“But you’re right. I need to get these in a vase,” I said. “And beat him home before he beats me there. Shit. I have to go back to the commissary to see if that steak’s still there. I think it’s time I actually cooked tonight!”
I winked at her as I skipped back to my car, this time keeping an eye out for the curb. I had no idea how I’d quickly throw dinner together, but time was stirring fast and I needed to get to it. This was the sign I needed to know that we were okay, that he still loved me, and that we were going to make this work.
We were going to make love tonight!
Chapter 5: Natalia
I called Jordan’s day care and informed them I was running behind. I didn’t have a vase, so I headed over to the commissary. They didn’t sell any, so I grabbed the steak (thank God it was still there), and then headed to the closest Target to purchase one. These flowers were too good for a Wal-Mart purchase. If I had to guess, they were at least $50.
I set the flowers in their vase, placed them on the counter, and clicked on the oven as I seasoned the steak. My plan was to get dinner started while I picked up Jordan, and then took him to eat whatever he wanted so I could focus on seducing his father to give him the little sister I wanted him to have.
Jordan didn’t seem to mind that I was late. He was even happier when I let him pick Chick-Fil-A for dinner again. He loved the chocolate cookies and crème milkshake. I made the deal even sweeter by letting him get a large shake instead of the regular sized one.
“Thanks, mom! You’re the best!” he said between sips.
When we entered the house, he immediately looked at the flowers. “Where’d those come from?”
“Your father, pumpkin.” I laughed when he rolled his eyes. He hated when I called him pumpkin, and he was still at that age where showing affection to girls wasn’t cool. He shook his head in disgust at romantic things couples did, calling it mushy stuff.
“Hey,” I reminded him, “How do you think you got here?”
“Ewwww, Mom! Yuck!” He raced off to his room, covering his ears.
“You know you’re not supposed to eat in your room!” I called after him.
“Can I do it just this once?” He called back. “Please…?”
“Only this time.” I gave in. “Next time, you have to eat at the kitchen table. You know the rules.” I could let him slide this once. After all, today was special.
I called Hollis, asking him when he would be home. He replied that he was working late, cutting the conversation short for a meeting.
“I love you.” I cooed with all the emotion I could muster.
He simply grunted, “Bye” and hung up.
I shook my head in disbelief, yet one look at those roses and I melted all over again. Even Hollis’ grumpy disposition couldn’t get the best of me today. My husband, the love of my life, had bought me flowers, something he hadn’t done in years. His behavior, I’m sure, was his way of playing dumb, especially in front of his crew. He had this need to be the macho man no matter what, and didn’t like when I called him on his sweetness outside the confines of our home. That, and perhaps he was having a bad day at work.
After dinner, I let Jordan play in his room until 8:45, then prompted him to hurry up and shower before going to sleep.
“Is dad home yet?” He asked.
“No, honey. Your father’s working late, but I’ll tell him you were waiting for him.”
He looked a little sad, but shrugged it off quickly. “Okay.”
Once my baby boy was in the shower, I text Hollis.
- What time will you be home?
- Be there in an hour
My heart leapt. Usually, I’d be frustrated he was home so late. Over the past week, it’d have been a blessing. But tonight, I was little happy, because it gave me a firm timeframe for final preparations.
I cleaned up the kitchen, setting the steak with garlic butter, garlic mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies on one of the finer dinner plates. I placed two of his favorite beers in the freezer, so they’d be ice cold when he got home. Once that was done, I hopped in the shower, washing up from head to toe and using a little strawberry coconut body scrub to make sure I was extra soft and slippery. I said a prayer as I pulled out an old red negligee, one that used to be his favorite, and slipped it over my body.
I looked over my body, noticing the effects of age and time on it. Childbirth altered my once perky C cup breasts. They were fuller, but sagged quite a bit. My stomach had taken on a small roll, giving me that dreaded muffin top whenever I pulled on my trusty old mom jeans. My thighs had a jiggle to them that didn’t fit my prior runner’s frame.