was asleep, and little Jack was curled up next to her. Nathan smiled and quietly shut the door before heading downstairs.
At the corner of the kitchen table were a few ingredients that Elizabeth had gotten out for dinner. Placing a pot of water on the stove for tea, Nathan began preparing for dinner.
Rinsing his hands over the sink, Nathan paused and listened to the chattering that sounded like it came from the front door. "Bye... Bye," He heard two voices say, followed by footsteps ascending the stairs towards the door. The door swung open.
"Dad! You are home early!" an excited Allie exclaimed, running towards her father.
Nathan barely had time to dry his hands and turn around before Allie came lunging towards him.
Caught a little off guard, Nathan propped himself up against the table with one arm and caught his daughter with the other.
"Hey, Allie!" He said with a laugh. "How was your day? Where were you?"
"I just got back from Emily's. We worked on a project together." Allie responded with a smile.
"I see. I was wondering where you were when I got home..." Nathan said, mussing up Allie's hair.
"We got it all finished and everything. I'll go tell mom." Allie said, smoothing her hair back down and running towards the stairs.
"Hey..." Nathan called after her, causing Allie to freeze, "Your mother was asleep last I checked. Try not to wake her up." He said.
"Okay, I won't," Allie responded, smiling back at her father before quietly continuing up the stairs.
Nathan went about setting the table for dinner. He pulled out the everyday plates from the bottom shelf of the cupboard and placed them around the table in their usual manner. The late spring evenings were getting cooler, so he decided to bring in some wood for the fire later as well.
Elizabeth woke up and sleepily looked at the clock. She glanced outside. The sun was just setting. Slightly panicked, she gently slid out from beside little Jack and headed hurriedly towards her bedroom door. She stopped by the mirror and picked up the hairbrush that was sitting on the dresser. She brushed her hair through a few times and smoothed it down before going downstairs.
"Hi, mom!" Allie said cheerfully, looking up at Elizabeth from the bottom of the stairs.
"Hi Allie... sorry, I overslept..." Elizabeth responded, worried, as she walked down towards her.
"That's okay. Dad is home." Allie said calmly.
"Oh, he is early..." Elizabeth started, "Oh no! I haven't even started dinner!" she continued with an exasperated sigh.
"Dad finished dinner already." Allie responded calmly.
Elizabeth looked at her puzzled and proceeded to the kitchen. Everything was ready, even the table had been set. Elizabeth let out a breath, relaxed her shoulders and smiled. Looking around the room, she noticed Nathan was nowhere in sight.
"Where is your father?" Elizabeth asked.
"He is outside getting wood for the fire," Allie said, skipping over to the living room and finishing her journaling.
Elizabeth went over to the back door and opened it just as Nathan reached it from the other side.
"Nathan... Hi!" Elizabeth said surprised.
"Hi, sweetheart! Sorry if we woke you. I told Allie to be quiet." Nathan said, still standing outside the door with a couple of pieces of firewood.
"No, you didn't wake me. Maybe you should have. I'm sorry I didn't prepare dinner. I slept for longer than I thought I would." Elizabeth rambled with a slight blush.
"That's okay. I prepared dinner myself, and Allie helped set the table." Nathan said cheerfully, trying to put her at ease. "Besides. You need the rest." He said, running his free hand up and down the side of her waist.
At this angle, Nathan was one step below Elizabeth. Making her tall enough to be in the same eye-line as him. Elizabeth looked into her husband's eyes and smiled. Glancing down at the floor and then back up again. Nathan gave her a quick kiss on the lips and went inside to start a small fire. Elizabeth closed the door and watched as Nathan fiddled with the fireplace and Allie sat on the couch, journaling behind him.
The sun had set and created an abstract of pink, orange, and yellow colours all along the skyline. Elizabeth looked out the front window and watched the sunset. A familiar laugh caught Elizabeth's attention. Looking over, she saw Rosemary and Lee sitting on their porch, drinking something from mugs, watching the sunset. Elizabeth smiled. It made her heart happy, seeing her friends and family so happy.
"Look who woke up from his nap," Allie said in a baby voice as she walked down the stairs with little Jack on her hip.
Jack smiled at his mother with a hand in his mouth and then looked over to Nathan. His smile broadened and he started kicking, signalling to Allie that he wanted to get down. Allie set him down. Jack ran for his father and looked up at him, smiling with his big blue eyes. Nathan laughed and picked Jack up before covering him in kisses. This caused squeals of laugher from Jack.
"I missed you, buddy," Nathan said, hugging Jack towards his chest and giving him another kiss on the cheek before setting him down.
Elizabeth watched the exchange between her little family. She placed her right hand over her abdomen, smiled and imagined what it would be like to have another bundle of cuteness running around the house.