4
It was 9:30 PM, fifteen and a half hours after being awakened by his mother’s pre-birthday greeting, when William walked through the door of his apartment. His wife and a tender kiss greeted him.
“Honey, your mom stopped by at seven-thirty, and just left about half an hour ago,” said Kate, her arms still wrapped around William’s cement-dusted neck. “I’ve been calling your cell almost every fifteen minutes trying to reach you since then.”
“My cell phone is dead. Even it couldn’t make it through the day.” William gently disentangled himself and took off his work boots before stepping onto the rented carpeting.
“If I tried to tell you all about my day today I would have to relive it. That would be more than I can take just now.”
William headed toward the bathroom, removing his shirt along the way. He turned on the shower and stripped down to his boxers before returning to the living room.
“Why was Mom here? I spoke with her this morning… before work no less. She didn’t mention being in the area tonight, I figured she might stop by tomorrow.”
“Her friend George Tyler, the auto dealer she has been keeping company with, is taking her to Atlantic City for the weekend. They’re spending the weekend together.”
“I truly love my mom, but she scares me living in a faster lane than we do!”
“Don’t be. I doubt she got off the curb much when she was our age, with young children and a husband who was only home long enough to shower and…” Kate seductively appraised William’s muscled frame. “You know…”
“Daddy, Daddy, happy birthday!” Tara, 7, and Nicole, 5, darted into the room from one of the bedrooms, dragging paper cutouts and other crafts.
“Look what Grandma helped us make you for your birthday!”
“Hi pumpkins,” William said, wrapping himself in a towel and admiring the paste-covered creations. “Your mom and I were just about to…” He glances mischievously at Kate, who reacts in silent-film-star alarm, “talk about how my birthday is really tomorrow, and that I am going to take Mom and both of you out to visit this beautiful state in which we now live.”
Kate stared at William with relieved embarrassment and wonderment. She could not remember the last time he took a Saturday off.