Karen lazily opened her eyes and found herself wrapped in her husband's arms. "Good afternoon." he said, his voice a low velvet purr. "Good afternoon indeed." she replied, feeling sated and very content. "Are you ready to get up?" he asked.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" she retorted playfully. Harry growled deep in his throat. "Saucy wench. However, the children are due home from school in about 10 minutes, so I suggest we motivate our under-sexed selves into the shower and make and effort to havesome semblance of decency." She let out a screech and leaped from the bed. He followed closely behind her, which resulted in a joint shower that almost turned into another connubial pursuit of lust in the bathroom.
Hurriedly drying her hair and pulling some clothes on, Karen raced downstairs. Harry came down a few minutes later just as Daisy and Bernie were coming in the front door. "Hey Dad, what are you doing home?" his daughter asked as he swept her up into a hug. "I was still feeling a little tired after my trip so I came home and took a nap." he replied sedately. His wife's eyes twinkled at him from over the top of Daisy's head and he winked.
Dinner was a rowdy affair with both of the children telling their parents about their respective days. "There's going to be a dance at school." Bernie remarked off-handedly. "He asked someone and she said yes." Daisy revealed. Bernie's face took on the appearance of a thundercloud. "I thought I told you not to say anything about that, dummy!" "I'm NOT a dummy!" "Yes you are, dummy!" "BERNARD CHARLES, ENOUGH!" Harry bellowed. Both of his offspring starred at him in astonishment. "That goes for you too, Daisy Elizabeth. No more of this fighting or neither of you are going to this dance." Harry said sternly, "Yes Daddy." they both chorused softly.
Karen was impressed with the way her husband had handled their children. "I should let you get on them more often!" she teased as they were washing up the dishes. He merely smiled, and she was struck by what a difference it made to his face. "You should smile more often…you look handsome." she remarked, feeling absurdly shy.
He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and put his chin on her shoulder. "I have a reason to smile now." he replied simply. Tears came to her eyes, and a few of them trickled over. His hands turned her around to face him, and his brown eyes looked down concernedly into hers. "What are the tears for?" he asked gently. "Happiness." she said.
"Good. I've probably caused you enough tears of sorrow for one lifetime." Harry replied, hugging her close to him. They stayed like that for a few minutes until the giggling of Daisy could be heard from the living room. "Life calls!" Karen commented wistfully. "Until bedtime does." he replied in a low, velvety voice. "Down, guitar boy." she warned jokingly. As she walked away from him, she put a little extra sway in her step and was gratified to hear him stifle a groan. "Hah." she thought triumphantly.
At around 8:30, the children were bored and there was nothing on t.v. Karen looked into the kitchen to find Harry sitting on a stool at the kitchen table with his guitar, looking at a new tab he had acquired. "Play something for us, dear." she begged. The children added their pleas to hers.
A smile quirked his lips as he dragged his stool into the living room and sat in the doorway. "Well, this song is something that I heard on the radio the other day, and I liked it so I thought I would learn how to play it. It's called "True"."
I won't talk
I won't breathe
I won't move 'till you finally see
That you belong with me.
You might think
I don't look
But deep inside
The corner of my mind
I'm attached to you.
I'm weak, it's true
'Cause I'm afraid to know the answer
Do you want me too?
'Cause my heart keeps falling faster.
I've waited all my life
To cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So I will not hide
It's time to try
Anything to be with you.
All my life I've waited…
This is true.
You don't know
What you do
Every time you walk into the room
I'm afraid to move.
I'm weak, it's true
I'm just scared to know the answer
Do you see me too?
Do you even know you've met me?
I've waited all my life
To cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So I will not hide
It's time to try
Anything to be with you.
All my life I've waited
This is true
I know when I go
I'll be on my way to you
The way that's true
I've waited all my life
To cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So I will not hide
It's time to try
Anything to be with you.
All my life I've waited
This is true
Harry finished with a flourish and turned a bright shade of red as his wife and children applauded him. "Hey Dad, you should play at an open mike night. You're really good!" Daisy enthused. "Yeah, Dad." Bernie chimed in.
Once the children went to bed, Karen came downstairs to find Harry messing around with his guitar and humming to himself. "What are you doing?" she asked curiously as she sat beside him. "I'm trying to write my own song." he replied distractedly. "Really? Wow." she muttered, impressed.
He looked up, and grinned. "You can hear what I have so far if you want." he offered modestly. "I'd like that. Play away, guitar boy." she replied saucily. Narrowing his eyes at her, he began to strum.
I wish I could take back The times I was gone,
The times I was angry,
The times I was wrong.
I wish I could gain back The trust we once had,
And I'd give my life up To just make you glad.
All I can say is how sorry I am,
And how much I need you in my life,
I almost threw it all away,
But the only one who makes my soul complete…is my dearwife.
Clearing his throat embarrassedly, Harry looked over at Karen. There were tears in her eyes, but a smile on her face. "You have no idea how much that means to me." Putting his guitar down, he extended his hand to her and the pair went upstairs. They got ready for bed, but instead of turning their backs to each other, Harry reached out and pulled her into his arms. "I love you." he whispered as the lights went out. "I love you too." she replied. Life was good.
