An Affair To Remember

I looked over at the clock hanging in our kitchen. 7:35pm - two hours after he was supposed to be home. “For gods sake Rory, you promised.” I muttered under my breath, as I finished washing the dishes, exasperated that he had let us down again. Our daughter Ella would be devastated. She had been practicing every day for her ballet recital tomorrow night, and Rory had promised to watch her final run through at home, before her big day tomorrow. It was her first performance, and I could see she was nervous, as she twirled around the living room, trying not to let on, while her twin brother Ted, sat quietly reading his favourite story. I was just about to tell the kids it was time for their bath, when I heard a key in the door. It was their favourite sound in the world, and the kids took off towards the sound. “DADDY!!!!” Their little voices shout from down the hallway, as they compete for the first cuddle before he’s even walked in the door. “Okay, okay, I think there is a ballerina who needs to show off her Clara costume before bed!” I hear Rory’s say as he walks down the hall, talking slightly louder than he needed to, I’m sure, to show me he hasn’t forgotten. Maybe I was too harsh on him.. I think to myself watching him walk into the kitchen, a child in each arm and a warm smile on his face. He knew it was my kryptonite when he held them like that, the picture of a doting father. He was a handsome man, typically Australian, with short, dirty blonde hair, deep brown eyes, and a chiseled jawline, that had just a little bit of stubble after his long day at work. I walked over to him, after drying my hands, and stood on my tiptoes to greet him with a kiss. “And there’s my other beautiful girl. Sorry I’m late babe.” He said, bending his tall 6 foot 5 frame to meet my kiss, the kids leaning with him and planting a kiss on each side of my face. To an outsider, I’m sure we looked like the perfect family, the successful husband, the beautiful children, and the wife who seemed to have it all together. But they had no idea how much could be bubbling away under the surface. Later that evening Sitting at my makeup table, doing my nightly skincare routine, I notice that my bright blue eyes look a bit more tired than usual, and I lean closer, wondering if the very faint worry lines between my eyebrows warrant botox, or if I could get away with a few more years before I started. I had clear, lightly tanned skin, and had always felt confident and beautiful in myself before I had kids. “How could you possibly be criticising perfection?” I hear my husbands voice say softly from the open doorway, his muscular frame leaning against the doorframe. I wonder how long he had been watching me stare at my skin, looking for any flaws. I let out a small giggle, and shake my head, taking my headband off, letting my dark red waves cascade down past my shoulders, as he walks over to me and kneels behind my chair, still being tall enough to look me in the eye in my reflection. “I’m serious” he says, his eyes filling with an unmistakable look. He brushes my hair behind my shoulders with his fingers, exposing my neck. “I’m sorry I was late, I know we’ve talked about this.” He says gently. “It’s hard to tear myself away sometimes, and I just get caught up in what I’m doing.” How do I say this without sounding like I’m nagging at him? I think to myself, knowing how bad he already feels. “I just think it would be so easy for you to set a reminder in your phone for 6, so even if you get caught up, you’ll still only be an hour or so late getting home, and then I wouldn’t be flying solo with the twins every night.” He leans in and kisses my neck, starting just below my ear, and working his way down to my shoulder. “Then it’s settled, I’ll set a reminder.” I know all his moves too well, and I know the reminder will not be enough to get him away from his clients. “If you say so..” I trail off, as he slides my silk dressing gown off my shoulder. “Would you like me to make it up to you?” He asks, a mischievous glint in his eye, raising an eyebrow before he spins my chair to face him. “What did you have in mind?” I ask, leaning back into my seat, arching my back as he slowly stood, leaning over me wrapping an arm around my waist. “Let me show you.” He said before using his other hand to grab my thigh, and lift me up, wrapping my legs around his waist, and carrying me over to our bed.