I wash the dishes and get the bed tidy then get on the car and drive to a restaurant to get breakfast before taking the freeway. After a good breakfast we take the long road home. As it'll take a few hours, I ask Chris: "Are you sure you want to wait home for your husband?" I drop my hand on her warm, soft, bare thigh in a comforting gesture, hearing the characteristic slapping sound as I feel her relaxed muscles bounce my hand as it rides the waves of her jiggly thigh for a couple of seconds.

After a few seconds of silence, I take a quick glance at her face.

She notices I am glancing at her, she says: "We'll I'm not exactly sure, but I do know I need a shower and a change of clothing. Would you mind dropping me off at my place so I can shower? You should go home and shower too. I mean I can meet you at your place after. I guess I really don't want to be home alone with my thoughts." She continues softly. "I know it will probably be late by then, and I know I said I have to work tomorrow, but no-one said I couldn't take a personal day." She turns to look at the window.

I keep driving the rest of the way, glancing every now and then, seeing her face still sad. I keep caressing her thigh trying to reassure her that I'll be there for her, I notice I like feeling her thighs jiggling in my hand as the car bumps on the road imperfections.

We finally reach her place, she gives me a kiss on the cheek, I pat her thigh a couple of times, reassuring her: " I know you can do it, I'll see you soon". I wait until she enters through the door (I would no longer call it home, its a house but no longer home). I go back to my place, take a long, warm shower, thinking of the strong events that happened over the weekend. I lay on the couch, in boxers, with the tv on as I think. I lose sense of time, I hear the door and I remember Chris said she would come shortly. I don't have time to dress up, she would leave if I didn't open the door, so I just open the door in boxers and t-shirt, surprised to see Chris in a t-shirt and khaki shorts, longer than the ones she wore over the weekend, but still shorts.

I look at her and smile.

I invite her in: "Care to join me? After my shower I've just been relaxing watching tv." We head to the couch. She shyly says: "I already called my boss. I took a personal day tomorrow " She sets her bag down next to the couch and sits next to me. We watch tv silently for a few minutes, after a few minutes she slides closer to me and cuddles. I interpret it as a call for comfort and fraternal love. I bring an arm across her shoulders, lightly caressing her soft arm as she slides right next to me, I feel her silky, soft thigh against mine as she leans her head on my chest. I smile, enjoying the trust we have grown to have in each other.

Not long has she adjusted comfortably leaning on my chest, she says, as if addressing nobody in particular: "My husband wouldn't stop calling me while I was in the shower. I'm guessing he called close to 9 times. I guess he's waiting for my answer or to say something about the text/pic that was sent to him. I never answered him." I turn to look at her, noticing her breathing increase slightly.

I openly turn to look into her eyes as I caress her hair with the hand I have across her back and bring my free hand to her cheek, slowly and very softly caressing it from the middle of her cheek to her chin with my thumb, going to her other cheek, this time caressing from under the middle of her eye to the curvature of her chin, going further to the side of her neck. I gasp when I feel…

... the wetness of her tears on her neck, I lovingly traced her dried tear stains not aware that her neck was still wet with tears. I release the embrace and bring my other hand to the other side of her neck, taking care of her tears there as well. Once I take care of all her tears I cup her cheeks: " You have to be strong and firm on this situation, cry all you need, here in my arms, don't hesitate to do it however it may come, I'll never judge you, I'm here to comfort and love you. I'll take care of all your tears, I'll hold you through all your sobs, I'll never belittle you".

I drop both hands on her upper quads, looking into her eyes with a reassuring smile.