Christmas Sonata

Chapter 3

I found the robe and detoured to the kitchen, grabbing some water and some champagne and glasses as well.  Singing to myself, I retrieved the presents I wanted to give her tonight and put one under a silver food dome, while carrying the other one in the pocket of my robe.  Using one of the serving carts, I made my way back to my no doubt lonely wife.

When I came into the library, Lisa also obviously had donned a red silk robe.  Why was she never following my internal game plan? Oh, maybe, because she had not learned to totally read my mind yet.  So, instead of being naked and longing for my return, she was sitting at the desk, hanging up the phone. Guess she had found a way to stay occupied.  The look on her face left little doubt about who she’d been talking to, and I could not suppress the annoyance. She came from around the table and gave me a sweet peck on the lips.

"Oh, you're the best husband ever! Thanks baby! I was getting a bit hungry. And I figured we'd better stay strong for later..."

I’d let her pull her diversionary tactics for a little while.

"Yeah, I know how you get when you’re hungry or thirsty.  Look, I had called ahead and had some of our best champagne chilled."

"Funny how you can call everyone but me when you're on your way back."

There was that pout again. It was a blessing I thought she was extra sexy wearing it- especially when she had limited articles of clothing to distract me.

"Hey- be good: I wanted to surprise you!"

"You succeeded. I was totally surprised- that you bothered to come home at all."

What was it with women?  They never seemed happy! I really, really could do without that side product of marriage. I was home now- why did she have to make me feel bad? Not like I could hop into my time machine and decide to come back earlier. Which I wouldn't have done anyway, because I had been working.  Now, I was done working and was with her, trying to enjoy our time together which was very difficult when barraged by a toxic cloud of nagging.

"Why does that sound like an accusation?"

I decided keeping the tone light was the way to go.

"Why would it be? Just because you weren't back on time and stood me up at that dinner?"

"You had a lovely date. I bet you didn’t miss me at all."

Lisa laughed. "I had my mother. You must be confused about her being lovely. And I always miss you."

Except when she was busy with someone who really no longer had any right to occupy her time.

"Who was on the phone?"

Time to turn the tables on little Miss Innocent.  Surprise attacks worked wonders with Lisa. She crunched her forehead into cute little wrinkles. 

"Danny."

At least she had not lied.  Not that it would have done any good.  But really, I was not mad at her.  As usual, the idiot I was plagued with deserved all those nasty emotions.  The gall of that stupid interloper!  What I wouldn’t give to be rid of him.

"Before you say anything, he just wanted to confirm the time for tomorrow."

Sure he did. Had he heard of writing down important things? Like when to have the children ready so they could come back to their family? Since he couldn’t afford people to do it for him, he might wanna invest in one of these handy scheduling books.