Interlude One - A Worried Dada

Interlude One - A Worried Dada

Interlude One - A Worried Dada

Roger carefully shut the door to Irenes house with a click, then he turned to the light of his heart.

Currently, that light was clearly unamused. Really? she asked.

What? he said, feigning ignorance. It wouldnt work, of course. His darling was too clever by half, and she knew him besides. Still, maybe he could soften the blow a little. She stared, a hand going to rest on her hip in a way he knew all too well. Come now, Tessa, he murmured.

She allowed him to pull her close. It amazed him, even now, after several years together, just how light and small she was. Smog masks were lowered and they kissed. It was a quick, chaste thing, but welcome all the same.

Kissing in public was somewhat in poor taste. but he didnt care. Doing the same in front of a child was taboo, and his little mushroom would no doubt ask all sorts of inappropriate questions

He didnt feel like explaining anything like that to a child. No doubt Tessa would make him do it too.

Tessa pulled up her smog mask to hide her smile. How are we going to afford Marthas? she asked.nove(l)bi(n.)com

Its only a pence a week, we can manage it, he said.

There was a welling in his chest. Pride, certainly, and love, like he felt for Tessa, and fear too, every time his Little Mushroom coughed, or when she slept fitfully. Fear for what would be.

But he was a hard working man. He would do what had to be done, put in the hours, make the sacrifices.

And at the end of the day, his Little Mushroom would be a happy child, with a better life than he could ever have for himself.

What are you thinking about now? Tessa asked.

He chuckled. Im thinking our Little Mushroom will get into all sorts of trouble in the future.

His wife poked him in the ribs with an elbow. Dont you go teaching her anything troublesome, you brute, she said.

Their eyes met and they both laughed as they continued on, through the fog and rain, through the thick and the thin. He looked forward to seeing that glimmer of sunshine that would change the sky and brighten his day, but if it didnt come, then he had his own little corner of brightness to live for.

***

Not an actual chapter~