Pun intended

Oscar was walkin’ out the door when his phone chimed. Esther had sent him a text. ‘Hi dear. I’ve made rice puddin’ for dessert. Do you have any cinnamon? I thought I did. Baked pork chops, peas and mashed potatoes for dinner.’

He called her, “hi.”

“Hello sunshine. I have no idea if I have any cinnamon. You’re welcome to go over and check. If not, I can stop and pick some up.”

“Do you like cinnamon on your rice puddin’?”

“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten it.”

He heard all kinds of noise. Finally she said, “how was your day?”

He smiled, “better than yesterday.”

“That makes me very happy.”

“Ess, I’m sorry that I scared you.”

“Oscar, you don’t have to apologize for being sick. I am thankful it wasn’t worse.” There was a moment of silence. “You do have cinnamon. I’ll buy it back when I go to the store.”

“Love, I’m gonna hang up and drive. Just hit some ice.”

“Be safe, I love you.”

“Love you.”

Oscar knocked but Esther didn’t answer. “Ess!” He called.

“Closet,” came her muffled reply.

“We need to get you out of the closet.” He smiled hugging her up. “You feel so good.”

“Hot iron, my love.”

“What are you doin’?”

“Hoping to fix these shorts with patches. They are my favorite pair. I tried looking them up on-line and I guess they don’t make them anymore.”

“Ess, you don’t ever have to ask to go get something. Take what you need.”

“Thank you. It feels weird to me just to go in unannounced.” She put the iron down and unplugged it.

He hugged her up again. “How about we do this; go over and empty out all the food and bring it over here?”

“Why?” She was honestly surprised.

“You feed me breakfast and dinner. When I eat, I like sharing meals with you.”

“What if you get up in the middle of the night and need a snack?”

He kissed her, “I’ll wake you up and say Ess, feed me.”

“That might get you in trouble.” A ding came from the kitchen. “Dinner.”

He set the table as she pulled the chops out of the oven. “I’m being serious.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” He questioned.

“Bring whatever you like over here.”

Dear God in heaven, she didn’t know what she just said. He brushed it off. Instead, “did you send Chez over to the house?” He was kicking himself the instant the words left his mouth. FOOL!

“No, I was in the shower. Would you like to read the text?”

If she would have hit him in the gut, it wouldn’t have hurt as much. “No. Heaven’s no. I was going to thank you for the interruption. It didn’t stop the assault. I think it brought it to a head faster.”

“The man has always had a bladder the size of a pea.” She wrinkled her nose. “Pun intended.”

Oscar smiled.

Are YOU okay?

She wrapped him up with her arms and legs. “Ess?”

“Yes.”

“Are you okay?”

He was the one that blacked out. Why did he ask her this question. “I don’t understand.” She finally squeezed out.

“I read the book about menopause.”

She held him a little tighter, “oh.” A light sigh escaped her. “You’re doing better than me. I haven’t made it past the first chapter.” His chest moved under her hand in a light chuckle. “When things happen, I’m trying to remind myself, it’s menopause and move on. Every time I get a hot flash, I take my temperature to make sure I’m not running a fever. Thanks for asking.”

“How can I help?”

“Be understanding. Don’t take things personally. And you can gently call me out on my b.s.”

“Gently?” He teased.

She snuggled into his back, “gently. I bruise easily.”

“But you were a cop.”

“Cops have feelings too.” She playfully snubbed.