The Fling

71

When I left Toronto, the city was blanketed in a layer of fluffy white snow; when I landed in Los Angeles, it was fifty-eight degrees and sunny. As much as I loved Canada, it was nice to drive home from LAX and see palm trees and bright blue skies.

When I got inside my house, I took my luggage upstairs, though I didn't unpack. Instead, I sat on my bed and sent Abigail a text.

I'm home

She replied a few seconds later.

Welcome back ❤️

I was hoping she'd suggest we meet up, but the kids were on winter break so anything we did would have to include them. I didn't mind that at all, though obviously we couldn't talk about our relationship with them around. The more I thought about it, the better that sounded. I wasn't up for a heavy conversation, and all I wanted was to be near the woman I loved. I sent her another message.

Are you busy?

It took five minutes, but she replied:

The kids and I are currently working a massive jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table.

That sounded pretty fun to me.

Can I join you?

She messaged back immediately.

If you don't mind being at my house, then of course.

Bert is at work, btw.

I told her I was fine with it, since I had a change of heart about avoiding her home. I hopped in the shower to wash away the grime from traveling and changed into clean clothes. It wasn't long before I was knocking at her front door.

"Hi," Abigail said brightly as Hannah and Bertie flung themselves at me for hugs.

"Come look at our puzzle!" Bertie bounced up and down. "It's a thousand pieces and it is so hard!"

"It's the beach and ocean and there's a lot of blue," Hannah added.

I followed them into the dining room. "You've got the border done, so that's a great start."

"It took forever to sort the edges from the middles," Bertie moaned.

Lizzie was sitting at the table and smiled up at me. "Hey! How was your Christmas?"

"It was really nice. Was Santa good to everyone in this house?"

This question led to me being dragged by both hands by the younger kids to admire every single one of their presents. The children returned to the puzzle while their mom and I went in the kitchen to make some hot cocoa. Even if it didn't feel wintery outside, it was December and the seasonal drink felt right.

"When did your parents leave?" I asked.

"Dad left the day after Christmas and my mom left yesterday. Nothing was ever said about their tryst, but I almost gagged from how giddy they were the morning after."

"I think it's cute that they rekindled that flame. Even if it was just a fling, it was probably nice for them to reconnect for one night."

"Sometimes flings turn into much more," she commented.

The kids were engaged in working the puzzle and couldn't hear or see us, so I walked around the island and took Abigail in my arms. "I will be forever grateful that was the case for us." Then I kissed her softly on the lips.

"This doesn't feel like break-behavior."

"We're making our own rules for this break, and I vote for it to include a little physical contact. You have no idea how much I've missed holding you." I kissed her again.