Saliva. He used the right foot to work his left stocking down and off. He shoved it away with distaste. He did love Cloud to distraction-- yes. He did not know how he had managed the years without a dog. And she loved him back. Thus the head on his foot, thus the drool.
Much better. He wiggled his toes to warn her off. She gave a great sigh, and rested her head on the floor.
"Good morning, Mary."
"Yes. A very good morning.," She said.
For the first time in years, Mary had brought the tray, with extra cups and a whole pot of coffee.
"They are still asleep," The doctor said.
"I hope they wake before the pot goes cold," Mary said, "The poor lambs." She gave a kindly smile.
"H'ahmm." Dr Hornblower said.
he poured a cup for himself, and one for Mary. She would take hers back to the kitchen. He added milk to his own, and milk and sugar to hers. he wrapped the coffee pot in a napkin, and secured it with a number of spoons.
He was fairly sure that he had heard a strangled shout from the poor lamb's bedroom last night. Twenty years celibate, but he still knew that sound.
The sun was warming his toes now, and Cloud let him rest them against her side. They were warm, and for once not aching. And the coffee was warming him from the inside. Lovely. Twenty years gone, his Helen. And now he could not really picture what the marriage woud have grown to be. He alone had had the joy of watching Horatio grow.
There now. He could hear them on the stairs. There was Mr.Kennedy, his voice soaring as he made some jest. They clattered on the stairs, like boys, hungry and careless, as boyhood streamed away behind them.
Love comes with no announcement. Who could have predicted Archie Kennedy? He heard them giggling, as they composed themselves to enter the room. Dr Hornblower spared a thought for arthritic admirals, and lifted his cup in greeting.
"Good morning boys," He said
Comments
I love the image of the pair of them with their boyhoods streaming away behind them. That's beautiful.
Love comes with no announcement. Who could have predicted Archie Kennedy?
Who indeed? "Unpredictable" sums up so much of Archie's character, right to the bitter end. Though I very much hope that Archie will not meet his bitter end in your stories.
Happily ever after is fine in life, but not so much fun to read about!
Ah now there I have to disagree. Happy ever after is very rarely all plain sailing. And there are few things I find more compelling to read than complex realistic adult relationships. Not an easy thing to write of course but I am quite sure you are more than equal to the task!
Love comes with no announcement. Who could have predicted Archie Kennedy?
Yep.
The love we planned on is not always the one we get. Still love though.
and if not happy ever after - actually happy and sad and hacked off and frantic and all in between ever after which is what life is after all could be very intersting. lyrical and beautiul even wehn painful- at least written by you It could !