Birdsong and Sunrise

Abel opened the screen door slowly, knowing its inevitable creaking hinges would wake Abigail and send her bounding down the stairs to greet the day. Not that he wouldn’t welcome the snuggles that would follow, but he was hoping to catch at least a few moments of peace and to maybe even see Lucy on her way to the greenhouse.

He turned toward the rocking chair and saw her there, rocking in the stillness of the morning, eyes closed, the sun reflecting off the blossoming grey that was beginning to streak her otherwise chestnut brown hair. He sighed at the sight of her, and she startled, beginning to rise from the chair.

“Stay for a while, can’t you?” He spoke quietly and met her eyes, questioning. “I was hoping to catch a few moments with you before the trouble twins start causing chaos.”

She looked at him, one eyebrow raised in a mix of scrutiny and humor, all at the same time.

“To talk,” he paused. “We have a lot to talk about, but most of it can wait. I just want to hear how you are, how everything is. Jack, the house, your work.”

He could see the tension leave her shoulders as she melted back into the rocking chair. He would save the difficult questions for later. For now, he just wanted to know her again. He knew he had to start there.