"Jigsaw Puzzle Girl" Chapter 3: The Honeymoon

Chapter 3: The Honeymoon

Monica woke in a happy and energetic mood.  David was already up and in the shower and she debated sneaking in and peeking at him.  She found herself curious to look at his body, wondering what he looked like.  She thought back to last night and smiled happily at the memory of the soft rush of sensation that his kiss had caused in her body.  Impulsively she reached down and gave her vagina a little approving pat.  For the first time since she had been hurt she did not feel somehow angry at and afraid of this part of her anatomy.  For so many months after the rapist had taken that knife and cut at her she had been in so much pain and horror that it seemed like her injured parts had just acted to remind her of her of her trauma. 

Then later, even when the pain was finally gone, she had somehow blamed herself for putting herself at risk.  She had gone to that hotel room to meet someone she did not know.  She would have willingly had sex with him, but that was not what had happened.  Intellectually she knew she did not deserve what had happened but somehow she could not help but feel if she had not wanted that sex, than this all wouldn’t have happened.   She had been so guilty and ashamed that she rejected the whole idea of being sexual ever again.  She wondered if that is one of the things that made David so easy to love.  He was so safe, so strong and masculine but completely off limits sexually.  He was the FBI agent who had been in charge of her case, the one who had pursued the man who had hurt her and in the end, shot and killed him. 

David was dressed when he came out and Monica jumped up and gave him a hug.  “Good Morning!”

He laughed to see her sparkling smile, “Now that is the happy girl I like to see.”

“I told you I was just tired.”  She grinned impishly, “I almost came and got into that shower with you.”

David stopped and looked at her, his eyes shifting a little nervously, “You could have if you wanted.”

Monica’s eyes glinted, “Someday I will.”

First thing Monica called her gynecologists office and left a message that she wanted to start a prescription for birth control pills.  His receptionist said the doctor was on rounds at the hospital and that she would have him return Monica’s call.  On impulse she called Junie and told her that they had gotten married and asked her to tell Bob and Donna thank you one more time for all their kindness.   

After breakfast, David pulled into a big store parking lot, and asked, “Do you want me to come with you?”

Monica looked over at him, “Um… yes, most of the time but there might be a little while when I would want to… um… buy some girl things.”

“Sure, we can split up for a while.”

Monica found her hand naturally slipping into his as they walked through the parking lot.  “I just need to get some underwear; those were something Junie didn’t sew for me.  And I would like another nightgown.”  Then she paused, “I also need some… um… female hygiene products.”

“And that will be where we part ways.”  David looked at her, “Do you need anything else?  Shoes or a coat?” 

Monica shrugged, “I only have these shoes and I don’t have a coat with me.”

“If we are going to be walking on the beach we should get some of those.  Pretty Girl, please don’t get all worried about this, I want you to get what you need so you will be comfortable and feel pretty.”

Monica took a deep breath and smiled, “Okay, we can get those too.”

David grinned and commented, “When we get to Louisiana, I am going to take you out and get you some cowboy boots, and a belt with a big buckle.” 

“If that is the customary clothing of the people of your land, your new queen must bow to tradition.”  Monica squealed with laughter when his fingers dug into her side. 

She tried to tickle him back but he just stood there with an eyebrow arched.  He drawled, “Sorry, Pretty Girl, not ticklish there.”

“Okay then, where are you ticklish?”

David chuckled, “I am not talking.”

“I will find out eventually.”

“I suspect I will enjoy your searching.”

Monica ran her fingers up and attacked his armpits, but he stood there grinning and shaking his head.  She stepped back and ran her eyes up and down his body.  David held up his hand and shook it warningly.  “Not in the parking lot, young lady.  You will have to take me home to have your way with me.” 

Monica giggled, whirled around and skipped toward the store.  She called gaily over her shoulder, “Come on, we have to go spend your money.”

He grinned and shook his head, “Our money, Pretty Girl,” and strode along behind her.

Monica had a pair of good walking shoes, a soft hooded parka, and some warm socks in her cart and was heading into the lingerie department when David looked around at the bewildering display of racks of bras and panties and put on the brakes.  “You are on your own in here, Pretty Girl.  I will meet you up front.”

Monica grabbed the front of his shirt and stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips, “Okay, see you soon.”  She quickly picked out a package of cotton bikini underwear and then began to look through the racks of night gowns.  She had picked out a cotton, neck to ankles little girl thing when a pretty lavender slippery nylon number caught her eye.  Shyly she picked it up and smiled, it was daringly low cut with spaghetti straps and lots of lace.  There was a tiny matching thong that came with it.  On impulse she put the cotton one back and dropped the sexy lavender peignoir in the cart. 

Monica’s cell phone rang and when she answered, it was her gynecologist.  “So, Miss Bond, what is this I hear about you wanting a birth control prescription?”

She had a pretty good relationship with her doctor and she could hear his bantering tone.  “That is Mrs. Durant to you.”

Her doctor’s voice turned surprised and then neutral, “Mrs. David Durant?”

Monica gave her phone a hard stare, and then responded, “Of course!” 

She could almost hear the doctor thinking and trying to find something appropriate to say that would be both professional and yet communicate his surprise and perhaps reservations.  He cleared his throat and then volunteered, “Well I have to confess, that totally came as a surprise.  I guess I should say congratulations.  So I gather you two are already married?”

“Yes, yesterday.”

“So how did it go?”

“The ceremony?  It was small, only a couple of close friends.  Nothing fancy.”

“I guess I deserve that.  As your surgeon I do have a professional interest.  Have you had intercourse, and if so, how did that go?”

“No, not yet.  We are taking our time and going slow with that.  I am understandably a little nervous and David has been completely understanding.  And I need to do something about birth control first, anyway.”

“Yes, of course.  I will call in a prescription to… where are you?” 

Monica laughed, “Just call it into Walmart.  I am shopping at one right now.”

“Monica, I am sorry if I sounded a little taken aback.  It just was unexpected.  Going slow with the sex is a good idea.  Get some lubricant, and if you have any severe or persistent pain or bleeding call me right away.”

“I know.  It kind of came as a surprise to me as well.  But I really love him and that is what is important.”

“Monica, if there was ever a girl that deserved some love it is you.  We all really got to like you a lot here.  We will miss you.  I heard that Card was killed up in Washington.  I am glad you are moving on and finding some happiness.”

“I will keep in touch and let you know how your work is holding up.”

“You will be fine.”

“Thank you for all your help.  I know I wasn’t always the best patient.”

“Never once did I think you were anything other than a miracle.  The fact you fought with me was a good sign, it showed you were not going to let this destroy you.  Not many women could have gone through what you did and come out the other side as strong as you have.”

“You know up until a now I wouldn’t have known what you mean about me being strong, but I think I am starting to get it.  But I have to go.  David is waiting for me.  If you call that scrip in right away, I will be able to pick it up while I am here.  Put the pills in my maiden name.”

“I will get right on it.”

Monica slipped her cell phone back into her purse and headed over to the pharmacy department.  She put a package of sanitary napkins and a tube of lubricant in the basket as she went through.  As she waited in line she looked at the rack of condoms and thoughtfully chewed on her lip.  On impulse she slipped a package into the basket under the feminine hygiene products, hiding them next to the lubricant.  She could feel her face heat up and she looked around nervously. 

 

She stood on her tip toes and looked around hoping to see David and waved her hand wildly when she saw him looking toward her.  Her heart jumped when she saw him grin and walk her direction.  When he came up she stood on her tip toes and whispered, “My doctor called me back.  I can pick up the birth control pills here today.”

He looked surprised, “That was fast.”

“Almost as fast as you can arrange a wedding.”  She drawled, “Not that we are rushing anything.”

David shot her a look and raised his hands up, “Guilty, you have caught me red handed.  I am a rusher and I throw myself onto the mercy of the court.”

Monica shook a finger at him, “Rushers will be prosecuted to full extent of the law.”

David stood with her as the check out lady rang up all her purchases.  Monica felt her face flush with embarrassment again as the lady put the lacy night gown, lubricant and condoms in the bag.  She jumped and tried to hide her red face when David leaned down and whispered softly, “Now who is rushing things?”

Monica gulped and shrugged, looking up at him through her lashes, and then giggled, “Um… I kind of hoped you might not notice?”

“Don’t think you can sneak anything by me, Pretty Girl.  I am a trained observer.”

As they walked out to the Cadillac, Monica put on an exaggerated pout, “Not fair, you can tell when I am lying and now I can’t even sneak around.”  

“Honesty is the best policy.”  David put her purchases in the car and then always the gentleman opened her door for her.

Monica started to get into the car but then froze and stood back up and looked up into his face.  Abruptly aware of what she was really up against, she exclaimed, “But then, how can I surprise you with anything?”

Her new husband roared with laughter and pulled her to him in a bear hug, “Do not worry, Pretty Girl, you surprise me all the time.”

Monica felt herself melting up against him, soft and boneless, letting her body drink up the sensation of warmth and closeness.  She rubbed her face against his chest and inhaled his scent.  She could feel tips of her small breasts harden and tingle, and she gave a slow deliberate grind against his hard body.  To her delight she felt his arms tighten and pull her tighter against him.  She tipped her head up and smiled a soft happy smile.  She whispered softly, “This is so cool.”

His voice was a soft murmur, “What is cool?”

“This, always before when I would touch you, you would pull away.  Now you push back.  And… and…”  She swallowed and blushed, “… and I can feel myself getting… um… turned on.  I had not felt that since before I woke up in the hospital.  I was a little afraid I might not be able to.”

David gave her another squeeze, “Well, Pretty Girl, you always turned me on.  That was why I would pull away.  You were scaring the hell out of me, always touching me, leaning against me, putting your arm around my waist.  It made it really hard to keep my resolve that you were not for me.  I would be all sane and in control and then you would be up against me and you would feel so good, smell so good.  All that steely willpower would start to melt away.”

Monica sighed and then whispered, “You say the sweetest things.”

He looked around the parking lot and then up at the sky, “It’s the romantic surroundings.  I am always inspired by parking lots.  But it looks like rain, so let’s get this show on the road.  As much as I love this place, I had hoped to find a nice romantic little hotel where we can look out over the ocean.”  He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, gently unwrapped her arms, and pushed her into the car.  Monica felt a little pang of frustration as she felt his body move away from hers. 

"He"

The Man in my life/One time Husband /former Master... sometimes I am at a loss to find a word to describe my relationship... one word or a dozen.

We've been together 26 years if you don't count those 3-4 years we were divorced.  Yeah... it wasn't all sunshine and roses.  Technically we aren't married now... well, maybe common law married?  I don't know.  I don't know if I care.

He is a bewildering mix of sweet, caring, gentle, rude, grouchy, irrational... He remembers things that I know just plain did not happen... insists I am the one with memory problems.  He is rigid, controlling, critical.  He is amazingly smart and creative.  And sexy... did I forget sexy?  I love him to death... and funny...    

There is no fighting and winning.  He loves to fight.  If I disagree about anything the battle is on and he will dig in his heels and is a thousand times more stubborn than me.  I have learned in the past couple of decades that fighting is a complete waste of time.  If I just agree, avoid, ignore... he will move on and most of the time forget.  And so much of the time it is his way... how you rinse the dishes before they go in the dishwasher, where they go in the dishwasher, how I brush my teeth... I could go on and on.  If you dispute this... it is a fight... and I refer you back to the beginning of this paragraph...

In some ways this rigidity, this controlling, this determination to win no matter what seemed like dominance... and I tried to build on that.  If I just was submissive enough he would somehow turn in to a dominant... but there is a layer of anxiety that runs through that dominance.  This anxiety tends to make him question everything... and as a dominant in a D/s relationship it does not inspire confidence in your submissive if you can't quite decide anything, what you wanted, how you want it... we worked hard at it for several years.  With some success... but I just could not get around some really basic things... He would arbitrarily decide to change the rules.. without notification... and criticize me for somehow failing to obey... and he would accuse me of lying.  If he would not believe me... it could not work.

I was the one that said it was not working.  That we had to find a different way and we have.  He is still controlling... I still usually try to do it his way... but if he gets off track and starts demanding I just give him a seriously snarky look and a snarkier comment... and walk away.  Sometimes he still reaches for me like he might still be able to physically assert his will and I stop him dead in his tracks... Oh huh, uh... we don't roll that way anymore.

There is very little kink... but there was hardly ever any kink before... Before it was a very vanilla D/s relationship.  Now it is a very vanilla relationship...

So back to the original question... how to refer to him... One time husband, Former Master, Man in my life... I notice I have been calling him "He" with the "H" capitalized... It will do for now until I find something better.   

"Jigsaw Puzzle Girl": Chapter 2 Married

Chapter 2:  Married

They had left the big black sedan off and Agent Gold personally gave them a ride to a car dealership that a friend of his worked at.  It did not take long for David to pick out a white Cadillac with low mileage and a red leather interior.  He had Monica sit in both the driver’s seat and the passenger side.  “Can you see out okay?”

Monica nodded and then whispered, “This is pretty fancy.  Can we afford this?”

“Little Lady, I will sit down with you and show you my bank balance as soon as possible, so you will know that we are not going to go broke any time soon.  I have a fair bit of money saved up and I am still on the payroll for the next couple of months while I use up my vacation and then I will be getting my retirement.”  David’s voice was amused.

“Sorry, I just never spent this much money on anything before.  It sounds like so much.”

“I thought it would make a nice wedding present.  We didn’t have time to get you a pretty white dress but I thought a pretty white car would sort of make up for that.”

Monica nodded and tried to smile, but she found her lips trembling again.  And she found herself wrapped up in his strong warm arms, held close in that one place of safety that felt solid and real.  His voice was low and reassuring, “Shhh… pretty girl, we will slow down soon.  Don’t worry about the car.  It’s a good deal.  I have enough money to buy it and I needed a car.  Let’s just get through today and then we’ll take a little time to ourselves.  No rush.  We don’t even need to go to Salem for a few days.”  Monica sighed and wrapped her arms around him, holding on to him like he was the last solid thing in the universe.

They stood together like that for a long time before she took a deep shaky breath and pulled away, “Thank you.  I just get scared sometimes.  I’m sorry.”

David’s big hand ruffled her hair and he spoke gently, “Don’t be sorry, Pretty Girl, as long as I get a nice hug like that, I can put up with it.”

The little civil ceremony was a blur.  Agent Gold was there with a woman that Monica thought was his fiancée but she wasn’t sure.  Monica wore the jeans and  white blouse she had put on that morning.  David wore what he had been wearing all day.  Someone had brought a small bouquet of yellow roses and she held them clutched in her hand.  Somehow David had a small gold wedding band that fit almost perfectly to slip onto her finger when the man said to do it.  Monica had nodded and stuttered yes when asked but had no memory of being declared man and wife or kissing David at the end. 

There was a bewildering whirl papers to sign and some hugs and handshakes with people she didn’t really look at and then they were in the car driving somewhere.  Monica felt numb and exhausted and sat wondering what the hell had happened.  She looked down and was shocked to see that she was still holding the little bouquet and was slowly, methodically plucking the petals off the roses.  There was a small scattering of yellow petals across her lap and the red leather seat.  Carefully she put the flowers down and clasped her hands together in her lap. 

David drove away from the city heading south and then out toward the coast.  Neither of them spoke much; each seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.  Monica looking out the side window at the rain soaked world.  When David pulled into a small restaurant, Monica sat in the booth and looked over the menu and ordered a hamburger and a small side salad instead of French fries, he sat across from her and softly said, “I’m sorry.”

Again she found her lips quivering, fighting down tears, “It’s okay… I guess, I mean it will be okay.  It was all just a little fast and not what I expected.  I am just tired.”

He reached across the table and took her hand, “Pretty Girl, I spent a lot of time and energy telling myself that my love for you was wrong. That it was just an old man’s foolish, lonely heart wishing for what could never be.  Even when I knew you loved me back, I tried to convince myself that I was mistaken, or that it would never work, or that you deserved a better life than I could give you.  And then you would not take no for an answer, all of a sudden it was possible.  Somehow I think I rushed you through this because I was a little afraid that you might come to your senses and change your mind.”  He paused and took a deep breath, “Monica, Pretty Girl, it is not too late to change your mind.  If you want, I will take you back to Junie’s house or anywhere else you want to go.”

Monica looked up in shock and fear.  She whispered furiously, “No, you promised.  You promised to never leave me!”  She gripped his hand tightly, almost jerking on his arm in her fierce determination. 

“And I am a man who keeps his promises.  I am sorry, it was just you looked so sad.”

“I am just tired.  I will get over it.”  Monica forced herself to smile.  “I am sorry if I looked sad.  I’m happy.”

David looked at her, his eyes sharp and measuring.  “Pretty Girl, don’t try and fool this old lawman.  I have way too many years questioning bad guys to have a pretty little thing like you pull the wool over my eyes.  I can tell you are tired and I certainly can tell you aren’t happy right now.”

A wave of stubborn anger shook through Monica, “Well you are wrong.  I am happy, damn it.  I got what I wanted.  I wanted you and I’ve got you now.”  Her voice was tense and just a little shrill.  “I just need some time to get used to the idea.”

David began to chuckle, “Pretty hard to get around that idea isn’t it, Pretty Girl.”

“No not really!  Any pretty girl in the world would be thrilled to be in my shoes.  Whirlwind romance, surprise wedding, carried off in a beautiful white carriage, and… and…”  Monica started to giggle along with him, “I am the princess bride.”

“Well, damn, I never thought of myself as a prince charming.”

“You are not a prince, you are the wise and gentle king who has lost his heart to the maiden he rescued from the evil monster.  You are my champion.”  With these last words, Monica’s silly smile softened and grew more genuine as she realized for the first time why she loved this man so much.  He was her champion.  “And now you are carrying me back to your kingdom and I feel shy and afraid that I may just suck at being a queen.”

“You will do fine.”

“I hope so.  I liked what you said about taking a few days to relax.”

“Let’s find a little hotel soon and then what do you think about heading out to the coast and finding a nice place and staying there until we get tired of long walks on the beach and sunsets, then driving south?  This honeymoon can last as long as you want.  When we get south as far as Salem we can make a detour inland and get whatever you want.  We can pack up and ship anything you want to take to Louisiana.”

Monica could feel some tension drain out of her and she nodded.  “Long walks on the beach sound wonderful.”

Monica was surprised that she was suddenly ravenous.  She ate her whole hamburger and salad.  She could not remember the last time she had managed to finish a whole meal.  She reached over and stole one of his French fries.

As they pulled into the hotel, David looked at her a little nervously, “Pretty Girl, how do you want this?  Do you want a room of your own?”

Monica shot him a shocked look and shook her head violently. 

“Okay, I hear that.  Do you want two beds?”

“I want you beside me.  I want you to hold my hand all night.”

“I can do that.”

Outside the door to their room David stopped and made her put her little bag down.  Monica squealed in surprise when he swept her up into his arms.  He grinned and looked down at her, “Pretty Girl, there are just a couple of things a man does not get to do very often in his life and carrying my beautiful bride over the threshold is just too good to pass up.”  He playfully dropped her on the bed and then went and got their bags as she bounced on the bed giggling. 

Monica looked at him standing there with the bags in his hand and she felt a wave of nervous shyness.  She wondered how she had been so bold before when she had tried to kiss him and then brazenly pulled her nightgown off in front of him just the day before.  Perhaps it was because she was sure he would not touch her, sure that he would remain the perfect gentleman he had always been before.  But he had made it clear that they had to be married before he would touch her like that.  And now they were.  She repeated his reassuring words inside her mind, “Let it happen, not make it happen.”

She looked at him and when their eyes met, she realized he was as nervous as she was.  She slipped off the bed and took her little bag from his hands.  “I think I will take a bath, if that would be all right.”

“That would be fine.”

When she came out of the bathroom, David was sitting up in the bed under the covers, watching the news on the television.  He was wearing his white undershirt.  Monica smoothed her little white nightgown and smiled nervously.  Turning off the television, he held out his hand and whispered, “Hard to hold hands from that distance, Pretty Girl.”

When she got close to the bed he held up the covers and took his outstretched hand, he pulled her under the covers and it seemed perfectly natural to slide up close and snuggle up under his arm.  She could feel the length of his leg against hers and she shivered a little when the hair on his leg tickled a little.  “You okay?”

Monica giggled a little, “Yeah.”

He gave her a little squeeze, “Remember that we are not rushing things here.  We need to take our time.  One thing we need to work out ahead of time is birth control.”

Monica jumped at the thought and gasped, “I had not even thought about that.”

“Do you want to have children?”

“Oh god, I don’t know.  It seems too hard to think about now.  Before… before…”  She took a deep breath, “Before I was hurt, before all this, I wasn’t even sure about having babies.  Then afterwards, when there was all the pain and surgeries and they kept talking about if I would be able to have children or not, and all I could think was, it was silly, there was no way I wanted to have a baby.  Do you want children?  You didn’t have any children with Irene.” 

“We wanted children.  Irene wanted children more than anything.  She couldn’t carry a baby to term.  We lost several babies before they were born and the doctor’s told her to stop trying, that her health was in danger.” 

“You didn’t adopt?”

“By the time she gave up trying we were getting older and she decided to focus more on her job.  She was a teacher and it seemed like it was enough.  We both just sort of accepted it.”  He shrugged, “It seems to me that I am kind of old to be a father now.  I don’t think it would be fair to the kid, I am 51 now, and I am pretty set in my ways.  And it does not sound like anything either of us wants at the moment.  So we need to figure out what kind of birth control you want to use.”

“I used to take the pill.  I guess I can call my gynecologist’s office and have him call in a new prescription.”  Monica giggled, “I think that he won’t make me get an examination first, he has been looking up there plenty in the last year.  He knows how hard it is to get me up on that table.”

“Okay, you do that.  I don’t want you to feel pressured or anything, I just wanted to make sure we were prepared when the right moment comes along.”

Monica snuggled up close and whispered, “I do want to make love to you.  I just start to feel all afraid when I think about actually doing it.”

“That is pretty natural, pretty girl, you were pretty badly hurt.  To tell you the truth, I am pretty nervous about hurting or frightening you too.”  Then he took deep breath, “And I am a little scared about maybe disappointing you too.  I haven’t had much experience with women.  Irene was the only woman I have been with and we sort of grew apart after she found out that she couldn’t have children, it’s been a lot of years since I’ve made love to a woman.”  He paused for a few moments as if thinking back, “…more than twenty.”

Monica bit her lip and fought down the urge to giggle, “I guess we both have a lot of… um… learning to do.  I need to figure out how to feel safe and what I can and can’t do with my reassembled parts.  And you need to remember how to do it at all.”

David laughed and tickled her, “Oh, I have not forgotten.”

           

Monica shrieked and giggled, pushing his hands away.  “Oh god, I had forgotten how ticklish I was.” 

He hugged her tight and then yawned, “You know, little lady, you are not the only one that has had a big day.  Let’s just fall asleep in each other arms and then head for the beach tomorrow.”  He reached over and switched off the light.   

Monica caught his yawn and yawned back, “Sure, tomorrow could we stop by a department store?  There are a few things I need, underwear and stuff like that.  It shouldn’t be too expensive.”

“Of course we can do that.  Pretty Girl, are you always going to worry about money?”

“Probably, every time my Mom bought me anything it was quite a production.  She was always broke.  She kind of made me worry about that kind of stuff a lot.”

“Okay, I guess it could be worse.  You could be the opposite, extravagant and wasteful.”

Monica giggled, “Yes, I could have married you for your money.”

“Instead of my good looks?”

“I think you look good.”  Monica lifted her head and whispered, “Could you kiss me good night?”

His voice was teasing as he whispered back, “I don’t know if I remember how.  Maybe you should remind this old man how it’s done.”

Inch by inch she worked her way up from his shoulder until she was looking at his face in the dim light cast by light coming from the bathroom.  Softly, almost a butterfly’s touch she brushed her lips across his and then more boldly she pressed her lips to his, for the first time opening her lips and urging him to open his.  Slowly he let her in, her tongue delicately reaching to meet his.  An electric shock at that meeting made her catch her breath and she sighed and slipped her arms around his neck.   A shiver of sensation ran down her spine as she felt his hand lightly stroke her back.  When she lifted her mouth from his, her voice was breathless, “Do you remember now?”

“I don’t know.  It seems familiar but I might need to try that a few more times before I am sure.”

The next kiss was just as sweet and Monica was thrilled to feel a flush of heat starting in her body and a soft throb in her vagina as she felt the tissues start to swell.  She had not felt that soft sweet aching need in so long she had wondered if that part of her still worked.  She found herself pressing her body tightly against his. 

This time it was David that broke the kiss.  His voice was husky, “Okay, I remember.  You are going to corrupt my resolve to not rush things.”  He gave her a gentle shove down so her head rested on his shoulder. 

Monica smiled secretly to herself.  She could feel it.  She savored the sensation of want and squeezed her legs together.  It was going to be okay.  She sighed and snuggled up close and whispered, “I love you.  Good night.”

“I love you too, pretty girl.”

Another day... another day...

Just as busy as the day before.  Did end up restraining a kid a couple times... Sad, angry little critter, tried to grab a big handful of my soft middle.  Oh huh uh! 

It seems like my cold is worse today. Anyway I way tireder when I got home... ended up falling asleep before He got home.  Slept for nearly 3 hours.

I am so lucky that He is happy to eat leftover chili for days on end... I couldn't face it... ended up eating a grapefruit.  The acid felt good on my yucky, congested throat.  Soooo tired of being sick.