windinthemaples

So last night, right after I posted my "Woe is me, my husband is leaving again!" lament, I was helping him get packed up. He had about forty minutes from the time he got home from work until the taxi was scheduled to pick him up for the ride to the airport. "I hate this", I said as my eyes misted up, "we've not gotten to spend any time together lately." Seeing me upset slayed him, even though I was trying to be cool about it and not send him off with tears.

Daniel called his clients, called his office staff, called United, called the cab company and the next thing I knew, he'd shoved his half-packed bags into a corner and said, "I'll leave tomorrow. You've got me until then."

It was glorious.

We took our son to the park and laid down together on the sun-warmed benches, fingers interlaced, as we talked in soft tones and watched Graeme play with gravel and flowers and grass. We had gelato for dinner at our favorite little Italian cafe and then drove around in the car while Graeme napped and NPR entertained us. I ducked into my favorite thrift store to restock my "to be read" book pile. We sat, heads bowed together, reading passages to each other from a few of them while Graeme snored softly in the backseat.

Later in the evening, we curled up together on the couch with fuzzy blankets and watched the last episode of this season's Whale Wars before I ducked off to bed early and he sat up with Graeme.

This morning was happy and companionable as he worked from his home office and then, while Graeme was entertained with Sesame Street, we rolled around in bed, laughing and flirting and having the most lovely time--later sharing a shower, slow-dancing, shampooing each other's hair and graciously sharing the hot water with each other.

It was the most wonderful reprieve--a gift from him and the Universe that left me feeling rested, cherished, beautiful and loved beyond measure.