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?Cat and Scott?????? No Bottom

Part 2 ? Home

Brian pushed open the door to his four bedroom house that sat near the ‘junction of the wealthy’ and ‘the just getting by’. The yard was large with thick grass that needed a cutting. Several large trees lined the sidewalk a sign the neighborhood was older and so were the homes. This one was in good shape. He was proud of it. Concern over the location had never been an overriding factor. Here the police presence was strong. ‘Bellamy Plaza’, the name of the wealthy neighborhood starting four blocks away, was just close enough to harbor those with not quite so stellar bank accounts.?

He parked in the drive behind Val’s and greeted Ginger at the door. Ginger was the family's Golden Retriever and always waited patiently for Brian’s arrival home.?

“Dad?” The voice was Heather’s, sweet and endearing. She was ten and so full of bounce and promise it broke his heart every time he greeted her.?

“Sweetheart,” He gave her a big hug. “How are you today.

“Same,” she said twisting away and yelling out to anyone who could hear, “Dad’s home!”

He laughed and walked into the kitchen where Val was busying with something at the oven. He went to her.

“What’s up hon?” He bent to kiss her on the cheek and dodged a stir spoon as it did an imitation of a conductor's baton into a pan on the oven top burner.?

“I love you too,” he said, skipping away from an impromptu love pat on her perfect bottom.??

His energy faded quickly as he slumped into a chair at the kitchen table. “Another day,” he sighed.?

He watched her make magic for a bit then asked, “Kevin in his room?” It was a silly question. He was always in his room.?

“I’m making a stew, so I hope you are hungry”, Val replied as she just about finished what she was doing. She was trying to get the family to eat more healthy but that was easier said than done. Especially with Brain keeping the hours he did. Today, he was home on time, but that wasn’t always the case.?

“Your son is in his room, yes. He came home with another bad test. I swear to god, I don’t know what is wrong with that boy recently. His attitude is really below par lately and not only here but at school as well.” It was frustrating. As sweet and loving as Heather was, as distant and aloof her oldest was.?

Finishing up at the counter, Val washed her hands and then headed towards her husband, wrapping her arms around him from behind. “Tough day?” How could it not be? With the job he had, all that darkness. “Your home now though and I made dessert. Your favorite.” So far for eating healthy. “You want to talk about it? “

Making her way to the front, she positioned herself on her husband’s lap, arms still firmly wrapped around his shoulders. “I still have some time before dinner is ready.”

“Ugh, enough with the PDA please,” Kevin grunted as he suddenly appeared in the kitchen and headed towards the fridge. “It’s embarrassing.”?

Brian chuckled. He was warmed as always by Val’s tenderness and her loving embrace. He felt a hint of pain in his back but was able to ignore it. The medication was a gift but he didn’t want to think about those circumstances now.

Instead he considered Kevin’s words and imagined he was still a young man with a heart that could be so strong yet so singularly minded. It was a phase. Some pushed beyond it and became a man. In his experience most did so. For other’s there would be no ascension to adulthood.?

They would forever be accountable to no one but themselves. Unloving, cold of heart and of a purpose calculating without feelings or sympathy for others. It was a cold place. Brian ventured into those thoughts on occasion to try and glimpse the purpose. Sometimes he found some answers or clues. Most times it only brought depression. Imagining life with no foundation other than what suited. It was a puzzle he worked and would never finish. Sometimes, sometimes he got enough to win the day and that made the exercise worth all the gruesome thoughts.?

“Kevin,” Brian studied his oldest with unwavering eyes.

“Dad,” came the reply, the tone full of scornful mockery.

“Imagine you came to a river.”

“笔濒别补蝉别!”

“The river is deep and runs swiftly. You would flounder, even the best of swimmers. But you had to cross. Then a man hailed you from a boat. This boat was lashed to a rope that stretched from one side to the other. The purpose of the boat to help those in need cross the river. But there was a price to pay.”

Kevin was listening now. This was a new story and Dad sometimes had good stories to tell.

You say, “Yes, I need to get to the other side. What price must I pay.”

The boatman, an older man but with powerful arms nodded and spoke, “You must give me your most prized possession.”

But you say, “I have nothing but the shirt on my back.”

Then others came and got on the boat. A woman with a child. She paid him with money. Another came, a man with two sheep. He gave the boatman a platter of lamb. Then others came and paid in their way until the boat was nearly full.

The boatman waved, “Come, I will show you what you have.”

He guided you to a spot. Then he commanded, “Grab the rope and pull as I do.”

In understanding you did so and the boat pulled away from the shore. The rope was heavy and drew blisters but it moved swiftly under the rhythm of two pulling hard.?

When you reached the other side the boatman waited while everyone unloaded. Then he said to you, “You have gifts you do not yet understand. Learn them well and those around you will find your help and cherish it.” As he spoke you shook your head sadly, “No I have not learned today.”

When you left the boatman and the wild river behind those who had crossed with you smiled and nodded at you. You had gifted them and they were thankful.

Kevin opened the refrigerator and looked inside. “That was a stupid story.” His words were measured, not said with haste or ridicule. He grabbed a bottle of soda and ran back upstairs.

Brian reached out with one hand behind Val’s neck and drew her close. He kissed her deeply. He felt the old arousal, her thighs warm against his.?

When he finally let them draw breath he sighed, “It’s many little battles right??

Kevin was a good kid. His heart was in the right place but he was also getting that certain age in his life where nothing was ever simple or easy and parents were basically your worst enemy. It did hurt a little but Val knew not to take it personally. He wasn’t her baby boy anymore. Her oldest. Him being born had to have been the greatest gift one could have ever given her and seeing the look on Brain’s face. That love in his eyes. They had been such a team from the start and they still were, though on occasion he too faced the wrath of a boy who was entering his teenage years.?

“He makes me feel old,” Val couldn’t help but sigh, reluctantly pulling away after that kiss, but resting her forehead against her husbands, eyes still closed, just relishing in the moment. “But he is a good kid, we raised him well, we have to trust in that I suppose.” It’s all they could really do right??

“I’m glad you are home by the way.” She then added, light smile on her lips as she cupped his cheek with her fingers. He always came home at the end of the day, but being married to a cop wasn’t the simplest of lifes. It meant having to miss your husband far more than a wife would have liked. So having him here now, before dinner with still the entire evening in front of them? Now that made her happy. Especially after that kiss.?

He nodded. His attention was on her even as his thoughts moved in circles. He needed to talk to her about the murder but... He didn’t want to spoil this. They didn’t always have time. He tensed in his seat holding his beautiful wife, the love of his life but the image in his mind was of Tammy her face twisted in death, Heather’s teacher from middle school. His stomach lurched. In the morning he’d talk to her. He put up the wall to shut it out. Val needed him and he needed her.

“You know perhaps we should continue this later on, when the kids have gone to bed and there is no risk in our PDA shaming our son.” She then suggested, leaning in for another quick peck on the lips. “Have ourselves an early night? Unless you are too tired of course.” Val knew that there were days when Brain was in a lot of pain, especially when a case was weighing down on him.?

He almost whimpered at her words. “I’m looking forward to it,” he managed placidly. He buried his head into her neck and squeezed her close.?

“I need you so much,” he whispered.?

“Don’t you know that you have me already? Always and forever right.” Valerie assured softly. She wasn’t quite sure what happened today but it couldn’t have been good. Pressuring him wouldn’t help. It would only make things worse and if she had learned anything over the years that they had been married, it was that if her husband needed to talk he would come to her in his own time and that was enough.?

They both heard the light clap of feet on the floor and knew it was Heather.

“Hey golden girl,” Brian said.?

“When’s dinner Mom?” It didn’t seem to bother her how they clutched at each other even as they worked to look more normal.

“Come here,” Brian beckoned.? He added Heather to his hug. “I love you both.”

“We love you too right sweetheart? Group hug.” If only Kevin would have been here as well, then things would have been perfect. Val however knew from experience that it wasn’t going to happen. So kissing both her husband on the lips and her daughter on the forehead, she managed to untangle herself and reluctantly got up.?

“How about you start setting the table sweetie and collect your brother. I think we can start eating fairly soon. There might even be dessert later on.” She then added, amused smile on Val’s face as she noted how excited her daughter seemed to become at that prospect. Ever the sweet tooth that one. Not unlike her mother.?

“Babe, you want to wash up before we eat?” She then questioned, glancing at Brain. “Or leave that for later.” Sure dinner was almost ready but there was still time for a quick shower if he wanted one. Then again most of the time they did share their showers. To preserve water of course … Or possibly because it was far more pleasant than doing it alone. This house came with a certain set of perks and that included a big bathroom. Not that Val needed luxury to be happy. It just came in handy at times.?

Brian smiled, “A shower, that must wait until later.”?

He flipped on the TV as Val moved to get things moving. He nailed the mute button as the screen filled with the face of a reporter describing the very murder he was investigating.?

“Unbelievable,” he whispered to himself.

“By the way, there is a grocery list on the fridge. If you need anything just add it, I’m planning on going tomorrow after work. This weekend is supposed to be sunny so I was thinking barbeque? It’s been a while.”

“Right,” Brian chirped from the couch. He watched the reporter’s lips move and could guess what she was saying. It will be a media day tomorrow. Would his boss ask him to stand in front of the city and say this might be a serial killing?”

After dinner Brian helped Val clean up. The kids had retired to their rooms to study or do whatever. He didn’t want to think about the future, only Val and what small way he could have a little time without stress. He teased her and grabbed at her playfully as they cleaned the table and straightened the kitchen.?

His troubles were his and it wasn’t fair. He would see to it that at least for tonight she would have everything he could give.

“About that shower,” he muttered into her hair. His hands played with the elastic on the back of her pants. “I’m feeling dirty.”