Melvin Deels, a used car sales rep, enters his modest family home via a door connecting the garage to the back of the house. He strolls into the kitchen and peers around. Only silence greets him. Melvin bunches up his nose in disappointment. Setting his car keys on the counter, Melvin heads for the adjoining living room.

  In the living room, Harriet is curled up on the couch. One arm is bent and covers her face. Irene, their four year old daughter, is nowhere in sight. Nor can she be heard playing.

  Melvin crosses to the couch and kneels down in front of it. He puts out a hand and lightly touches Harriet's forehead. Harriet's eyes slowly flutter open and she forces a grin. As he suspected, she is feeling ill again. Under normal circumstances, Harriet would be up and about, laughing and romping with Irene. Lately, she has been lying on the couch more and more. Migraines, stomach pains, and various other aches seem to be the usual complaints.

  "You feeling alright, Harriet?" Melvin asks, knowing the answer but needing to hear it from Harriet's lips. "Another headache?"

  "Yeah," Harriet answers, yawning and stretching an arm above her head noisily. "I hope you don't mind...I asked Greg if Irene could stay at their house. Only for tonight. I know we have that charity dinner. I wanted to get some rest before we go. Let the medicine do its job. Either he, or Chloe, will drop Irene off in the morning."

  Melvin leans forward and gently kisses Harriet. He shrugs while offering her a coy smile.

  "Why would I mind your brother watching Irene? Me and Greg are cool. Now, about the charity dinner. I can go by myself. If you're not feeling well, you can stay right here in this house. I have no problem explaining why you can't be there."

  "No. I'll go," Harriet says. "I took some pain medicine and I already feel a little better. It's just...Aunt Raquel used to watch Irene. She really loved Irene. I miss that woman, Melvin. Her being gone...It really hurts sometimes."

  "I know, baby. I know," Melvin says, kissing Harriet's forehead.

  Harriet motions for Melvin to back up and let her sit up. Harriet maneuvers herself into a sitting position and forces another thin smile."

  "There. I'm up," Harriet exclaims a bit too enthusiastically. "I'll get ready and we can go."

  "Don't rush it," Melvin warns in a deep voice. "If you're not feeling one-hundred percent, you don't need to be going to no damn charity event."

  "How can you say that, Mel? I'm one of the sponsors."

  "And? Sponsors get sick too."

  "It's for cancer research, Mel. You know how important this is to me."

  "Yes, I do. But I also know how damn important you are to me, Harriet. I don't want anything happening to you."

  "It won't," Harriet reassures her husband, kissing him lightly on the lips. "I'm going to go get ready."

  Harriet climbs from the couch and crosses the living room. Melvin watches her ascend the hallway stairs with wary eyes. She is always trying to do too damn much. That's why she has so many stomach pains and headaches. The death of Harriet's favorite aunt is just one more ounce of weight on her shoulders. And Melvin does not like it. Not one little bit. But there's not exactly anything he can do about it. Harriet will have to come to terms with Raquel's death on her own. He can only be there for her until she does.

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  Melvin carefully shuts the passenger door and goes around to the driver's side. Harriet is positively beaming from excitement. She can barely contain herself as Melvin climbs in the car.

  "Can you believe how much money we raised? Ten thousand in one night, Melvin! Ten-thousand!" Harriet gushes, clapping her hands loudly.

  The broad smile on his wife's face is enough to melt his heart. Tonight has been a good night. Melvin happily returns Harriet's smile.

  "They had a great sponsor! You did real good up there, Harriet. You cleaned house. I'm real proud of you. You should be really proud too."

  "I am. I am. I never thought we'd bring in that many donations. People are so stingy with their money these days. But, to see so many people digging into their wallets. It defied...Even my best expectations."

  "I'm glad you're happy, Harriet. I really am. I haven't seen you this happy in...In a while. It makes me happy to see you smiling again. I feel like I have my wife back. Finally."

  Harriet leans over the center console, pecking Melvin on the lips. Their eyes lock as she politely moves away.

  "I'm sorry, Melvin. I've been so down in the dumps for the past few months. I never thought about what that could be doing to you. Or Irene. Oh goodness. Melvin, I am so sorry."

  "No. No. Nothing to be sorry about. I only mentioned it because I love seeing your smile. I love you. I want you to be happy. Tonight is your night. You did good. You raised oodles of money for a great cause. A cause, you believe in. Enough talk. Let's go celebrate. My treat."

  Melvin starts up the car and slowly pulls away from the curb.

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  "Where are we going, Mel?" Harriet says, resting her head lightly against Melvin's right shoulder.

  She toys with the tight curls just above Melvin's ear. Melvin grins like an imp. His brown eyes stay focused on the road, but he uses his right hand to caress Harriet's left knee.

  "That's for me to know and you to find out. It's a little place I discovered while heading to that automaker's conference last year. Great food. You'll love it."

  "I'm sure I will. Especially, with you being a picky eater. The food has to be good."

  They continue driving for another few miles. Every once in a while, Melvin squeezes Harriet's knee. In return, she either pecks his cheek or runs a hand down his neck. For the first time, in a long time, Melvin considers trying for a second child. He and Harriet aren't getting any younger, and Irene will be starting school soon. The perfect time for round two. If Harriet is open to the idea, that is. Or maybe, they'll just have a little fun. For old time's sake.

  "Melvin, stop! Did you see that?"

  Melvin is jarred from his alluring fantasies by Harriet's excited voice. He briefly glances over at her with an amused grin.

  "Did I see what?"

  "Back there. I saw something. It looked like a big circus tent. I haven't been to the circus since I was a kid. I want to see if they're open. Well, not right now. You know...If they'll be open during the day. That would be a perfect family trip. We could bring Irene."

  Melvin nods in agreement, twisting his mouth into a knowing smirk. Not a bad idea.

  "Sure. We can check it out. Just let me turn around."

  Harriet leans over and kisses Melvin on the cheek, twice in quick succession. She runs her left hand over his hair and down the back of his neck.

  "Thanks, baby. It's a good thing Irene is at my brother's. I think tonight has the potential to be a good night."

  Melvin smiles secretively. He ponders the many possibilities available to him. All of them good.

  "So do I," Melvin thinks to himself.

  To be continued..........