Page 6 of Tides and Tidings

“Do you hear something?” I went into protective mode.

“No,” she paused while she slipped out of her heels. “It’s so quiet in here. I don’t think it’s ever been the two of us in this house. Even when Wren is with your mom, Marsh is still here, barking at all the birds outside.”

I listened to the silence. “I think you’re right. What should we do?”

A yawn escaped her mouth. “If I’m being one hundred percent honest…”

“Do you want to take a nap?” I interrupted.

Blythe threw herself into my arms, “Can we please? I need a nap so badly.” She begged.

I brushed her hair off her face, “I was thinking we’d go get changed, grab some snacks, then plop on the couch and watch a movie. Just see where the afternoon takes us?”

She stood on her toes to plant a kiss on my mouth. I wrapped my arms around her waist to pull her against my body.

“Mmm, not right now. I’m too sleepy.”

“Let’s go get changed and start our perfect weekend.” I ushered her up the stairs to our bedroom.

Blythe shuffled through the clean basket of clothes that had been sitting in the corner of our room for four days. She shimmied out of her jeans and red “peplum top”—as she had corrected me this morning—and slipped one of my college T-shirts over her head. You have to be kidding me.

Blythe grabbed me by the hand and led me to the kitchen to get snacks. “Can we make popcorn?” Her face was brighter. I think the lack of jeans and bra was an instant mood booster.

“I was thinking popcorn, M&Ms, and that ice cream we have in the garage freezer that we hide from Wren.”

She leaped into my arms, “I love you so much. You’re the best thing ever.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the woman who saved me from myself.

She had no idea what I had in store for her this weekend.

Blythe

I fell asleep thirty minutes into the movie Charlie put on despite my best attempt at staying awake. After the insanity of the last few weeks, a nap and a quiet afternoon were precisely what the doctor ordered.

When I finally stirred, Charlie’s space heater level of body heat was radiating off him. When I opened my eyes, he was sprawled out in the corner of the couch with his head rolled back, mouth agape. I was disoriented, confused, and had no idea what day it was.

“Babe,” I lightly shook his arm.

“Mm?”

“I think we should get up.”

Charlie opened one eye, “What day is it?”

I reached for my phone, but I did not have an answer for him. “Still Friday. It’s almost seven.”

That made him open his eyes, “We were asleep for that long?”

I shrugged, “Apparently.” I crawled over to where he was on the other side of the couch and snuggled into his broad chest.

Charlie traced random shapes on my bare leg mindlessly while still waking up. “I’m happy I didn’t have anything planned for us this afternoon.”

“I’m just surprised you could keep it a secret.” I poked his chest.

He looked down at me, “Me freakin’ too. Do you know how hard it is to keep things from you?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I struggled when it came to keeping secrets from him. Last year, I got him this cool fishing pole he wanted for Christmas and barely made it in the door before I spilled the beans. “I’m no better.”