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Authors: Nicki Elson
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Maggie called out for the kids to wash up for bed.
“How’s work going?” Carl asked while they waited.
“Fine. A bit of a power struggle going on right now between Father Tom and the visiting monsignor.”
“He’s still around?”
“Yep. And apparently he’ll be around for a while longer—he just announced last week that his stay’s been extended indefinitely. Which seems odd because none of us are even sure exactly why he’s here in the first place. How are things with you work-wise?”
“Same old bullshit. Remember when I couldn’t wait to get to this side of management? What was I thinking?”
The kids raced down the stairs, with Kirsten’s longer legs getting her to her father first. When it came time for his hug, Liam glowered at his sister all the way through it, but when he pulled back, his eyes scanned Carl’s full wine glass. “Dad, are you sleeping over?”
Carl laughed. “No, slugger, just relaxing a little bit before I head home.”
“Let’s go,” Maggie said, guiding the kids toward the stairs.
On the way up Kirsten pinched her brother’s arm, and chastised in a poorly concealed whisper, “You’re such an idiot.” Maggie gave her daughter a warning look but didn’t correct her.
After kissing both children good night at the top of the stairs, she returned to her guest. He’d moved to the couch, with both glasses and what remained of the bottle on the coffee table. Maggie walked over and tentatively sat at the other end of the sofa, reflexively picking up the remote. She was glad she and Carl had learned to function on friendly terms, but hanging out one-on-one like this felt odd.
“Am I keeping you from something?” Carl asked.
“No, not really. But I do have a bunch of shows recorded from last week that I haven’t watched yet.”
“Oh, like what?”
“Here, take a look.” She went to her list of recordings and scrolled through.
“Nice selection. Hey! Where’d you find that?” He took the remote and highlighted the name of an old sitcom that had only run for a few seasons. It had been one of Carl and Maggie’s favorites but had never done well in the ratings.
“On a fluke,” Maggie answered. “I was flipping channels and found it replaying on some obscure cable station. Want to watch?”
Carl shrugged. “Sure.” He clicked to start the show and settled into the sofa, laughing right away as he recognized the episode. Watching that show had been among the few good times the two of them had had together in those last years, and Maggie was now reminded that even though things had gotten pretty bad between them, there had always been a connection.
Instead of fast forwarding through the commercials, they started talking about old times. When the show returned, their conversation continued, stretching back to before Maggie and Carl had even been married. They drained the bottle, and Maggie felt completely relaxed with Carl for the first time in a very long while. By the time the episode ended, she was facing away from the television with her legs curled underneath her as she and Carl talked and laughed.
He flipped on the news, to which they paid no attention, and after a few more minutes of reminiscing, leaned his elbow onto the back of the couch and propped his head on his hand. “Do you know what I remember?” He gave her a sly smile and Maggie noted that the typical mischief had returned to his eyes.
“What?”
With his lips parted slightly, he imitated her moan. “ Eh, eh, oh. ” It was the sound she used to make when he stimulated just the right nerve. Maggie immediately flushed, but didn’t look away. The rich blue of his irises smoldered as he took in her reaction, and her insides fluttered in response.
“Do you still make that noise?” he asked in a low, unmistakably interested voice.
Maggie raised her eyebrows. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I haven’t had the opportunity in a while.”
“Really?” He seemed surprised, but
“How’s work going?” Carl asked while they waited.
“Fine. A bit of a power struggle going on right now between Father Tom and the visiting monsignor.”
“He’s still around?”
“Yep. And apparently he’ll be around for a while longer—he just announced last week that his stay’s been extended indefinitely. Which seems odd because none of us are even sure exactly why he’s here in the first place. How are things with you work-wise?”
“Same old bullshit. Remember when I couldn’t wait to get to this side of management? What was I thinking?”
The kids raced down the stairs, with Kirsten’s longer legs getting her to her father first. When it came time for his hug, Liam glowered at his sister all the way through it, but when he pulled back, his eyes scanned Carl’s full wine glass. “Dad, are you sleeping over?”
Carl laughed. “No, slugger, just relaxing a little bit before I head home.”
“Let’s go,” Maggie said, guiding the kids toward the stairs.
On the way up Kirsten pinched her brother’s arm, and chastised in a poorly concealed whisper, “You’re such an idiot.” Maggie gave her daughter a warning look but didn’t correct her.
After kissing both children good night at the top of the stairs, she returned to her guest. He’d moved to the couch, with both glasses and what remained of the bottle on the coffee table. Maggie walked over and tentatively sat at the other end of the sofa, reflexively picking up the remote. She was glad she and Carl had learned to function on friendly terms, but hanging out one-on-one like this felt odd.
“Am I keeping you from something?” Carl asked.
“No, not really. But I do have a bunch of shows recorded from last week that I haven’t watched yet.”
“Oh, like what?”
“Here, take a look.” She went to her list of recordings and scrolled through.
“Nice selection. Hey! Where’d you find that?” He took the remote and highlighted the name of an old sitcom that had only run for a few seasons. It had been one of Carl and Maggie’s favorites but had never done well in the ratings.
“On a fluke,” Maggie answered. “I was flipping channels and found it replaying on some obscure cable station. Want to watch?”
Carl shrugged. “Sure.” He clicked to start the show and settled into the sofa, laughing right away as he recognized the episode. Watching that show had been among the few good times the two of them had had together in those last years, and Maggie was now reminded that even though things had gotten pretty bad between them, there had always been a connection.
Instead of fast forwarding through the commercials, they started talking about old times. When the show returned, their conversation continued, stretching back to before Maggie and Carl had even been married. They drained the bottle, and Maggie felt completely relaxed with Carl for the first time in a very long while. By the time the episode ended, she was facing away from the television with her legs curled underneath her as she and Carl talked and laughed.
He flipped on the news, to which they paid no attention, and after a few more minutes of reminiscing, leaned his elbow onto the back of the couch and propped his head on his hand. “Do you know what I remember?” He gave her a sly smile and Maggie noted that the typical mischief had returned to his eyes.
“What?”
With his lips parted slightly, he imitated her moan. “ Eh, eh, oh. ” It was the sound she used to make when he stimulated just the right nerve. Maggie immediately flushed, but didn’t look away. The rich blue of his irises smoldered as he took in her reaction, and her insides fluttered in response.
“Do you still make that noise?” he asked in a low, unmistakably interested voice.
Maggie raised her eyebrows. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I haven’t had the opportunity in a while.”
“Really?” He seemed surprised, but
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