Well, she said, you certainly have your hands full.

He came to the door with an alligator oven mitt on one hand and holding a saucy wooden spoon in his other. She stepped inside and accepted his kiss on her cheek. Unbuttoning her overcoat, she spread open her lapels to reveal pale pink satin lining against her naked body (but for her stockings and heels). He turned away and said, I need to check the stew. Her cheeks burned. She wrapped herself back up inside her coat and considered leaving, but curiosity made her follow him into the kitchen. Listen, he said, I appreciate what you’ve got going on here, but I haven’t seen you in months. It’d be nice to just have dinner and talk. She nodded, Okay. Okay, he said, go grab a shirt or my robe or something and come back and pick out a bottle of wine.

After dinner, he read to her on the couch. Her eyes welled. Her throat constricted. Only I can see you.

What’s on your mind, he wanted to know.