Missed

I was home at last.

I sighed as I sunk into my easy chair in the TV room. School Board meetings are always the 2nd Wednesday of the month, and although lately they’d happened to fall on my day off, the December 12 meeting had me running straight from a long day of work to a long meeting... no supper, no rest, just run, run, run.

Hubby looked tired, too. I hadn’t seen him since, “G’bye! See you tonight after my meeting!” that morning as I ran out the door...

“I, uh...” he started uncomfortably, “... for a while there I forgot you had a meeting tonight. When you didn’t come home I started to panic.” he continued, “First I called your workplace to see when & if you had left. The assistant manager was very nice, and even went out to see if your car was there...” he paused before continuing, “Then I called the police. I said you were late coming home, that you’re never late without giving me a call, and I was afraid something had happened to you... You know I’m always a little nervous about you walking out to your car in the dark after work...”

“And then I remembered. I remembered you had that meeting, and I called your workplace and the police back right away. I explained and apologized profusely. Everyone was really nice about it.” he concluded glumly, “The dispatcher said not to worry, as she’d heard far more strange stories than this one.”

“Oh.” I said, pushing my fatigued brain to digest the narrative my beloved had just visited upon me, and picturing the strange looks I might get at work the next day, “I guess I should have called to remind you... Are you OK?”

“Yeah.” he said, sipping his evening glass of wine, “Kind of embarrassed, but OK.”

I then proceeded to wend my way through the rituals of getting ready for bed, a routine which ended with wishing my absent-minded hubby good-night (he’s a ‘night owl’ and always stays up later than I).

“I’m so glad you’re home.” he said, hugging me close. “You’re the reason I’m happy. I never, ever want to lose you.”