Lovely Girls (prt 3) Clean Kisses

After we all finished dinner and Rachael’s famous apple pie, Jessie helps pick up the plates. “Jessie, baby,” Rachael says. “Can you go and get ready for bed? We’ll put the dishes up and then go tuck you in.”1

“Micky too?” she asks excitedly.2

“Yes, Micky too. Now go young lady,” she giggles out. “We’ll be there in a minute.” Jessie skips to her room, and Rachael turns to the sink and starts washing dishes. “You don’t have to help Micky. You’re the guest. It won’t take me long to do these.” I just smile and ignore her while I stand next to her drying her neatly painted dolphin plates. 3

Rachael begins to hum the melody to “You and Me” by Lifehouse. It was the first song playing when we met. Our eyes locked, lips shaped into smiles, and our hands motioned a wave. I didn’t even realize what I was doing. Her humming was beautiful and I was just stuck in that moment. Rachael seems to think something is up. She turns to me.4

“Micky?” she asks gently. “Did you know you’ve been drying the same bowl for five minutes?” I can hear the nervousness in her laugh. 5

“Oh,” I feel completely dumb and set down the bowl. “Sorry, I was just daydreaming.” I look away blushing. She goes back to washing, as I do drying. After a moment of silence, “Did you know you have a wonderful humming voice?” Without even looking over, in the corner of my left eye I can see her face getting red.6

“I didn’t know you noticed.” There goes that nervous laugh again. “I hope I wasn’t bothering you,” she becomes shy again. I shake my head and move closer to her. Putting down my plate I was drying, I remove her hands from the water in the sink. 7

“Shhh,” I hushed her. Body moving closer, her hands move to my hips, eyes close, and my lips reach hers. We stay mesmerized in this one kiss for what seems like forever. A few more moments of staying together, we both hear footsteps getting farther. I pull away smiling secretly. “Go tuck her in, I’ll finish the dishes.” We both smile as she walks away. 8

Ten minutes later, I hear Rachael’s footsteps behind me. I soon then feel hands around my waist. “Now it’s my turn to get you back.” She turns me around and passionately kisses me. My hands run through her long hair and around her neck. Once again we both stay mesmerized and keep deeply kissing. After we both pull away, I pull her into me and hold on to her. “Good thing the dishes are done,” she laughs into my neck. Rachael kisses my cheek then whispers, “Jessie’s waiting for you. I think she really likes you.”9

As I walk away, I whisper underneath my breath, “As I do her mother.” I can feel Rachael’s smile on my back. When I get into Jessie’s room, she looks like she’s sleeping. “Jessie, honey, I know you aren’t trying to play that fake sleeping with me.” I lightly giggle, and as soon I say that I see her body shoot up. She’s giggling and I sit down beside her. 10

“Thank you, Micky.” Just like her mother, she can read minds. “For making Mommy happy.” I pull her little body into mine and hug her tight but gently with a tear running down my face. I rock her to sleep and slip her underneath the covers. I kiss her cheek and walk back into the living room.11

Before shutting the door, I look on the calendar near the light switch. “Happy Birthday little one.” When I walk back into the living room I see Rachael cuddled up on the couch in comfy looking pajamas and two mugs of coffee. “Why didn’t you tell me that it was her birthday?” Rachael doesn’t say anything; she just motions for me to sit down next to her.12

“I didn’t want you to freak out. I wanted it be to be special here with us three.” Her face turns a light pink, “I wanted to see how you both reacted, kind of like a family.” Our bodies move closer together, and I wrap my arms around her. Cuddling on the couch, sipping on coffee, not paying attention, and we both fall asleep. 13