Rose was standing at the kitchen sink washing the dishes that had been left over from breakfast and lunch. Her hands were warm from the sudsy water. She was wearing a cotton dress that felt soft as the air from the open side door blew in gently making the fabric kiss her legs. She looked out the kitchen window and smiled as her gaze took in, once again, the open fields that were her backyard. She would never tire of the scene. It is what she always wanted. As she watched the tall grass sway in the breeze, peace filled her heart and quieted her mind.
She was lost in thought when she heard his boots on the porch and then the squeak of the screen door as he opened it. The smell of cut hay walked in with him and with five quick steps Jeffery was next to her. His right arm wrapped around her waist as with his left he turned the sink faucet off. Kissing her on the cheek and then the back of her neck her body relaxed into his. He had worked outside all day and sunshine clung to his plaid shirt.
“Hey, Girlie,” he said with both arms now wrapped around her waist. They were in their early 40s but she felt like a teenager whenever he was close.
“Hey, big man. How's your day going,” Rose asked as she turned around to face him. He kept her tight in his arms. She unbuttoned his shirt so that she could run her fingers through his chest hair. It was soft and curly and she loved it. She rubbed her face where her fingers had been and inhaled deeply. Jeff always smelled good to her whether just coming in from a hard day’s work outside or fresh from the shower. She felt Jeff’s kiss on the top of her head and then his chin as he rested it there. She knew he was looking out the kitchen window and probably thinking about next week. His surgery loomed large even though they both tried to not let it ruin their time together now. With that thought she went from light to heavy.
Jeff took her by the arms and pushed her away from him just enough to be able to see her face. She automatically tilted her head up. As she looked into his eyes her smile started off as brave and then crumpled. Rose’s eyes filled with tears even though she wanted so badly not to give in to the desperation she hated to admit she felt. She couldn't imagine life without him. After all that she survived in the past she couldn't lose Jeff. All of those times when she forced herself to keep going when all she wanted to do was lie down and die - she didn't know if she would be able to keep going this time. Jeff tucked her protectively under his arm and they walked down the hall to the bedroom. Their dog, a big black German Shepard/Black Lab mix named Bill, had watched the whole thing from under the kitchen table. He got up and padded behind them nails clicking on the tile floor. The hallway afforded carpet and it was quiet again. Outside of the bedroom door he laid down and rested his big head between his front paws.
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