my wardrobe. I’m not an idiot when it comes to fashion, but I’m not from the multimillion-dollar-mansion thousand-dollar-pants world either. I’m happy for the assistance. I leave the make-up light and nude with a pink lip and my hair in an off kilter chignon at the base of my head. No fluffy bunny slippers so I settle on low heeled strappy sandals. Small drop pearl earrings and a pearl bracelet with diamond accents are in place with my Franck Muller diamond faced watch. I’m a vision of Stepford . I step into our bedroom and quickly make our bed before heading to the kitchen to feed my family. When I enter the massive space I find it empty, save for a murmur coming from the family room. I take a few steps in that direction to find Jake and Nick stretched out on the couches watching ESPN. “Good afternoon boys,” I call out to them. Jake, like a good teenager, simply waves his hand over his head without looking at me. Nick swiftly scissors up off the couch to come and greet his wife properly. He makes his way through the room slowly, allowing me to drink in his appearance. Perfectly tailored dark wash jeans hug his thighs just enough to let you know the legs beneath are defined and powerful, paired with a snug charcoal polo. His wrist is adorned with an all black Franck Muller skeleton watch. His wedding band is wide and shiny, glinting in the sun streaming through our wall of glass in the breakfast area. “Sunshine, you look good after some rest,” he murmurs into my cheek before placing a kiss there. “I feel better. Thanks,” I say softly. Nick slides one powerful arm around my waist before pulling me firmly into his body. “We good?” he questions, a thoughtful look on his face. “We’re good, Nicky,” I coo leaning up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He bends forward slightly so that I can reach my intended destination. When I drop back down, he squeezes me once before letting me go. “Any requests for dinner?” I ask moving toward the kitchen. “Somethin’ more than the sandwiches we threw together for lunch.” I pull on an apron and set about making lemon and rosemary pork with a chickpea salad. All of the ingredients stocked in our kitchen and pantry are organic and fresh. This I could get used to. As I prep vegetables and begin cooking Jake and Nick sporadically join me to check on the progress, both of them sweet and tender with me at all times. “Jake will you set the table please?” I ask on his most recent visit to my side. “Sure.” “Wine?” Nick asks standing near the door to the basement, which houses a good sized wine cellar. “White please,” I respond with a smile. Nick offers me a tip of the chin before descending the stairs. I prepare our plates and move them to the table as Nick rejoins the area, wine in hand. I doubt Nick drinks wine so I move back into the kitchen and pour him a glass of Stella. He smiles broadly at my return to the table. I set his beer down and take my seat, relishing how good it feels to enjoy a normal sit down family meal. The sounds that the guys make as they dig in causes a tingle inside my chest and I feel even better about our normal end to an uncomfortable day.
Kat “Play nice with the other kids, dear,” I call to Jake as he climbs from my SUV on his first day at school. He snorts through a broad grin before swinging his legs out and fading into a mass of teenagers. He’s a braver man than I. I take a leisurely drive back to our house enjoying the gorgeous scenery of our new town. The rolling hills mixed with the Metacomet Ridge provide a picturesque dawdle for this newly appointed housewife. The green canopy that surrounds Maybelle will surely be breathtaking once autumn is upon us. Ambers and hues of gold mixed with the changing season will be a nice experience to have with my new family. I swing my BMW into the driveway curving around to our three car garage before parking. I float into the kitchen in my black high