GodOfWar05152014aLLROMANCE Read Online Free PDF Page A

doing.”
    The next ten minutes were spent explaining in glorious
detail how his pre-school teacher had accidentally let the hamster out of its
cage and they’d searched for him all day until the lady from the cafeteria saw
it and screamed.  He finished with, “Boy Mommy, ladies sure do lose their
heads don’t they?”
    I laughed and fully agreed, “They sure do.  But listen
remember how I told you that your Daddy was at war?”
    “Yeah, and I like to play war too,” he said cheerfully.
    “I know.  Well I found out that your Daddy is back from
war now.”
    “Oh good,” his little voice peeped.  “When is he coming
home?” he said excitedly, and I could picture him slipping around the floor in
his socks with his hair standing straight up after a long nights sleep.
    “I’m thinking about pointing the car in that direction right
now,” Jeff blurted.
    The phone was silent for a moment, “Daddy?”
    “Yes Parker, it’s me.”
    “The kids at school have been asking where you were,” my son
said plainly.
    I interrupted their chat; this was no time to explain to a
four year old the complications of relationships, not that I even remotely
understood them myself.  “No, no, no Parker, Daddy and I need to sleep
today.  We were up all night long with Aunt Carson having her baby and
we’re tired now.”
    “Okay.  Come home tomorrow then?” he said, plainly
disappointed but most likely considering that our delay will give him time to
tell every child in the preschool that his daddy was home from war now.
    “We’ll talk about it.  Tell Mrs. Mulaney that I’ll call
her later.  Alright baby?”
    The phone was silent and it took me a minute to realize what
was happening, “Oops, sorry about that.  I know you don’t like to be
called baby, and I apologize.”
    “Okay.  Well bye Mommy.  And Daddy, I’m glad
you’re home.”
    “Me too,” Jeff said and I wasn’t totally shocked to see a
tear roll down his cheek.
    The phone disconnected and we sat quietly before Jeff spoke,
“He’s brilliant isn’t he?  I mean is he one of those savants or
something?”
    I laughed, “Nope just a normal kid.  He looks like you
but he gets his brains from me.”  I teased proudly.
    “Oh really?”
    “It’s only when I’m with you that I turn to brainless
mush.  Most of the time I’m a respected scientist,” and I reached over and
patted his thigh.  “Don’t get me wrong, mush is good.  Really, really
good.”
    He eyed me carefully as he pulled into the driveway. 
“One can’t survive on mush alone, Morgan.  I’ll fix some sandwiches and
dig out a bottle of wine.  Then we need to sleep.”
    In a glance I realized he was right, we needed
refreshment.  His eyes were bloodshot and tired, and I wondered if he’d
looked this exhausted defending our country.  I followed him into the
house like a tiny puppy panting in his shadow.
    *-*-*-*-*
    I woke long after dark that evening, suddenly startled with a
lack of direction and then I felt his body, warm and relaxed against
mine.  No matter how much I thought this relationship needed slowing down,
feeling him beside me rendered me helpless.  My fingers trailed a path up
the sides of his back and waist, bringing him slowly to awareness beneath my
touch.  His body was even more perfect in the waking hour as he rolled
over and pulled me close to him.  “Do you realize this is the first time
we’ve woken up together?” he murmured, snuggling tight against me.
    “Mmm, it’s nice,” I whispered.
    He lifted and leaned on his elbow with his head resting on
his hand, “Marry me, Morgan?”
    I opened and shut my mouth a few times, staring deep into
his eyes without blinking.  Of course I considered the matter of marriage
before; we do have a child together after all, yet there was something so
dangerous and unsure about marrying a man you’ve spend less than a full week
with.  My sister adored him.  He’s my brother in law’s best
friend.  Everyone I