traditional homecoming celebration. He took the binders. “Go home, Ben. Get some rest; you deserve it.”
“Just a half an hour,” Ben bargained.
A half an hour delay tonight could very well incite his wife to violence. Edward pivoted the younger man, pointing him toward his car. “Go home. I’ll do it.”
“One more thing.” Ben opened his car door, whipped open his planner, and angled it toward the light. “Make sure you get through those reports on violent video games and adolescents.” He nodded at the pounds of paper in Edward’s arms. “You have a breakfast meeting Monday morning with the senators sponsoring the bill.”
His pen tracked down the page. “Then we need to get a statement out about the proposed eatery smoking ban—I’ll get Adrienne on that and send you a draft,” he mumbled, then looked up. “And don’t forget you accepted an invitation to speak at the NRA about their new mentoring program.”
“I did?” The cell phone in Edward’s pocket vibrated. He pulled it out; his home number glowed neon blue. Noelle was growing impatient.
“Yup. After the dinner they threw that raised nearly two hundred grand for your campaign, you were happy to.”
Edward slipped the phone back in his pocket. “And what am I speaking about?”
“About the benefits of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program that eliminated the minimum hunting age and authorized the Natural Resources Commission to establish rules for hunters under ten years old.”
Edward raised his eyebrows. “And I’m applauding putting guns in the hands of children?”
“You’re supporting parents’ right to determine if and when their child is ready to hunt. Michigan’s hunter participation ranks third in the nation. More than 750,000 sportsmen and women spend over 2.3 billion dollars and generate tax revenue of over one hundred thirty million in Michigan annually—and anglers another 2.4 billion. That’s a lot of money. And the kids are under strict supervision from experienced mentors. It’s a good program that emphasizes hunting safety. Read it.”
Edward shifted the binders and looked at his watch. “Anything else?”
“Just the black-tie for the Girls in Math and Science. You’re presenting the award.”
“Couldn’t forget that. Noelle’s on the committee. That it?”
Ben clicked his pen and shut the planner. “No, but good enough for now.”
“Thanks for keeping on top of everything.”
“It’s my job.” Ben tossed the notebook into the passenger’s seat and stuck the key in the ignition.
“Night,” Edward called out.
The cell phone in his pocket vibrated again. Edward pulled open the side door and dumped the binders on the kitchen counter as Noelle came in, looking snug in her flower flannel pajamas and fluffy slipper socks. She’d released her hair from the intricate coil imprisoning it all evening, so that it hung in a shiny mink curtain loosely about her face, and she’d removed all traces of makeup. His wife now looked like the fresh-faced college girl she’d been when they’d first met.
Noelle hung up the phone and then stared pointedly at the binders as if they were porn magazines. “Can’t Ben and work wait for just one night?”
“Sorry. We needed to go over a few things.”
“We need you, too.”
Edward shrugged out of his coat and tossed it over a counter stool. Moving close, he put his arms around his wife. “From now on you will have my undivided attention.”
“Until your phone rings again.” Noelle looped an arm around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. The other hand trailed down his chest, slid into his pants pocket, and relieved him of his phone in a slick move any pickpocket would have been proud of. His phone jingled off and thunked against the granite countertop.
Edward broke away from Noelle’s lips to nuzzle that little sweet spot behind her ear that smelled so fantastic, driving him crazy. “I’m all yours, babe.”
The microwave bell dinged,
“Just a half an hour,” Ben bargained.
A half an hour delay tonight could very well incite his wife to violence. Edward pivoted the younger man, pointing him toward his car. “Go home. I’ll do it.”
“One more thing.” Ben opened his car door, whipped open his planner, and angled it toward the light. “Make sure you get through those reports on violent video games and adolescents.” He nodded at the pounds of paper in Edward’s arms. “You have a breakfast meeting Monday morning with the senators sponsoring the bill.”
His pen tracked down the page. “Then we need to get a statement out about the proposed eatery smoking ban—I’ll get Adrienne on that and send you a draft,” he mumbled, then looked up. “And don’t forget you accepted an invitation to speak at the NRA about their new mentoring program.”
“I did?” The cell phone in Edward’s pocket vibrated. He pulled it out; his home number glowed neon blue. Noelle was growing impatient.
“Yup. After the dinner they threw that raised nearly two hundred grand for your campaign, you were happy to.”
Edward slipped the phone back in his pocket. “And what am I speaking about?”
“About the benefits of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program that eliminated the minimum hunting age and authorized the Natural Resources Commission to establish rules for hunters under ten years old.”
Edward raised his eyebrows. “And I’m applauding putting guns in the hands of children?”
“You’re supporting parents’ right to determine if and when their child is ready to hunt. Michigan’s hunter participation ranks third in the nation. More than 750,000 sportsmen and women spend over 2.3 billion dollars and generate tax revenue of over one hundred thirty million in Michigan annually—and anglers another 2.4 billion. That’s a lot of money. And the kids are under strict supervision from experienced mentors. It’s a good program that emphasizes hunting safety. Read it.”
Edward shifted the binders and looked at his watch. “Anything else?”
“Just the black-tie for the Girls in Math and Science. You’re presenting the award.”
“Couldn’t forget that. Noelle’s on the committee. That it?”
Ben clicked his pen and shut the planner. “No, but good enough for now.”
“Thanks for keeping on top of everything.”
“It’s my job.” Ben tossed the notebook into the passenger’s seat and stuck the key in the ignition.
“Night,” Edward called out.
The cell phone in his pocket vibrated again. Edward pulled open the side door and dumped the binders on the kitchen counter as Noelle came in, looking snug in her flower flannel pajamas and fluffy slipper socks. She’d released her hair from the intricate coil imprisoning it all evening, so that it hung in a shiny mink curtain loosely about her face, and she’d removed all traces of makeup. His wife now looked like the fresh-faced college girl she’d been when they’d first met.
Noelle hung up the phone and then stared pointedly at the binders as if they were porn magazines. “Can’t Ben and work wait for just one night?”
“Sorry. We needed to go over a few things.”
“We need you, too.”
Edward shrugged out of his coat and tossed it over a counter stool. Moving close, he put his arms around his wife. “From now on you will have my undivided attention.”
“Until your phone rings again.” Noelle looped an arm around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. The other hand trailed down his chest, slid into his pants pocket, and relieved him of his phone in a slick move any pickpocket would have been proud of. His phone jingled off and thunked against the granite countertop.
Edward broke away from Noelle’s lips to nuzzle that little sweet spot behind her ear that smelled so fantastic, driving him crazy. “I’m all yours, babe.”
The microwave bell dinged,
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