Winter Season

The visit

They had a wonderful Labor Day holiday. One that he relived over in his mind when class got boring and the day got long.

He came home to find Ess in the kitchen; which wasn’t unusual. He liked it actually. The smell of food cooking. Even though it had been bland. That wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t heard him come home. The music from the stereo was too loud to hear the gentleness of the front door. He didn’t know this song, it was poppy and fun and she was wiggling to it. The wiggling turned into gyration. Watching her was amazing. The way the fabric of her shorts moved against her movement. He was glued to the floor.  She turned around and squealed when she saw him.

He was able to unglue himself. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” He smiled as he walked toward her, kissing her with THAT KISS. She closed her eyes letting THAT KISS wash over her.

“Dinner smells good.” She had made a pot of beef stew. He leaned over the pot inhaling deeply. “Good heavens that really smells so good.” His stomach growled like a tiger.

“I thought we might mix it up a little. I didn’t put a whole lot of seasoning in it. So I’m hoping that it won’t hurt you.”

“Shall we be brave and have cornbread?”

Just as he spoke a timer went off and she pulled a cast iron skillet from the oven. “Hmm,” he moaned.

He was very careful. Although he wanted to eat the entire pot, he only ate about a cup. It was all he could do.

They retired to the back porch. The chill in the air was nice. They sat all curled up together in a blanket. “How was your day?” She asked.

“Things are getting a little better. More back to normal.” He squeezed her closer to him. “What did you do today other than make a wonderful dinner?” Rain drops started falling, forcing them inside. They took to the couch. She was in her favorite spot; laying on his chest listening to his heartbeat. She wasn’t going to bring up her day unless he mentioned it again. This could go all shades of wrong and she knew it. After some time he finally asked her again, “what did you do today?”

She rose up and sat facing him. “Chaz came by to visit me today.”

Oscar looked at her a moment before saying anything, “he’s the big fellow?”

She smiled, “yeah.” Knowing full well he knew who Chaz was.

“Social call?” He could tell she was nervous. And she could hear the distaste in his voice.

“No, not really.” She played with the sleeves of her oversized sweatshirt. “Three of his co-workers are getting ready to retire. I still have fifth-teen years of service left and he wanted to know if I was interested in one of the positions?”

Oscar set up straighter on the couch. He whispered, “and?”

“I told him that I wanted to talk it over with you. See what your take was and that I would get back to him two weeks from Friday.” She finally looked up at Oscar. He was staring out the window.

“I’m assuming you mean full uniform, guns, tasers, handcuffs; the whole nine yards.” When he made eye contact with her, there was fear in his eyes.

“You assumed correctly. This decision affects both of us. That’s why I want to know how you feel about it.”

“After what happened with the review board, why would you want to?”

“It’s all I know. It’s all I’ve done.”

He was in shock. Could he really let the woman that he loved be in such a dangerous profession? He remembered what he said to her about not having an issue with women being in dangerous jobs. But it was different when that female had a personal connection to you. He loved her. Wanted her to be happy; but wasn’t sure how to feel about this? What if she got killed? What was he supposed to do then? Why couldn’t she be happy with just one income? Why wouldn’t she let him take care of her? His thoughts were going haywire.

She got up.

He was shocked, “what are you going?”

“Clean up the kitchen ,” she replied.

His mind went blank. He stood staring at her. He needed to think but couldn’t.

She watched him walk out the door. It was raining harder now than it had been. His mind wondered to that great night they spent playing in the rain. This rain was much too cold. He was standing in the middle of the road, not really wanting to go home. Wanting to go back to Esther, but was reluctant to. What could he possibly say to her?

So he started walking.

Winter Season