Saturday
Stephen worked until one pm. Stephanie and Katherine had been playing in the garden with a balloon and teasing Tiddles with a feather they found in the grass. The day was sunny and warm, the garden exploded with spring flowers and a gentle breeze stirred. The air was fragrant with the scent of recent rain.
Stephen arrived home to find the house empty. He deposited his suit jacket on the arm of the settee and wandered in his shirtsleeves and braces through the lounge and into the kitchen.
The kitchen door closed with a dull thud as Stephen strode across the back garden to the clothesline where Betty, Stephanie and Katherine were busy hanging out the bed linens.
"Daddy!" squealed Katherine, dropping her handful of clothespins and scuttling excitedly toward her father.
"Daddy's home!" Stephanie abandoned Betty, anxiously hurrying to Stephen's awaiting arms. He crouched down and caught his darling daughters in a loving embrace, kissing their round cheeks. They wrapped their arms round his neck, showering his face with kisses. This was definitely his favorite part of the day.
Katherine nuzzled the crook of Stephen's neck, "I missed you, Daddy!"
He closed his eyes and pressed his lips into her hair, "I've missed you, too!"
"I'm glad you're home, Daddy!" bubbled Stephanie.
He squeezed both girls and rocked slowly, "I'm glad I'm home, Steffie!"
"We helped Mummy with the laundry!" Stephanie announced proudly.
"I just give Mummy the close'spins, 'cuz I'm too little!" Katherine stated, nodding.
Stephen shook his head and chuckled to himself, "Close'spins!"
He stood up, "I'm going to go see Mummy, so let me get up!" he said and headed to the clothesline.
Betty was attired in a simple house-dress, a pinny, and house shoes; her hair up in curlers and covered with a kerchief.
Walking up behind Betty, he wrapped his arms round her waist, snaked his head round, and traced kisses along her neck.
"Mmmm," she leaned into his embrace, "I'm glad you're home, too, Daddy!" she teased, "How was your day, Dear?"
"It was good; we finished early. Need help?"
"Yes. I've been abandoned by my little helpers!" she tittered, turning into his embrace, shielded by the hanging bed linens, "Mmmm…you smell good!"
He covered her mouth with his, drawing her closer. She cupped his cheek in her hand and deepened her kiss.
"I love being between the sheets with you, Captain Peacock!" she teased.
His face split into a wide grin, "Have you had lunch?" he murmured, gently rocking her.
"No. We were waiting for you."
Stephen smiled and his eyes danced mischievously, "Hmmm…" he smoothed his moustache.
"What're you planning?" Betty inquired, noticing the impishness in his gaze. She knew that look!
"I was thinking we could eat lunch, and then we could put the girls down for a nap and…" he mused, arching an eyebrow.
"Naughty boy!" she crooned in that smoky seductive voice that drove him mad.
He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Even with her hair in curlers and wearing the most unflattering outfit, Stephen was attracted to Betty. He slid his hands to her hips and pressed against her insistently.
"Patience, dear!" she playfully admonished.
Katherine and Stephanie ran through the garden to where their parents stood entwined.
"Daddy's kissing Mummy!" Stephanie giggled.
Katherine squealed and chortled gleefully.
Stephen and Betty parted. He straightened and cleared his throat, "And that's the only person who should kiss you like that! Your husband!" he intoned to his daughters, "Everyone else kisses your cheek only!"
"Yes, Daddy!" they answered in unison.
"I brought my work clothes home. They're in the kitchen; I didn't know what you wanted me to do with them," he said, picking up a towel to clip onto the clothesline.
"Well, if you and the girls can handle these last few things, I can get them started," Betty offered.
He nodded as Betty meandered back to the kitchen.
"Kathy, would you hand me some clothespins, please?" Stephen said.
"Yes, Daddy!" she chirped.
"What can I do, Daddy?" Stephanie asked expectantly.
"Mummy is going to wash my work clothes. Would you empty the pockets for me, please?"
"Oh, yes, Daddy! Did you bring anything for me and Kathy?" her little eyebrows shot up in anticipation. He loved how Stephanie's eye were so much like his own.
He laughed boyishly, "I guess you will have to find out when you empty the pockets, won't you?" he said, piquing her curiosity.
Stephanie scampered off to the kitchen door leaving Stephen and Katherine to hang the remaining laundry.
"I wonder what Mummy's going to make us for dinner," he pondered aloud.
"She's makin' your favorite!" Katherine confided.
"Quails pickled in aspic?" he taunted his younger daughter, his eyes dancing mischievously.
"Daddy!" she shrieked, wrinkling her nose at him, "We don' eat dat!"
"We could if Mummy made it for us!" he stated.
"Squirrels, pickles and aspirin? Ewww! Blechh!" she wrinkled her nose at him and stuck out her little pink tongue.
Stephen couldn't contain his laughter; Katherine was so much like Betty!
"Mummy's makin' roas' chit-ten, p'taytoes, Brr-Brr-Burrssel sprouts," she faltered, "an' tea!"
His heart constricted at her pronunciations and he smiled lovingly. He gazed down at her as she grabbed a few clothespins to hand to him. Taking her in his arms, he hugged her tightly, and sighed, "I love you, Kathy!"
"I love you, too, Daddy!" she breathed and pecked his cheek.
The kitchen door swung open and Stephanie popped her head outside, "Thank you, Daddy!" she called.
"Wha'd'ju find in Daddy's pockets, Steffie?" Katherine bellowed, sliding down her father's frame and tottering toward the house.
"Daddy brought us a bag of chocolate-covered raisins!" Stephanie squealed, eyes wide with excitement.
Katherine turned round and ran back to Stephen. She threw her little arms round his legs and squeezed, squealing. "Oh, thank you, Daddy! You're the best daddy in the whole wide world!"
Stephen beamed and his throat constricted as she raced back to the house and her awaiting treat.
