Meadow Two Months Ago
Kicking off my shoes, I groaned as I made my way to my room. I was so tired I’d give anything to be able to crawl into bed and sleep for a month. But that wasn’t my future. Instead, I’d take a shower to get the work cooties, as I called them off me, then it would be chores and adulting until I fell into bed hours from now. Where was Prince Charming when you needed him? Oh yeah, off saving a damn princess who didn’t need him like I did. Bitch.
Even though I was tired, being greeted by two adorable dogs, who were ecstatic to see me, and watching their little butts wiggle along with their swirled tails, made me laugh. I crouched down and greeted them with a head scratch, a back rub, an under-the-chin tickle, and finally, kisses. I got each a small treat to enjoy in the bathroom while showering. It was a given that you did nothing in private in this house. They always kept me company.
The water heated in the shower while I stripped and tossed my dirty scrubs and underclothing into the hamper. I took down my hair, brushed it out, and climbed into my tiny shower. I took time washing my hair and body. The hot water felt good on all my aches. Once I was done, I towel-dried my hair, combed it out, put it in a ponytail, and then slathered on face cream, body lotion, and deodorant before slipping into my sleep tank and shorts.
“Come on, boys, let’s go make dinner,” I told our white pugs—Blizzard and Icicle. They happily trotted after me.
The girls would be home soon after their long day. I’d better get a move on if I wanted to have dinner ready for them. They were old enough to take care of themselves, but I still liked to feel as if I did things for them. Besides, I needed to eat, too. Tonight was a good night for spaghetti with homemade sauce, a healthy salad, and garlic toast.
My timing was perfect when they walked through the door forty minutes later. Their books and bags were dropped on the coffee table in our tiny living room, and then I was engulfed in their arms as they hugged and kissed me while greeting our bundles of fur. I gave both of them a hard squeeze. No matter how tired or bad my day was, they always made me smile.
“Go wash your hands. Dinner is ready,” I told them automatically.
“You know, we’re old enough to know to do that without being told,” Sage said with a smirk.
I slapped her ass as I said, “Then what’re you waiting for? Go do it.”
“We’re going,” Aspen sang as they both went to the bathroom, laughing.
They were back in minutes and helped me get the food on the table. We sat there enjoying our simple yet filling dinner. They told me about their day, and I told them about mine. Since I cooked, they had cleanup duty. They good-naturedly grumbled about it.
After everything was taken care of later and we’d spent more time together with our furry blankets—oops, I mean dogs—they excused themselves to go to their rooms to study and then get ready for bed. Icicle and Blizzard went with them. The girls shared a room, so there was no need for either pug to sacrifice staying with one to be with the other. Sometimes, I got a snuggle buddy when they wanted to sleep with me. I stayed in the living room working on the bills. I hated to do them. No matter what, the money never seemed to stretch as far as I wanted or sometimes we needed.
It was midnight before I made my way wearily to bed. Pulling my covers over me, I tried to think happy thoughts as I fell asleep. Maybe if I were lucky, I’d have sweet dreams. Or maybe my Prince Charming would show himself in my dreams so I’d know who to look for when I was awake. Maybe he’d been given the wrong address, which was why he hadn’t come.