Fleetwood Mac-Part III of Fritz Series

Breakup to Makeup

I wouldn't say I'm primping necessarily, but I'm wearing a new suit and Stevie's favorite cologne of mine. I did some trimming to my beard and fixed my hair for about twenty-minutes...okay I'm primping. I'm not sure what to expect when we get to the house, but for some reason it's important that I don't look like some strung out stoner. Which is essentially how I live five days a week when I don't have Sara and Nova with me. Sitting on the stool next to me Sara's brushing Nova's curly blonde locks while he plays absently with a toy train. It's sweet how much she mothers him, and even sweeter that he doesn't seem to mind. He's a very taciturn toddler, but then he hardly ever cried as a baby.

"Are you going to bring mommy some flowers?" eyes wide with approval Sara looks up from her work at me. Nova holds his train aloft mirroring her look "Flowers, mommy likes flowers" I can't argue with two kids. And Stevie does like fresh flowers, she likes chocolate, jewelry, champagne and sex more...but the kids don't need to know that. Plus those items might be a touch on the nose, a magnum of Dom, a diamond tennis bracelet a Whitman's sampler and my bare ass would be a big sign of my expectations for the evening. Besides I'm not tying a bow around my hard on again...that was...well anyway.

"What kind do you think she'll like?" my daughter's eyes flash with inspiration immediately "Roses! Big red ones!" wiggling excitedly Nova co-signs her proclamation "Red roses!" there's a floral shop down the street, I should be able to get some long stemmed roses there. I check the time, it's nearly eleven I don't want to show up too late in the afternoon. I'm optimistic for the first time in months, we can talk this out. Hopefully, work it out. We'll say our peace, make up and I'll be back home before next Friday. I might be able to talk Robin into watching the kids so we can have a date night Saturday, plenty of nice hotels in L.A. we can spend the night in after dinner and dancing...

Other than our brief bout of angry sex before our performance on television I've been in rather a dry spell. This is the longest I've gone...second longest we've gone without making love. I try not to think about the first time. I don't expect anything today, we still need to rebuild our relationship as husband and wife before that happens. But we're old hands at that, and falling back into familiar patterns with each other shouldn't be too hard. I know my wife, and right about now she misses our physical intimacy as much as I do.

"Alright guys let's get a move on, Sara get your sweater baby" two sets of tiny feet rush off as soon as I turn away from the mirror. I left a bowl in the sink that I wash quickly leaving it draining on the rack. I have to smile at my husband/father habits. I'm still doing things the way I know Stevie would want me to, our first big fight as a married couple stemming from my slovenly habits as a spoiled teenager. Once I'm satisfied that both Nova and Sara are appropriately attired for the weather we hit the road, stopping to pick up Stevie's roses on the way.

Sara's humming along with the radio and I join her, my spirits high for the first time in what seems like forever. We're going to talk. No arguing, no yelling. Just a calm thoughtful adult conversation between husband and wife. If it runs late and I get to stay the night with the kids, so be it. I'll sleep on the couch, or in my studio. We may even talk so more on Sunday, and since Sara has school in the morning anyway I could probably stay again so I can drop her off. Robin has a class Mondays, and Stevie doesn't drive if she can help it. I just want to be helpful. They're my kids too, I should be there for them.

Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel I can't help wondering how often A.J. wakes up at night. Stevie probably needs a break, I can get up and feed him so long as she has milk pumped and in the fridge. If his stomach is upset I can drive him around for a while so she can sleep in. She looked and sounded so tired yesterday, she needs a break. It won't do for her to get ill with three kids and a world tour coming up. Smiling I pull into the driveway, eager to see my wife and our baby. No stupid red Mercedes today, good.