[sunday_reveries] Happily Ever After
(“No one ever does live happily ever after, but we leave the children to find that out for themselves.”
-Stephen King)
Gilda Dent
Batman
440 words
“You’re a saint.”
Gilda Dent laughed as her husband took the cup of coffee she offered and drank. Harvey smiled over the brim at her.
“You really should eat something. Coffee is not breakfast,” Gilda said.
“I know,” he replied. He took another drink before kissing her cheek, “But I have to go.”
“The office isn’t going to burn down if you’re a couple minutes late.”
“I’ll be home early tonight,” he promised.
She kissed him. “You better be. Barbara and I are going out-with or without you and Jim. We are leaving at seven on the dot, and if you boys aren’t home, we’re not waiting.”
Harvey laughed this time. He set down the cup of coffee and pulled his wife in for a hug. “I’ll be home,” he said. “If I’m not, have a good time.” He grinned down at her when she glared up at him. “But I will be home. I promise.”
“Take care of yourself.” Gilda couldn’t wish him a good day. A “good day” at the District Attorney’s office would be a day when there was no mob to deal with. She kissed him again. “I love you.”
He paused to stroke her hair and kiss her back. “I love you too.” He picked up his mug. Gilda waited while he finished the drink then took the cup into the kitchen as he left.
She listened to the car start and pull out of the driveway as she washed the mug. She’d begged Harvey to get a remote starter, just to put her at ease. He drove away without audible incident and she let out a breath. Someday, she wouldn’t be so afraid every time he left the house. Someday, she and Barbara wouldn’t exchange late night phone conversations, worrying about their husbands. Someday, both the District Attorney and Police Commissioner would be home at decent hours, their wives unafraid of what the mafia might do. Someday, Gilda would be able to hear the phone ring and not fear the worst.
Gilda poured herself a cup of coffee and looked out the kitchen window at the small backyard. She knew Harvey wanted a new house, a better home to raise children in. He didn’t talk about his father much, but Gilda understood even what he didn’t say. This was no house to raise children in. Too much had happened here. But it was paid off, the utilities only a minor worry. They’d have enough saved for a new house soon, then they’d really start trying for children again.
It wouldn’t be long, Gilda promised herself again, before she got her “happily ever after.”
-Stephen King)
Gilda Dent
Batman
440 words
“You’re a saint.”
Gilda Dent laughed as her husband took the cup of coffee she offered and drank. Harvey smiled over the brim at her.
“You really should eat something. Coffee is not breakfast,” Gilda said.
“I know,” he replied. He took another drink before kissing her cheek, “But I have to go.”
“The office isn’t going to burn down if you’re a couple minutes late.”
“I’ll be home early tonight,” he promised.
She kissed him. “You better be. Barbara and I are going out-with or without you and Jim. We are leaving at seven on the dot, and if you boys aren’t home, we’re not waiting.”
Harvey laughed this time. He set down the cup of coffee and pulled his wife in for a hug. “I’ll be home,” he said. “If I’m not, have a good time.” He grinned down at her when she glared up at him. “But I will be home. I promise.”
“Take care of yourself.” Gilda couldn’t wish him a good day. A “good day” at the District Attorney’s office would be a day when there was no mob to deal with. She kissed him again. “I love you.”
He paused to stroke her hair and kiss her back. “I love you too.” He picked up his mug. Gilda waited while he finished the drink then took the cup into the kitchen as he left.
She listened to the car start and pull out of the driveway as she washed the mug. She’d begged Harvey to get a remote starter, just to put her at ease. He drove away without audible incident and she let out a breath. Someday, she wouldn’t be so afraid every time he left the house. Someday, she and Barbara wouldn’t exchange late night phone conversations, worrying about their husbands. Someday, both the District Attorney and Police Commissioner would be home at decent hours, their wives unafraid of what the mafia might do. Someday, Gilda would be able to hear the phone ring and not fear the worst.
Gilda poured herself a cup of coffee and looked out the kitchen window at the small backyard. She knew Harvey wanted a new house, a better home to raise children in. He didn’t talk about his father much, but Gilda understood even what he didn’t say. This was no house to raise children in. Too much had happened here. But it was paid off, the utilities only a minor worry. They’d have enough saved for a new house soon, then they’d really start trying for children again.
It wouldn’t be long, Gilda promised herself again, before she got her “happily ever after.”