CHAPTER 8

Looking back, Leanne did have a vague sense of a slight change in their relationship.

She first noticed it when she picked him up at the airport. Usually he would be excited about the medical advances he had learned about, anxious to share the experience with her, but not that day, she later recalled.

She had been so glad to see him. She rushed into his arms. He hugged her, saying, “Good to be home. I’m bushed!” He threw his bag and briefcase into the back seat of the car, climbed into the passenger side seat, then he leaned over to kiss her.

“Good conference?” Leanne had asked as she moved the car forward onto the exit ramp.

Don wiped his face with both hands as if to erase the weariness and stress he was feeling. He took a deep breath before he answered her.

“It was okay.”

“Learn a lot of new material?”

“Not really. Rather disappointing…not a lot of groundbreaking ideas. Only a few fresh concepts for the usage of stem cells. Quite a bit of info on laws…that kind of thing.”

“Sorry you were disappointed, Don. You usually get so much out of these conferences.”

“I know, but sometimes…well, some are better than others. Really thought I’d get a lot out of this one, but…”

Turning to face her, he’d asked, “The kids all right?”

“Yes, they’re fine. Might be home this weekend. At least Jane will be, not sure ’bout Curt…something about a project he’s working on.”

“I understand how that is. Be good to see both of them.”

He’d puffed out his cheeks and let out a long, drawn-out sigh. Leanne took a quick look at her husband.

“You feeling all right, Don?”

“Just tired. Long hours sitting in meeting halls, tiresome at times, even with coffee breaks.”

“Well, we’ll be home soon and dinner is almost ready. You probably want a shower and a good night’s rest in your own bed.”

Concentrating on her driving, she had missed the guilty look that came over Don’s face.

* * *

“Great dinner, Leanne. As usual, you’re one fine cook.”

“Go on up; I’m going to clean up things around here.”

“Bring the wine when you come. As tired as I am, need something to take the edge off.”

“Will do, not to worry,” she’d replied.

While storing leftovers in the refrigerator, scraping pots and pans and placing them and the rinsed tableware into the dishwasher, she remembered thinking how happy she was to have her husband back home. Can’t wait for a fantastic night of loving! A week is too long!

Her chores finished, she had taken a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and tucked it under her arm.

Picking up the glasses, she’d raced up the stairs. As she reached the top of the stairs, she could smell the soap fragrance from her husband’s shower lingering in the air. My man is waiting for me!

Leaving the wine and glasses on the hall table, she’d hurried into the bathroom, washing her face, brushing her teeth and putting on a pricey nightgown she had purchased just for this night. It was white silk, cost a pretty penny from the top lingerie shop in town, but she didn’t care. It was high waisted and fell in deep folds. She had almost felt like a bride, hoping Don would see and treat her that way.

* * *

With the cool, silk folds cascading down her eager, excited body, she thought, You nut! You’ve been married twenty-five years! Picking up the wine and glasses from the hall table, she entered the dark room, expecting that Don would be sitting up, probably reading, waiting for her. But his back was turned to her. He was fast asleep.

Leanne remembered being dismayed and disappointed as she slipped into the bed. She had nestled against his back and stroked his arm. His body was warm, firm, but he did not stir. She kept caressing his arm. Feeling a slight movement, she whispered, “Go back to sleep, honey. It’s all right, go back to sleep.”

He groaned and slowly turned to face her. He did not open his eyes, but he kissed her.

“Love, Lee,” he murmured sleepily. She continued to caress him. Then he fitfully flung his arm across her body. She held him as he began to snore loudly. This man is exhausted! What a week he must have had.