It Begins With Us

51. It Ends

Ryle:

I slump against the porch railing beside the door, fiddling with my suspenders as Al searches through her purse for the house keys. I run my eyes over her aged face, and think about kissing every wrinkle, every slope, every curve on her face. My eyes move to the fine mass of dark curls, sprinkled with grey and white, cascading down beside her concentrated face like a perfectly textured backdrop. 

Her eyes squint and she purses her lips as she searches. Then at once, with a jingle of metal keys, her face lights up with tipsy victory. I grin as she inserts the key and hums happily.

Quickly, I cut in before her, and hold the door open as she glides past me. She kicks off her heels and collapses halfway on the couch, the excess of her dress draped over the hardwood floor.

 We've been smiling all day, from the beginning of Henry's wedding to the very end. The drive home was quiet and crackling with silent excitment. Now, after so many years, our home is filled with just the two of us again. Our children have grown and settled and moved on from this life.

I walk over to her and lean down, my lips pressed tightly against her forehead.

"Come." I say, taking her hand and helping her up.

I lead her to the room and together we collapse on the bed.

"So we're alone again." I whisper to her suggestively.

Longing hidden behind my playful words.

"But now we're really old." She sighs sadly, and I can tell she's messing with me.

I push off of the bed then gently lower myself unto her, and nuzzle my face deep into her stomach. Alba squirms and wriggles, trying to get away. Some where in-between our wrestling we end up surrendering into one another.

"Being old means nothing." I grunt, and she drags her nails against my scslp making me shiver with pleasure.

"I know. Now I'm going to go take a shower." She says pulling out from underneath me, and I sigh and let her get away.

If I stop her now it's only going to make her grumpy. Our moods have phased and morphed with the aging of our bodies and minds alike. Almost like we had to learn about one another all over again. 

I turn over onto my back and stare up at the ceiling. 

I remember the first time we moved into this house, the boys loved it, and Alba treated me real well that night. Hockey games were a blast to watch. Bruins vs Leafs, every year was chaos, eventually the kids had to choose sides and I got Emmy, and Alba got the boys. 

The thought pulls a laugh out of me and I lay there, happily drifting in and out of sleep. I hear the washroom door swing open and the door to the closet slam shut.

"Ry, I'm done." Alba calls out to me from the other side of the door and I nod.

I force my eyes open and stumble off of the bed.

Alba:

I sneakily pull on my new and special set of lacey underwear.

'This is going to be fun.'

On top I yank on my plain white nightdress just as the washroom door closes. I quickly rush out of the closet and to the vanity table. I sit down and get to towel scrunching my hair till it's a mass of damp curls. I don't want my hair to be perfectly styled. I've realized that Ryle likes it when it look little frizzy, and messy.