Tony had to work tonight, which is very unusual…something that happens maybe two or three times a year. I know, I know – some of you are thinking we are VERY fortunate - and we are. We’re also so used to having him around that we are spoiled. The girls didn’t even seem to notice his absence until around 5 o’clock. We were playing a game of LIFE when one of them asked if he was home (he often works from his "office" in our bedroom until right about that time.) I told them that he was working a tech event and wouldn’t be home until later.
We wrapped presents, munched on bagel bites for supper and they watched a video while I finished up the teacher’s gifts. All the lights were on and the house was full of noise but something was missing. I think we could all feel it. Every once in a while one of them would come to me and ask when he was going to be home. I wasn’t sure but figured 8 or 8:30ish. That sure seemed like a long time away. FINALLY he called and said he was leaving Indy. You could feel a sense of relief among us lonely women.
And then after all the asking and long faces, believe it or not, when he came in the door, I don’t think one of the girls said “Hi”! or came up and hugged him squealing his name like they would have when they were younger. They went on with their business and he went upstairs to take set up his laptop and take care of a couple things, but something in the atmosphere had suddenly changed. All was right now, Daddy was home.
