Jack sat on the couch tying the last strap of his boots. Why does this take so long, he thought to himself. He sat up and looked out the window. It was still snowing. How many years had it been that no snow came at all up here? He lost count. But this year, the chill from the polar vortex dipped deep into the heartland of the USA, which definitely covered the state of Minnesota.

He took his glove in his hands. He watched his left hand shake as he tried to put his right glove on. He stopped on his first try and relaxed. He could do this. He knew he could do this. After a few long breaths with his eyes closed, he looked at his hand again and tried to put the glove on. He still could not do it.

He switched gloves and tried to put the left glove on. His right hand was not affected and was the steady one of the two. He was able to eventually put the left glove on. He relaxed his gloved hand on his thigh as he relaxed. Why do simple tasks always take so much energy from him?

He sighed and took the right glove in his shaking left hand again. No matter how he tried, he could not stop shaking enough to use his left hand. He sighed again, and slumped his shoulders in submission.

"Sam," he said quietly, knowing full well she was right behind him. Waiting.

He heard her walk around the couch to face him. He caught her wiping the last tear from her cheek.

"I'm right here. What's up?" she asked.

He smiled at her with a look of defeat on his face. His eyes didn't quite meet hers, but focused on her damp cheek.

"You know what," he said quietly, finally looking at his hand.

She took his right hand in hers, and raised it to her lips.

"You know you can always stay inside. I got this," she almost whispered between them.

"But then I can't watch your ass if you have to bend down," he said, bringing much needed levity to the situation.

She smiled. A real smile. Her eyes lit up and she laughed. A real laugh.

"I haven't heard that in a few days. Are you OK?" he asked, raising his hand to touch her cheek.

"Ya, I'm OK. It's just a lot, you know," she said.

"I do know. I'm sorry," he said to her, now meeting her eyes.

"You know I hate it when you do that," she said, leaning in to kiss him.

They looked at each other for a few moments, then both smiled at the same time.

"You know, my dear wife," he began.

He watched her sit back on her heels in front of him on the couch. She grabbed the right glove, and helped his hand into it.

"What, my dear husband?" she asked, smiling up at him.

"I am still able to warm you up," he said, waggling his eyebrows at her.

She laughed again. And again it was a real laugh. This new stage of their life was challenging at times. They both knew it would come. And they both knew it would happen to him first. Getting old was never easy.

"Oh, sir, I am counting on it," she said, leaning in and pressing her mouth to his in a searing kiss that was full of promise.

"HHmmm. If you keep doing that, I'll need to fuck you properly before you clear the drive," he said, putting her hand in his crotch.

"As much as I'd like that, the kids will be here within the hour. I'd rather them not find us like they did last year," she said, laughing. She gave him a final kiss, and a final caress between his legs.

She stood up, and held his hands to help him stand up. She grabbed the thick, woolen blanket off the back of the couch. Then she motioned for him to join her.

"Um, Sam, I have a little problem."

"Ya?"

"I was so caught up in your kiss and caress that I didn't notice that two fingers went into one hole," he said, holding up his right gloved hand. He smiled at her.

"Well, let me just fix that."

She fixed his glove and walked outside with him. He sat down in the chair under the eave of the cabin. She wrapped him up in the blanket. She went back inside and got two cups of coffee in stainless tumblers. She handed him one of the tumblers, and set the second beside his chair.

He sat and watched his wife clear the driveway with their brand new snow blower he bought for her. He smiled and took a sip of his coffee, waiting for her to bend over.