Oil began to spatter subtly onto the kitchen range stove top as the freshly battered chicken was dropped every so carefully into the pot. Water boiled near by, cooking the potatoes and a fresh loaf of bread was baking in the oven. The smells wandered through the small ranch home wrapping around each member of the family and hugged them with the warmth of a home made meal.
"What time is that repair man coming over tomorrow for the washer?" Jeremy wrapped his arms around the waist of his love, as she carefully turned the chicken over in the simmering oil.
"He said sometime between nine and five," she answered with her silken voice as she tilted her head casually to the left, to allow him ample access to her bare neck. Not one to miss an oppurtunity, Jeremy nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent. She never had need of perfume, she had a natural smell of lavendar that he swore was burrowed into her skin.
"Try to keep the boys out of his way," he kissed her earlobe before he dropped his hands from her womanly hips and took a step away from the stove to lean against the counter. He watched her as she wiped her forehead, a loose strand of her brown hair had matted itself to her skin. A reminder that the air conditioner was broken again.
"I always do," she smiled at him patiently. "Your sons are the spitting image of you! Do you know what they did in church this morning?" she pointed the tongs accusingly at him, then made a sweeping motion towards the family room, signally that she was talking about their sons. "Those boys of yours decided that the church bell aught to ring early today, on account that they had made plans to go fishing with the Burdoon brothers down by the creek. So your boys climbed up to the church tower and rang that bell. You should have seen the way everyone starting looking around trying to find out what was going on. The preacher was confused, looking at his watch and then down at the congregation.- It's not funny Jeremy!" She half heartedly stomped her foot.
"I know it's not," her husband straightened himself up and tried to stifle his laughter. He envisioned his two sons climbing up the tower in their Sunday clothes and pulling on the thick braided rope to ring the old bell. "Did they get caught?"
"Lucky for them, no. I knew it was them though, I could here Brandon giggling from my pew!" she tried suppress the giggle she felt rising now that the event was all over with. She had been scowling fiercely when she had been waiting for the two of them as they came scrambling down the side ladder outside the bell tower. The rest of the congregation was buzzing and the Preacher had to wait for everyone to settle down before he could finish his sermon. She had quickly led her sons to the car and left before any of the congregation could see them.
"No fishing?" Jeremy folded his strong arms over his chest.
"No fishing." she nodded and turned her attention back to the chicken. He watched her for a moment with a silent awe. The apron she was wearing around her waist was wearing thin, a small hole was already starting to rip along the pocket seam. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail fully exposing her gentle features; her deep blue eyes, full cherry lips, and the petite slope of her nose that was nestled between her perfectly placed high cheek bones. He had taken her for his wife nearly ten years ago, and still he found himself losing his breath over her beauty.
"What are you doing?" she asked, shifting her weight awkwardly. His stare always made her unsettled, as if he were critiquing her in some way.
"Nothing, baby," he grinned at her, her ignorance about her beauty always amazed him. The small dimples of his cheeks creeped to the surface as he gave her a majestically grin. His dark wavy hair was still wind blown from the field work he had done earlier that morning and his warm green eyes held merriment as he leaned down to kiss her on her cheek. "I'm gonna go wash up. Maybe Brandon and Justin could have a catch with their dad before dinner, if their punishment is over?" he rested his hands on her hips again, pulling her back into his chest. The tongs rested on the counter as she turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist, looking up at him.
"I suppose," she consented with a lopsided grin.
His lips were only a few inches away from hers when he remarked "I'll talk to them about the church bell. I'm sorry I wasn't there this morning. Next week. I'll have the fields done by next Sunday," he promised before capturing her lips in a passionately warm kiss that left them both a bit dazed. He pulled away and headed out of the kitchen with a lazy grin on his face.
They both knew that he wouldn't be at service next Sunday, but neither of them would admit to it.
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