He would be home soon.\u00a0 Soon she would hear the crunching of car tyres on the gravel driveway, then his heavy footsteps on the front stairs and the front door being thrown open.\u00a0 It was her favourite time of day, when he would throw his bag down in the front hall and call her name.\u00a0 She would pat down her dress and smooth her hair one last time, and gracefully walk into the hall as though his homecoming had caught her by surprise.\u00a0 And they would embrace each other and she would delight in the strength of his body against hers and his murmurs of love to her.<\/p>\n
It was always the same. \u00a0She cherished his daily homecoming and she found herself counting the hours, preparing herself for his arrival, waiting as the afternoon shadows grew longer.<\/p>\n
He would be home soon.\u00a0 She surveyed her home yet again, chastising herself silently for cushions that were not properly positioned on the lounge chairs, picking up yesterdays folded newspapers, and checking again that her hairpins were tucked neatly away in her stylish bun.<\/p>\n
She could smell the evening meal in the oven, and fretted for a moment that she had started baking too early for his arrival.\u00a0 An overcooked dinner was not what he deserved after his long day.\u00a0 She headed for the kitchen, catching sight of a slipper beside the lounge chair.\u00a0 She tucked it under her arm and walked towards the bedroom cupboard.<\/p>\n
The shadows were getting longer.\u00a0 She patted down the quilt on the bed they shared, and picked up the framed wedding photo on their dresser.\u00a0 Such a happy day.\u00a0 And they still shared that same love.\u00a0 She clutched the photo to her chest, and smiled to herself.\u00a0 Such an intense and beautiful love.\u00a0 She was sure that no-one else understood what they had between them.<\/p>\n
He would be home soon.\u00a0 And she would tell him about the new buds on her roses and how the neighbour\u2019s dog had been barking too much again and how pleased she was with her embroidery project.\u00a0 And he would listen and smile at her, telling her how wonderful she was and how the dinner she had prepared for him was just perfect.<\/p>\n
The dinner.\u00a0 With a start, she hurried towards the kitchen again.\u00a0 The shadows were getting longer and she had not heard the crunch of gravel in the driveway or his heavy footsteps on the stairs.\u00a0 He was sometimes late, but not often.\u00a0 She tried to calm herself.\u00a0 He did not need a fretful wife quizzing him after his hard day.\u00a0 He needed to come home to a place of tranquillity and love.<\/p>\n
She caught sight of her reflection in the hallway mirror and tried to smooth the worried lines from her forehead.\u00a0 She forced a smile at her reflection hoping that this would sooth the mounting concern in her heart.\u00a0 He would be home soon, and then he would laugh at her anxiety and reassure her that everything in their world was in order.\u00a0 Like it always was.<\/p>\n
The shadows were getting longer.\u00a0 She tried to block the worries from her mind, and busy herself with dusting, once again, the cups on the china cabinet.\u00a0 She had dusted them several times already today, wanting to make everything clean and organised for his homecoming.\u00a0 She arranged the chairs around the dining table, making ever smaller adjustments to their position until they were absolutely perfect.\u00a0 She straightened the tablecloth and rearranged the flowers in the vase.\u00a0 One last time, she walked from room to room, checking that everything was in order, as she knew it would be.<\/p>\n
He would be home soon, and he would smile at her in his special way, and hold her in his arms.\u00a0 The shadows were getting longer, and she could feel herself growing weary from the waiting and the worry.\u00a0 She tried to sit on the lounge, wanting for him to find her relaxed and peaceful when he arrived.\u00a0 Her hands brushed the edge of a tray on the lounge beside her, and she recoiled in alarm.\u00a0 He would be home soon and she had not cleared away her tray from lunch.\u00a0 She hurried towards the kitchen, hoping that she could wash and put away these dishes before she heard the crunch of gravel on the driveway.<\/p>\n
Dinner.\u00a0 He always said she shouldn\u2019t wait for him.\u00a0 She should eat before him if he was late.\u00a0 She shouldn\u2019t let her dinner spoil, and she could reheat his on the stovetop when he came in.\u00a0 But she always waited.<\/p>\n
She was getting tired.\u00a0 And the shadows were fading into darkness.\u00a0 He would be home soon, and she was fighting with herself to stay calm and cheerful for his arrival.\u00a0 He could not find her tearful and he did not deserve a nagging wife.\u00a0 She walked toward the lounge, willing herself to sit calmly until she heard his heavy footsteps and the front door being thrown open.\u00a0 He would be home soon.\u00a0 The shadows were gone, and she was tired.<\/p>\n
There were heavy footsteps outside the room and a door was thrown open.\u00a0 A man\u2019s hand touched her arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s sleeping, at last. \u00a0Poor old girl\u201d, said the man in the white uniform.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had a rough afternoon.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think her evening medication is strong enough.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t even sit still to have dinner\u201d, said the woman beside him.<\/p>\n
8 June 2015<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
He would be home soon.\u00a0 Soon she would hear the crunching of car tyres on the gravel driveway, then his heavy footsteps on the front stairs and the front door being thrown open.\u00a0 It was her favourite time of day, when he would throw his bag down in the front hall and call her name.\u00a0 … Continue reading The Homecoming<\/span>