“Will you stay and do minutes?”
I turned back to his space bed. “What’s minutes?”
“I ask Dad to stay a few minutes, then he tries to sneak out, and then I ask him to stay for some more.”
I sat against the wall and smiled. “Sure, Danny. I will stay for as many minutes as you want.”
“Even a hundred?”
I chuckled. “If that’s what you want.”
He rolled over in his bed. I sat against the wall, glancing at my phone more often than I should. Wondering and hoping when I would hear Adam’s truck or get a text. Once I made sure Danny was asleep, which took twenty minutes instead of one hundred, I left his room, leaving the door open, and went to clean up the kitchen.
Still no Adam. I couldn’t help myself. I went and sat in Adam’s room.
It was a bit of a breach of privacy, but he had offered me to stay in here last night, so hopefully that meant it was okay. He had a king-sized bed with blue blankets, a cheap nightstand, and in the corner there was a stack of weights. I smiled and shook my head. I picked up one of his sweaters from the left side of the bed and smelled it. It smelled like him. Like oranges and spices and happiness.
“Come on, Adam.” I muttered and looked up to the ceiling. “Shouldn’t he be home by now?” I rubbed my tired eyes. Icouldn’t sit, I needed to be moving. I put on his sweater so I could keep his smell and warmth with me and I went out to the living room and re-organized Danny’s toys.
Then I re-cleaned the kitchen and dining room.
Lights flashed in the window, and I rushed over.
A snowplow went down the street, throwing piles of snow to the side.
Not Adam.
At least they were plowing the roads this far out now.
Another snowplow went by, clearing the other side. It gave two fast honks as it passed, and then Adam’s truck pulled into the driveway.
He did the same honk back.
I released a shuddering breath.
He was home.
The amount my heart jumped and the tears pricking my eyes were a little embarrassing.
But he was home.
Adam got out of his truck and rubbed his shoulder and stretched out his neck. He looked exhausted. I wondered how I could help. The freezing air rushed in as Adam opened the door. He stomped the snow off his boots and pulled off his gloves as he blew into his hands.
“Hey.” The greeting sounded lame in my ears for the amount of fretting I’d done.
His eyes met mine. “Hey.” He pulled his arms out of his wet coat.
“Can I get you anything? Tea or coffee or something?”
He pried the other arm out and began taking off his boots. “Nah, thanks though. Honestly, I’m just tired.”
I nodded and clasped my hands in front of me.
Do I hug him? Does he want space? He was probably tired enough without my clinging to him.
He stepped into the living room and then opened his arms.
Yes! I rushed into his embrace. He yawned and swayed a little. I grabbed his hand and headed to the couch. “Let’s sit. You’re exhausted.”
