Kyle shook his head. He was tired and it showed. He had very little patience left in reserve after the long workday.
“Control had nothing to do with it, Peggy. What it was, was two men deciding they weren’t going to be manipulated by you–that’s all.” He straightened and massaged sore muscles in his lower back. “Besides, I told you…he called me,” Kyle added. “Don’t be yelling at me because of something he did.”
“I don’t believe you,” Peggy shot back. “You got me canceled from the training somehow and you had no right to do that, damn you!” Peggy advanced a little toward the doorway. She didn’t realize her fingers were spread, ready to thrust out as claws. Kyle’s eyes narrowed as she stepped closer. Abruptly he turned away from his wife.
“Come on kids,” he said enthusiastically. “Who wants to go to Chuck E. Cheese huh?” Both children cheered noisily and whirled around to race back to Kyle’s pickup.
Kyle leaned back in the screen door and spoke loud enough only for Peggy to hear.
“You better get a grip on yourself, Peggy,” he said soberly. “If you EVER talk to me that way again in front of the kids, I will walk out for good and I’ll take them with me…I will not have you screaming and yelling and acting like a damned shrew all the damn time, particularly in front of them.
“I’m warning you, and you better listen good. This has to stop or I will leave you, period!” Without another word, he pulled the door closed, making it thump against the doorframe. He let the screen door slam; he didn’t even try to shut it as carefully as he usually did.
********
When Kyle and the kids returned, it was to a transformed Peggy. She met them at the door, smiling and gracious. She had changed from her work clothes into a long-sleeved, floor-length housecoat that buttoned all the way up to the throat. She smelled of her favorite lavender scented bath beads. She looked fresh and alert, eager to be with her husband and children.
She sat with Mandy and Todd as they told her of all the games they’d played and showed her the cheap, black-and-white photos of them clowning around with the plastic Chuck E. Cheese mannequin. Peggy oohed and aahed at everything they said as the youngsters explained how all of the games had worked. Kyle, after watching for a long while, took the opportunity to go upstairs for a hot shower. It had been a long day.
Kyle read a story to the little boy and his sister; he kissed them, and gently tucked them in. He paused a moment after settling them both in their beds for the night. He loved watching his children sleep.
When he got to his and Peggy’s bedroom, he didn’t see her. The smooth arms sliding over his shoulders from behind told him she’d waited behind the door until he came in. Her palms covered his eyes.
“Guess who,” Peggy said softly. She didn’t wait for an answer. She slid around in front of him and embraced him eagerly. Peggy was dressed in thigh high stockings and high heels–nothing else. She eased back a space to let him drink in the sight of her almost naked body. She wore the stockings and heels to emphasize her nakedness. Peggy knew her man and what he liked.