Haven't had any good ideas because of school x( but here's an update!
Madge finds herself smiling for no particular reason. She glanced back down at the soapy water and picked up the next plate. Her stomach bursts with butterflies as the little house fills with laughter from the other room. Madge looked over her shoulder and continued to beam at the sight of her husband and their children in the next room.
"You better not be having too much fun without me..." Madge called and turned back to the dishes.
"We're not, promise!" Her eldest, Ellie, yelled. Madge shook her head and finished up the last of the dishes.
"Dad!" Her son exclaimed with annoyance, "That's not how you do it." Madge rolled her eyes and dried her hands on a dish towel on her shoulder. She disposed of the fabric on the counter and wandered into their living room.
"What is going on here?" She asked the family. They were cuddled on the couch. Ellie was on one side of Gale while Gavin was on the other. The youngest, Jane was nestled on Gale's lap with an amused smile on her face.
"Dad is reading to us." Ellie said cutting off her younger brother.
"Except he's trying to make the character voices like you." Gavin said and crossed his arms.
"What's wrong with that?" Madge asked them.
Ellie giggled, "He's not very good." Gale shrugged.
"I thought I was doing a good job."
"I guess you thought wrong." Madge smiled and took the book out of her husband's hands.
"Will you read to us?" Gavin asked.
"Of course!" Madge beamed and sat next to Gavin, tucking him under the crook of her arm. She began slowly for everyone to hear. She glanced up once and awhile to make the expression of pure joy that only her husband would be able to decipher. Madge closed the book after she was able to witness more than one yawn from more than one little person.
"I think that is enough for tonight." Gale murmured as Madge slowly marked their place in the book.
"No..." Ellie whined but the rest of her disapproval was cut off by a yawn.
"We'll continue tomorrow." Madge promised and helped her son sit up. Gale held Jane close and took her off to her small back bedroom on the second floor while Madge led Gavin and Ellie to their bedrooms upstairs as well.
"I like when you read to us..." Gavin murmured and stretched. "I like hearing your voice." Madge smiled softly and followed the seven year old into his room.
"Good." She nodded and turned back his covers. "Now get to bed, it's late and you have school in the morning." Madge made her way across the hall and opened her daughter's door. She had just dropped her nightgown over her head and was reaching for her hairbrush. "Here let me."
"Okay but I can do it myself." Madge rolled her eyes and sat Ellie down on the bed.
"Yes, I know but you have time to do it yourself. I won't always be there to brush your hair." Ellie nodded sleepily and let her mother pull through the tangled dark hair. Madge turned off Ellie's light and wandered back into the hall. Gale was leaning against the wall, waiting for her.
"Hey beautiful." He murmured stepping out of the shadows and setting his hand on the small of her back. He led her into their bedroom and shut the door. They changed in silence, enjoying the quiet creaks of the house around them.
"I love you." Madge smiled when she crawled into bed.
"I love you too." Gale laughed quietly and reached out, taking her into an embrace. It was quiet for a few minutes as they listened to each other's breaths. "Read to me?" He murmured, "Just for a while?" Madge beamed and nodded, letting her husband slide a book into her hands. He adjusted himself to lie with his head in her lap as she launched into the story.
After time went on, Madge glanced down at Gale's slackened jaw and smiled softly. She ran a hand through his hair and prodded him awake. "Bedtime..." She whispered. A smile crept onto his face slowly as he moved back to pull her into his arms.
"Sounds wonderful." He grinned and kissed her on the nose and forehead. "Goodnight my Story Teller."
"Goodnight."
Review! Send me requests!
Erin